. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/EEC/53 
3 February 2004  
 
(04-0383) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English 
  
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6. 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):         
2. Agency responsible:   European Commission 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and web-site 
addresses, if available) of  agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be  indicated if different from above:     
  
 European Commission, 
 EC-TBT Enquiry Point, 
 Fax:  0032 2 299 80 43,  E-mail:  ec-tbt@cec.eu.int
 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [    ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [ X ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:         
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in  addition, where applicable):   Products containing or 
consisting of genetically  modified organisms 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   "Draft Commission 
Recommendation on Technical Guidance for Sampling and Detection of Genetically 
Modified Organisms and Material Produced from  Genetically Modified Organisms as or in 
Products in the Context of Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003"2003’  (9 pages, available in all 
Community languages)   
6. Description of content:   The draft Commission Recommendation notified herewith 
establishes guidelines for the sampling and detec tion of genetically modified organisms and 
material produced from genetically modified organisms, authorized for placing on the market under Community legislation as or in products. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
The objective of the draft recommendation is to  facilitate a co-ordinated approach for 
inspections and control foreseen in Article 9(1) of Regulation 1830/2003. 
8. Relevant documents:   The Commission Recommendation will be published in the 
Official Journal of the European Union .  The draft Commission Recommendation 
implements Article 9(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003, of the European Parliament and 
of the Council, of 22 September 2003, concerning the traceability and labelling of 
genetically modified organisms and the trac eability of food and feed products produced 
from genetically modified organism s and amending Directive 2001/18/EC ( Official Journal 
of the European Union L268, 18.10.2003, p 24).   G/TBT/N/EEC/53 
Page 2  
 
The draft Commission Recommendation includes reference to relevant European and 
International standards and Community legisl ation in relation to sampling and testing 
protocols for the different sectors. 
9. Proposed date of adoption:  By the Commission:  April 2004  
Proposed date of entry into force:  On the date of publication of the Regulation in the 
Official Journal of the European Union . 
10. Final date for comments:   60 days from the date of notification given the requirement for 
new regulatory system established by Regulation (EC) No 1830/2003 and Regulation (EC) 
No 1829/2003 to enter into operation on 18 April 2004. 
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [  X ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresses, if available of the other body:        
 European Commission, 
 EC-TBT Enquiry Point,  Fax: 0032 2 299 80 43,  E-mail:  ec-tbt@cec.eu.int