./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/TPKM/2
10 September 2002
(02-4749)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF
TAIWAN, PENGHU, KINMEN AND MATSU
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:  Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Ministry of
Economic Affairs (BSMI, MOEA)
4 Chinan Road, Section 1, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
Telephone: (886-2) 2343-1978, 2343-1985
Telefax: (886-2) 3343-5173, 2343-1986
E-mail: tbtenq@bsmi.gov.tw
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:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [     ], 2.10.1 [ X ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [ X ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Wall-mounted ceramic
washbasins (CCCN 6910.10.00.00-5, for porcelain sanitary fixtures; CCCN 6910.90.00.00-
8, for ceramic sanitary fixtures). Vanity washbasins are not included.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Public Notice under
the Commodity Inspection Act (Chinese, 2 pages)
6. Description of content:   The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and
Matsu intends to regulate wall-mounted washbasins as commodities subject to inspection.
As of 1 February 2003, all such products must be inspected by the Bureau of Standards,
Metrology and Inspection, and must conform to inspection requirements when imported ormarketed within the territory of the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen
and Matsu.  As there are no relevant international standards, the technical requirements for
the inspection of the aforementioned washbasins are set out in the Chinese National
Standards 3220-3 and 3221 (CNS 3220-3 and CNS 3221).  This Notice also provides the
conformity assessment procedures for the aforementioned products.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
According to official reports, more than 20 serious accidents have been caused by shattering
wall-mounted washbasins in the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen
and Matsu during the past year.  These accidents have caused serious injuries and
lacerations to consumers, and have lead to one death recently.  Adoption of this mandatory
inspection measure is an effective way to protect consumers and prevent further tragicG/TBT/N/TPKM/2
Page 2
accidents. We therefore hope to make the inspection measure compulsory as quickly as
possible.
8. Relevant documents:   The Commodity Inspection Act, CNS 3220-3, CNS 3221
9. Proposed date of adoption:  1 October 1 2002
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 February 2003
10. Final date for comments:   10 September 2002
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:
Enquiry Point
Information Center
Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection
Ministry of Economic Affairs
4 Chinan Road, Section 1, Taipei, 100, TaiwanTelephone: (886-2) 2343-1978, 2343-1985
Telefax: (886-2) 3343-5173, 2343-1986
E-mail: tbtenq@bsmi.gov.tw