RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/SAU/41
24 June 1999
(99-2584)
Working Party on the Accession
of the Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
Action Plan for the Implementation of the TBT Agreement
The Ministry of Commerce of the Kingdom of  Saudi Arabia has submitted the following
Action Plan for the Implementation of the TBT Agreement.
_______________
The attached Action Plan for Implementation of the TBT Agreement gives each Article of the
TBT Agreement, the existing position of Saudi Arabia and the future programme.
Saudi Arabia, in practice, follows almost all provisions of the TBT Agreement.  However,
most of these practices are not backed by written regulations.
It is proposed to issue a Comprehensive Directive by the SASO Board of Directors chaired by
the Minister of Commerce, incorporating all obligations under the various provisions of the TBT
Agreement.  The Directive will have the same effect as a Ministerial Resolution and it will be
mandatory since the SASO Board of Directors consists of all concerned Ministries, Government
Agencies and Private Sector.
The draft of the Comprehensive Directive will be ready by the end of September 1999.  The
final Directive will be issued before the end of 1999.  That will ensure full implementation of the TBTAgreement.WT/ACC/SAU/41
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Action Plan for the Implementation of the TBT Agreement
SN Article Requirements of the Article Existing Position Future Programme
1 1.1 General terms for standardization and
procedures for assessment of
conformity shall normally have the
meaning given to them by definitions
adopted within the United Nations
systems and by internationalstandardization bodies taking into
account their context and in the light
of the object and purpose of this
Agreement.SASO complies with this article. Adoption of ISO/IEC Guide 2, and to be
addressed in SASO Directive
2 1.2 Definitions of terms:
However, for the purposes of this
Agreement the meaning of the terms
given in Annex 1 applies.SASO’s constitution states: Compliance
with standards is mandatory. By Board of
Directors’ decision, certain specific
national standards or parts of national
standards may be voluntarily compliedwith, in which case the Organization must
take into account that one or more of the
following considerations are not violated:
1.  Safeguarding safety and public
     health2.  Protecting the consumer
3.  Securing the national interest-  Definitions in Annex 1 to be addressed
    in SASO Directive
3 1.3 Products covered by TBT: All
products, including industrial and
agricultural products, shall be subject
to the provisions of this Agreement.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive
4 1.6 All references to technical
regulations, standards, etc.SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
5 2.1 Non-discrimination with respect to
the treatment of products.SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO DirectiveWT/ACC/SAU/41
Page 3SN Article Requirements of the Article Existing Position Future Programme
6 2.2 Creating unnecessary obstacles to
international trade.SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
7 2.3 Technical regulations shall not be
maintained if ..., etc.SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
8 2.4 Using international standards. SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
9 2.5 Justification for the technical
regulations that have a significant
effect on the trade of other members.SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
10 2.6 Participation in the preparation of
international standards.SASO participation is minimal due to
limited resources.To be addressed in SASO Directive
11 2.7 The consideration of equivalent
technical regulations of other
members.SASO complies this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive
12 2.8 Product requirements to be based in
terms of performance.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive
13 2.9 Wherever a relevant international
standard does not exist, .... etc.:_____ _____
14 2.9.1 Publish a notice ... etc. SASO complies with this article. -  To be addressed in SASO Directive
-  Will use the Internet
15 2.9.2 Notification to the WTO SASO notifies foreign embassies, since
KSA is not a WTO member yet.To be addressed in SASO Directive
16 2.9.3 Providing other members with copies
of proposed technical regulationsupon request.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive
17 2.9.4 Non-discrimination in receiving and
considering comments.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive
18 2.10 Where urgent problems arise, the
member may:_____ _____
19 2.10.1 Notification. _____ To be addressed in SASO Directive
20 2.10.2 Providing members with copies of
technical regulations upon request.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.
21 2.10.3 Non-discrimination in receiving and
considering comments.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.WT/ACC/SAU/41
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SN Article Requirements of the Article Existing Position Future Programme
22 2.11 Publication of technical regulations
and making them available.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.
23 2.12 Allowing reasonable interval
between publication and entry intoforce.SASO complies with this article, by
allowing a time at least six months.To be addressed in SASO Directive.
24 3.1 to
3.5Local Government
BodiesThere are no local government bodies in
Saudi Arabia._____
25 Article 4
Annex 3Code of Good Practice for the
Preparation, Adoption, and
Application of Standards:_____ _____
26 A Definitions of terms. SASO’s constitution states: Compliance
with standard is mandatory. By Board ofDirectors’ decision, certain specific
national-  Definitions in Annex 1 to be addressed in
    SASO Directive.
standards or parts of national standardsmay be voluntarily complied with, inwhich case the Organization must take
into account that one or more of the
following considerations are not violated:
1.  Safeguarding safety and public
     health2.  Protecting the consumer
3.  Securing the national interest
27 B Acceptance of the Code. SASO accepts the Code To be addressed in SASO Directive.
28 C To notify ISO/IEC about the
acceptance of the Code._____ SASO will notify ISO/IEC Information Center.
29 D Non-discrimination with respect to
the treatment of products.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.
30 E Creating unnecessary obstacles to
international trade.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.WT/ACC/SAU/41
Page 5SN Article Requirements of the Article Existing Position Future Programme
31 F Using international standards. SASO complies with  this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.
32 G Participation in the preparation of
International Standards.SASO participation in minimal due to
limited resourced.To be addressed in SASO Directive.
33 H Avoiding duplication in work with
others.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.
34 I Product requirements to be based in
terms of performance.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.
35 J Publishing work programme. SASO has annual programme but it is not
published.-  To be addressed in SASO Directive
-  Will use the internet.
36 K Membership in ISONET SASO is a member in ISONET. _____
37 L To allow a period of 60 days for
comments.SASO allows 90 days for comments from
the first circulation of drafts.  SASO
announces this in local newspapers.-  To be addressed in SASO Directive
-  To issue a monthly publication for
    SASO.-  Will use the internet.
38 M To provide copies of draft standards. SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.
39 N To take into account the comments
received.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.
40 O Publishing the approved standards. SASO complies wi th this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive.
41 P Providing copies of standards and
work programme.-  SASO provides copies of standards
   work programme.-  To be addressed in SASO Directive.
-  Will use the internet.
42 Q To afford sympathetic consideration
... etc.SASO accepts this article.. To be addressed in SASO Directive.
43 5.1.1 1.  M F N & National treatment
for Conformity AssessmentProcedures.
Facilitate granting of SASO Quality
Mark to imported productsM F N treatment been given through
International Conformity CertificationProgramme (ICCP) at Country of origin.
Quality Mark can be granted to national
products.The Saudi Conformity Assessment Program
(SCAP) will be developed for National products,it will be equivalent to ICCP in comparable
situations.
SASO shall develop the Quality Mark Scheme
according to ISO Guide 65 which will grantQuality Mark to imported products.WT/ACC/SAU/41
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SN Article Requirements of the Article Existing Position Future Programme
44 5.1.2 Conformity Assessment Procedures
 not to be more strict than necessary,taking account of the risks non-
conformity would create.SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
45 5.2.1 Implementation of Conformity
Assessment Procedures with
National treatment.SASO accepts this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
46 5.2.2
5.2.3
5.2.4
5.2.7
5.2.8Conformity Assessment Procedures
 Processing period, confidentiality
/adequacy of information,
Conformity Assessment Proceduresfor modified products, complaints
procedures.SASO complies with these articles To be addressed in SASO Directive
47 5.2.5 Equitability of fees for Conformity
Assessment Procedures imposed on
imported products in relation to thoseimposed on domestic products.- SASO complies with this Article in
terms of applying ICCP
- Quality mark scheme is implemented
for national
      productSCAP will comply this Article when it is applied.
48 5.2.6 Siting of facilities used in
Conformity Assessment Procedures
does not cause unnecessary
inconvenienceSASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
49 5.4 Use of guides or recommendations
issued by international standardizingbodies.SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO DirectiveWT/ACC/SAU/41
Page 7SN Article Requirements of the Article Existing Position Future Programme
50 5.5 Participation of Members in
preparation of guides and
recommendations by internationalstandardizing bodies.SASO participation is minimal due to
limited resourcesTo be addressed in SASO Directive
51 5.6 Obligation of notification of WTO
Members in cases of deviation of
Conformity Assessment Proceduresfrom international Guides and
recommendations.SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
52 5.7 Notification obligations for
Conformity Assessment Procedures
 Applied in case of urgent problems.SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
53 5.8 Publication of Conformity
Assessment Procedures.SASO complies with this article To be addressed in SASO Directive
54 5.9 Allowing reasonable interval
between the publication of
Conformity Assessment Procedures
and their entry into forceSASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive
55 6.1
6.2A Member’s obligation to accept
results of Conformity Assessment
Procedures in other Members, even if
different from his own ConformityAssessment Procedures as long as
they provide assurance of conformity
equivalent to his own Conformity
Assessment Procedures.SASO complies with this article as
stipulated in ICCP Guidelines.To be addressed in SASO Directive.
56 6.3 Encouragement of Members to enter
into mutual recognition agreements
(MRA).SASO accepts  this article To be addressed in SASO DirectiveWT/ACC/SAU/41
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SN Article Requirements of the Article Existing Position Future Programme
57 6.4 Encouragement of Members to
permit participation of ConformityAssessment bodies of other Members
in their Conformity Assessment
Procedures.SASO accepts  this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive
58 7 Provisions applicable to Conformity
Assessment Procedures by local
government bodies.Not applicable as no local government
bodies in Saudi Arabia_____
59 8 Provisions applicable to Conformity
Assessment Procedures by local
government bodies.Not applicable as no local government
bodies in Saudi Arabia_____
60 9.1 Adoption of International Systems
for Conformity Assessment.SASO complies with this article. To be addressed in SASO Directive
61 10.1 to
10.5Establishment and operation of a
single contact point for information
(Enquiry Point)SASO’s Information Center has been
established since 1985 responsible for
answering enquiries and providing copies
of all standards and technical regulations.SASO Information Center will fulfill all the
provisions related to enquiry point.
62 10.10 Designation of Government authority
for implementation of Notification
obligations._____ Ministry of Commerce (MOC) will be the
Notification authority.
__________