./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/2/Add.52
13 April 1999
(99-1463)
Original:  English
IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE AGREEMENT
ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE
Communication from the Republic of Latvia
Addendum
The following Statement under Article 15.2 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
has been received from the Republic of Latvia.
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1. The Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization and its integral part, the
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (hereinafter referred to as the TBT Agreement), after
having been accepted by the Saeima (Parliament) and signed by the President, came into force on
11 February 1999.  The full text of the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization was
published in the Official Journal “Latvijas V ēstnesis” No. 388 of 30 December 1998.
2. Quality Assurance National program was accepted in 1994 as one of the priority programmes
for the development of the National economy of Latvia.  The objective of the programme is to
develop legislation and infrastructure for conformity assessment and quality assurance in Latvia
according to the international requirements.
3. The process of implementation and administration of the TBT Agreement is supported by the
following legislative acts in existence, that came  into force before Latvia’s accession to the WTO:
• Law “On Conformity Assessment”, August 20th, 1996 (published in the Official Journal
“Latvijas V ēstnesis” No. 139 of 20 August 1996);
• Law “On Consumer Protection”, October 28th, 1992 (new draft law “On the Protection of
Consumer Rights” is under acceptance in the Pa rliament at present) (published in the Official
Journal “Saeimas un Ministru kabineta Zi ņotājs” No. 46 of 3 December 1992);
• Law “On the Safety of Products, Services and Liability of Producer, Service Supplier”,
September 26th, 1996 (published in the Official Journal “Latvijas V ēstnesis” No. 168 of
8 October 1996);
• Law “On Standardisation”, October 14th, 1998 (published in the Official Journal “Latvijas
Vēstnesis” No. 317 of 28 October 1998).
- The Regulations No. 465 of the 24th December 1996 “Arrangements for Accreditation of Testing
and Calibration Laboratories, Certific ation Bodies and Inspection Bodies”;
- The Regulations No. 463 of the 24th December 1996 “On the Authorization of Testing and
Calibration Laboratories, Certification and Inspection Bodies in the Mandatory Area”;  andG/TBT/2/Add.52
Page 2
- The Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 464 of the 24th December 1996 “On Procedure of
Recognition in the Republic of Latvia of Confor mity Assurances and Approval Issued Abroad in
Mandatory Area” are specifying the order of conformity assessment in Latvia.  Due to the
principles of conformity assessment defined by the regulations mentioned above, specific
regulations for different branches have been developed to implement applicable International andEuropean legislation and requirements.
- The obligation of relevant national authorities to meet the requirements of notification procedures
of the TBT Agreement is incorporated into the Ordinance of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 12
accepted on 28
th October, 1997 (published in the Official Journal “Latvijas V ēstnesis” No. 286
dated 31 November 1997).  According to this Ordinance the Ministry of Economy is the
responsible institution for implementation of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.
4. A period of two months is normally allowed for making comments on the adoption of
technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures.
5. Name and address of the Enquiry Point is as follows:
The Ministry of Economy
Republic of Latvia
Department of Quality Management  and Structure Development
World Trade Organization Information Division
55 Brivibas Str.
Riga, LV-1519
LATVIATelephone: +371 7 01 31 97
+371 7 01 32 36
Telefax: +371 7 28 08 82
6. Activities related to national standardization are performed by the “Latvian Standards Ltd”
(LVS) which is the main body for standardization matters in Latvia.  LVS is an affiliated member of
the European Standardization Committee (CEN) and corresponding member of the International
Standardization Organization (ISO).  LVS has acc epted the Code of Good Practice for Preparation,
Adoption and Application of Standards in Annex 3 of the Agreement.  Its address is:
Latvian Standards Ltd.
157, Kr. Valdemara street
Riga, LV-1013LATVIA
Telephone: +371 7 378 165
Telefax: +371 7 362 805
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