RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/W/106
26 March 1999
(99-1176)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY BODIES INVOLVED IN THE
PREPARATION OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
(INFORMATION SESSION  - 19 NOVEMBER 1998)
Synthesis Paper by the Secretariat
Background
1. With a view to developing an improved understa nding of the role of international standards
under the TBT Agreement, an Information Session by bodies involved in the preparation ofinternational standards was organized on 19 Nove mber 1998.  It aimed also at having these bodies
take account of the ongoing discussions on interna tional standards in the Committee, and to increase
the awareness of Members of the activities of those organizations.  Presentations were made by the
following organizations (based on a list of questio ns provided - Annex 1):  the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (Codex), the International Electr otechnical Commission (IEC), International
Organization for Standardization (ISO), Internatio nal Telecommunications Union (ITU), Organisation
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) , Office International des Epizooties (OIE),
International Organization of Legal Metrolo gy (OIML), the UN Economic Commission for Europe
(UN/ECE) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
2. At its meeting of 20 November 1998, the Committee requested the Secretariat to prepare a
synthesis paper based on the information provided by these organizations at the Information Session.
This paper has been prepared in response to that request.
_______________
I. THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION (CODEX)
A. I
NTRODUCTION
3. The Eleventh Session of the Conference of the FAO (1961) and the Sixteenth World Health
Assembly (1963) adopted resolutions to establis h the Codex Alimentarius Commission to set
standards for all principal foods (i.e., hygienic and nutritional quality of foods, including those which
deal with labelling, presentations, methods of analysis and sampling).  The 4,821 Codex standards are
specified in the areas of Food Standards for Co mmodities, Codes of Hygienic or Technological
Practice, Pesticides Evaluated, Limits for Pesticide Residues, Guidelines for Contaminants, Food
Additives Evaluated, and Veterinary Drugs Evalua ted.  For the purpose of Codex Alimentarius, the
term food standard means any recommendations of the Commission submitted to Member
Governments for acceptance.
4. Membership of the Commission is open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of
FAO and WHO (in 1998 membership totaled 163 countries).  Codex has nine General Committees
whose work is relevant to standards for commodities, and five Co-ordinating Committees for regionsG/TBT/W/106
Page 2
(Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America-Caribbean and North America-South West Pacific) to ensure
that work of Codex is responsive to regional needs.
5. The Commission meets every two years with alternate meetings in FAO Headquarters in
Rome and in WHO Headquarters in Geneva.  Depending on the need, meetings of Codex subsidiary
bodies are held by host countries usually not more frequently than once a year or less frequently thanevery two years.  Some meetings of Codex Committees attract a participation almost as large as that
of the plenary session of the Commission.
B. O
PENNESS IN DRAWING UP PROGRAMMES , TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES AND PROCEDURES
FOR COMMENTS AND DECISION -MAKING
6. The rules of procedure of the Commission describe and formalise working procures
appropriate to an intergovernmental body.  They are well defined, open and transparent.  They
provide conditions for membership, appointment of offices, voting procedures, observers, preparationof reports, languages and the procedures to be adopted in the elaboration of standards.
7. Codex has a formal "Criteria for the Establishment of Work Priorities and for the
Establishment of Subsidiary Bodies".  A proposal is submitted by a national Government to the
Commission, its Executive Committee or a Subsidiary Committee for a decision that a standard be
developed.  The preparation of a proposed draft standard is arranged by the Commission Secretariatand circulated to Member Governments for comments.  Comments are considered by the subsidiary
body that has been allocated the responsibility for the development of the proposed draft standard.
Observers (countries, international governmental or non-governmental organizations) are allowed to
put forward their points of view at every stage except on final decisions.  The subsidiary body may
then present the text to the Commission as a "Proposed Draft Standard" for adoption.  The "DraftStandard" is sent to Governments a number of times in a step procedure, and if the results are
completely satisfactory, the standard becomes a Codex Standard.  The Commission and its subsidiary
bodies are committed to revising, as necessary, Codex standards and related texts to ensure they are
consistent with and reflect current scientific knowledge and other relevant information.
8. Codex Secretariat provides all documents relating to its activities and to those of its
subsidiary committees to Member countries in the expectation that they will be sent to nationally
based consumer organizations for comments as required.  Codex documents are also made available
to international consumer organizations.
C. A
PPLICATION OF ADOPTED STANDARDS
9. The General Principles of the Codex Alimentarius specifies the ways in which Member
countries may accept Codex standards.  The ways of acceptance varies whether the standard is a
commodity standard, a general standard, residues of pesticides, veterinary drugs or levels foradditives.  However, generally the proposed ways of acceptance are "Full Acceptance, Acceptance
with Minor Deviations and Free Distribution".  Al though the process of harmonization is gaining, in
practice it is quite difficult for many countries to accept Codex standards in the statutory sense due to
different administrative and political systems, nati onal attitudes and concepts of sovereign rights.
D. W
HETHER AND HOW ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES , AND COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES AT THE
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
10. Codex assists developing countries in the foll owing manner:  it establishes and strengthens
national food control systems;  conducts workshops and training courses;  strengthens laboratory
analysis and food inspection capabilities;  provides training in all aspects of food control;  presentsG/TBT/W/106
Page 3
papers at conferences, meetings and symposia;  extends guidance on matters directly related to Codex
activities;  develops and publishes manuals and texts associated with food quality control;  assists to
establish and strengthen of food control agencies;  and develops and publishes training manuals.
11. Codex has close cooperation with FAO and WHO, and joint expert committees and meetings
are organized in collaboration with these organizations.  Codex, in cooperation with governmentsestablished Codex Contact Points to facilitate cooperation internationally, and many Member
Governments established National Codex Committees to coordinate Codex activities nationally.
II. INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION (IEC)
A. I
NTRODUCTION
12. IEC was established in 1906 to promote international cooperation on all questions of
electrotechnical standardization and conformity assessment in the fields of electricity, electronics and
related technologies.  The membership consists of more than 50 participating countries (NationalCommittees).  Full membership provides countries with the possibility of participating in international
standardization activities and voting rights.  Associate membership allows countries with limited
resources to participate in IEC meetings as observers.  However no voting rights are provided.
Pre-Associate Member status exists with a view to support countries to establish their national
committees so that they can become Associate Members in five years time.  Some 10,000 experts
world-wide participate in the technical work of the IEC.
B. O
PENNESS IN DRAWING UP PROGRAMMES , TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES AND PROCEDURES
FOR COMMENTS AND DECISION -MAKING
13. A proposal for new work generally originates from industry via a National Committee.  It is
communicated to the Members of the appropriate Technical Committees (TC) or Sub-Committees(SC) which carry out the standard development work.  A simple majority vote of Members on the
interest in the studying of the proposal takes place wi thin three months.  If the result is positive, and
five Members undertake to participate actively in the work and nominate experts, it is included in the
work programme together with a project plan including target dates.
14. The definition given in IEC standards reads "A normative document, developed according to
consensus procedures, which has been approved by the IEC National Committee, Members of the
responsible committee, in accordance with Part 1 of the ISO/IEC Directives …".  The word consensus
represents a common view point of parties conc erned, namely producers, users, consumers and
general interest groups.  International, governmental and non-governmental organizations liaising
with the IEC can also participate in the process of standard development.  Through the domestic tools
of consensus and public enquiry, any interested party may give comments in the development and
publication of an international standard.
15. The preparation of new IEC standard or the revision of an existing standard takes place in the
following principal stages:  (a) Preliminary Stage:  projects envisaged for the future or preliminary
work such as definition of a project and data collection;  (b) Proposal Stage:  proposal for new work;
(c) Preparatory Stage:  when working draft is prepared within a working group;  (d) Committee Stage:
document is submitted to National Committee, and balloted if the document is intended to bepublished as a technical report;  (e) Enquiry Stage:  Committee Draft for Vote is submitted to
Participating Members for a five month voting period.  It is the last stage at which technical
comments can be taken into consideration.  The draft is approved if majority of two-thirds of the votes
cast by Participating Members is in favour, and if, the negative votes cast by all National Committees
does not exceed one quarter of all the votes cast;  and (f) Approval Stage:  Final Draft InternationalStandard-FDIS is circulated to National Committees for a two month voting period.  Each NationalG/TBT/W/106
Page 4
Committee's vote must be explicit:  positive, negative or qualified abstention.  An FDIS is approved if
a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast by P-members is in favor, and the number of negative votes
cast by all National Committees does not exceed one quarter of all the votes cast.  If the document is
approved, it is published.  If the document is not approved, it is referred back to the TC or SC to be
reconsidered.
16. Average establishment period of an international standard is 5 years.  IEC is reducing the
average development time for its standards, and documents other than international standards are
prepared:  Technical Reports (TR) are publications which contain subject-matter and/or data which
are considered by the technical committees to be of considerable value in the market-place.
Technology Trend Assessments (TTA) are publications which cover a stage between theoretical work
and standardization to provide early information on new technologies so as to help anticipate future
standardization requirements.  Industry Technical Agreement (ITA) offers a platform for reachingtechnical agreements among key industry players in time-critical market sector (i.e., high technology
products).  They deliver a form of standardization in months rather than years.  ITA enables IEC to
collaborate with business interests in an operation entirely outside the structures and practices of the
conventional standardization process (i.e., it does not pass through the same consensus procedures).
Another tool of IEC in meeting rapidly developing  technologies' standardization demand is IEC-PAS
(Publicly Available Standards).  PAS are usually created by large companies or consortia, and rapidly
gain wide acceptance in the global market.  Th ey are brought into the IEC technical committee
processes primarily by a new liaison mechanism with such consortia.  All information on IEC
publications can be found on the IEC web-site.
C. A
PPLICATION OF ADOPTED STANDARDS
17. The adoption of IEC standards by a member or  a non-member country is entirely voluntary.
D. WHETHER AND HOW ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES , AND COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES AT THE
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
18. IEC promotes the participation of developing countries to its work through its membership
categories.  It provides training, access to standards and information on technical work to developing
countries.
19. IEC has close cooperation with ISO and ITU.  ISO and IEC have established a joint technical
committee.  It has cooperation agreements with CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical
Standardization) and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute).
III. THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION (ISO)
A. INTRODUCTION
20. ISO is a non-governmental organization established in 1947.  The scope of the ISO is not
limited to any particular branch (except electrical and electronic engineering which is the
responsibility of the IEC).  ISO has developed 9,300 international standards.
21. ISO currently has 131 National Members.  A member body of the ISO is the national body
"most representative of standardization in its country".  Correspondent Members (countries whichdoes not yet have a fully developed national standards activity) do not take an active part in the
technical work, but entitled to be fully informed re garding the work of interest to them.  Subscriber
members (countries with small economies) pay reduced fees, that nevertheless allow them to maintain
contact with international standardization.  Five-hundred Governmental and non-governmentalG/TBT/W/106
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international organizations in liaison with ISO take part in its work.  Although greater part of the ISO
technical work is carried out by correspondence, ISO Technical Committee meetings take place all
over the world.
22. The subscriptions required for member bodies to finance the operations of the ISO Secretariat
are expressed in units and calculated in Swiss francs.  The value of the subscription unit is set eachyear by the ISO Council.  The number of units for each member body is calculated on the basis of
economic indicators of GNP, value of imports and exports.
B. O
PENNESS IN DRAWING UP PROGRAMMES , TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES AND PROCEDURES
FOR COMMENTS AND DECISION -MAKING
23. The technical work of ISO is highly decentralized and carried out in a hierarchy of some
2,700 technical committees, sub-committees and working groups.  These committees provide for the
participation of representatives from industry, research institutes, government authorities, consumerbodies, and international organizations all over the world.  The Member body holding the secretariat
of a standards committee normally appoints one or two persons to do the technical and administrative
work, and bears the expenditure necessary for the operation of the secretariat.  All ISO standards are
developed on a consensual basis which needs not imply unanimity.  Generally, a consensus means
that a particular solution to the problem at hand is the best possible one for international application atthat time.  It should be specified as a general agreement characterized by the absence of sustained
opposition to substantial issues by any important part of the concerned interests.
24. The need for a standard is usually expressed by an industry sector, which communicates it to
a National Member body.  The latter then proposes the new work item to the ISO.  Establishment of
standards can also be proposed by an existing committee, an international organization with nationalmembership, specified offices of ISO or IEC and conformity assessment bodies.  All Members and
parties interested in the subject will be consulted.  The technical management board, after evaluation
of comments, recognizes the need for an internati onal standard formally with at least two-thirds of
Members in favour and 5 countries committed to participate in the work.
25. The first phase of standard development involves the definition of the technical scope of the
future standard.  This phase is usually carried out in working groups which comprise of technical
experts from countries, and international organizations in liaison, interested in the subject matter.  To
participate in the working group, each Member can deci de to be either a Participating Member (accept
obligation to contribute to the work), Observer Member (right to submit comments) or Non-Member
(not interested, but keeping rights to vote on the final draft).  Once agreement has been reached, on
which technical aspects are to be covered in the standard, a second phase is entered during which
countries negotiate the detailed specifications within the standard.  The final phase comprises of theformal approval of the resulting draft International Standard (the acceptance criteria stipulate approval
by two-thirds of the ISO Members that have participated actively in the standards development
process, and approval by 75 per cent of all Members that vote), following which the agreed text is
published as an ISO International Standard.
26. Average period required to establish an international standard is 5 years.  To accelerate the
standard process, ISO makes use of information technology and programme management methods.
All ISO standards are reviewed every 5 years, and if needed, standards could be reconsidered earlier.
27. ISO standards are published in English and Fr ench.  The ISO Information Network (ISONET)
provides a world-wide network of national standard information centres.  Information related to the
ISO publications can be obtained from ISO's web-site.  News of various aspects of standardizationwork, standards in process, new International Standards, committee meetings and feature articles on
standards are presented in the monthly ISO Bulletin.G/TBT/W/106
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C. APPLICATION OF ADOPTED STANDARDS
28. ISO standards are voluntary.
D. WHETHER AND HOW ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES , AND COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES AT THE
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
29. ISO, in partnership with ISO members and donor agencies, is involved in assisting ISO
developing countries Members on building threshold level standardization infrastructures.  It applies
reduced membership fees for correspondent members and subscriber members.  The committee on
developing countries matters (DEVCO) has 63 participating members and 32 observer countries.
DEVCO prepares development manuals, provides training in forms of regional seminars, fellowships,
training of technical officers, assistance in establishing arrangements under bilateral and multilateral
programmes and sponsors participation in standards writing committees.
30. ISO-IEC-ITU have issued common mission statement concerning the development of
voluntary consensus based standards.  ISO and IEC Joint President's Coordination Group develop
coherent policies and cooperation, ensure appropriate cooperation with ITU at relevant levels and in
appropriate fields.  ISO and IEC Joint Technical Advisory Board maintains the ISO/IEC directives
and coordinates technical programmes.  ISO a nd CEN (European Committee for Standardization)
have defined procedures for the development of standards that will be acceptable both as European
Standards and as International Standards.  ISO has close contacts with UN agencies such as WHO,
FAO and International Atomic Agency.  ISO and IEC have established cooperation with regional
groupings:  ARSO (Africa), AIDMO (Arabic count ries), ACCSQ (ASEAN countries), EASC (Euro-
Asian region), CEN (Europe), COPANT (Lat in America), and PASC (Pacific Rim).
IV. INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION (ITU)
A. INTRODUCTION
31. ITU was founded in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, and became a specialized
agency of the United Nations since 1947.  Its Member States consist of 188 Administrations.  In
addition, there are Sector Members from 144 recognized operating agencies (i.e., network and serviceproviders), 182 scientific and industrial organizations, 3 other entities dealing with telecommunication
matters, 23 regional and other international organizations, 10 regional telecommunications
organizations, 4 intergovernmental organizations operating satellite systems, and financial or
development institutions.  Sector Members require approval by National Telecommunication
Administration, and contribute to ITU expenses.  Each Sector Member chooses, on a voluntary basis,
how many "contributory units" it is willing to contribute to the ITU budget.  Contributory unit for
Sector Member in 1998 and 1999 is 65,600 CHF per y ear.  The minimum contribution is ½ unit, the
maximum is 40 units.
B. O
PENNESS IN DRAWING UP PROGRAMMES , TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES AND PROCEDURES
FOR COMMENTS AND DECISION -MAKING
32. ITU operates in three sectors:  (a) ITU-T Telecommunication Standardization Sector;
(b) ITU-R Radiocommunication Sector;  and (c) IT U-D Telecommunication Development Sector.  All
ITU Member States may participate in the activities of ITU-T which provides world-wide platform
for experts in telecommunication standardization.  Standards are developed within Study Groups by
experts from leading telecommunication organizations and companies world-wide.  There are
14 Study Groups, and each of them is responsible fo r different study areas (e.g., network, terminals,
tariffs, electromagnetic environment, telematic systems, television and sound transmission) calledG/TBT/W/106
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"Questions".  Study Group work programmes are constantly revised and adapted, reflecting priorities,
requirements and market needs.  New or revised "Questions" are agreed by consensus in
Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group, Study Group meetings or during the World
Telecommunication Standardization Conference (held every four years).
33. ITU-T Studies are driven by contributions from its Members.  Contributions are discussed at
meetings with assessments made by rapporteur and management team of Study Groups.  Seventy
per cent of Member States must support the submission of a Recommendation for the approval
procedures to a given Study Group meeting.  The Study Group meeting must reach unopposed
agreement in order for a Recommendation to be approved.
34. Member States and Sector Members receive all ITU-T information and Study Group
documents in paper form or through electronic access via TIES.  ITU-T web-site provides full
information relating to activities, membership, meetings, work programmes and recommendations.ITU Operational Bulletins exchange administrative, operational, statistical and tariff information.
C. A
PPLICATION OF ADOPTED STANDARDS
35. Although ITU-T Recommendations are non-bindi ng, they are generally complied with,
because they guarantee the inter-connectivity of networks and enable telecommunication services to
be provided on a world-wide scale.
D. WHETHER AND HOW ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES , AND COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES AT THE
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
36. The special problems of developing countries were discussed during the World
Telecommunication Standardization Conference held in 1996.  Two resolutions were adopted(Resolution 17 concerning telecommunication standardization in relation to developing countries and
Resolution 26 concerning assistance to Regional Tari ff Group).  ITU organizes regional seminars and
information meetings for developing countries, and fellowships may be provided to participants from
developing countries.
37. Recommendations and Resolutions were adopted in ITU for the coordination and cooperation
with forums, consortia, national and regional stan dards development organizations, and international
standardizing bodies (i.e., ISO, IEC and the Postal Operations Council of the Universal Postal Union).
V. THE ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT
(OECD)
A. I
NTRODUCTION
38. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an
intergovernmental organization established in 1960.  It has currently 29 Member countries fromvarious regions of the world.  Membership of the OECD is limited to countries committing to market
economy, democratic pluralism and respect of human rights.  All Member countries agree to
participate in an exercise specified as, "Peer Review".  This exercise is based on transparency,
explanation and when needed, self criticism by the countries examined.  An applicant country is
evaluated in the OECD committees concerned and decision for acceptance is made by the OECDCouncil.  Non-member participati on in OECD activities is provided  for by the OECD Convention and
by specific decisions of the OECD Council.  They can participate as regular observers or as full
participants to selected activities.  In that case, they are requested to contribute financially.  Currently,
more than 50 non-members are associated in one way or another with certain OECD activities.G/TBT/W/106
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39. OECD provides economic and social policy makers with a forum for discussions and
consultations.  It offers advice and recommendations to help its Members define their policies and
facilitate the negotiation of international agreements, legal instruments and voluntary guidelines in
key areas.  The fields covered by the OECD is very broadly defined and no area of Government
activity is excluded (with the exception of defence).  Work is carried out through some200 specialized bodies (subsidiary bodies) meeting on a regular basis in Paris.  The governing body,
the OECD Council, is composed of delegates fr om all Member countries which meet every two
weeks.  The OECD's annual programmes of work and budget are decided by its Member countries
and reflect the needs of the market and regulators.
B. O
PENNESS IN DRAWING UP PROGRAMMES , TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES AND PROCEDURES
FOR COMMENTS AND DECISION -MAKING
40. OECD sets standards in various fields.  In the area of chemicals management, there are
standards related to the Mutual Acceptance of Data in the Assessment of Chemicals (MAD) to help
underpinning national technical regulations in the area of acceptance of safety data for chemicals
assessment.  The OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals comprise internationally agreed
methods for testing related to chemicals safety, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, food and feed additives,
cosmetics and others.  The first 51 Guidelines were adopted by the OECD Council in 1981 togetherwith the OECD Principles of Good Laboratory Prac tice (GLP) as an integral part of the Council
Decision related to the Mutual Acceptance of Data.  That Council Decision states that data generated
using the Test Guidelines and Principles of GLP must be accepted for the purposes of assessment and
need not be repeated to notify or register chemicals in another OECD country.  This system is
extended to non-OECD countries since 1997.
41. The OECD Scheme for the Application of International Standards for Fruits and Vegetables
aims to promote the establishment and harmonization of international grade standard activities.  The
standards adopted by the UN/ECE, once approved by the Plenary Meeting, are applied under this
Scheme.  The Scheme is open for participation by any Member of the United Nations or one of its
specialized agencies.  Participating countries are obliged to establish within three years of theirjoining the Scheme, an export quality control of th e product in accordance with the guidelines set out.
Sessions of the Scheme can take place in any participating country.
42. Other relevant schemes and standard codes prepared under the OECD are:  (a) the OECD
Schemes for the Varietal Certification of Seed Moving in International Trade (29 OECD Members
and 29 non-members are parties to the Scheme);  (b) the OECD Standard Codes for the Official
Testing of Agricultural and Forestry Tractors (established in 1959 and implemented by 25 OECD
Members and 3 non-members).  The Code aims at harmonizing approval procedures regarding the
performance, occupational safety and environmenta l impacts of tractors;  and (c) the OECD Scheme
for the Control of Forest Reproductive Material Moving in International Trade (established in 1974 to
encourage the production and use of seeds and plants that have been collected, transported, processed
and distributed in a manner that ensures their trueness to name).
43. OECD standards may be originated from pr oposals by Members.  They are developed by
Expert Groups comprising of experts (from governments, industries, trade unions, environmental
NGOs, and/or academia) nominated by member countries.  Consensus is the decision-making
procedure, in accordance with the OECD Conv ention.  Observers can participate in standard
development in expert meetings and comment on drafts.  However, not being Members of the OECD
Council, they do not adopt the final texts.  All OECD adopted standards are published, and all OECDdecisions and recommendations are available upon request.  A number of OECD documents are
available at an earlier stage.  Most documents are provided free of charge.G/TBT/W/106
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C. APPLICATION OF ADOPTED STANDARDS
44. One of the forms traditionally used by OECD countries consists in the adoption of Decisions
(legally binding on members) and Recommendations (not binding).  While not all such decisions and
recommendations aim to set standards, a number of them explicitly or implicitly do so.  OECD
Standards (binding or not) can be applied by OECD Members and non-members.
D. WHETHER AND HOW ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES , AND COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES AT THE
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
45. OECD has been extending assistance to developing countries through Foreign Assistance
Co-ordinating Group.  A Deputy Secretary General oversees OECD's assistance activities and ensures
that they are coordinated among the relevant OECD bodies.  The OECD Development Assistance
Committee (DAC) works with the donor community to generate guidelines for effective aid and for
addressing new challenges.  Other relevant bodies in this area are:  the OECD Development Centre
which does researches on the developing world and the Club du Sahel which deals with aid questions
for West Africa.
46. Standard development in the OECD is realised in coordination with the relevant international
organizations, such as WHO, ISO and ILAC.  OECD has a number of contacts with NGOs and inparticular with international business communities and trade unions.  International organizations are
regularly invited to OECD meetings, either as observers or as experts.
VI. THE OFFICE INTERNATIONAL DES EPIZOOTIES (OIE)
A. I
NTRODUCTION
47. The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) is an intergovernmental organization
established in 1924.  Its objectives and functions include the harmonization of health requirements for
international trade in animals and animal products and the adoption of international standards in the
field of animal health.  The OIE has currently 151 Member countries.  The International Committee is
the highest authority of the OIE.  It comprises all the delegates of the Member countries, and meets at
least once a year in Paris.
48. The level of the annual contributions is laid down by the Internal Statute of the OIE.  There
are six categories of contributions, ranging from approximately US$ 10,000 to 100,000.  Each
Member country is free to choose its contribution category.  Irrespective of the amount of its
contribution, each Member has the same rights, as regards voting.
B. OPENNESS IN DRAWING UP PROGRAMMES , TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES AND PROCEDURES
FOR COMMENTS AND DECISION -MAKING
49. The Specialist Commissions, such as the International Animal Health Code Commission and
the Standard Commission are involved in the preparation of OIE recommendations.  To prepare the
decisions of these Commissions, the Director-General of OIE can set up ad hoc groups of
international experts, where needed, to deliberate on a specific issue.  The decision to prepare or
update an OIE recommendation always originates in a country facing a problem of animal health
(either inside or outside its territory).  The problem is reported to the OIE.  The request is thensubmitted to the relevant Specialist Commission (SC) for review, and to prepare a draft text.  The
draft text is then circulated for comments to the Member countries.  The Commission reviews the
comments and takes them into account (reasons for any rejections of comments are provided).  A new
draft may be prepared in case of many comments received.  If a draft text's adoption causes prolongedG/TBT/W/106
Page 10
debate, the President may propose the creation of a group of delegates to analyze the difficulties and
to draft a more acceptable text.  When the draft text is ready, it is circulated to Member countries for
adoption at the International Committee as an official OIE recommendation.  OIE recommendations
are adopted almost always by consensus, defined as  an absence of strong and motivated opposition of
one Member country.
50. The Central Bureau in Paris coordinates the corresponding activities in the fields of
information, international cooperation and scientific dissemination.  The Delegate is the focal point
for the circulation of information between the OI E and interested parties.  Most information
concerning OIE, its activities and standards could be obtained from OIE's web-site, except the
working programmes of the Commissions.  However, reports of the Commissions are circulated to
delegates, and each delegation is allowed to communicate the contents of the reports to interested
parties, so as to seek their comments on the proposals of the Commissions.
C. APPLICATION OF ADOPTED STANDARDS
51. OIE recommendations are of voluntary nature.
D. WHETHER AND HOW ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES , AND COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES AT THE
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
52. OIE has five Regional Commissions (Africa, Americas, Asia-the Far East and Oceania,
Europe and the Middle East) to study specific problems affecting veterinary services and organize
cooperation within the regions.  They report to the International Committee on their activities and
submit recommendations.  OIE has permanent relations with other organizations, including FAO,
WHO, WTO, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the PanAmerican Health Organization (PAHO).
VII. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF LEGAL METROLOGY (OIML)
A. I
NTRODUCTION
53. OIML is an intergovernmental body established in 1955.  Any country or economy may
become an OIML Member, and at present, it includes 56 Member states and 46 correspondingMembers.  One of the objectives of OIML is  to harmonize (through OIML International
Recommendations) national and regional legal metrology regulations prescribing the necessary
accuracy of measurement results and measuring instruments.  At present, there are more than
110 OIML International Recommendations.  OIML also operates a Certificate System for Measuring
Instruments.  A draft Mutual Agreement on OI ML Pattern Evaluation is under consideration.
B. O
PENNESS IN DRAWING UP PROGRAMMES , TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES AND PROCEDURES
FOR COMMENTS AND DECISION -MAKING
54. Technical work of OIML is developed within technical committees and sub-committees with
operational rules quite similar to those of ISO/IEC.  The minimum number of participating Members
of a TC/SC is five.  For topics of broad interest, the number of participating and observer Members
reaches 80 per cent of the number of Member states.  Up to now, participation in OIML TCs/SCs has
been restricted to Member states and international and regional liaison bodies, but will be accessibleto corresponding Members as of 1999.  Technical work of OIML is conducted as far as possible by
correspondence.G/TBT/W/106
Page 11
55. OIML technical work is conducted with the participation of two main groups:  the regulators
(responsible for legal metrology activities in OIML Member states) and the manufacturers of
measuring instruments (which may participate either  as members of national delegations or through
regional or international associations).  Users of measuring instruments, test laboratories and
consumer associations can also participate in th e technical work.  General procedures for comments
and decision-making are laid down in the Directives for the technical work and are in line with
paragraph L, M, and N of the WTO/TBT Code of  Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and
Application of Standards.  Special rule apply for the decision-making at TC/SC level is the approval
by a two-thirds majority of P-members.  Fo r the final approval of a Recommendation by the
International Committee of Legal Metrology, the number of abstentions shall not exceed one fifth of
voting Members and the number of negative votes shall not exceed one fifth of cast votes.
56. The International Bureau of Legal Metrology (BIML) is the permanent secretariat of the
Organization and serves as a focal point for information on all OIML activities.  Two main
information tools are used:  the OIML Bulletin (published quarterly) and the OIML web-site.  The
work programmes of OIML TCs/SCs are available on request from the BIML and will soon be on the
OIML web-site.  In principle, draft Recommendations are available only for P- and O-members of
TCs/SCs.  Information concerning new draft R ecommendations is published in the OIML Bulletin.
Published recommendations may be purchased from the BIML, and their availability through the
OIML web-site is under consideration.
C. APPLICATION OF ADOPTED STANDARDS
57. According to the OIML Convention, Member st ates are morally obliged to implement OIML
Recommendations as far as possible.  However, there is no obligation for an OIML Member state toregulate a measuring instrument just because it is covered by an OIML Recommendation.  It is only
when the Member state decides to regulate the instrument that the implementation of the OIML
Recommendation becomes mandatory.  The implem entation of OIML Recommendations by Member
states is regularly monitored by the BIML and relevant information is published.
D. W
HETHER AND HOW ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES , AND COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES AT THE
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
58. A specific activity for developing countries is pursued by the OIML Development Council
which includes:  the preparation of guidelines for implementing OIML Recommendations;  special
publications on subjects such as the construction and equipping of metrology laboratories;  and staff
training.  The OIML budget includes funds to facilitate the participation of representatives from
developing Member states in certain technical activ ities of the OIML.  The recent decision to allow
participation of corresponding Members in OIML technical activities, will increase participation of
developing countries in the work of OIML, since the majority of OIML corresponding Members are
developing countries.
59. OIML maintains liaisons with more than 100 international and regional metrology-related
bodies (e.g., the International Bureau of Weights and Measures), international accreditation bodies(i.e., ILAC and IAF), UNESCO, UNIDO, UN/E CE, WHO and manufacturers associations.
Cooperative agreements between ISO, IEC and OIML were reached to eliminate any risk of
divergences and reduce duplication of work.G/TBT/W/106
Page 12
VIII.  UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (UN/ECE)
A. INTRODUCTION
60. UN/ECE is a regional economic commission of the UN serving Europe and North America.
It has 55 Member states.  UN/ECE activities, among other things, relate to:  (a) standardization and
technical harmonization policies;  (b) agricultural quality standards;  (c) construction of vehicles;  and(d) trade facilitation standards.  They are undertaken in different Working Parties.
B. O
PENNESS IN DRAWING UP PROGRAMMES , TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES AND PROCEDURES
FOR COMMENTS AND DECISION -MAKING
61. The role for adoption of agreements in the Work ing Party and its Specialized Sections is the
unanimous consensus, which does not prevent the pos sibility of any delegations disagreeing with the
group, in which case reservations will appear in the standard.
1. Standardization and technical harmonization policies
62. The task of the UN/ECE Working Party on Technical Harmonization and Standardization
Policies (WP.6) is to encourage the development, adoption and application of harmonized technical
regulations and conformity assessment procedures in the ECE Member states.  It regularly updates a
UN/ECE standardization list, listing out areas wher e harmonized standards are lacking, and nominates
international organizations to be responsible for the standardization work.
2. Agricultural quality standards
63. The UN/ECE Working Party on Standardiza tion of Perishable Produce and Quality
Development has the responsibility for the elaboration of harmonized commercial quality standards
for perishable produce (i.e., fresh fruits and vegetables, dry and dried fruits, seed potatoes, eggs, meat
and cut flowers).  These standards which aim at promoting orderly and efficient trade, establish thedefinition of a product, levels of quality, size classification, marking, packaging and presentation
requirements.
64. The work of the UN/ECE groups on standardization of perishable produce is participated by
UN/ECE Member states, including the Europe an Union (Commission) representative, and
non member countries representing producers, exporters and importers.  Any Member of theUnited Nations may participate in the standardization activities of the UN/ECE under Article 11 of the
Commission's Terms of Reference.  They may fully participate in all discussions, propose
amendments for the existing standards, propose the elaboration of commercial quality standards for
items of economic importance to them or their region, serve as expert rapporteurs for the elaboration
or revision of UN/ECE standards and state object ions to the decisions of the Working Party.
65. The Working Party decides on the future work and adopts drafts that are presented by its
expert groups called Specialized Sections.  All relevant documentation can be obtained from theSecretariat and is partly available on the Internet.  Work on a commercial standard for a particular
product can be initiated by a request from an interested party (i.e., a country interested in production,
export or import of the item, an international or intra-governmental organization or an international
trade organization having a particular interest in the quality, marketing and standardization of the
particular product).  In making a decision as to whether to proceed with this work, the Working Partywould take into account:  the commercial importa nce of the commodity for one or several UN/ECE
countries on the basis of import and export volume;  the importance of one or several national
commercial standards among UN/ECE member countries;  and the quality characteristics of the item.G/TBT/W/106
Page 13
3. Construction of vehicles
66. The Inland Transport Committee and the Working Party on Construction of Vehicles (WP.29)
develops regulations for the construction of transport vehicles.  Its six subsidiary working parties
covering specific areas, such as brakes and running gear, lighting and light signalling, emissions and
noise.  These working parties meet twice a year, and all sessions are public.  In addition to UN/ECEMembers, participation is opened to all UN Members under Article 11 of the ECE terms of reference.
Eighteen non-governmental organizations represen ting the vehicle manufacturing industry, vehicle
users and consumers participate in a consultative capacity in the work of WP.29.  Adopted UN/ECE
vehicle regulations are public documents which can be obtained by all interested bodies in the UN
publications.  They are progressively introduced in their web-site.
4. Trade facilitation standards
67. The Centre for Facilitation of Procedures and Practices for Administration, Commerce and
Transport (CEFACT) is responsible for the trade facilitation techniques and recommendations
developed under UN/ECE, aiming at facilitating inte rnational transactions through the simplification
and harmonization of procedures and information flows (including those relating to electronic
commerce).  One-thousand-five-hundred experts, mainly from the private sector, governmental
agencies, NGOs and other international organizatio ns, contribute to the work.  Their input is
channelled through informal meetings held outside the UN formal structure.  UN/ECE has issued 26
Recommendations in this respect to lower trade barriers as a result of inefficient procedures.
C. A
PPLICATION OF ADOPTED STANDARDS
68. UN/ECE standards are implemented at national  and regional levels (e.g., by the European
Union).  Some UN/ECE standards are also issued as ISO standards.  The application of UN/ECEagricultural quality standards is voluntary, and some standards have served as a basis for obligatory
regulations in EU and the OECD Scheme.
69. Concerning construction of vehicles, UN/ECE ve hicle regulations are developed and kept up
to date in the framework of a legal instrument (the Agreement Concerning the Adoption of Uniform
Technical Prescriptions for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be Fitted and/or beUsed on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition of Approval Granted on
the Basis of these Prescriptions, done at Geneva on 20 March 1958 and revised in 1995).
Thirty-two countries and the EU are currently parties to this Agreement.  At present 110 UN/ECE
Regulations are annexed to the Agreement and applied voluntarily by Parties to the Agreement.  A
new legal instrument (the Agreement Concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations
for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be Fitted and/or be Used on Wheeled
Vehicles) which is intended to be operated in parallel with the 1958 Agreement, was adopted andopened for signature in June 1998.  It will enter into force upon fulfilment of the conditions
established in the Agreement.  WP.29 has also been mandated to establish rules concerning the
inspection of transport vehicles in use, with rega rd to their safety and environmental requirements.
These rules will be developed in the framework of the Agreement Concerning the Adoption of
Uniform Conditions for Periodical Inspections of Wheeled Vehicles and the Reciprocal Recognitionof such Inspection.G/TBT/W/106
Page 14
D. WHETHER AND HOW ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES , AND COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES AT THE
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
70. UN/ECE vehicle regulations take into account the special problems of developing countries
by establishing various levels of stringency.  Developing countries as well as their trader and producerassociations can propose items of interest to them and participate in the relevant sessions of UN/ECE.
71. UN/ECE coordinates its work with IEC and ISO in the standardization of electronic business.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the three organizations in which they agreed
to invite the participation of international user groups to ensure that their standardization requirements
in electronic business are met.  UN/ECE also cooperates with FAO/WHO and Codex Alimentarius
Commission in the standardization of fruit juices and quick frozen foods.  Regular consultations are
held with the Secretariat of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme in order to harmonizeand avoid duplication of work.  ISO and the Jo int FAO/WHO Codex Food Standards Programme, as
well as international and regional trade organizations (i.e., the Confederation of Importers and
Marketing Organization in Europe of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable) and NGOs are regularly represented
at the meetings of the Working Party on Standardization of Perishable Produce.
IX. THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
A. 
INTRODUCTION
72. WHO is a UN Specialized Agency, established in 1948.  It currently has 191 Member states.
One of the functions of the WHO is to develop and promote international norms in the area of health.
Any person possessing qualifications and/or experience relevant to the activities of WHO may be
considered for appointment as a member of a panel after consultations with the national authoritiesconcerned.  In the selection of members for expert advisory panels, the Director-General considers
primarily their technical ability and experience, but ensure that panels have the broadest possible
international representation.  Other UN Organizations and NGOs in official relations with WHO may
be invited to participate in expert committee meetings of their interest.
B. O
PENNESS IN DRAWING UP PROGRAMMES , TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES AND PROCEDURES
FOR COMMENTS AND DECISION -MAKING
73. WHO decisions are taken generally on grounds of public health and science.  The request to
develop a WHO standard (guideline, guiding principles or codes of good practice) usually arises from
health authorities and institutions of Member states (i.e., drug regulatory authorities), governing
bodies of WHO, or expert committees.  The establishment of binding standards by WHO always
involves adoption of the standard by Member states through a majority vote in the Health Assembly.
The establishment of non-binding standards may either take place at the technical level throughpublication of reports of expert committee meetings, or at the inter-governmental level through
endorsement by the Health Assembly.
74. WHO standard development procedures involve wide consultations in drafting phase and
assure that the procedures are transparent.  WHO accommodates all comments related to the standard
before the finalization of a standard proposal.  For written standards, the Secretariat of the WHOprepares a draft proposal that is distributed for comments by Governments and relevant institutions
within the Member states, non-governmental organizations and WHO collaborating centres.  After
accommodation of comments, the draft standard is discussed in subsequent consultation meetings, to
develop a consensus.  Finally the draft is considered by the expert committee to formulate its final
version for publication.  Depending on the nature and public health significance of the standardproposed, it may be submitted to WHO for approval or endorsement, normally by resolution.G/TBT/W/106
Page 15
75. WHO Technical Report Series and other WHO documents are available to any interested
party.  WHO distributes draft standards to governments, relevant institutions in Member states, WHO
collaborating centres, NGOs and industry organizations.
C. APPLICATION OF ADOPTED STANDARDS
76. Except a limited range, the majority of WHO standards are non-binding.  International Health
Regulations (IHR), adopted at the 22nd WHO Assembly in 1969, are binding for its signatories.  The
purpose of the IHR is to ensure maximum security against the spread of diseases internationally.
D. WHETHER AND HOW ACCOUNT IS TAKEN OF THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES , AND COORDINATION AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER BODIES AT THE
INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
77. Special problems of developing countries are considered in consultation phase of standards
setting and in expert committees.  WHO provides technical assistance on a range of issues related tofood standards, quality and food safety.  There is a particular interest in strengthening national food
control systems, harmonizing national food regulations with international standards, and establishing
import/export food inspection and certification systems.
78. WHO has cooperation with UNICEF, FAO, ILO and other relevant UN bodies, as well as
NGOs.  WHO, through its medical and scientific expertise, is responsible for the development andimplementation of risk assessment methodologies which ultimately become the foundation for
standards, guidelines and other recommendations adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
WHO has Joint Meetings with FAO on Pesticide Residues and Food Additives.  WHO conducts its
work in the field of chemical safety by International Programme on Chemical Safety, in cooperation
with UNEP and the ILO.G/TBT/W/106
Page 16CODEX IEC ISO ITU OECD OIE OIML UN/ECE WHO
Membership 163 Member
CountriesMore than 50
Participating
Members131 National
Members188 Member
States29 Members 151 Members 56 Member
States55 Members 191 Members
Fees **V o l u n t a r y
contributions(based onGDP, value ofimports andexports)Voluntary
contributions(specified inunits forSectorMembers)Contribution
system basedon GDPVoluntary
contributions(specified insix categoriesfor choosing)Annual
contributionscalculated onthe basis ofpopulation-economic
development**
Languages Publications
are in English,French andSpanish.Official
languages are English,French andRussian.Publications
are in English
and French.Official
languages areEnglish,French andRussian.Official and
workinglanguages areArabic,Chinese,English,
French,
Russian andSpanish.Official
languages areEnglish andFrench.Working
languages areArabic,English,French,German,
Russian and
Spanish.Official
language isFrenchWorkinglanguage isEnglish* Working
language isEnglish.Translation inofficial UNlanguages may
be provided.
Venue Commission
meets everytwo years
alternatively
in Geneva andRome.Central
Secretariat isbased in
Geneva.  TC
or SCmeetings maytake place indifferent partsof the world.Central
Secretariat isbased in
Geneva. TC or
SC meetingsmay take placein any parts ofthe world.Meetings may
take place inGeneva or
other parts of
the world.Work carried
out on aregular basis
in Paris.Central
Bureau isbased in Paris.International
Bureau isbased in Paris.Expert groups
mainly meet inGeneva, and in
some cases in
different placesupon theinvitation ofhostcountries.The
Secretariat isbased in
Geneva.
Application
of standardsVoluntary Voluntary Voluntary Voluntary Can be
binding or
non-bindingvoluntary voluntary voluntary Majority of its
standards are
non-binding
Standard
development
lengthSeveral years * Average 5
years10 months * * 3-6 years * Can vary
between 1-6years
e-mail
address* www.iec.ch www.iso.ch www.itu.int www.oecd.org www .oie.int www.oiml.org www.unece.org www.who.org
*No specific information was provided.G/TBT/W/106
Page 17
Annex 1
QUESTIONS SUGGESTED TO THE ORGANIZATIONS INVITED
1. Membership and meetings; membership rules, relevant fees, working languages, length of the
process of standard development, breadth of participation, i.e., the extent to which all members
actually participate in the work of standard development, and venue of meetings.
2. Openness in drawing up programmes: e.g., responsiveness to the needs of the market and the
regulators, reflection of trade priorities, and whether and how account is taken of the special problems
of developing countries.
3. Transparency procedures: e.g., publications or notifications to enable interested parties to
become acquainted with the standard development in the organizations, the possibility of obtaining
copies of proposed standards, publications of adopted standards, and the availability of work
programmes.
4. Procedures for comments and decision-making: e.g., procedures established to seek to take
into account the view of all parties concerned, process that seek to reconcile the conflicting opinions,
percentage of standards developed by consensus, and the definition of consensus.
5. Application of adopted standards: e.g., the voluntary or obligatory nature of the adopted
standards, the existence of arrangements with member bodies, or with analogous organizations at the
regional or national level for the transposition and use of adopted standards, and the transparency of
such arrangements, i.e., the extent to which the information is made publicly available.
6. Coordination and cooperation with other bodies at the international level.
__________