. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/N/COL/15
26 April 2002
(02-2423)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  Spanish
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   COLOMBIA
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Economic Development
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers and 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 [  X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 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):  69.11.10.00.00,
69.12.00.00.00, 70.13.10.00.00, 70.13.21.00.00, 70.13.29.00.00, 70.13.31.00.00,
70.13.32.00.00 and 70.13.39.00.00.
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Draft Resolution
Issuing Technical Regulation RTC-004MDE on Ceramic Tableware and Kitchenware,Ceramic Cooking Utensils, Glass and Glass-Ceramic Utensils and Other Ceramic Utensils
Intended for Use in Contact with Foodstuffs or Beverages  (seven pages in Spanish).
6. Description of content:   Purpose, Scope of application, ceramic tableware and
kitchenware, Definitions and abbreviations, Requirements for preventing health risks,
release of lead and cadmium, Requirements for preventing practices likely to mislead
consumers, labelling, Conformity assessment procedures, Demonstration of compliance,
Documents referenced or consulted, Tariff subheadings, Monitoring and inspection body,
Review and update, Penalty system, Liability, Validity.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
To prevent risks to users' health from the release of lead and cadmium and practices
likely to mislead consumers.
8. Relevant documents:
• DIN 51032 (German Institute for Standardization), February 1986:
Permissible limits for the release of lead and cadmium from articles
intended for use in contact with foodstuffs.
• ISO 6486-1:1981-06-01 (International Organization for Standardization):
Ceramic ware in contact with food - Release of lead and cadmium - Part 1:
Method of test.
• ISO 6486-2:1981-08-01: Ceramic ware in contact with food - Release of
lead and cadmium - Part 2: Permissible limits.G/TBT/N/COL/15
Page 2
8. Relevant documents:  (cont'd)
• ISO standard on lead and cadmium release from tableware.
• Mexican official standard NOM-010-SSA1-1993: Environmental health.
Glazed ceramic ware. Soluble lead and cadmium limits.
• Colombian technical standard NTC 3536:1993-05-19: Glass and glass-
ceramic utensils in contact with food. Release of lead and cadmium.
Permissible limits and method of test.
• NTC 3537:1993-05-21: Ceramic cooking utensils in contact with food.
Release of lead and cadmium. Permissible limits and method of test.
• NTC 4634:1999-07-28: Test method to determine the release of lead and
cadmium in ceramic containers in contact with food.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  10 July 2002
Proposed date of entry into force:  Upon publication in the Official Journal.
10. Final date for comments:  9 July 2002
11. Texts available in Spanish  from:
National enquiry point [ X ]:  
Ministry of Economic Development
Department of Trade and Promotion of Competition
Carrera 13, No. 28 - 01, 7th floor
Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
Tel.:  (571) 350-5500, ext. 713Fax:  (571) 350-9564
E-mail: normalizacion01@mindesa.gov.co
             COLOMBIA@mindesa.gov.co
or address, telephone and fax numbers and E-mail and Web site addresses, if
available, of other body:
Department of Industry
Carrera 13, No. 28 - 01, 8th floor
Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
Tel.:  (571) 350-3950, ext. 870
Fax:  (571) 350-5286E-mail: sectorial@mindesa.gov.co