. /.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/W/139
28 July 2000
(00-3121)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
SECOND TRIENNIAL REVIEW OF THE AGREEMENT
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
Contribution by Australia
I. INTRODUCTION
1. Australia welcomes the papers prepared by the Secretariat1  summarizing Members'
discussions on the impact of the development of international standards on the effective
implementation and operation of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.  There are a number
of conclusions which can be drawn from the papers.
2. In particular, Australia notes that Members' discussions have highlighted the need to:
• advise international standardization bodies of Members' concerns regarding the
development of international standards;  and
• consider the scope for enhancing the relationship between the TBT Committee and
international standardization bodies to address these concerns.
3. It is also clear that expanding trade and rapidly developing technology is placing increasing
demands on the operations of international standardization bodies and that the expanded membership
of the World Trade Organization, notably of developing countries, also has implications for the
operations of international standardization bodies.
A. THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
4. The practices and operations of the majority of international standardization bodies are well
known.  It is a matter for Members to consider their membership and participation in the work ofthese bodies on the basis of their particular interests and capacities.  Australia recognises that a
number of Members wish to develop their technical expertise and infrastructure for developing and
applying standards.
5. It would be appropriate for Members to draw to the attention of international standardization
bodies the broad range of issues which have been discussed since the conclusion of the First TriennialReview of the Agreement and in the course of the Second Triennial Review.  There appears to be
general agreement amongst Members on the key issues relating to the development of international
standards.  These are:
                                                     
1 Job 2322 of 14 April and Job 3937 of 23 June 2000.G/TBT/W/139
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The need to:
foster transparency of operation, including to ensuring that the views of all members of
standardization organizations are taken into account;
respond to market requirements including technological developments; and
develop the capacity of new members of international standardization bodies to participate effectively
in standard setting processes.
6. International standardization bodies should be invited to consider and respond to these
concerns.
7. A particular issue on which Members have deliberated for some time is the question of the
need for guidance or agreement on the definition of  an "international standard".  International
standardization bodies could be invited to consider an appropriate means of addressing this matter.
B. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TBT C OMMITTEE AND INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDIZATION BODIES
8. It is important for the TBT Committee and international standardizing bodies to cooperate as
far as possible in ensuring that  international standards contribute  to improving the efficiency of
production and facilitate the conduct of international trade .
9. Arrangements are already in place for observership and exchanges of information between the
Committee and a number of international standardization bodies.  Australia appreciates the
informative exchanges which have emanated from these arrangements.  There may be scope toconsider whether the arrangements are utilised as effectively as possible so as to ensure that the
development of international standards is as responsive as possible to the needs of the trading system.
10. It may be possible, for example, to develop mechanisms by which Members' concerns on
particular issues can be formally conveyed to international standardization bodies through the
Committee.  It would, however, be expected that Me mbers would ensure that their particular concerns
are raised directly with the relevant international standardization bodies in the first instance.
11. In addition, as well as regular contact such as through Committee meetings, it may be
appropriate for either the Committee or international standardization bodies to convene special
meetings to discuss particular issues.  Considerati on could be given to identifying an indicative list of
priority issues for this purpose.
12. It is particularly important for Members to contribute to the effective operation of
international standardization bodies through their membership of and participation in such bodies.
The detailed points which have emerged from Members' discussions provide a constructive basis on
which countries may pursue their interests, either individually or collectively, through their
membership of international standards setting bodies.
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