G/SG/1/Rev.2  
G/SG/N/6/Rev.2  
G/SG/89/Rev.1  
10 November  2020 
(20-8054) Page: 1/10 
Committee on Safeguards   
 
  
FORMATS FOR CERTAIN NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE  
AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS  
NOTE FROM THE SECRETARIAT  
Revision  
 At its meeting of 26 October  2020, the Committee on Safeguards approved certain 
amendments to existing notification formats contained in document G/SG/1/Rev.1 -G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 -
G/SG/89 . Reproduced below are the new formats .1  
 Members' attention is drawn to the fact that there are two more currently used formats 
contained in document G/SG/2 (dated July 1996; "Information to be Notified to the Committee 
Where a Safeguard Investigation is Terminated With No Safeguard Measure Imposed") and 
document G/SG/N/1 (dated February 1995; "Notification o f Laws, Regulations and Administrative 
Procedures Relating to Safeguard Measures"). No amendments were made to the formats contained 
in these two documents, and therefore, these two formats are not reproduced here.  
 
_______________  
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS  
A. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(A) (INITIATIONS)  ................................ .................  2 
B. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER  ARTICLE 9, FOOTNOTE 2 (NON -APPLICATION OF 
SAFEGUARD MEASURE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES)  ................................ ............................  3 
C. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(B) AND ( C) (FINDING AND DECISION)  ....................  4 
D. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.4 (PROVISIONAL MEASURE)  ................................ ..... 6 
E. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.5 (CONSULTATIONS, MID -TERM REVIEW, 
COMPENSATION)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  7 
F. FORMAT FOR INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED UPON INITIATION OF A REVIEW 
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 7.2 REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE  ...............  9 
G. FORMAT FOR INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED UPON CESSATION OF A SAFEGUARD 
MEASURE  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  10 
 
 
 
1 The underlining that appears in paragraph 4 of the forma t contained in item B appeared in the original 
document, and has not been changed this time.  G/SG/1/Rev.2 • G/SG/N/6/Rev.2 • G/SG/89/Rev.1  
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 NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(A) (INITIATIONS)  
Note: The format is suggested without prejudice to the interpretation of the relevant provisions in 
the Agreement on Safeguards by the competent bodies. Members are also reminded of the 
provision in Article 12.11 of the Agreement on Safeguards, which reads as follows: "The 
provisions on notification in this Agreement shall not require any Member to disclose 
confidential information the disclosure of which would impede law enforcement or otherwise 
be contrary to the public interest or would prejudice the legitimate commercial interests of 
particular enterprises, public or private."  
1. Specify the date when the investigation was initiated.  
2. Provide the precise description of the product involved.  
Provide the Harmonized System numbers under w hich the product enters at least at a 
6-digit HS level, and at a sub -national level (e.g. 8 -digit HS, 9 -digit HS or 10 -digit HS) 
if practicable. (The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes only.)  
3. Provide the reasons for the initiation of inves tigation, for example:  
(i) Was the investigation initiated pursuant to a petition from the domestic industry?  
(ii) Evidence on the basis of which the investigation was initiated.  
(iii) Evidence, if any, of critical circumstances where delay would cause damage which it would 
be difficult to repair.  
4. Provide a point of contact for the investigation and identify the preferred means for 
corresponding. The point of contact would be available to respond to enquiries relating to the 
procedures applicable to the investigation . 
5. Provide the deadlines and procedures for importers, exporters and other interested parties to 
present evidence and their views, including (i) deadlines and procedures for Members and exporters 
to identify themselves as interested parties, if so requir ed, to participate in the investigation and 
(ii) the date of an intended public hearing as provided for in Article 3.1.1 
  
 
1 At the time of the initiation, if the authority has not decided whether or not to hold such a hearing, or 
if the date of the hearing is undetermined, Members sho uld indicate under this item how such information 
would be publicized. Members are not obliged to submit another notification simply due to the fact that the 
proposed date has subsequently been changed.  G/SG/1/Rev.2 • G/SG/N/6/Rev.2 • G/SG/89/Rev.1  
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 NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 9, FOOTNOTE 2 (NON -APPLICATION OF SAFEGUARD 
MEASURE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES)  
Note: In addition to the in formation received from the WTO Members regarding the action under 
Article 9.1 of the Agreement on Safeguards, the document circulated to the Members will 
also include references to the WTO documents through which the corresponding notifications 
under Arti cle 12.1(b) and (c) are circulated to the WTO Members. The references to the 
corresponding notifications under Article 12.1(b) and (c) will be provided by the Secretariat, 
because these notifications may be released simultaneously with the notification und er 
Article  9, footnote 2, and the notifying Member may not have information on references to 
the corresponding WTO documents.  
1. Specify the measure.  
2. Specify the product subject to the measure.  
3. Specify the developing countries to which the measure is not appl ied under Article 9.1 of the 
Agreement on Safeguards, and the import shares of these countries individually and collectively.  
4. Subsequently, if there is a change  in the list of developing countries exempted from the 
safeguard measure pursuant to Article 9.1 , please notify:  
(i) the reference to the WTO document that notified the Members about the initial action under 
footnote 2 to Article 9.1;  
(ii) if applicable, names of the countries which are dropped from the list of developing countries 
to which the safeguard meas ure does not apply pursuant to Article 9.1, the list of the 
countries remaining on the list, the individual and collective import shares of the developing 
countries remaining on the list, and the date on which the safeguard measure applies to the 
countries  dropped from the list;  
(iii) if applicable, names of the countries which are added to the list of developing countries to 
which the safeguard measure does not apply pursuant to Article  9.1, the list of all the 
countries on the list, the individual and collectiv e import shares of the developing countries 
on the list, and the date from which the safeguard measure does not apply to the countries 
which are added to the list.  
 
  G/SG/1/Rev.2 • G/SG/N/6/Rev.2 • G/SG/89/Rev.1  
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 NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.1(B) AND (C) (FINDING AND DECISION)  
Notes : 
(1) The notifications under Article 12.1(b) and (c) have to be made "immediately" upon "making 
a finding" or "taking a decision". It is possible that the timing of "making a finding" and 
"taking a decision" differs to an extent that notifications under Article  12.1(b) might be made 
separately from notifications under Article 12.1(c). In that situation, it is possible that certain 
information requested in the format may not be available when a notification under 
Article  12.1(b) is made. If information on any ite m is not available when a notification under 
Article 12.1(b) is made, please indicate this by stating "not available" for the relevant items 
in the format suggested below.  
(2) If the notifications on Article 12.1(b) and (c) are made separately, please prov ide the 
reference to the notification under Article 12.1(b) in the notification under Article 12.1(c).  
(3)  Some Members have a decision -making structure where the competent authorities make 
recommendations to a decision -making body regarding whether to ta ke a decision to impose 
or extend a safeguard measure. Such Members are encouraged to submit two notifications 
making use of, to the extent possible, the format below: one informing the fact that the 
competent authorities made such a recommendation, and an other informing what has 
become of that recommendation. This encouragement is without prejudice to the legal status 
of those two notifications.  
1. Provide evidence, citing relevant data and the applicable period of investigation  of serious 
injury or threat th ereof caused by increased imports.  
2. Provide information on whether there is an absolute increase in imports or an increase in 
imports relative to domestic production (please see also Article 2.1 for the context).  
3. Provide the precise description of the produ ct involved.  
Provide the Harmonized System numbers under which the product enters at least at a 
6-digit HS level, and at a sub -national level (e.g. 8 -digit HS, 9 -digit HS or 10 -digit HS) 
if practicable. (The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes  only.)  
4. If the final measure replaces a provisional measure, or if a final measure is extended, a 
Member is encouraged to provide a written description of any part of the imported product that will 
no longer be subject to the measure and the Harmonized Sys tem numbers under which it enters at 
least at a 6 -digit level, and at a sub -national level (e.g., 8 -digit, 9 -digit or 10 -digit level) if 
practicable.2 
5. Provide precise description of the proposed measure.  
6. Provide proposed date or actual date of introductio n of the measure.  
7. Provide expected duration of the measure.  
8. For a measure with a duration of more than three years, provide the proposed date for the 
review (under Article 7.4) to be held not later than the mid -term of the measure, if such a date for 
the review has already been scheduled.  
9. If the expected duration is over one year, provide expected timetable for progressive 
liberalization of the measure.  
10. If the notification relates only to a finding of serious injury or threat thereof, and does not 
relate to  a decision to apply or extend a safeguard measure:  
 
2 The HS codes will be provided for reference purpose s only.  G/SG/1/Rev.2 • G/SG/N/6/Rev.2 • G/SG/89/Rev.1  
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  (i) provide the deadlines for interested parties to comment or any other procedures relevant to 
the decision to apply the measures, and  
(ii) provide information regarding procedures for prior consultation with tho se Members having 
a substantial interest as exporters of the product concerned.  
11. If the measure is being extended, also provide:  
(i) evidence that the industry concerned is adjusting and that the safeguard measure continues 
to be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury;  
(ii) reference to the WTO document that notified the initial application of the measure;  
(iii) duration of the measure from initial application till the date at which it will be extended;  
and, 
(iv) precise description of the measure in place prior t o the date of extension (in this context, 
please note that the last sentence of Article 7.4 states that: "A measure extended under 
paragraph 2 shall not be more restrictive than it was at the end of the initial period, and 
should continue to be liberalized .") 
12. If the notification relates to a decision to apply or extend a safeguard measure, Members are 
encouraged to provide the following information:  
(i) The major exporting Members of imports of the product involved.  
(ii) If there are any exporting Members to which t he measure does not apply for any reason 
other than the application of Article 9.1, the names of such exporting Members and reasons 
for non -application of the measure.  
13. Members are encouraged to attach, in an electronic form, publicly available document(s) 
containing the relevant decision(s) made by the competent authority. This document may be in the 
original language of the Member, even when the language is not one of the official languages of the 
WTO. The document will neither be translated nor circulated  to the Committee, but will be made 
available by the Secretariat to Members requesting it.  
  G/SG/1/Rev.2 • G/SG/N/6/Rev.2 • G/SG/89/Rev.1  
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 NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.4 (PROVISIONAL MEASURE)  
1. Provide the precise description of the product involved.  
Provide the Harmonized System numbers under which t he product enters at least at a 
6-digit HS level, and at a sub -national level (e.g. 8 -digit HS, 9 -digit HS or 10 -digit HS) 
if practicable. (The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes only.)  
2. Specify the proposed provisional safeguard measure.  
3. Specify the proposed date of introduction of the provisional safeguard measure.  
4. Specify the expected duration of the provisional safeguard measure, if any decision on the 
duration of the measure has been made.  
5. Provide the basis for:  
(i) making a preliminary determination, as provided for in Article 6, that increased imports have 
caused or are threatening to cause serious injury; and,  
(ii) determining that there are critical circumstances where delay would cause damage which it 
would be difficult to rep air. 
6. Members are encouraged to provide the following information:  
(i) The major exporting Members of imports of the product involved.  
(ii) If there are Members to which the measure does not apply for any reason other than the 
application of Article 9.1, the names o f such exporting Members and reasons for 
non-application of the measure.  
7. Members are encouraged to attach, in an electronic form, publicly available document(s) 
containing the relevant decision(s) made by the competent authority. This document may be in th e 
original language of the Member, even when the language is not one of the official languages of the 
WTO. The document will neither be translated nor circulated to the Committee, but will be made 
available by the Secretariat to Members requesting it.  
  G/SG/1/Rev.2 • G/SG/N/6/Rev.2 • G/SG/89/Rev.1  
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 NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.5 (CONSULTATIONS, MID -TERM REVIEW, 
COMPENSATION)  
(a) Immediate notification to the Council for Trade in Goods of the results of the consultations 
referred to in Article 12, namely, prior consultations under Article  12.3 or consul tations under 
Article  12.4 initiated immediately after the provisional safeguard measure is taken  
Note: The notification of the results of the consultations referred to in Article 12 should, if possible, 
be provided jointly by the Member that takes the saf eguard action and the Member that 
seeks consultations under Articles 12.3 or 12.4.  
1. Specify the provision under which consultations were held (i.e.  Article 12.3 or Article  12.4).  
2. Provide reference to the WTO document that notified the safeguard action regar ding which 
consultations were held under Article 12.3 or 12.4.  
3. Specify the Members involved in the consultations, and provide the time period during which 
consultations were held.  
4. Describe the results of the consultations.  
(b) Immediate notification to the Cou ncil for Trade in Goods of the results of the mid -term reviews 
referred to in paragraph 4 of Article 7  
1. Specify the measure and the product subject to the measure for which the mid -term review 
was conducted, and provide reference to the WTO document that no tified the safeguard measure 
subject to the review.  
2. Provide the dates of initiation and conclusion of the review.  
3. Describe the results of the review, providing some detail on the basis for reaching those 
results.  
4. Indicate whether:  
(i) the measure has been, or will be, withdrawn as a result of the review. If yes, then indicate 
the date of withdrawal; and,  
(ii) the pace of liberalization has been, or will be, increased as a result of the review. If yes, 
then indicate the revised time -table for progressive lib eralization.  
(c) Immediate notification to the Council for Trade in Goods of any form of compensation referred 
to in paragraph 1 of Article 8  
Note: This notification should, if possible, be submitted jointly by the Member taking the safeguard 
measure and the M ember(s) agreeing to accept trade compensation under Article 8.1.  
1. Specify the measure and the product subject to the measure regarding which there was an 
agreement on an adequate means of trade compensation under Article 8.1, and provide reference 
to the W TO document that notified the safeguard measure.  
2. Specify which Member(s) agreed to the trade compensation under Article 8.1.  
3. Describe the trade compensation that was agreed by each of the Members involved.  
4. Provide the date from which the compensation will apply for the Members involved.  G/SG/1/Rev.2 • G/SG/N/6/Rev.2 • G/SG/89/Rev.1  
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  (d) Immediate notification to the Council for Trade in Goods of proposed suspension of 
concessions and other obligations referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 8  
Note: This notification is to be provided by the Member proposing s uspension of concessions and 
other obligations referred to in Article 8.2.  
1. Which Member is proposing suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to in 
Article 8.2.  
2. Specify the measure, the product subject to the measure, the WTO document that notified 
the safeguard measure, and the Member imposing the measure in relation to which the Member is 
proposing suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to in Article 8.2.  
3. Describe the proposed suspension of concessions and other obligatio ns referred to in 
Article  8.2, and the proposed date from which it will come into effect.  
  G/SG/1/Rev.2 • G/SG/N/6/Rev.2 • G/SG/89/Rev.1  
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 FORMAT FOR INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED UPON INITIATION OF A REVIEW PURSUANT 
TO ARTICLE 7.2 REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE3 
 A Member initiating a review pursuant to Article 7.2 to determine whether a safeguard 
measure continues to be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury and whether there is 
evidence that the industry is adjusting is encouraged to provide immediately the followi ng 
information in the form of a notification to the Committee on Safeguards4: 
1. The date when the review was initiated5 
2. Precise description of the product involved  
• Provide the Harmonized System numbers under which the product enters at least at a 
6-digit l evel, and at a sub -national level (e.g., HS 8 -digit, 9 -digit or 10 -digit level) if 
practicable.6 
• If the review does not involve all the products subject to the existing measure, describe 
any differences.  
3. Reference to the WTO document containing the most r ecent Article 12.1(c) notification.  
4. Reason for the initiation of the review.  
5. Provide the deadline(s) for exporters and other interested parties to submit comments in 
writing or in a hearing, if any.  
 
  
 
3 This format is without prejudice to the interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Agreement on 
Safeguards. In particular, the Committee has noted that some Members are of the view that some or all of this 
information is in fact already cov ered by the existing provisions of the Agreement on Safeguards.  
4 Format for the notification of a decision to extend a safeguard measure is already covered by G/SG/1 
(1 July 1996). See item C above.  
5 A Member is not precluded from making a notification w hen the initiation of a review is imminent, for 
example, in a few days.  
6 The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes only.  G/SG/1/Rev.2 • G/SG/N/6/Rev.2 • G/SG/89/Rev.1  
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 FORMAT FOR INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED UPON CESSATION OF A SAFEGUARD 
MEASURE7 
 In order to facilitate review of measures in advance of meetings and to allow exporters to be 
aware as soon as possible that measures are no longer in place, upon the cessation of a provisional 
or final safeguard measure , a Member is encouraged to provide promptly the following information 
to the Committee on Safeguards.8 
1. The date when the measure ceased to apply.  
2. Precise description of the product involved  
• Provide the Harmonized System numbers under which the product enters at least at a 
6-digit level, and at a sub -national level (e.g., HS 8 -digit, 9 -digit or 10 -digit level) if 
practicable.9 
• If a measure ceased to apply to some, but not all of the product involved, a Member is 
encouraged to provide a written d escription of the imported product that will no longer 
be subject to the measure and the Harmonized System numbers under which it enters 
at least at a 6 -digit level, and at a sub -national level (e.g. 8 -digit, 9 -digit or 10 -digit 
level) if practicable.10 
3. A reference to the WTO document containing the Article 12.4 or Article 12.1(c) notification of 
the original measure, whichever is applicable.  
4. Reason why the measure ceased to apply.11 
 
__________  
 
7 This format is without prejudice to the interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Agreement on 
Safeguards. This fo rmat is not intended to encourage Members to make redundant notifications.  
8 In cases where a measure ceases to apply upon the expiration of the period previously notified – that 
is, notified pursuant to Article 12.1(c) without extension or notified pursua nt to Article 12.4 without the 
application of a definitive measure – the information can be provided in the form of a simple written notice to 
the Committee on Safeguards.  
9 The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes only.  
10 For provisional measu res that are replaced by final measures and for final measures that are 
extended, the information to be provided may be submitted as part of the Article 12.1(c) notification of the 
final or extended measure.  
11 When a provisional measure ceases to apply, th e notification or the simple written notice – as 
provided in footnote 11 above – should state whether or not there was a determination that increased imports 
have caused or threatened to cause serious injury to a domestic industry.