G/TBT/N/TPKM/459  
10 June 2021  
(21-4768) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN, PENGHU, 
KINMEN AND MATSU   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI)  
Ministry of Economic Affairs  
No. 4, Sec. 1, Jinan Rd.  
Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan  
Tel: +(886 -2) 2343 -1783 
Fax: +(886 -2) 3343 -3991 
E-mail: ha.han@bsmi.gov.tw  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
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 [X], 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):  Fabric 
Steamers (CCCN 8516.40.00.00.3C and 8516.79.00.00.7D); Electric smoothing irons 
(HS 851640); Electro -thermic appliances, for domestic use (excl. hairdressing appliances 
and hand dryers, space -heating and soil -heating apparatus, water he aters, immersion 
heaters, smoothing irons, microwave ovens, ovens, cookers, cooking plates, boiling rings, 
grillers, roasters, coffee makers, tea makers and toasters) (HS 851679)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Proposal  for 
Legal Inspection Requirements for Fabric Steamers (4 page(s), in English; 4 page(s), in 
Chinese)  
6. Description of content:  The convenience of fabric steamers has made them popular in 
consumer households in recent years. Concerns have been raised abo ut hazards of 
electric shock and fire as the high temperature of steam used to remove textile wrinkles 
may cause degradation of insulation. Besides, a relatively high percentage of products 
randomly sampled from the market were found not in compliant with voluntary standards 
in terms of their safety and EMC aspects. The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and 
Inspection (BSMI) proposes to regulate fabric steamers in a similar manner as electric 
irons. Proposed requirements include safety, EMC and use of hazardou s substances. The 
conformity assessment procedure will be Registration of Product Certification Scheme 
(Module II+III) or Type -approved Batch Inspection.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of h uman health or safety  G/TBT/N/TPKM/459  
 
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  8. Relevant documents:   
• The Commodity Inspection Act;  
• CNS 60335 -1: 2014;  
• CNS 60335 -2-85: 2020;  
• CNS 13783 -1: 2013;  
• CNS 13803: 2003;  
• CNS 13803: 2018;  
• CNS 15663: 2013 Section 5 "Marking of Presence"  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  1 January 2023  
10. Final date for comments:  60 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
WTO/TBT Enquiry Point  
Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection  
Ministry of Economic Affairs  
No.4 , Sec. 1, Jinan Rd., Zhongzheng Dist.  
Taipei City 100, Taiwan  
Tel: +(886 2) 3343 -5140  
Fax: +(886 2) 2343 -1804  
E-mail: tbtenq@bsmi.gov.tw  
https://gazette.nat.gov.tw/egFront/detail.do?metaid=124579&log=detailLog  
https://www.bsmi.gov.tw/wSite/public/Data/f1623290647392.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/TPKM/21_4047_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/TPKM/21_4047_00_x.pdf