G/TBT/44  
 
19 February 2020  
(20-1286) Page: 1/70 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade    
 
TWENTY -FIFTH  ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND  
OPERATION OF THE TBT  AGREEMENT  
 NOTE BY THE SECRETA RIAT1 
The WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (the Committee) will conduct its 
twenty -fifth Annual Review of the implementation and operation of the WTO Agreement on Technical 
Barriers to Trade (the TBT Agreement) under Article  15.3 at its next meeting on  26-27 February 
2020. This document contains information on developments in the Committee re lating to the 
implementation and operation of the TBT Agreement from 1  January to  31 December  2019.  
 
_______________  
 
 
 
 
 
1 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice to 
the position of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  G/TBT/44  
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS  
1   EXECUTIVE SUMMAR Y ................................ ................................ ...............................  3 
2   IMPLEMENTATION OF T HE EIGHTH TRIENNIAL REVIEW  ................................ ...........  5 
3   TRANSPARENCY AND  NOTIFICATIONS  ................................ ................................ ...... 6 
3.1   Notifications of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures  ....................  6 
3.1.1    Trends in new notifications and follow -up (addenda, corrigenda, revisions)  ....................  6 
3.1.2    Notifications by Member  ................................ ................................ ..........................  7 
3.1.3    Use of notification formats  ................................ ................................ .......................  8 
3.1.4    Notifications by development status and region  ................................ .........................  11 
3.1.5    Regional approaches to notification  ................................ ................................ ..........  13 
3.1.6    Comment period provided in notifications  ................................ ................................ . 13 
3.1.7    Stated objectives of notifications  ................................ ................................ .............  16 
3.1.8    Online tools for notifications  ................................ ................................ ....................  17 
3.2   Other TBT notifications  ................................ ................................ ..............................  19 
3.2.1    Notifications under Article 10.7  ................................ ................................ ................  19 
3.2.2    Notifications under Article 15.2  ................................ ................................ ................  19 
3.2.3    Notifications under the Code of Good Practice for the preparation, adoption and  
application of standards ("Code of Good Practice")  ................................ ...............................  20 
3.3   TBT Enquiry Points ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 20 
3.4   Adopted final texts: website information  ................................ ................................ ...... 20 
4   SPECIFIC TRADE C ONCERNS  ................................ ................................ ...................  21 
4.1   Trends in STCs  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  21 
4.2   STCs b y Member  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 23 
4.3   Members subject to new STCs  ................................ ................................ ....................  24 
4.4   STCs by region and development status  ................................ ................................ ...... 25 
4.5   Types of concerns raised in STCs  ................................ ................................ ................  26 
4.6   Stated objectives of measures subject to STCs  ................................ .............................  27 
4.7   Number of times STCs are raised  ................................ ................................ ................  28 
4.8   Relationship between notifications and STCs  ................................ ................................  29 
5   DISPUTES INVOLVI NG PROVISIONS OF THE  TBT AGREEMENT  ................................  31 
6   SECRETARIAT TECH NICAL ASSISTANCE ACT IVITIES  ................................ ...............  31 
ANNEX  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  32 
A. Notifications by Member, 1995 -2019 ................................ ................................ ..............  32 
B. Revised Recommendation of the Committee on Coherent Use of Notification Formats  ...........  37 
C. Percentage of notifications that contain a comment period, by Member, 2019 ......................  39 
D. Summary of STCs raised in 2019  ................................ ................................ ...................  40 
E. Overview of new STCs raised in 2019  ................................ ................................ .............  48 
F. Statements on Implementation and Administration of the Agreement under Article 15.2  ....... 53 
G. Members who validated their Enquiry Point information in 2019 ................................ .........  58 
H. Adopted final texts: website information  ................................ ................................ .........  59 
 G/TBT/44  
 
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  1  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  
• Mr. Sung -Hwa Jang (Korea) was elected by the TBT Committee as its Chairperson for 2019. 
Three regular meetings were held: on 5 -7 March2, 18-21 June3 and 12 -15 November4; 
 
• The Committee began implementing the recommendations of the Eighth Triennial 
Review of the Operation and Implementation of the TBT Agr eement5 and adopted 
two new procedures on specific trade concerns and transparency  (Section 2);  
 
• Overall, there is a high level of implementation of the TBT Agreement transparency 
obligations  by WTO Members . Since 1995: 142 Members (87% of membership) have  
submitted at least one notification of a proposed technical regulation or conformity 
assessment procedure (Article 10.6 ; Section 3.1.1 ); 142 Members (87% of membership) 
have submitted at least one notification of a statement on implementation and 
administ ration of the Agreement (Article 15.2 ; Section 3.2.2 ); and, 118 Members ( 72% of 
membership) provided updated contact information for their TBT Enquiry Point during 2019 
(Articles 10.1 and 10.2 ; Section 3.3 ). However, only 23 Members (14% of membership) 
have submitted at least one notification of a bilateral or regional  agreement on issues related 
TBT measures (Article 10.7 ; Section 3.2.1 ); 
 
• Members continue to improve implementation of notification obligations : 3,337  
notifications  of new or changed TBT meas ures were submitted by 93 Members during 
2019, both all -time highs, following a consistent upward trend. However, 71 Members did 
not notify any proposed TBT measures during 2019 (Section 3.1.1);  
 
• A handful of African and Latin American Members were especially strong in 
notifying : Uganda submitted the most notifications of any Member in 2019, and Kenya and 
Tanzania were amongst the top ten notifying Members. Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina were 
also amongst the top notifiers. African Members submitted j ust over a third of all new 
notifications in 2019, far more than any other regional group. (Section 3.1.2 and 3.1.4);  
 
• The steadily rising number of notifications from developing and least -developed Members 
since 2004 is driving overall growth in notificat ions. The majority of new notifications 
(63%) in 2019 were submitted by developing Members  (61), while least -developed 
Members (12) were responsible for 21% . Notifications submitted by developing 
Members rose by nearly 10% compared to 2018 (Section 3.1.4);  
 
• A record number of addenda were submitted by Members (1,101)  in 2019 , mostly 
communicating information related to the adoption, publication or entry into force  of 
the measure. Amongst these, just over half included a website address to the adopted final 
text (Section 3.1.3);  
 
• Members continue to provide less than the recommended 60 -day comment period  
(an average of 56.1 days in 2019) . This follows a declining t rend since 2015 . Nevertheless, 
on a more positive note, Members are increasingly using addenda to extend comment 
periods (Section 3.1.6);  
 
• Use of the TBT Notification Submission System  (TBT NSS)  is increasing. 88% of all TBT 
notifications were submitted us ing the TBT NSS, up from 35% in 2014 (Section 3.1.8.1);  
 
• Use of ePing  is also increasing. The number of subscribers grew to 8,821 at the end of 
2019, up from 5,569 at the end of 2018 , around half of which are from the private sector 
(Section 3.1.8.2);  
 
• The number of new specific trade concerns raised is the highest in any one year since 2015. 
Members discussed 185 specific trade concerns  (STCs), including 35 new concerns. As 
 
2 G/TBT/M/77 .  
3 G/TBT/M/78 . 
4 G/TBT/M/79 . 
5 G/TBT/41 . G/TBT/44  
 
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  has been the case in recent years, the vast majority of STCs discussed in 2019 were  
previously raised STCs (Section 4.1);  
 
• The large majority of new STCs raised in 2019 were about  proposed measures (Chart 21), 
illustrating the pre-emptive role of the Committee's STC discussion  in addressing trade 
frictions (Section 4.1) ; 
 
• Since 1995, 68 Members (41% of membership) have raised at least one STC in the TBT 
Committee. In 2019, 35 Members (21% of membership)  raised at least one STC, 
compared to 33 in 2018 (Sections 4.1 and 4.2);  
 
• Developing Members are increasingly active in rai sing STCs . As a group, in 2019, they 
raised the most new STCs in any year since 2015 (Section 4.4);  
 
• An important share of the STCs discussed in the Committee are no longer on the agenda . 
81% of all STCs (discussed in the TBT Committee since 1995) have not  been raised over 
the past two years . This may indicate some form of progress  towards resolutions  (Section 
4.7); 
 
• There is complementarity between the notification of proposed measures and their 
discussion in the Committee . 68% of all STCs raised between 1 995 and 2019 relate to 
notified measures (Section 4.8);  
 
• Two standardizing bodies notified their acceptance of the Code of Good Practice for the 
Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards , and 57 notifications of work 
programmes were received from 31 standardizing bodies. Overall, 192 standardizing bodies 
from 144 Members or Observers have accepted the Code of Good Practice since 1995 
(Section 3.2.3); and,  
 
• A total of 37 TBT technical assistance activities  were delivered by the Secretariat during 
2019, including 13 national workshops (Section 6).  
  G/TBT/44  
 
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  2  IMPLEMENTATION OF THE  EIGHTH TRIENNIAL REVIEW  
2.1.  The TBT Committee began implementing the recommendations of the Eighth Triennial Review 
during 2019  as follows:6 
a. Specific trade  concerns . At the June 2019 meeting, the Committee adopted (on a 
permanent basis) new procedures for the inclusion of specific trade concerns in the 
annotated draft agenda of the TBT Committee.7 
b. Notifications . At the November 2019 meeting, the Committee agreed on a revised  format 
for addend a.8 
c. Thematic sessions . The Committee held five thematic sessions, in line with the work 
plan of the Eighth Triennial Review9:  
i. March 2019: Good Regulatory Practice – focusing on domestic committees, and other 
administrative mechanisms, to facilitate  internal coordination on TBT.10 
ii. March 2019: Conformity Assessment Procedures – focusing on: post -market controls 
(e.g. market surveillance) and other pre -market controls; and risk assessment .11 
iii. June 2019: Transparency – Ninth Special Meeting on Procedures f or Information 
Exchange.12 
iv. November 2019: Standards – focusing on incorporating standards by reference in 
regulations.13 
v. November 2019: Conformity Assessment Procedures – focusing on National Quality 
Infrastructure (NQI).14 
  
 
6 G/TBT/41 . 
7 G/TBT/43  
8 G/TBT/35/Rev.1  
9 G/TBT/41 , para. 8.2 iv.  
10 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/G EN/256 . 
11 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/257 . 
12 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/265 . 
13 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/277 . 
14 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/278 . G/TBT/44  
 
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  3  TRANSPARENCY AND NOTIFICATIONS15 
3.1  Notifications of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures  
3.1.1   Trends in new notifications and follow -up (addenda, corrigenda, revision s)  
3.1.  Members submitted a record number of notifications to the TBT Committee in 2019.  In total , 
Members submitted 3,337  notifications of new or changed measures , the most in any year since 
1995. This includes an  all-time high in the number of addenda to existing notifications of technical 
regulations and conformity assessment procedures ( 1,101), as well as 2,074  new notifications, 7 4 
corrigenda to existing notifications , and 88 revisions (Chart 1).16 Compared to 2018, the total 
number of notifications rose by 9%, maintaining the trend of a steady increase since 2004. Since 
the entry into force of the  TBT Agreement and up to 31  December 2019, 142 Members (representing 
87% of the full membership) have submitted  at least one notification, totalling  36,641 notifications 
(see Annex A).   
Chart  1: Total TBT notifications, 1995 -201917  
 
3.2.  Participation in submission of notifications in 2019 was higher  than previous years , with 93 
Members ( 57% of current  WTO membership) submitting at least one notification during the year 
(Chart 2). However , 71 Members did not notify any proposed TBT measure s during 2019. 
 
15 The data for the charts in this section are drawn from the TBT IMS http://tbtims.wto.org/ , 
complemented by m ore detail in Annex  A. Further  information  on TBT notifications  is available through the TBT 
IMS. 
16 This document uses the terminology adopted by the TBT Committee in the recommendation on 
"Coherent use of notificat ion formats", G/TBT/35/Rev.1 , 21 November  2019. See Annex B.  
17 Notifications of unofficial translations of notified measures, supplements , are not considered part of 
total TBT notifications for the purposes of this report. See Chart 8 for more details.  
364460795650 671 608 541 5867956377658681028124814881411
12161552 1598 15291424164817922083 2074
193538
27 111251249
55107127172219364396
469576 468 621
4775797078401101
359
4 1213222651
29233018433443
73484556
4670538774
215
3
62
32511137 1915192934
3034285188
388501847
681 697633574624897
7248971030122915231893 18691773219521402240
19772331258030613337
05001000150020002500300035004000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Number of notifications
New notifications Addenda Corrigenda RevisionsG/TBT/44  
 
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  Chart 2: Members' participation in the notification process, 1995 -2019 
 
3.1.2   Notifications by Member  
3.3.  African Members were again amongst  the most active in submitting TBT notification s in 2019, 
with three East African Community members in the top ten . Uganda submitted the most notifications 
of any Member for the third year in a row (Chart 3).  Latin America n Members (three) were also 
prolific notifiers, with Ecuador submitting the second highest number of notifications.   
Chart  3: Ten Members  that submitted most notifications  (new notifications, addenda and 
corrigenda, and revisions) during 2019 
 
3.4.  The ten M embers that have notified most frequently since 1995 are listed in Chart 4.  
0102030405060
0102030405060708090100
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
PercentageNumber of Members
Number of Members notifying % participation of total Membership
146198
127
98170
137
522791 81296
128
126
9119
2
52
625
17
11 5
361442
331
270
200194
139
107959182
050100150200250300350400450500
Uganda Ecuador United States
of AmericaBrazil Kenya Tanzania Chinese Taipei Argentina China Kuwait, the
State ofNumber of notifications
New notifications and Revisions Addenda CorrigendaG/TBT/44  
 
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  Chart 4: Ten Members that submitted most notifications (new notifi cations, addenda and 
corrigenda, and revisions) during 1995 -2019 
 
3.5.  Taking a closer look at the five top notifying Members (US, Brazil, Uganda, EU, and China; 
Chart 4 ), Chart  5 shows that the annual volume of notifications submitted  by these Members over 
the past ten years is relatively stable . Exceptions to this are the number of notifications submitted 
by the US over the past several  years, which peaked in  2016, and those submitted by Uganda which 
rose dramatically as of 2017 . 
Chart  5: Notifications submitted by the EU , Brazil, Uganda , the US  and China  (new 
notifications, addenda and corrigenda, and revisions) during 2010-2019 
 
3.1.3   Use of notification formats  
3.6.  The TBT Committee has agreed on a recommendation for the  coherent  use of different 
notification formats ("new notifications", "revisions", "addenda", "corrigenda", as well as 
"supplement s"), which increases transparency of  notified measure s throughout the regulatory 
lifecycle.  A revised recommendation was adopted at the  November 2019 meeting annexing a 
3468
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1378
104912591133 1112 1065270
200
44262
91
33167
52 34433738
1926
1787
1638
1469
13801326
118511461108
05001000150020002500300035004000
United States
of AmericaBrazil Uganda European
UnionChina Ecuador Israel Mexico Saudi Arabia,
Kingdom ofCanadaNumber of notifications
1995-2018 2019
050100150200250300350400450500
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Number of notifications
European Union Brazil Uganda United States of America ChinaG/TBT/44  
 
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  template to be used to indicate the reason for an addendum.18 The recommendation applies in 
various situations, for example, when the comment period on a notifica tion has been extended 
(addenda, see Section 3.1.6 and Chart 15), if a measure has been withdraw n or revoked (addenda), 
a measure is substantially redrafted prior to adoption or entry into force (revision),  or the adopted 
final text becomes available (addenda).  
3.7.  The use of addenda has increased significantly over recent years. Since 2011 more than 450 
addenda have been notified every year, and in 2019 alone, 1,101 were notified (see Chart 1). Several 
Members are quite active in notifying information through addenda (Chart 6).  The type of informat ion 
provided in addenda varies.  
Chart 6: Ten Members that submitted most addenda  during 1995 -2019 
 
3.8.  In 2019, the main type of information  in addenda (59%) relate d to the adoption, publication 
or entry into force of the measure (Chart 7).  Amongst th ese addenda relating to adoption, publication 
or entry into force of the measure, just over half included a website address to the adopted final 
text.19  
 
18 G/TBT/35/Rev.1 , reproduced in Annex B.  
19 G/TBT/41 , para. 6.19(e.i); G/TBT/1/Rev.14 , Section 6.3.1.11, page 33.  
1692
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757
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529
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348320285
215
020040060080010001200140016001800
United States
of AmericaEcuador Brazil Uganda Mexico Colombia Argentina Canada European
UnionChinese TaipeiG/TBT/44  
 
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  Chart 7: Reasons for addenda submitted during 201920 
 
3.9.  Contrar y to addenda , the number of revisions submitted  is low; between 2012 and 2018 the 
WTO received on average  32 revisions per year (Chart 1) ; this rose to 88 in 2019, 72% of which 
were submitted by Ecuador . The Members that have notified the most revisions since 1995 are 
Ecuador  (72), China  (45), the US (32), South Africa (25), Canada (25), Thailand (24) and Brazil 
(24). The EU is the only Member that has notified unofficial translations through supplements 
(Chart  8), although since 2017 this notification format has not been used. Of the 250 supplements 
notified by the EU, over 100 provide links to unofficial translations of measures notified by China .  
Chart 8: Supplements notifying unofficial translations , 2009-2019 
 
 
20 Most adden da (78%) submitted in 201 9 relate to measures originally notified in previous years.  
Comment period changed
14%
Adopted/published/entered 
into force
59%Measure 
withdrawn/revoked
7%Content/scope of 
measure changed
13%Interpretative guidance 
issued
0%Additional information 
available
7%
71
35
14
5426
1
01020304050607080
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Number of supplementsG/TBT/44  
 
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  3.10.   The five top notifying Members use notification formats in different ways  (Chart 9). The US 
continues to notify more addenda and corrigenda combined than new notifications, while China rarely 
uses these formats. As indicated above, revisions are rarely used.  
Chart 9: Use of notification formats  by the EU , Brazil, Uganda,  the US  and Chi na during  
1995 -2019, total number of notifications  
 
3.1.4   Notifications by development status and region  
3.11.   The rise in new notifications since 2004 (see Chart  1) is to a large extent explained by a  
marked increase in notifications submitted by developing Members (Chart 10). Again in 2019 the 
majority of notifications ( 63%) were submitted by 61 developing Members. Least -developed 
Members ( 12) were responsible for 21% of new notifications in 201921 and developed Members ( 19) 
for only 16%. Only the level of notifications submitted by developing Members rose compared to 
2018, an increase of nearly 10%;  in contrast, notifications from developed Members decreased by 
nearly 10% and those from least-developed Members by 17% . 
 
21 The top five notifying least -developed Members for the period 1995 to 2019 concerning new 
notifications are Uganda (1,155), Tanzania (366), Rwanda (284), Yemen (167) and Zambia (88).  
1755
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2487451692
757 594 285 19259
82
30
40
193738
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1469
05001000150020002500300035004000
United States of America Brazil Uganda European Union ChinaNumber of notifications
Regular Revision Addenda CorrigendaG/TBT/44  
 
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  Chart 10: New notifications by developm ent status, 1995 -2019 
 
3.12.   African Members  once again  submitted just over a third of all new notifications in 2019, far 
more than any other regional group , followed by Members in South and Central America and the 
Caribbean jointly with Asia, with shares of 20% each. Of the  one third attributed to African Members, 
Kenya  accounts for 25%, Uganda  for 21%, Tanzania  for 20%, Rwanda  for 10% and Burundi  for 7%. 
Compared to 2018, the main change s were an increase in notifications from South and Central 
America and t he Caribbean , and a renewed decrease in notifications from the Middle East  (Chart  11).  
Chart 11: Distribution of new notifications by region, 2019 
 
 
0200400600800100012001400
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Number of notifications
Developed Members Developing Members Least-developed Members
Africa
33%
Asia
20% Commonwealth of 
Independent States (CIS) …Europe
7%Middle East
11%North America
8%South and Central 
America and the 
Caribbean
20%G/TBT/44  
 
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  3.1.5   Regional approaches to notification  
3.13.   In recent years, groups of Members have coordinated notification of technical regulations and 
conformity assessment procedures adopted in regional economic communities, so as to notify such 
measure s jointly to the WTO.22 The GCC Gulf Standards Organization is one group of Members that 
has submitted a significant number of joint notifications  (Chart 1 2). The Andean Community has 
also made use of this approach, albeit to a much lesser extent  (Chart 1 3).23 
Chart 12: New notifica tions by GSO members, 1995 -2019 
 
Chart 1 3: New notifications by Ande an Community members, 1995 -2019  
 
3.1.6   Comment period provided in notifications  
3.14.   The Committee has agreed that the normal time limit for comments on notified technical 
regulations and conformity assessment procedures should be  60 days. Any Member able to provide 
a time -limit beyond 60 days , such as 90 days,  is encouraged to do so and should indicate this in the 
notification.24 In 2019, Members provided on average only 56.1 days for comments on new 
 
22 Regional bodies or economic communities cannot notify on behalf of Mem bers. It is Members that are 
responsible for fulfilment of the obligations on notification of draft measures contained in the TBT Agreement. 
For statistical purposes, a joint notification submitted by a group of Members is counted as an individual 
notifica tion by each Member of the group.  
23 For statistical purposes, each  notification submitted jointly by GSO Members counts as seven 
notifications in total notification counts, while each notification submitted jointly by Andean Community  
Members counts as four notifications.  
24 G/TBT/1/R ev.14 , Section 6.3.1.8, page 30. 
397359
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2165165
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165562
524
4005631116
466
167
020040060080010001200
Bahrain, Kingdom
ofKuwait, the State of Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia,
Kingdom ofUnited Arab
EmiratesYemenNumber of notifications
National notifications Joint regional notifications
32274467
112
888
8
40282475
120
050100150200250300350400450500
Bolivia, Plurinational State of Colombia Ecuador PeruNumber of notifications
National notifications Joint regional notificationsG/TBT/44  
 
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  notifications and revisions (of those 1,992 notifications which  specifie d a comment period – Chart 
14).25 The tendency of Members to provide shorter average comment periods  since 2015  continued 
in 2019.  
Chart 14: Average number of days provided  for comments , new notifications and 
revisions, all Members , 199 6-2019 
 
 
 
3.15.   The average comment period provided by each Member in 2019 (who notified a total of five 
or more new notifications or revisions) is shown in Chart 15. In 170 new notifications and revisions 
submitted last year, there was no comment period included, the stated comment period had lapsed,  
or it was stated that a comm ent period was non -applicable. During the year,  13 Members26 used the 
addendum format to notify extensions to comment periods on measures first notified in 2019; this 
information is also reflected in Chart 15. Annex C illustrates the percentage of notificat ions submitted 
in 2019 that provide a comment period, by Member (where five or more new notifications or revisions 
were notified).  
 
 
25 This chart c overs only those notifications that specify a comment period. The chart does not take into 
account notifications where the comment period was not specified, was stated as non -applicable, or had lapsed 
at the t ime of circulation ("lapsed" means that the deadline for comments stated on the notification was earlier 
than the date of circulation of the notification).  
26 Ecuador, United States, Brazil, Honduras, Chile, Colombia, Korea, Australia, Guatemala,  New Zealan d, 
Panama, Thailand and Uruguay  (in descending order).  
46.9
46.347.2
46.549.653.3
49.254.857.860.560.9
59.9
58.1 58.157.758.3
56.558.860.2
59.2
55.856.1
55.456.1
404244464850525456586062Average number of daysG/TBT/44  
 
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  Chart 15: Average comment period, by Member, 201927 
 
 
 
 
 
27 This chart includes only those Members that have notified five or more new no tifications or revisions 
in 2019 . 
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0PhilippinesKenyaMexicoAustraliaPeruUnited States of AmericaArgentinaBotswanaBrazilUruguayViet NamAlbaniaNew ZealandBolivia, Plurinational State ofJapanIndiaThailandTurkeyIsraelChinese TaipeiChileSouth AfricaEuropean UnionEcuadorBahrain, Kingdom ofBurundiChinaEgyptEswatiniFinlandGhanaIndonesiaKuwait, the State ofMalawiMalaysiaOmanParaguayQatarRwandaSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSloveniaTanzaniaUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesYemenKorea, Republic ofGuyanaCanadaCzech RepublicPanamaSwitzerlandColombiaGrenada
Initial period provided Extension of comment period (through addenda)G/TBT/44  
 
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  3.1.7   Stated objectives of notifications  
3.16.   "Protection of human health or safety" was once again overwhelmingly the primary objective 
stated in new notifications submitted in 2019 (Chart 1 6).28 The second most cited objective was 
"Quality requirements", followed by "Consumer information, labelling" , "Prevention of deceptive 
practices and consumer protection",  and "Protection of the environment". When comparing this with 
the most cited objectives for the period 1995 to 2019, the top five objectives remain unchanged, 
albeit in a different order (Chart 17). 
Chart 1 6: Notification by objective, 201929 
 
 
Chart 1 7: Notification by objective, 1995 -201930 
 
 
28 The objectives are indicated by Members in Item 7 of the new notification template (see 
G/TBT/1/Rev.14 , pp. 66-69). Notifications may cite multiple objectives.  
29 2 notifications over the stated  period did not specify any objective.  
30 76 notifications over the stated  period did not s pecify any objective.  
632711541552203605496908011425
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600National security requirementsCost saving and productivity enhancementProtection of animal or plant life or healthReducing trade barriers and facilitating tradeOtherHarmonizationProtection of the environmentPrevention of deceptive practices and consumer protectionConsumer information, labellingQuality requirementsProtection of human health or safety
Number of notifications
58114550882893923195729633705376712099
0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000National security requirementsCost saving and productivity enhancementProtection of animal or plant life or healthReducing trade barriers and facilitating tradeOtherHarmonizationConsumer information, labellingProtection of the environmentQuality requirementsPrevention of deceptive practices and consumer protectionProtection of human health or safety
Number of notificationsG/TBT/44  
 
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  3.1.8   Online tools for  notifications  
3.1.8.1   TBT Notification Submission System  
3.17.   In 2019, 88% of all TBT notifications were submitted using the TBT Notification Submission 
System (TBT NSS)31, continuing a robust  upward trend in the number of notifications submitted 
online  (Chart 18).  
Chart 1 8: Percentage of notifications submitted via the TBT NSS, 2014 -2019 
 
 
3.18.   68 Members (listed below ) used the TBT NSS in 2019, up from 50 in 2018 (Table 1) .32 
Table 1: L ist of Members that used the TBT NSS  in 2019 
Member  
Argentina  Dominican Republic  Kenya  Oman  Thailand  
Australia  Ecuador  Korea, Republic of  Peru Trinidad and Tobago  
Bahrain, Kingdom of  Egypt  Kuwait, the State of  Philippines  Tunisia  
Belgium   Eswatini  Lithuania  Russian 
Federation  Turkey  
Bolivia, Plurinational 
State of  European Union  Malawi  Rwanda  Uganda  
Botswana  Germany  Malaysia  Saint Lucia  Ukraine  
Brazil   Ghana  Mexico  Samoa  United Arab Emirates  
Burundi  Guyana  Moldova, Republic 
of Saudi 
Arabia, 
Kingdom of  United Kingdom  
Canada   India Mongolia  Slovenia  United States of 
America  
Chile Indonesia  Montenegro  South Africa  Uruguay  
China  Israel  Morocco  Sweden  Viet Nam  
Colombia  Jamaica  Namibia  Switzerland  Yemen  
Côte d'Ivoire  Japan  Nepal   Chinese 
Taipei   
Czech Republic  Kazakhstan  New Zealand   Tanzania   
 
31 G/TBT/1/Rev.14 , Section 6.6.4.1, page s 42-43. 
32 For access to the TBT NSS, please contact tbtnss@wto.org . 
355265627088
0102030405060708090100
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019PercentageG/TBT/44  
 
- 18 - 
 
  3.1.8.2   ePing: SPS/TBT notification alert system  
3.19.   Given the high volume and diversity of SPS/TBT notifications circulated annually,  reaching 
5,100 notifications in 2019,  it can be a challenge for stakeholders to track and react to evolving 
product requirements in a timely manner. One of the recommendations of the Seventh Triennial 
Review concluded in 2015 was for the WTO Secretariat t o develop an alert system to facilitate access 
to these notifications.33 In response, the WTO partnered with UNDESA and ITC and launched ePing 
in November 2016. By registering on the publicly available system, users can receive daily or weekly 
email alerts containing SPS/TBT notifications covering products/markets of interest to them. In 
addition, ePing's web -based national and international discussion fora can assist Enquiry Points in 
reaching out to domestic stakeholders and other Enquiry Points to discuss  specific notifications 
and/or exchange complementary information (such as full texts, translations or comments). These 
features can in turn facilitate the formulation of timely and coordinated comments and/or swift 
adaptation to new product requirements.  
3.20.   The Eight h Triennial review report adopted in 2018 contain ed two further recommendations 
specifically related to ePing .34 First, the Committee agreed to discuss how ePing can facilitate the 
work of Enquiry Points and promote access to notifications by the p rivate sector. During the 
transparency thematic session35 held in June 2019, a number of Members shared their experiences 
in this regard and ePing was identified as a useful tool for tracking notified regulations, for domestic 
stakeholder consultation and f or international information exchange among Enquiry Points, with a 
view to reducing trade frictions.36 The Secretariat Background Note circulated in the context of the 
transparency thematic session also provided further details on registered users' countrie s and 
profiles.37 
3.21.   Second, the Committee agreed to discuss the dissemination of comments received on notified 
draft measures and substantive replies on a voluntary basis, possibly via existing tools such as ePing. 
Following preliminary discussions during the  June transparency thematic session and the November 
regular meeting38, Switzerland was the first Member to disseminate official comments on a TBT 
notification via ePing's international information exchange forum on 20 December 2019.39 In 
addition , Enquiry Points of Ghana and Malaysia  used the forum to share full texts and translations 
of previously notified measures.40 
3.22.   The Secretariat provided regular updates to the TBT Committee on ePing during the March, 
June and November meetings.41 In addition, an ePing walk -in session was held on the margins of 
the November TBT Committee meeting to present recent enhancements and answer specific queries 
from Members. Furthermore, ePing was presented during the SPS Committee's workshop on 
transparency  and coordination held in July 2019.42 
3.23.   Since its launch, ePing  has seen a steady rise in subscribers from both the public and private 
sectors. On 1 January 2019, ePing had 5 ,569 registered users; by 31 December the  number had 
gone up to 8 ,821 from 179 countries and territories.43 Around half of registered users are from 
governments and the rest from private companies, non -governmental organizations, academia and 
regional/international organizations.  Since the beginni ng of 2018, the online registration form for 
 
33 Seventh Triennial Review Report, G/TBT/37 , para. 5.2.d.iii . 
34 Eighth Trienn ial Review Report, G/TBT/41 , para s. 6.19(a.i) and 6.19(f.ii).  
35 This Transparency Thematic session also constituted the Ninth Special Meeting on Procedures for 
Information Exchange, mandated by the TBT Committee to be held on a regular basis ( G/TBT/1/Rev.14 , 
para.6.8.1)  
36 TBT Thematic Session Moderator's Report G/TBT/GEN/265 . 
37 Background Information f or the Thematic Session on Transparency, G/TBT/320 , paras. 2.12 -2.23. 
38 G/TBT/M/79 , paras.2.318 .2.319.  
39 On notification G/TBT/N/MEX/178/Add.9 : https://www.epingalert.org/en#/Forum/77175/international  
40 See for example https://www.epingalert.org/en#/Forum/76102/international  and 
https://www.epingalert.org/en#/Forum/76912/international  
41 G/TBT/GEN/262 ; https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/2_a_secretariat.pdf ; G/TBT/GEN/274 . 
42 https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/sps_e/workshop15072019_e/d1_s3_eping_e.pdf  
43 In terms of their registration filters for alerts, 67% of users are interested i n receiving notifications 
affecting "all" products while 33% have selected more specific product categories. With respect to their filters 
regarding "notifying Members", 87% of registered users are interested in receiving notifications from all 
Members whi le others have identified specific trading partners. Regarding types of notifications, 86% are 
interested in tracking both SPS and TBT notifications while 8% prefer to track TBT notifications only and 6% 
SPS notifications only.  G/TBT/44  
 
- 19 - 
 
  ePing includes a question as to whether the private sector subscriber is from a company with more 
or less than 250 employees. The responses indicate that around half of them are from companies 
with less than 250  employees.  
3.24.   Table 2 shows the 20 Members with the highest number of regist ered users.  In addition, TBT 
officials from 81 Members have been granted admin rights upon their request, allowing them to 
manage ePing at the national level.  
Table 2. Members with h ighest number of ePing registrations  
 Member  Number of 
ePing 
registrations  
1 United States of America  348 
2 United Kingdom  342 
3 Australia  334 
4 Uganda  306 
5 Turkey  290 
6 Japan  277 
7 China  257 
8 Malaysia  244 
9 Indonesia  242 
10 Philippines  238 
11 Brazil  213 
12 New Zealand  207 
13 Canada  198 
14 Rwanda  195 
15 Tanzania  186 
16 Viet Nam  183 
17 India 180 
18 Peru 166 
19 Germany  159 
20 Egypt  158 
 
3.25.   The WTO, ITC and UNDESA have continued their collaboration in maintaining and introducing 
enhancements to the system considering experience gained as well as feedback from users. Some 
of the enhancements have included a more dynamic and user -friendly homepage, a simplified 
platform for users to share follow up inform ation on notifications and inclusion of all SPS and TBT 
notifications since 1995. Resources permitting, further enhancements are planned for 2020.  
3.2  Other TBT notifications  
3.2.1   Notifications under Article 10.7  
3.26.   No agreements were not ified under Article 10.7 in 2019. Since 1995, 14 9 agreements, four 
revisions , four corri genda and one addendum have been notified under A rticle 10.7.  Overall, 23 
Members ( 14% of membership ) have submitted at least one notification under Article 10.7.   
3.2.2   Notifications under Article 15.2  
3.27.   In 2019, two notifications were submitted under Article 15.2 of the TBT Agreement with 
respect to measures in existence or taken to ensure the implementation an d administration of the G/TBT/44  
 
- 20 - 
 
  TBT Agreement , both of which were revisions to  previous notifications  by Canada and Kenya .44 In 
total, 14 2 Members have submitted at least one notification under Article 15.2 (see Annex F). 
3.2.3   Notifications under the Code of Good Practi ce for the preparation, adoption and 
application of standards ("Code of Good Practice")  
3.28.   Since the launch of the WTO ISO Standards Information Gateway  in November 2016, there 
has been a signifi cant increase in engagement by Members and standardizing bodies in notifying 
both the acceptance of the Code of Good Practice and sharing work programmes. This trilingual 
platform provides information on standardizing bodies that have accepted the Code of Good Practice 
and, if available, their work programmes. In 2019, two standardizing bodies notified the acceptance 
of the Code and 57 notifications of work programmes (existence or updates) were received from 31 
different standardizing bodies.45 Websites are now the most common way of making work 
programmes  available. At the end of 2019, 119 Standardizing bodies had provided hyperlinks to 
where their work programmes can be found (others provide the work programmes as pdf files, which 
are made ava ilable on the gateway).  
3.29.   Between 1995 and 2019, 192 standardizing bodies from 144 Members or Observers accepted  
the Code of Good Practice. In addition, one regional standardizing body has accepted the Code: the 
African Organisation for Standardisation. The  full list of Standardizing bodies that have accepted the 
code can be downloaded on the TBT IMS . The Standards I nformation Gateway  contains links to work 
programmes, the forms for the acceptance of and withdrawal from the Code of Good Practice, as 
well as the form to notify work programmes.  
3.3  TBT Enquiry Points  
3.30.   In 2019, the Secretariat reached out to Members with respect to the functioning of Enquiry 
Points as included in the Eighth Triennial Review recommendation:  
"To encourage Members to validate the contact information of their Enquiry Points as 
contained in the TBT IMS to improve the accuracy and availability o f this information. 
Members are encouraged to either inform the Secretariat that the current information 
is correct, or to provide the Secretariat with updated information, by the March 2019 
meeting"46 
3.31.   With a view to facilitating the validation process, the  Secretariat contacted Enquiry Points 
requesting  them to verify and update as necessary their contact information as shown on the TBT 
IMS. By 31 December 2019,  the Enquiry Points of 118 Members had responded to this request . Of 
these, 36 confirmed that their contact details were correct, while 83 provided updated information 
on aspects such as contact persons, addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers. All 
changes signalled by Mem bers have been updated in the TBT IMS. Annex G provides a list of the 
118 Members who validated their Enquiry Point information in 2019. Those Members which have not 
yet done so are invited to provide this information to the Secretariat by email ( tbt@wto.org ).  
3.4  Adopted final texts: website information  
3.32.   In the Eighth Triennial Review , the Committee recommended that Members provide the 
Secretariat  with up -to-date website information for where adopted final texts of tec hnical 
regulations, as well as applicable conformity assessment procedures, can normally be accessed .47 
To date, 22 Members have provided this information to the Secretariat. A list of the websites is 
contained in Annex H. 
 
44 The latest list  of stateme nts submitted under A rticle 15.2 is available in the TBT IMS  under 
"reports"( http://tbtims.wto.org ). This information was previously circulated in the G/TBT/GEN/1/ - series) . The 
list is also included in Annex F.  
45 The standardizing bodies who accep ted the Code in 2019 are: The Calendaring and Scheduling 
Consortium ("CalConnect")  and ASD -STAN. The full list of the standardizing bodies that have accepted the 
Code can be accessed from the WTO ISO Standards Information Gateway ( https://tbtcode.iso.org/sites/wto -
tbt/list -of-standardizing -bodies.html ). 
46 G/TBT/41 , para. 6.19.a.i . 
47 G/TBT/41 , para. 6.19.e.iii -iv. G/TBT/44  
 
- 21 - 
 
  4  SPECIFIC TRADE CONCE RNS48  
4.1.  The TBT  Committee provides Members with a forum to discuss trade issues related to technical 
regulations, conformity assessment procedures and standards, prepared, adopted or applied by 
other Members. These discussions are referred to as "specific trade concerns"  (STCs) and relate 
either to proposed or final measures. Members thus have the opportunity to review STCs in a 
multilateral setting, and to seek further information and clarification, working towards resolution of 
concerns .  
4.1  Trends in STCs  
4.2.  In 2019, Member s reviewed a total of 185 STCs, including 35 new concerns . The number of 
new concerns raised is the highest in any one year since 2015 , 13 more than in 2018 (Chart 19). As 
has been the case in recent years, the vast majority of STCs discussed in 2019 were previously 
raised STCs. In 2019, Members discussed 150 previously raised concerns in TBT Committee 
meetings49, down from 162 in 2018 .50 The calculation method applied  for the first time  in the 2016  
Annual Review for the "previously raised STCs"  category has again been used .51 Since 1995, 68 
Members (41 % of the full membership ) have raised at least one STC in the TBT Committee.  
Chart 19: STCs raised, 1995 -2019 
 
 
 
48 The data for the charts in this section are drawn from the TBT IMS http://tbtims.wto.org/ . Further  
information on STCs is available through the TBT IMS . 
49 Each time an STC is raised in the Committee, it is counted, regardless of whether the STC has been 
raised before in the same calendar year either as a new or previously raised STC.  
50 A summary of the STCs raised in the Committee in 2019 can be found in Annex D. Annex E provides a 
more detailed overview of new STCs raised in 2 019. 
51 See G/TBT/39/Rev.1 , para. 3.19. In Annual Review reports issued prior to 2016 , an STC raised in the 
Committee in a given year was only included once in the statistics, either as a new or as a previously raised 
STC, regardless of the number of times the STC was raised that year . An STC  raised for the first time in June 
and again in November, for example, was included as new, but not as previously raised  for that year . This 
method  under reported  the number of previously raised STCs . Beginning in 2016, and again in this review, an 
STC is counted each time it has been raised in a TBT Committee meeting. If raised for the first time, it is 
counted as a new STC. If it is raised again, it is counted as a previously raised STC. In other wo rds, Members 
can be subject to  the same STC more than once in the same year  and each time the STC is raised in the 
Committee, it is counted . This gives a more accurate reflection of the number of concerns actually discussed in 
the Committee in any given ye ar (see Annex D).  
4 611 13
513 152015 14 1224273246
2943
354247
3731272235
4612
1232
2034
2235
2041517485
88107 125
88101124142 152 162150
4101725
1745
3554
3749
326578106131
117150160
130148161173179184 185
020406080100120140160180200Number of STCs
New STCs Previously raised STCsG/TBT/44  
 
- 22 - 
 
  4.3.  Chart 20 shows the number of STCs discussed per TBT Committee meeting. In 2019, 59 STCs 
were discussed at the March meeting, 64 STCs at the June meeting, and in November, 62 STCs 
(Chart 20). This illustrates the steadily increasing workload for the Committee  arisin g from STCs . 
While in 2009, around 43 STCs were discussed on average per meeting, this number rose to nearly 
62 by 2019.  
Chart 20: STCs raised per Committee m eeting, 200 9-2019 
 
4.4.  Members often withdraw a few STCs at the outset of Committee meetings, presumably because 
of progress made in bilateral discussions, and these are not reflected in Charts 1 and 2. In 2019, 
Members withdrew 5 STCs at the outset of Committee meetings , as com pared to 4 in 2018 and 7 in 
2017.52 
4.5.  As a result of  the Eight h Triennial Review, the TBT Committee agreed to new procedures for 
the inclusion of specific trade concerns in the annotated draft agenda of the TBT Committee .53 These 
procedures were applied since March 2019. They include an earlier deadline for submitting STCs and 
circulation of the annotated draft agenda ahead of meetings , and also require that Members provide 
information about whether STCs are in respect of proposed or final measures. The large majority of 
new STCs raised in 2019 were in respect of proposed measures (Chart 21), illustrating the pre-
emptive  role of the Committee's STC discussion in addressing trade frictions.  
 
52 G/TBT/M/71  - G/TBT/M/79 . 
53 G/TBT/43 . In the Eighth Triennial Review, Members agreed to apply  the procedures on a trial basis for 
the March and June 2019 meetings (G/TBT/41, para. 8.2 (b.i), and footnote 305). At the June 2019 meeting of 
the TBT Committee, Members agreed to apply these procedures on a permanent basis  (G/TBT/M/78 , 
para. 3.331) . 
44
354465
40515560 58 59 5947
365160
39465056 5962 6440
465535
515156576263 62
131
117150160
130148161173179184 185
020406080100120140160180200
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Number of STCs
March Meeting June Meeting November MeetingG/TBT/44  
 
- 23 - 
 
  Chart 21: Proposed and final measures , new STCs raised in 2019 
 
 
4.2  STCs by Member  
4.6.  The US, EU and Canada were the Members that raised most STCs in 2019 (Chart 22). The large 
majority of these STCs were not new but raised previously .54 In 2019, 35 Members raised at least 
one STC (new or previously  raised), compared to 33 in 2018. 
Chart 22: Ten Members that raised most (new and previously -raised) STCs  during  2019 
 
 
 
4.7.  Chart 23 display s a similar trend: the EU and the US raised most new STCs during the period 
1995 to 2019, more than 270 each.  
 
54 More than one Member may raise concer ns (new and previous) about the same STC. Members can 
raise the same STC more than once in the same year; it is counted each time it is raised.  
Proposed
25Final
9Proposed/final
1
20
962 41 15 3 290
87
72
5748
423833
21 21110
96
78
59
52
43
39 38
2423
020406080100120
US EU Canada Australia Japan New Zealand Mexico Korea Guatemala BrazilNumber of STCs
New STCs Previously raised STCsG/TBT/44  
 
- 24 - 
 
  Chart 23: Ten Members that raised  most new STCs  during  1995 -2019 
 
 
 
4.3  Members subject to new STCs  
4.8.  Measures of the EU, as well as of India, Korea , and the  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,  were subject 
to most new STCs raised in the Committee in 2019 (Chart 24). 
Chart 24: Members subject to new STCs  during  2019 
 
 
4.9.  Overall , the EU  was the Member  subject to most STCs in the Committee between 1995 and 
2019, followed by  China and the US  (Chart 2 5).  
277271
127
93 92
71 69 68
54
47
050100150200250300
EU US Canada Mexico Japan Australia China Korea Brazil New ZealandNumber of STCs
9
4 4
3
2 2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
012345678910
EU India Korea Saudi
Arabia,
Kingdom
ofBrazil China Uruguay Ecuador Ghana Israel Jamaica Pakistan Qatar Trinidad
and
TobagoTurkeyNumber of STCsG/TBT/44  
 
- 25 - 
 
  Chart 25: Members subject to most new STCs during  1995 -2019 
 
 
4.4  STCs by region and development status  
4.10.   Charts 26 and 27 provide information on the regional breakdown of participation in STC 
discussions. In 2019, Members from North America raised 27 new STCs, from South and Central 
America and the Caribbean, 24  new STCs, and from  Asia, 19 new STCs. No new STCs were raised 
by Members from the Middle East (Chart 26).  
Chart 26: New STCs raised by region , 201955 
 
 
4.11.   On the other hand, Members from Asia were subject to most new STCs, followed by Members 
from Europe and the South and Central America and the  Caribbean  (Chart 27). 
 
55 "New STCs raised by region" indicates the number of times a Member in a given region has raised a 
new STC. On e STC can be raised by several Members from different regions.  
129
72
52
37
32
28
23 2220
15
020406080100120140
EU China US Korea India Brazil Indonesia Ecuador Russian
FederationMexicoNumber of STCs
27
24
19
10
1 1
051015202530
North America South and Central
America and the
CaribbeanAsia Europe Africa CIS Middle EastNumber of STCsG/TBT/44  
 
- 26 - 
 
  Chart 27: Subject to new STCs by region , 2019 
 
4.12.   In 2019, 13 of the 35 new STCs were raised  by develop ed Members, 13 by developing 
Members , and 9 by both developing and developed Members. No least-developed Member raised a 
new STC during the year. These shares have fluctuated over the years, but in general developing 
Members  have become more active in raising new STCs (Chart 28). Compared to previou s years, 
developing Members were more active in raising STCs during 2019; developing Members raised the 
most new STCs in any year since 2015.  
Chart 28: New STCs raised by development status, 1995 -201956 
 
 
4.5  Types of concerns raised in STCs  
4.13.   Of the issues highlighted by concerned Members in new STCs raised in 2019, 20 dealt with 
concerns about lack of notification or opportunity to comment (transparency) , 17 with concerns 
about unnecessary barriers to trade , 16 with the concerned Members' need  for more information on 
 
56 This chart indicates the development status of Members that raised a new STC. An STC can be raised 
by several Members, each with a different development status.  
11
10
7
5
1 1
024681012
Asia Europe South and Central
America and the
CaribbeanMiddle East Africa North America CISNumber of STCs
468 9
271317
9 1081220
1626
1625
719
1214
914
91311312
3 2475 1212
610
814
23
9
129
89
23
3311
3 25248
78
20712
14
104
513
0102030405060
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019Number of STCs
Developed members Both developed and developing members Developing members LDCsG/TBT/44  
 
- 27 - 
 
  state of play of a measure, or clarification on certain  elements  thereof , 16 with inconsistency with 
or non -use of international standards , 13 with the time given for manufacturers to adapt to new 
requirements (6 -month reasonable i nterval) , 10 with concerns about discrimination , and 9 with 
concerns about the legitimacy of the measure (Chart 29). In addition, a number of other issues were 
raised in 27 instances.57 
Chart 29: Types of conce rns raised, 1995 -201958 
 
 
4.6  Stated objectives of measures subject to STCs  
4.14.   By far the most common  stated objective of measures subject to STCs between 1995 -2019 
was "Protection of human health and safety", matching the main objective cited in TBT notifications 
(Chart 30, Chart 17). Informati on about the stated objective of measures subject to STCs is derived 
from the notification itself, or through the discussion of the particular measure in the Committee.  
 
57 'Other issues' cover a range  of otherwise unclassified concerns, e.g. the burdensome nature of 
requirements, the absence of scientific evidence, or unpredictability and lack of clarity of the measure.  
58 Concerned Members may raise more than one type of concern per STC.  
82343142177228235263319347387
131016927201716
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400Technical assistanceSpecial and differential treatmentnprPPMTime to adapt, "reasonable
interval"DiscriminationInternational standardsRationale, legitimacyOther issues raisedTransparencyUnnecessary barrier to tradeFurther information, clarification
Number of times raised
1995-2018 2019G/TBT/44  
 
- 28 - 
 
  Chart 30: Stated objectives for the measures raised as STCs, 1995 -201959 
 
 
4.7  Number of times STC s are  raised  
4.15.   The number of times that an STC is raised may be related to the  importan ce Members attach 
to the concern  or whether progress was made in addressing concerns. STCs which are raised at only 
one or two meetings may represent concerns fo r which some progress  was found. On the other 
hand, longstanding  STCs raised at five or more meetings may represent concerns for which less 
progress  has been made . The majority of STCs ( 56%) have been raised at one or two Committee 
meetings , 25% were raise d 3 to 5 times , and only 19% were raised more than 5 times (Chart 31). 
Chart 31: Number of times an STC is raised, 1995 -2019 
 
 
4.16.   Moreover , 81% of all STCs (discussed  in the TBT Committee since 1995) were not  raised  over 
the last two years ( i.e. during the last six meetings of the Committee) (Chart 32). The remain ing 
19% were raised  over the last two years .60 These figures indicate  that an important share of the 
 
59 Measures subject to STCs may have more than one objective. Each objective identified is counted.  
60 Around half of the STCs included in this group were brought to the Committee for the f irst time ("new 
STCs") over the past two years. The other half are STCs that were first brought to the Committee prior to 
2018.  
16192647101108108137277
1127171217
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350Protection of animal or plant life or healthNational security requirementsHarmonizationQuality requirementsConsumer information, LabellingOtherPrevention of deceptive practices and consumer proProtection of the environmentProtection of human health or safety
Number of times stated
1995-2018 2019
1-2 Meetings
56%
3-5 Meetings
25%>5 Meetings
19%G/TBT/44  
 
- 29 - 
 
  STCs discussed in the TBT Committee are no longer on the  agenda, and presumably some form of 
progress was achieved,  or Members pursued the issue through other means.   
Chart 32: Share of STCs discussed in last 2 years , raised during 1995 -2019 
 
 
4.8  Relation ship between notifications and STCs  
4.17.   The number of notifications submitted and STCs raised  have generally followed  a similar trend 
from 1995 to 2019 (Chart 33, Chart 1, Chart 19 ). 
Chart 33: Notifications and new  and previous  STCs , 1995 -2019  
 
Not raised in last 2 
years
81%Raised in last 2 
years
19%
020406080100120140160180200
05001000150020002500300035004000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Number of new STCsNumber of new notifications
All Notifications New and previous STCsG/TBT/44  
 
- 30 - 
 
  4.18.   Overall, 68% of STCs raised since 1995 concern a measure notified to  the TBT Committee . In 
2019, 69% of new STCs raised were related to notified measures (Chart 34). 
Chart  34: New STCs discuss ed related to notified measures , 1995 -2019  
 
50% 50%
36%69%80%
54%87%
80%87%
79%100%
83%
67%66%63%66% 65%71%69%74%
54%68%
52%64%69%
0%20%40%60%80%100%120%
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019PercentageG/TBT/44  
 
- 31 - 
 
  5  DISPUTES INVOLVING PROVISIONS OF THE TB T AGREEMENT  
5.1.  Since 1995, 55 WTO disputes have cited the TBT Agreement in their respective requests for 
consultations, the first formal step to initiate a WTO case. During 2019 Indonesia submitted a 
consultation request concerning certain measures by the European Union on palm  oil and oil  palm 
crop-based biofuels (DS593).  
5.2.  In addition, during 2019 the appeal proceedings of these two TBT disputes were still ongoing:    
a. Ukraine's appeal, followed by the Russia n Federation's cross -appeal, of the 2018 Panel 
Report  deciding a dispute brought by Ukraine against certain Russian measures affecting 
the importation of railway equipment (DS499)61; and  
b. Honduras' and the Dominican Republic's appeals of the 2018 Panel Report deciding 
disputes they brought against certain Australia n measures mandating tobacco plain 
packaging (DS435  and DS441 , respectively ).62 
6  SECRETARIAT TECHNICA L ASSISTANCE ACTIVIT IES 
6.1.  Similar to previous years, in 201 9 the Secretariat continued to recei ve requests for, and deliver, 
a significant number of TBT -related technical assistance ("TBT TA") activities. This is consistent with 
the fact that demand for TBT  TA has grown substantially over the last few years. In 201 9, 37 such 
activities were organize d by the WTO Secretariat. These activities covered TBT matters either 
exclusively or in part. Some were organized in cooperation with other WTO Secretariat Divisions 
(e.g. Agriculture and Commodities Division's SPS team) or international organizations.  The activities 
included, for example, two Geneva -based advanced TBT courses, six  regional TBT workshops, and 
13 national TBT workshops. Like in the previous year, 2019 was also marked by a particularly strong 
demand for, and delivery of, national  TBT TA activities. This may indicate a new trend as t he 
numbers of national  TBT TA activities delivered in 2018 (15) and 2019 (13) were markedly  higher 
than those delivered in 2017 (10 ) and 2016 (7). For the first time, the WTO Secretariat organized a 
Advanced Short Course  on TBT in November 2019.63 These activities were designed to help 
participants expand their understanding of the TBT Agreement, discuss challenges in implementing 
the Agreement and to learn more about the work of the TBT Committee. Like in the previous year, 
in 2019 there was also a marked demand for training activities on TBT  transparency in general, and 
ePing in particular. Looking ahead, and as indicated in previous Annual Reviews, TBT  transparency 
continues to be an issue of increasing inter est to Members, and there is growing demand for TA in 
this area, particularly on ePing.  
6.2.  The Secretariat received an increasing number of capacity building requests related to ePing 
and has continued to include ePing in its capacity building activities, so metimes through brief 
presentations and sometimes through detailed hands -on training sessions, depending on the 
context, beneficiaries and their requests. In addition, upon request, tailored training materials have 
been provided to Enquiry Points for them to run training sessions for their domestic stakeholders. A 
user guide as well as a short introductory film on ePing can also be accessed through the ePing 
website. In addition, a 2 -page flyer on ePing is available in seven languages (Arabic, Chinese, 
English, French, Japanese, Russian and Spanish) and can be downloaded from the ePing website 
under 'reference materials '. 
6.3.  Additionally, during the course of 2019, a total of 14  TBT modules were delivered within  the 
programmes of various broader WTO TA  activiti es, including Geneva -based and Regional Trade 
Policy Courses ("RTPCs"). Finally, in 201 9, three distance learning courses specifically on the TBT 
Agreement were held.  
_______________  
 
61 Ukraine's appeal and Russia's cross -appeal were submitted on 27 August 2018 and 3 September 2018, 
respectively. These proceedi ngs continued over 2019 and were still ongoing in 2020 (as of the date of circulation 
of this Note).  
62 The appeals were submitted by Honduras and the Dominican Republic on 19 July 2018 and 23 August 
2018, respectively. These proceedings continued over 2019  and were still ongoing in 2020 (as of the date of 
circulation of this Note). The Panel Reports of the disputes brought by Cuba and Indonesia against the same 
Australian measures ( DS458  and DS467 , respectively) were not appealed. These Panel Reports were t hus 
adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body on 27 August 2018.   
63 https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news19_e/tra_15nov19_e.htm  G/TBT/44  
 
- 32 - 
 
  ANNEX  
A. Notifications by Member, 1995 -20191 
Members  Regular 
notifications 
2019  Addenda 
and 
Corrigenda 
2019  Revisions 
2019  Total 
Notifications 
2019  Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995  
Afghanistan  0 0 0 0 2 
Albania  5 0 0 5 93 
Angola  0 0 0 0 0 
Antigua and Barbuda  0 0 0 0 0 
Argentina  27 68 0 95 817 
Armenia  0 0 0 0 92 
Australia  6 3 0 9 231 
Austria  0 0 0 0 4 
Bahrain, Kingdom of  11 1 0 12 575 
Bangladesh  2 0 0 2 2 
Barbados  0 0 0 0 10 
Belgium  2 0 0 2 211 
Belize  0 0 0 0 12 
Benin  0 0 0 0 2 
Bolivia, Plurinational State 
of 6 9 0 15 58 
Botswana  8 0 0 8 111 
Brazil  98 102 0 200 1,926 
Brunei Darussalam  0 0 0 0 2 
Bulgaria  0 0 0 0 0 
Burkina Faso  0 0 0 0 0 
Burundi  48 0 0 48 61 
Cabo Verde  0 0 0 0 0 
Cambodia  0 0 0 0 22 
Cameroon  0 0 0 0 8 
Canada  28 14 1 43 1,108 
Central African Republic  0 0 0 0 10 
Chad 0 0 0 0 0 
Chile 46 34 0 80 786 
China  91 0 0 91 1,469 
Colombia  5 19 0 24 679 
Congo  0 0 0 0 3 
Costa Rica  3 10 0 13 267 
Côte d'Ivoire  17 0 0 17 17 
Croatia  0 0 0 0 39 
Cuba 1 0 0 1 21 
 
1 Supplement notifications are not included in thi s table.  G/TBT/44  
 
- 33 - 
 
  Members  Regular 
notifications 
2019  Addenda 
and 
Corrigenda 
2019  Revisions 
2019  Total 
Notifications 
2019  Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995  
Cyprus  0 0 0 0 1 
Czech Republic  18 28 0 46 466 
Democratic Republic of the 
Congo  0 0 0 0 0 
Denmark  0 0 0 0 252 
Djibouti  0 0 0 0 0 
Dominica  0 0 0 0 15 
Dominican Republic  4 0 0 4 280 
Ecuador  135 133 63 331 1,380 
Egypt  36 35 0 71 373 
El Salvador  1 7 0 8 305 
Estonia  0 0 0 0 15 
Eswatini  8 0 0 8 9 
European Union  58 4 0 62 1,638 
Fiji 0 0 0 0 1 
Finland  22 0 0 22 99 
France  3 0 0 3 258 
Gabon  0 0 0 0 2 
Georgia  0 0 0 0 106 
Germany  2 0 0 2 27 
Ghana  5 0 0 5 17 
Greece  0 0 0 0 0 
Grenada  8 0 0 8 28 
Guatemala  2 7 0 9 133 
Guinea  0 0 0 0 1 
Guinea -Bissau  0 0 0 0 0 
Guyana  33 2 0 35 56 
Haiti 0 0 0 0 1 
Honduras  3 10 0 13 126 
Hong Kong, China  1 0 0 1 95 
Hungary  1 0 0 1 36 
Iceland  0 0 0 0 2 
India 31 0 1 32 185 
Indonesia  5 5 2 12 251 
Ireland  0 0 0 0 5 
Israel  66 1 0 67 1,326 
Italy 2 0 0 2 36 
Jamaica  3 0 0 3 113 
Japan  29 7 1 37 935 
Jordan  0 0 0 0 48 G/TBT/44  
 
- 34 - 
 
  Members  Regular 
notifications 
2019  Addenda 
and 
Corrigenda 
2019  Revisions 
2019  Total 
Notifications 
2019  Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995  
Kazakhstan  3 0 0 3 26 
Kenya  170 24 0 194 981 
Korea, Republic of  65 4 0 69 1,035 
Kuwait, the State of  81 1 0 82 542 
Kyrgyz Republic  0 0 0 0 49 
Lao People's Democratic 
Republic  0 0 0 0 1 
Latvia  0 0 0 0 31 
Lesotho  0 0 0 0 0 
Liberia  0 0 0 0 3 
Liechtenstein  0 0 0 0 0 
Lithuania  1 0 0 1 40 
Luxembourg  0 0 0 0 0 
Macao, China  12 2 0 14 20 
Madagascar  0 0 0 0 0 
Malawi  21 0 0 21 39 
Malaysia  16 1 0 17 272 
Maldives  0 0 0 0 0 
Mali 0 0 0 0 2 
Malta  0 0 0 0 0 
Mauritania  0 0 0 0 0 
Mauritius  2 0 0 2 11 
Mexico  17 35 0 52 1,185 
Moldova, Republic of  3 0 0 3 54 
Mongolia  4 0 0 4 11 
Montenegro  15 0 0 15 15 
Morocco  2 0 0 2 28 
Mozambique  1 0 0 1 15 
Myanmar  0 0 0 0 2 
Namibia  0 1 0 1 3 
Nepal  3 0 0 3 9 
Netherlands  0 0 0 0 630 
New Zealand  11 3 0 14 164 
Nicaragua  1 7 0 8 200 
Niger  0 0 0 0 0 
Nigeria  0 0 0 0 8 
North Macedonia  0 0 0 0 8 
Norway  0 0 0 0 89 
Oman  11 1 0 12 412 
Pakistan  0 0 0 0 119 G/TBT/44  
 
- 35 - 
 
  Members  Regular 
notifications 
2019  Addenda 
and 
Corrigenda 
2019  Revisions 
2019  Total 
Notifications 
2019  Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995  
Panama  7 14 0 21 125 
Papua New Guinea  0 0 0 0 1 
Paraguay  8 1 0 9 139 
Peru 10 22 0 32 165 
Philippines  21 1 1 23 304 
Poland  0 0 0 0 7 
Portugal  0 0 0 0 1 
Qatar  9 1 0 10 605 
Romania  0 0 0 0 94 
Russian Federation  4 2 0 6 95 
Rwanda  69 0 0 69 289 
Saint Kitts and Nevis  0 0 0 0 0 
Saint Lucia  1 0 0 1 57 
Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines  0 0 0 0 13 
Samoa  1 0 0 1 1 
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of  21 9 4 34 1,146 
Senegal  0 0 0 0 14 
Seychelles  0 0 0 0 4 
Sierra Leone  0 0 0 0 0 
Singapore  3 2 0 5 77 
Slovak Republic  0 0 0 0 54 
Slovenia  7 0 0 7 122 
Solomon Islands  0 0 0 0 0 
South Africa  7 5 4 16 385 
Spain  1 1 0 2 78 
Sri Lanka  1 0 0 1 54 
Suriname  0 0 0 0 1 
Sweden  2 0 0 2 233 
Switzerland  8 1 0 9 330 
Chinese Taipei  51 55 1 107 637 
Tajikistan  0 0 0 0 6 
Tanzania  137 2 0 139 375 
Thailand  33 13 1 47 811 
The Gambia  3 0 0 3 5 
Togo 0 0 0 0 2 
Tonga  0 0 0 0 0 
Trinidad and Tobago  3 0 1 4 137 
Tunisia  1 0 0 1 29 
Turkey  9 5 1 15 176 G/TBT/44  
 
- 36 - 
 
  Members  Regular 
notifications 
2019  Addenda 
and 
Corrigenda 
2019  Revisions 
2019  Total 
Notifications 
2019  Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995  
Uganda  146 296 0 442 1,787 
Ukraine  15 15 0 30 241 
United Arab Emirates  14 2 0 16 474 
United Kingdom  1 0 0 1 55 
United States of America  121 143 6 270 3,738 
Uruguay  10 4 1 15 42 
Vanuatu  1 0 0 1 1 
Venezuela, Bolivarian 
Republic of  0 0 0 0 35 
Viet Nam  20 2 0 22 173 
Yemen  10 1 0 11 171 
Zambia  0 0 0 0 88 
Zimbabwe  0 0 0 0 1 
Grand Total  2,074 1,175 88 3,337 36,641 
 
 
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 37 - 
 
  B. Revised Recommendation of the Committee on Coherent Use of Notification Formats2  
The Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade makes the following revised recommendation to 
enhance the coherent use of the notification formats:  
 
Type  Description  
New 
Notification  Members should use a new notification3 to notify the draft text of a proposed 
technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure (hereafter referred to as 
the "notified measure"). If the notified measure is associated with a previously 
notified measure (e.g. amending or supplementing an a dopted measure, or 
replacing a withdrawn or revoked measure),  the symbol(s) of the associated notified 
measure(s) should be indicated in Box 8 of the new notification.  
Addenda  Members should use an addendum (see the annexed template) to notify additional 
information related to a notification or the text of a notified measure, including if:  
• The comment period has been changed (e.g. extended or re -opened);  
• The notified measure is adopted, published, or enters into force, especially in 
cases where relevant dates have not been provided in the original notification 
or have been changed. Members are encouraged to indicate how the final text 
of the measure can be obtained, including website address;  
• The notified measure is withdrawn or revoked. If replaced with a new 
measure, where possible, the symbol of the corresponding new notification 
should be indicated;  
• The content or scope of a notified measure is partially changed or amended. 
In this case, Members should consider opening a new comment period;  
• Interpretive guidance is issued; and  
• Any other useful and relevant additional information directly related to a 
notification or notified measure has been made available that does not qualify 
as a corrigenda, revision or supplement.  
Corrigenda  Members should use a corrigendum to correct minor administrative or clerical errors 
(which do not entail any changes to the meaning of the content) in:  
• a notification or subsequent related addendum or revision; and  
• the text of the notified measure.  
Revision  Members should use a revision to indicate that the notified measure has been 
substantially re -drafted prior to adoption or entry into force. A revision replaces the 
original notification. A revision should normally open a new comment period.  
Supplement  Members should use a supplement to notify the availability of unofficial translations 
of notified measures.4 
 
  
 
2 G/TBT/35/Rev.1 , 21 November 20 19.  
3 A "notification" refers to the official WTO document which is part of document series " G/TBT/N/[three  
digit country code]/#".  
4 In 2007 the TBT Committee agreed ( G/TBT/M/43 , Section II.C.3, 21 January 2008 ) that Members should 
use the formats for unofficial translations contained in G/TBT/1/Rev.11 , Annex 5 – Unofficial Translations. Further 
informati on is contained in G/TBT/GEN/66 . G/TBT/44  
 
- 38 - 
 
   
  
G/TBT/N/[Member]/[X]/Add.[X ] 
 
[Date]  
(##-####)  Page: 1/1 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: Language  
 
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
Addendum  
The following communication , dated  [Date] , is being circulated at the request of the delegation of 
[Member ]. 
_______________  
 
Title: [Notified measure]  
 
Reason for Addendum:  
 Comment period changed - date:  
 Notified measure adopted - date:  
 Notified measure published - date:  
 Notified measure enters into force - date:  
 Text of final measure available from5:  
[Website / CRN attachment(s) in pdf format6 / Free text]  
 Notified measure withdrawn or revoked - date:  
Relevant symbol if measure re -notified:  
 Content or scope of notified measure changed  
New deadline for comments (if applicable):  
 Interpretive guidance issued and text available from:   
[Website / CRN attachment(s) in pdf format2 / Free text]  
 Other: 
 
Description:  [Free text – brief summary]  
 
 
 
 
  
 
5 This information can be provided by including a website address, a pdf attachment, or other 
information on where the text of the final measure can be obtained.  
6 See G/TBT/GEN/65 , 14 December 2007.  
G/TBT/44  
 
- 39 - 
 
  C. Percentage of notifications  that contain a comment period, by Member, 20197 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
7 This chart includes only those Members that have notified five or more new no tificati ons or revisions in 
2019. 
6.167.370.476.780.082.485.890.090.993.395.096.696.997.297.998.298.9100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0GuyanaBrazilArgentinaJapanPeruThailandUnited States of AmericaTurkeyUruguayUkraineViet NamCanadaIndiaEgyptBurundiKenyaChinaYemenUnited Arab EmiratesUgandaTanzaniaSwitzerlandSouth AfricaSloveniaSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofRwandaQatarPhilippinesParaguayPanamaOmanNew ZealandMexicoMalaysiaMalawiKorea, Republic ofIsraelIndonesiaGrenadaFinlandEuropean UnionEswatiniEcuadorCzech RepublicChinese TaipeiChileBotswanaBolivia, Plurinational State ofBahrain, Kingdom ofAustralia
Percentage of Members' notifications that contain a comment periodG/TBT/44  
 
- 40 - 
 
  D. Summary of STCs raised in 2019 
The following table lists the 185 specific trade concerns raised in the TBT Committee during 2019 
(comprising 85 individual STCs) . The second column contains the name of the specific trade concern.  
 
Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2019)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2019)  
274 India - New Telecommunications 
related Rules (Department of 
Telecommunications, No. 842 -
725/2005 -VAS/Vol.III (3 
December 2009); No. 10 -
15/2009 -AS-III/193 (18 March 
2010); and Nos. 10-15/2009 -
AS.III/Vol.II/(Pt.)/(25 -29) (28 
July 2010); Department of 
Telecommunications, No. 10 -
15/2009 -AS.III/Vol.II/(Pt.)/(30) 
(28 July 2010) and accompanying 
template, "Security and Business 
Continuity Agreement") (ID 274)  13 November 2019  4 28 3 
294 China - Requirements for 
information security products, 
including, inter alia, the Office of 
State Commercial Cryptography 
Administration (OSCCA) 1999 
Regulation on commercial 
encryption products and its on -
going revision and the Multi -Level 
Protection Sche me (MLPS) (ID 
294) 13 November 2019  7 27 3 
332 Russian Federation - Draft 
Technical Regulation on Alcohol 
Drinks Safety (published on 24 
October 2011) (ID 332)  13 November 2019  9 24 3 
328 Indonesia - Technical Guidelines 
for the Implementation of the 
Adoption and Supervision of 
Indonesian National Standards for 
Obligatory Toy Safety (ID 328 ) 13 November 2019  5 24 3 
345 European Union - Draft 
Implementing Regulations 
amending Regulation (EC) No. 
607/2009 laying down detailed 
rules for the application of Council 
Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as 
regards protected designations of 
origin and geographical 
indications, traditional terms, 
labelling and presentation of 
certain wine sector products (ID 
345) 13 November 2019  7 22 3 
367 India - Electronics and 
Information Technology Goods 
(Requirements for Compulsory 
Registration) Order, 2012 (ID 
367) 13 November 2019  8 21 3 
393 European Union - Hazard -based 
approach to plant protection 
products and setting of import 
tolerances (ID 393)  13 November 2019  20 20 3 G/TBT/44  
 
- 41 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2019)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2019)  
428 China - Regulations for the 
Supervision and Administration of 
Medical Devices (Order No. 650 of 
the State Council) (ID 428)  13 November 2019  5 17 3 
466 China - Registration Fees for 
Drugs and Medical Device 
Products (ID 466)  13 November 2019  4 14 3 
489 China - Insurance Regulatory 
Commission (CIRC) Information 
and Communication Technology 
Regulation (ID 489)  13 November 2019  6 13 3 
477 China - Interim Measures for 
Quality Management of 
Commercial Coal (ID 477)  13 November 2019  2 13 3 
494 India - Draft Food Safety and 
Standards (Alcoholic Beverages 
Standards) Regulations, 2015 (ID 
494) 13 November 2019  12 12 3 
502 Indonesia - Halal Product 
Assurance Law No. 33 of 2014 (ID 
502) 13 November 2019  6 12 3 
497 Russian Federation - Rules of 
cement certification (ID 497)  13 November 2019  3 12 3 
505 Egypt - Manufacturer Registration 
System (Decree No. 43/2016 and 
Decree No. 992/2015) (ID 505)  13 November 2019  14 11 3 
509 China - National Standards on 
Limits of Volatile Organic 
Compounds for Furniture (ID 509)  13 November 2019  1 11 3 
511 The Separate Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and 
Matsu - Draft of the Organic 
Agriculture Act (ID 511)  13 November 2019  1 11 3 
516 Ireland - Public Health (Alcohol) 
Bill 2015 (ID 516)  13 November 2019  7 10 3 
526 China - Cybersecurity Law (ID 
526) 13 November 2019  8 9 3 
524 European Union - Organic 
production and labelling - Maté 
(erva -mate) (ID 524)  13 November 2019  1 9 3 
539 European Union - Titanium 
dioxide: Regulation (EC) No 
1272/2008 (CLP Regulation), 
Annex VI, Part 2 (ID 539)  13 November 2019  8 8 3 
533 China - Cyberspace Administration 
of China - Draft implementing 
measures for the Cybersecurity 
Review of Network Products and 
Services (ID 533)  13 November 2019  6 8 3 
535 European Union - Regulation (EC) 
No 1107/2009 - non-renewal of 
approval of the active substance 
picoxystrobin (ID 535)  13 November 2019  6 8 3 G/TBT/44  
 
- 42 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2019)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2019)  
534 China - Draft revised Encryption 
Law of the People's Republic of 
China by the Office of State 
Commercial Cryptography 
Administration (OSCCA) (ID 534)  13 November 2019  5 8 3 
547 China - Certification requirements 
for processed foods (ID 547)  13 November 2019  9 7 3 
549 Viet Nam - Decree on the 
regulation on conditions for 
automobiles manufacturing, 
assembling importing and 
automotive warranty & 
maintenance services (ID 549)  13 November 2019  7 7 3 
544 Viet Nam - Cybersecurity 
Measures (ID 544)  13 November 2019  6 7 3 
545 China - Catalogue of Solid Wastes 
Forbidden to Import into China 
(ID 545)  13 November 2019  6 7 3 
546 India - Amended regulation on toy 
imports (ID 546)  13 November 2019  6 7 3 
553 European Union - Amendments to 
the Directive 2009/28/EC, 
Renewable Energy Directive (ID 
553) 13 November 2019  10 6 3 
555 European Union - Application of 
Regulation No. 1169/2011 and 
Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 as 
regards the labelling of food 
products, in not prohibiting or 
examining the use of "palm oil 
free" labels ( ID 555)  13 November 2019  8 6 3 
556 Thailand - New certification 
requirements under the Thai 
Ministry of Finance's Ministerial 
Notification on Importation of 
Spirits into the Kingdom of 
Thailand (B.E 2560) (ID 556)  13 November 2019  8 6 3 
557 Brazil - Draft Technical Resolution 
n° 51, 7 April 2017 on labelling of 
beverages, wine, and grape 
derivatives (ID 557)  13 November 2019  1 5 3 
559 United States - TSA Certification 
on security screening equipment) 
(ID 559)  13 November 2019  1 5 3 
567 Russian Federation - Federal law 
No 487 -FZ, providing a framework 
for comprehensive use of special 
labelling and traceability of goods 
and Decision No. 792 -r specifying 
the goods to which labelling will 
apply and the dates of 
introduction of the mandatory 
labelling (ID 567)  13 November 2019  2 4 3 G/TBT/44  
 
- 43 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2019)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2019)  
568 Brazil - Technical Regulation 14, 8 
February 2018, to set the 
additional official identity, quality 
standards for wine and derivatives 
of grape and wine products as well 
as the requirements to be 
acquainted an d Technical 
Regulation No. 48, 31 August 
2018 published in the Official 
Gazette on 10 September 2018 
(ID 568)  13 November 2019  2 4 3 
579 European Union - Chlorothalonil 
(pesticide active substance) (ID 
579) 13 November 2019  10 3 3 
580 European Union - Transitional 
periods for MRLs and international 
consultations (ID 580)  13 November 2019  10 3 3 
577 Republic of Korea - Warning 
statement and graphic health 
warnings on alcoholic beverages 
(ID 577)  13 November 2019  6 3 3 
578 Uruguay - Labelling of Packaged 
Food (ID 578)  13 November 2019  5 3 3 
576 China - Cosmetics Supervision and 
Administration Regulation (Draft) 
(ID 576)  13 November 2019  4 3 3 
575 European Union - Draft 
Commission Regulation laying 
down eco -design requirements for 
electronic displays pursuant to 
Directive 2009/125/EC of the 
European Parliament and of the 
Council, amending Commission 
Regulation (EC) No 1275/2008 
and repealing Commission 
Regulation (EC) 642/2009 (and its 
accompanying annexes)" (ID 575)  13 November 201 9 3 3 3 
566 Chile - Public Consultation for 
draft legislation setting out rules 
on the preparation, description 
and labelling of milk products 
deriving from milk (ID 566)  13 November 2019  3 3 2 
583 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - 
Technical Regulation for plastic 
products OXO - biodegradable (ID 
583) 13 November 2019  2 3 3 
590 Uruguay - Analysis of Imported 
Products - Resolution of the Board 
of the National Grape -Growing 
and Wine Production Institute 
(INAVI) of 14 February 2019. 
Resolution of the Board of INAVI 
postponing implementation until 1 
May 2019) - exogenous water in 
wine (ID 590)  13 November 2019  5 2 2 
589 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Added 
Sugar Upper Limit in Some Food 
Products (ID 589)  13 November 2019  4 2 2 G/TBT/44  
 
- 44 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2019)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2019)  
594 European Union - Medical Device 
Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro 
Diagnostic Medical Devices 
Regulation (IVDR) (ID 594)  13 November 2019  2 2 2 
588 Republic of Korea - Package 
Recycle Classification Regulation 
(ID 588)  13 November 2019  2 2 2 
585 European Union - Commission 
Delegated Regulation (EU) 
2019/945 on Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems and on Third -country 
Operators of Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems (ID 585)  13 November 2019  1 2 2 
592 European Union - Concerns on 
regulations with regard to eco -
design  requirements for various 
products in EU (ID 592)  13 November 2019  1 2 2 
596 European Union - Revised Draft 
EU Regulation on Ecological 
Design Requirements for External 
Power Supply (IMS ID 596)  13 November 2019  1 1 1 
597 Brazil - Ministry of Agriculture, 
Livestock and Food Supply - MAPA 
Ordinance 79, of 13 May 2019 
establishing a public consultation 
to amend the Technical Regulation 
67, 05 November 2018 regarding 
the procedures and requirements 
for export and import certif ication 
of beverages, fermented acetic, 
wines and wine and grapes 
derived products (IMS ID 597)  13 November 2019  1 1 1 
600 Ghana - Administrative Process for 
Homologation of Model of Motor 
Vehicle and its Variants (IMS ID 
600) 13 November 2019  1 1 1 
607 Pakistan - Amendment to 
Pakistan 's Imports and Exports 
(Control) Act, 1950: Statutory 
Regulatory Order (SRO) 237 on 
labeling, shelf -life, and halal 
certification (IMS ID 607)  13 November 2019  1 1 1 
602 Qatar - Ministry of Public Health 
Circular regard ing shelf life for 
cheese (IMS ID 602)  13 November 2019  1 1 1 
603 Turkey - Draft Amendment of the 
Regulation on Cosmetics (IMS ID 
603) 13 November 2019  1 1 1 
598 India - Air Conditioner and its 
related Parts (Quality Control) 
Order, 2018 (IMS ID 598)  13 November 2019  1 1 1 
605 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - 
Electrical Clothes Dryers Energy 
Performance Requirements and 
Labelling (IMS ID 605)  13 November 2019  1 1 1 G/TBT/44  
 
- 45 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2019)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2019)  
599 Ecuador - Energy Efficiency 
Requirements for Clothes Dryers 
for Domestic Use (IMS ID 599)  13 November 2019  1 1 1 
601 United States - Modernization of 
the Labeling and Advertising 
Regulations for Wine, Distilled 
Spirits, and Malt Beverages (IMS 
ID 601)  13 November 2019  1 1 1 
606 Republic of Korea - Ballast Water 
Management Act (IMS ID 606)  13 November 2019  1 1 1 
604 Brazil - Ordinance 259, on 27 May 
2019, which makes corrections 
and updates to the Conformity 
Assessment Requirements for 
Medical Devices Subject to the 
Health Surveillance System in 
Ordinance 54, from 1 February 
2016 (IMS ID 604)  13 November 2019  1 1 1 
486 India - The Stainless Steel 
Products (Quality Control) Order, 
2015 (ID 486)  20 June 2019  1 12 2 
493 China - Formula Registration 
Regulation for Infant and Follow -
up Formula (ID 493)  20 June 2019  6 11 2 
512 European Union - Quality 
Schemes for Agricultural Products 
and Foodstuffs (ID 512)  20 June 2019  6 10 2 
552 Israel - Addendum to the 
Pharmacist Regulations 
(Cosmetics 5778 -2018) (ID 552)  20 June 2019  4 5 2 
558 India - Testing and Certification of 
telegraph (The Indian telegraph 
(Amendment) Rules, 2017) (ID 
558)  20 June 2019  2 4 2 
565 European Union - Regulation of 
the European Parliament and of 
the Council laying down rules and 
procedures for compliance with 
and enforcement of Union 
harmonization legislation on 
products and amending relevant 
regulations (ID 565)  20 June 2019  3 3 2 
571 Egypt - Halal requirements for 
Poultry Parts and Offal (ID 571)  20 June 2019  1 3 2 
569 Dominican Republic - Regulation 
on Cosmetic and Hygiene Products 
(ID 569)  20 June 2019  3 2 1 
570 Chile - Regulations on the 
classification, labelling and 
notification of chemical substances 
and mixtures (ID 570)  20 June 2019  1 2 1 
587 India - Toys (Quality Control) 
Order, 2019 (ID 587)  20 June 2019  3 1 1 
584 China - Regulation on Cosmetic 
Inspection in Registration and 
Filing (ID 584)  20 June 2019  3 1 1 G/TBT/44  
 
- 46 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2019)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2019)  
586 India - Notification of 2018 draft 
cosmetic rules, amending 
provisions of the India Drug and 
Cosmetics Act of 1940 (ID 586)  20 June 2019  2 1 1 
593 European Union - Regulation of 
the European Parliament and of 
the Council on the definition, 
description, presentation, labelling 
of spirit drinks, the use of the 
names of spirit drinks in the 
presentation and labelling of other 
foodstuffs, the protection of 
geographical i ndications of spirit 
drinks, the use of ethyl alcohol 
and distillates of agricultural origin 
in alcoholic beverages, which 
repeals Regulation (EC) No. 
110/2008 (ID 593)  20 June 2019  1 1 1 
591 European Union - Product 
Environmental Footprint Category 
Rules  (PEFCR) (ID 591)  20 June 2019  1 1 1 
595 India - Moisture content for Cassia 
Vera (Cinnamomum Burmani) (ID 
595) 20 June 2019  1 1 1 
418 Russian Federation - Safety of 
products for children and 
adolescents (ID 418)  6 March 2019  3 16 1 
521 Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, 
Kyrgyz Republic - Pharmaceutical 
products - Resolution 1314 of the 
Government of the Russian 
Federation on determining 
compliance of medicinal products' 
manufacturers with the 
requirements of Good 
Manufacturing Practice (non -
notifie d); draft decisions of the 
Board of the Eurasian Economic 
Union (ID 521)  6 March 2019  3 8 1 
551 China - Chinese Environmental 
protection control standards for 
imported solid waste as raw 
materials (ID 551)  6 March 2019  5 4 1 
572 Kingdom of Bahrain, State of 
Kuwait, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi 
Arabia, Oman, United Arab 
Emirates, Yemen - GCC Technical 
Regulations for the Restriction of 
the use of certain Hazardous 
Substances in electrical and 
electronic equipment (ID 572)  6 March 2019  2 2 1 
573 Israel - Bill on the Restriction on 
Advertising and Marketing of 
Tobacco Products (Amendment 
No.7, 5778 -2018) (ID 573)  6 March 2019  1 1 1 G/TBT/44  
 
- 47 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2019)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2019)  
574 Trinidad and Tobago - Regulation 
related to the prohibition, of 
commercialization and importation 
of plastic products of polystyrene 
(ID 574)  6 March 2019  1 1 1 
581 Jamaica - Regulations Banning 
Single -Use Plastic Products (ID 
581) 6 March 2019  1 1 1 
582 Republic of Korea - Regulation on 
Energy Efficiency Management 
Equipment (ID 582)  6 March 2019  1 1 1 
Total      185 
 
 
 
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 48 - 
 
  E. Overview of new STCs raised i n 2019 
The following table provides additional detail about the new specific trade concerns raised in 2019. 
 
Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
Brazil  Brazil - Ministry of 
Agriculture, Livestock 
and Food Supply – MAPA 
Ordinance 79, of 13 May 
2019 establishing a 
public consultation to 
amend the Technical 
Regulation 67, 05 
November 2018 
regarding the 
procedures and 
requirements for export 
and import certification 
of beverages, fermented 
acetic, wines an d wine 
and grapes derived 
products (IMS ID 597)  Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection , 
Protection of 
Human health or 
safety, Quality 
requirements  Beverages, fermented 
acetic, wines and wine 
and grapes derived 
products (HS 20.09; 
22.04; 22.05; 22.06; 
22.07; 22.08; 22.09 ) US 
Brazil  Brazil - Ordinance 259, 
on 27 May 2019, which 
makes corrections and 
updates to the 
Conformity Assessment 
Requirements for 
Medical Devices Subject 
to the Health 
Surveillance System in 
Ordinance 54, from 1 
February 2016 (IMS ID 
604) Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection , 
Protection of 
Human health or 
safety   Medical devices  US 
China  China - Cosmetics 
Supervision and 
Administration 
Regulation (Draft) (ID 
576) Consumer 
information, 
Labelling, 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection , 
Protection of 
Human health or 
safety, Quality 
requirements  Cosmetics (HS: 33)  EU 
Japan  
Korea  
US  
China  China - Regulation on 
Cosmetic Inspection in 
Registration and Filing 
(ID 584)  Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  Cosmetics  Japan  
Korea  
US 
Ecuador  Ecuador - Energy 
Efficiency Requirements 
for Clothes Dryers for 
Domestic Use (IMS ID 
599) Consumer 
information, 
Labelling, 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection , 
Protection of the 
environment  Clothes dryers (HS 
84512)  Korea  G/TBT/44  
 
- 49 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
European 
Union  European Union - 
Chlorothalonil (pesticide 
active substance) (ID 
579) Protection of 
Human health or 
safety, Protection 
of animal or plant 
life or health, 
Protection of the 
environment  Chlorothalonil  Brazil  
Canada  
Colombia  
Costa Rica  
Ecuador  
Guatemala  
Honduras  
Panama  
Paraguay  
US 
European 
Union  European Union - 
Commission Delegated 
Regulation (EU) 
2019/945 on Unmanned 
Aircraft Systems and on 
Third-country Operators 
of Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems (ID 585)  Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  Unmanned aircraft  China  
European 
Union  European Union - 
Concerns on regulations 
with regard to eco -
design requirements for 
various products in EU 
(ID 592) Protection of the 
environment  Lighting products; light 
sources; household 
dishwashers; washing 
machines and household 
washer -dryers  China  
European 
Union  European Union - Draft 
Commission Regulation 
laying down eco -design 
requirements for 
electronic displays 
pursuant to Directive 
2009/125/EC of the 
European Parliament 
and of the Council, 
amending Commission 
Regulation (EC) No 
1275/2008 and 
repealing Commission 
Regulation (EC) 
642/2009 (and its 
accompanying annexes) 
(ID 575)  Protection of th e 
environment  Electronic displays  China  
Japan  
US 
European 
Union  European Union - 
Medical Device 
Regulation (MDR) and In 
Vitro Diagnostic Medical 
Devices Regulation 
(IVDR) (ID 594)  Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  In vitro diagnostic 
medical devices  Canada  
US 
European 
Union  European Union - 
Product Environmental 
Footprint Category Rules 
(PEFCR) (ID 591)  Protection of the 
environment  Intermediate paper 
products  Indonesia  G/TBT/44  
 
- 50 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
European 
Union  European Union - 
Regulation of the 
European Parliament 
and of the Council on 
the definition, 
description, 
presentation, labelling of 
spirit drinks, the use of 
the names of spirit 
drinks in the 
presentation and 
labelling of other 
foodstuffs, the 
protection of 
geographical indications 
of spirit drinks, the use 
of ethyl  alcohol and 
distillates of agricultural 
origin in alcoholic 
beverages, which 
repeals Regulation (EC) 
No. 110/2008 (ID 593)  Not specified  Spirit drinks  Guyana  
European 
Union  European Union - 
Revised Draft EU 
Regulation on Ecological 
Design Requirements fo r 
External Power Supply 
(IMS ID 596)  Protection of the 
environment  External Power Supplies  China  
European 
Union  European Union - 
Transitional periods for 
MRLs and international 
consultations (ID 580)  Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  Pesticides (buprofezin)  Brazil  
Canada  
Colombia  
Costa Rica  
Ecuador  
El Salvador  
Guatemala  
Panama  
Paraguay  
US 
Ghana  Ghana - Administrative 
Process for 
Homologation of Model 
of Motor Vehicle and its 
Variants (IMS ID 600)  Protection of 
Human health or 
safety, Protection 
of the 
environment   Motor vehicles  US 
India India - Air Conditioner 
and its related Parts 
(Quality Control) Order, 
2018 (IMS ID 598)  Other, Protection 
of the 
environment, 
Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  Room Air Conditioners: 
Part 2 Split air 
Conditioners/Room Air 
Conditioners – Part 1: 
Unitary Air 
Conditioners/Packaged 
Air 
Conditioners/Hermetic 
Compressor/Thermostats 
for use in Refrigerators, 
Air Conditioners, Water 
Coolers and Beverage 
Coolers/Finned Type 
Heat Exchanger for 
Room A ir Conditioner  Korea  
India India - Moisture content 
for Cassia Vera 
(Cinnamomum Burmani) 
(ID 595)  Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  Cassia vera 
(cinnamomum burmani)  Indonesia  G/TBT/44  
 
- 51 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
India India - Notification of 
2018 draft cosmetic 
rules, amending 
provisions of the India 
Drug and Cosmetics Act 
of 1940 (ID 586)  Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  Cosmetics  EU 
US  
India India - Toys (Quality 
Control) Order, 2019 (ID 
587) Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  Toys Canada  
EU 
US 
Israel  Israel - Bill on the 
Restriction on 
Advertising and 
Marketing of Tobacco 
Products (Amendment 
No.7, 5778 -2018) (ID 
573) Protection of 
Human health or 
safety, Prevention 
of deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection  Tobacco products  Dominican 
Republic  
Jamaica  Jamai ca - Regulations 
Banning Single -Use 
Plastic Products (ID 
581) Not specified  Plastic packaging 
materials  Dominican 
Republic  
Korea, 
Republic of  Republic of Korea - 
Ballast Water 
Management Act (IMS 
ID 606)  Not specified  Ballast water  EU 
Korea, 
Republic of  Republic of Korea - 
Package Recycle 
Classification Regulation 
(ID 588)  Protection of the 
environment  Packaging  Canada  
US 
Korea, 
Republic of  Republic of Korea - 
Regulation on Energy 
Efficiency Management 
Equipment (ID 582)  Consumer 
information,  
Labelling, 
Protection of the 
environment  Clothes washing 
machines  China  
Korea, 
Republic of  Republic of Korea - 
Warning statement and 
graphic health warnings 
on alcoholic beverages 
(ID 577)  Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  Alcoholic beverages  Australia  
Canada  
EU 
Japan  
Mexico  
US  
Pakistan  Pakistan - Amendment 
to Pakistan 's Imports 
and Exports (Control) 
Act, 1950: Statutory 
Regulatory Order (SRO) 
237 on label ling, shelf -
life, and halal 
certification (IMS ID 
607) Not specified  Food products in general  US 
Qatar  Qatar - Ministry of Public 
Health Circular 
regarding shelf life for 
cheese (IMS ID 602)  Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  Cheese  US 
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
- Added Sugar Upper 
Limit in Some Food 
Products (ID 589)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling  Food products in general  EU 
Russian 
Federation  
Switzerland  
US G/TBT/44  
 
- 52 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
- Electrical Clothes 
Dryers Energy 
Performance 
Requirements and 
Labelling (IMS ID 605)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling, 
Protection of the 
environment  Electrical Clothes Dryers 
(ICS: 97.060 ) Korea  
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
– Technical Regulation 
for plastic products OXO 
– biodegradable (ID 
583) Protection of the 
environment  Oxo-degradable plastic 
products  EU 
US 
Trinidad and 
Tobago  Trinidad and Tobago - 
Regulation related to the 
prohibition, of 
commercialization and 
importation of plastic 
products of polystyrene 
(ID 574)  Not specified  Polystyrene products  Dominica n 
Republic  
Turkey  Turkey - Draft 
Amendment of the 
Regulation on Cosmetics 
(IMS ID 603)  Harmonization, 
Consumer 
information, 
Labelling  Cosmetics  US 
United States 
of America  United States - 
Modernization of the 
Labeling and Advertising 
Regulations for Wine, 
Distilled Spirits, and 
Malt Beverages (IMS ID 
601) Consumer 
information, 
Labelling, 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection  Wine, Distilled Spirits, 
and Malt Beverages  (HS 
2203, 2204, 2205, 2206, 
2207, 2208; ICS 
67.160) EU 
Uruguay  Uruguay - Analysis of 
Imported Products - 
Resolution of the Board 
of the National Grape -
Growing and Wine 
Production Institute 
(INAVI) of 14 February 
2019. Resolution of the 
Board of INAVI 
postponing 
implementation until 1 
May 2019) - exogen ous 
water in wine (ID 590)  Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection  All wine products  Australia  
Chile 
New Zealand  
South Africa  
US  
Uruguay  Uruguay – Labelling of 
Packaged Food (ID 578)  Protection of 
Human health or 
safety  Ready -to-eat foods, 
packaged in the absence 
of the customer, 
available in the national 
territory  Colombia  
Costa Rica  
EU 
Guatemala  
US 
 
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 53 - 
 
  F. Statements on Implementation and Administration of the Agreement under Article 15.2  
Article 15.2 of the TBT Agreement provides that:  
 
"Each Member shall, promptly after the date on which the WTO Agreement 
enters into force for it, inform the Committee of measures in existence or 
taken to ensure the implementation and administration of this Agreement. 
Any changes of such measures thereaft er shall also be notified to the 
Committee."  
The following table contains a list of Members having submitted a Statement on implementation and 
administration of the Agreement under Article 15.2 since 1995. To date, a total of 142 Members 
have submitted at  least one such Statement . 
 
Member  Document  Date  
Afghanistan  G/TBT/2/Add.126  11 June 2018  
Albania  G/TBT/2/Add.99  15 May 2008  
Antigua and Barbuda  G/TBT/2/ Add.66  7 March 2002  
Argentina  G/TBT/2/Add.21  4 September 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.21 /Suppl.1  11 February 1999  
 G/TBT/2/Add.21/Suppl.2  20 April 1999  
 G/TBT/2/Add.21/Suppl.3  29 August 2003  
Armenia  G/TBT/2/Add.75  6 August 2003  
 G/TBT/2/Add.75 /Rev.1  10 August 2004  
Australia  G/TBT/2/Add.8  31 May 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.8/Rev.1  29 May 2001  
 G/TBT/2/Add.8/Rev.1/Suppl.1  21 June 2001  
Bahrain, Kingdom of  G/TBT/2/Add.19  2 August 1996  
Bangladesh  G/TBT/2/Add.88  19 May 2006  
Barbados  G/TBT/ 2/Add.48  24 September 1998  
Belize  G/TBT/2/Add.104  20 August 20 10 
Bolivia, Plurinational State of  G/TBT/2/Add.43  20 January 1998  
 G/TBT/2/Add.43 /Suppl.1  18 September 1998  
Botswana  G/TBT/2/Add.97  30 October 2007  
Brazil  G/TBT/2/Add.26  29 October 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.2 6/Rev.1  28 October 2002  
 G/TBT/2/Add.26/Rev.1/Suppl.1  18 December 2002  
 G/TBT/2/Add.26/Rev .2  26 June 2003  
 G/TBT/2/Add.26/Rev.2/Suppl.1  7 July 2003  
 G/TBT/2/Add.26/Rev.2/Suppl.2  6 November 2006  
Brunei Darussalam  G/TBT/2/Add.119  24 October 2 016 
Bulgaria  G/TBT/2/Add.32  23 May 1997  
 G/TBT/2/Add.32/Rev .1  12 October 2000  
 G/TBT/2/Add.32/Rev .2  16 July 2003  
 G/TBT/2/Add.32/Rev.3  15 December 2006  
Burundi  G/TBT/2/Add.18  25 July 2016 
Cambodia  G/TBT/2/Add.103  12 July 2010  
Canada  G/TBT/2/Add.6  4 June 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.6/Rev.1  9 September 2002  
 G/TBT/2/Add.6/Rev.2  4 July 2007  
 G/TBT/2/Add.6/Rev.3  17 June 2014  
 G/TBT/2/Add.6/Rev.4  18 February 2019  
Chile G/TBT/2/Add.16  22 July 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add .16/Suppl.1  19 April 1999  
 G/TBT/2/Add.16 /Suppl.2  24 November 2003  G/TBT/44  
 
- 54 - 
 
  Member  Document  Date  
 G/TBT/2/Add.16/Rev.1  16 March 2006  
China  G/TBT/2/Add.65  29 January 2002  
Colombia  G/TBT/2/Add.18  29 August 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.18 /Rev.1  5 July 2005  
 G/TBT/2/Add.18/Rev .2  10 May 2007  
 G/TBT/2/Add.18/Rev.2/Suppl.1  13 March 2008  
 G/TBT/2/Add.18/Rev.2/Suppl.2  18 September 2008  
 G/TBT/2/Add.18/Rev .3  30 October 2009  
 G/TBT/2/Add.18/Rev.1/Suppl.1  9 January 2012  
 G/TBT/2/Add.18/Rev.1/Suppl.2  12 October 2015  
Costa Rica  G/TBT/2/Add.51  12 April 1999  
 G/TBT/2/Ad d.51/Suppl.1  10 March 2003  
Croatia  G/TBT/2/Add.73  24 January 2003  
 G/TBT/2/Add.73/Rev .1  10 May 2011  
Cuba G/TBT/2/Add.13/Rev .1  14 March 2011  
Cyprus  G/TBT/2/Add.46  27 February 199 8 
Czech Republic  G/TBT/2  8 November 1995  
 G/TBT/2/Su ppl.1  21 June 2001  
Democratic Republic of the Congo  G/TBT/2/Add.79  15 July 2004  
Dominica  G/TBT/2/Add.62  28 February 2001  
Dominican Republic  G/TBT/2/Add.74  30 June 2003  
Ecuador  G/TBT/2/Add.101  22 June 2009  
Egypt  G/TBT/2/Add.34/Rev .1  8 October 2009  
 G/TBT/2/34/Rev.2  22 October 2018  
El Salvador  G/TBT/2/Add.78  22 March 2004  
 G/TBT/2/Ad d.78/Suppl.1  8 December 2008  
Estonia  G/TBT/2/Add.58  16 March 2000  
 G/TBT/2/Add.58/ Rev.1  1 March 2001  
 G/TBT/2/Add.58/Rev .2  10 December 2001  
European Union  G/TBT/2/Add.12  27 June 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add. 12/Suppl.1  4 March 1997  
 G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev .1  1 July 1998  
 G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev .2  5 November 1999  
 G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.3  18 October 2005  
 G/TBT/2/Add.12/Rev.3/Suppl.1  22 November 2006  
Fiji G/TBT/2/Add.90  12 September 20 06 
Gabon  G/TBT/2/Add.121  5 April 2017  
Georgia  G/TBT/ 2/Add.81  15 October 2004  
 G/TBT/2/Add.81/Rev .1  28 September 2011  
 G/TBT/2/Add.81/Rev.2  8 October 2012  
Ghana  G/TBT/2/Add.76  29 October 2003  
 G/TBT/2/Add.76/Rev .1  2 June 2008  
Grenada  G/TBT/2/Add.67  12 March 2002  
Guatemala  G/TBT/2/Add.102  24 February 2010  
Guinea -Bissau  G/TBT/2/Add.92  24 November 2006  
Honduras  G/TBT/2/Add.50  22 October 1998  
Hong Kong, China  G/TBT/2/Add .1  29 January 1996  
Hungary  G/TBT/2/Add.41  21 October 1997  
Iceland  G/TBT/2/Add.55  1 June 1999  
 G/TBT/2/Add.55/Suppl.1  11 July 2000  
India G/TBT/2/Add.56  22 October 1999  
Indonesia  G/TBT/2/Add.3  22 March 1996  G/TBT/44  
 
- 55 - 
 
  Member  Document  Date  
 G/TBT/2/Add.3/Rev.1  18 May 2004  
 G/TBT/2/Add.3/Rev.2  15 May 2008  
 G/TBT/2/Add.3/Rev.3  12 November 2009  
 G/TBT/2/Add.3/Rev.4  20 August 2010  
 G/TBT/2/Add.3/Rev.5  1 March 2017  
Israel  G/TBT/2/Add.72  23 January 2003  
 G/TBT/2/A dd.72/Suppl.1  18 January 2008  
 G/TBT/2/Add.72 /Suppl.2  3 December 2010  
Jamaica  G/TBT/2/Add.57  22 July 1999  
Japan G/TBT/2/Add.10  11 June 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.10/Rev .1  31 October 2016  
Jordan  G/TBT/2/Add.61  18 October 2000  
Kazakhstan  G/TBT/2/Add.116  4 March 2016  
Kenya  G/TBT/2/Add.86  28 April 2005  
 G/TBT/2/Add.86/Suppl.1  2 June 2005  
 G/TBT/2/Add.86/Rev .1  16 February 2015  
 G/TBT/2/Add.86/Rev.2  1 October 2019  
Korea, Republic of  G/TBT/2/Add.28  12 November 199 6 
Kuwait, the State of  G/TBT/2/Add.105  6 April 2011  
Kyrgyz Republic  G/TBT/2/Ad d.59  16 March 2000  
Lao People's Democratic Republic  G/TBT/2/Add.111  20 November 2013 
Latvia  G/TBT/2/Add.52  13 April 1999  
Liberia  G/TBT/2/Add.125  6 September 2017  
 G/TBT/2/Add.125/Rev.1  25 September 2017  
Liechtenstein  G/TBT/2/Add.36  6 August 1997  
Lithuania  G/TBT/2/Add.64  4 October 2001  
Macao, China  G/TBT/2/Add.30  23 December 1996  
Madagascar  G/TBT/2/Add.80  3 August 2004  
Malawi  G/TBT/2/Add.93  2 Augu st 2007  
Malaysia  G/TBT/2/Add. 9  12 June 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.9/Rev.1  29 October 2004  
 G/TBT/2/Add.9/Rev.2  8 July 2010  
 G/TBT/2/Add.9/Rev.3  5 June 2012  
Mali G/TBT/2/Add.113  15 April 201 4 
Mauritius  G/TBT/2/Add.40  17 September 19 97 
Mexico  G/TBT/2/Add.14  19 July 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.14/Suppl.1  28 October 2008  
Moldova, Republic of  G/TBT/2/Add.68  15 March 2002  
 G/TBT/2/Add .68/Suppl.1  10 October 2006  
Mongolia  G/TBT/2/Add.44  29 January 1998  
 G/TBT/2/Add.44/Rev .1  21 December 2007  
Montenegro  G/TBT/2/Add.110  18 March 201 3 
Morocco  G/TBT/2/Add.39  6 August 1997  
Mozambique  G/TBT/2/Add.107  22 July 2011  
Namibia  G/TBT/2/Add.42  9 December 1997  
 G/TBT/2/Add.108  16 March 201 2 
Nepal  G/TBT/2/Add.122  1 June 2017  
New Zealand  G/TBT/2/Add.24  11 October 1996  
Nicaragua  G/TBT/2/Add.82  25 October 2004  
Niger  G/TBT/2/Add.95  10 September 2007  
Nigeria  G/TBT/2/Add.20  2 August 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.25  29 October 1996  G/TBT/44  
 
- 56 - 
 
  Member  Document  Date  
North Macedonia, Republic of  G/TBT/2/Add.84  22 February 2005  
Norway  G/TBT/2/Add.15  15 July 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.15/ Rev.1  26 June 1997  
Oman  G/TBT/2/Add.63  12 April 2001  
Pakistan  G/TBT/2/Add.45  12 February 199 8 
Panama  G/TBT/2/Add.53  7 May 1999  
 G/TBT/2/Add.53/C orr.1  14 October 1999  
Papua New Guinea  G/TBT/2/Add.77  5 March 2004  
 G/TBT/2/Add.77/ Rev.1  27 October 2006  
Paraguay  G/TBT/2/Add.91  29 September 20 06 
 G/TBT/2/Add .91/Rev.1  1 July 2008  
 G/TBT/2/Add.91/Rev .2  1 April 2010  
Peru G/TBT/2/Add.29  23 December 199 6 
 G/TBT/2/ Add.29/Suppl.1  14 September 2007  
 G/TBT/2/Add.29/Rev .1  1 October 2007  
 G/TBT/2/Add.29/Rev .2  3 December 2008  
Philippines  G/TBT/2/Add.11  11 June 1996 
 G/TBT/2/A dd.11/Rev.1  6 November 2017  
Poland  G/TBT/2/Add.31  18 February 199 7 
 G/TBT/2/Add.31/Rev .1  24 March 1997  
Qatar  G/TBT/2/Add.87  27 February 2006  
Romania  G/TBT/2/Add.17  2 August 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.1 7/Corr.1  11 September 1996  
Russian Federation  G/TBT/2/Add.109  11 October 2012  
Rwanda  G/TBT/2/Add.85  24 February 200 5 
 G/TBT/2/Add.85/Rev .1  7 January 2015  
Saint Kitts and Nevis  G/TBT/2/Add.123  30 June 2017  
Saint Lucia  G/TBT/2/Add.37  6 August 1997  
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  G/TBT/2/Add.71  10 December 2002  
Samoa  G/TBT/2/Add.124  14 July 2017 
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of  G/TBT/2/Add.89  19 May 2006  
Senegal  G/TBT/2/Add.115  9 October 20 15 
Seychelles  G/TBT/2/Add .114  25 September 2015  
Sierra Leone  G/TBT/2/Add.83  16 December 200 4 
Singapore  G/TBT/2/Add.25/Rev .1  27 August 2007  
Slovak Republic  G/TBT/2/Add.4  26 March 1996  
Slovenia  G/TBT/2/Add.5  28 March 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.5/S uppl.1  18 August 1999  
 G/TBT/2/Add.5/Suppl.2  1 November 2001  
South Africa  G/TBT/2/Add.60  14 July 2000  
 G/TBT/2/Add.60/ Rev.1  14 March 2012  
 G/TBT/2/Add.60/Rev .2  14 April 2016  
Sri Lanka  G/TBT/2/Add.27  8 November 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.27/Rev .1  1 April 2015  
Swaziland  G/TBT/2/Add.35  22 July 1997  
Switzerland  G/TBT/2/Add.7  14 June 1996  
 G/TBT/2 /Add.7/Rev.1  14 February 2008  
 G/TBT/2/Add.7/Rev.2  16 May 2014  
Chinese Taipei  G/TBT/2/Add.69  11 July 2002  
 G/TBT/2/Add.69/R ev.1 20 June 2018  
Tajikistan  G/TBT/2/Add.112  17 March 201 4 
Tanzania  G/TBT/2/Add.94  31 August 2007  G/TBT/44  
 
- 57 - 
 
  Member  Document  Date  
 G/TBT/2/Add.94/Rev.1  28 October 2010  
Thailand  G/TBT/2/Add.38  6 August 1997  
 G/TBT/2/Add.84 /Rev.1  9 November 2012  
Trinidad and Tobago  G/TBT/2/Add.47  13 July 1998  
 G/TBT/2/Add.47/R ev.1  19 October 2015  
Tunisia  G/TBT/2/Add.22  26 November 199 6 
Turkey  G/TBT/2/Add.33  18 June 1997  
 G/TBT/2/Add.33/R ev.1  9 November 2011  
Uganda  G/TBT/2/Add.23  8 October 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Ad d.23/Suppl.1  12 April 2006  
Ukraine  G/TBT/2/Add.100  30 May 2008  
 G/TBT/2/Add. 100/Rev.1  10 May 2011  
 G/TBT/2/Add.100/ Rev.2  20 April 2012  
 G/TBT/2/Add.100/ Rev.3  8 April 2013  
 G/TBT/2/Add.100/Rev.4  3 April 2014  
 G/TBT/2/Add.100/ Rev.5  10 April 2015  
 G/TBT/2/Add.100/ Rev.6  8 April 2016  
 G/TBT/2/Add.100/Rev.7  17 February 2017  
 G/TBT/2/Add.100/ Rev.8  1 March 2018  
United Arab Emirates  G/TBT/2/Add.96  11 September 20 07 
United States of America  G/TBT/2/Add.2  19 February 1996  
Uruguay  G/TBT/2/Add.54  26 May 1999  
Vanuatu  G/TBT/2/ Add.117  22 July 2016  
Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of  G/TBT/2/Add.70  10 September 20 02 
Viet Nam  G/TBT/2/Add.98  6 November 2007  
 G/TBT/2/Add.98/Rev.1  20 February 2009  
 G/TBT/2/Add.98/Rev .2  12 September 2012  
Yemen  G/TBT/2/Add.120  25 November 2016  
Zambia  G/TBT/2/Add.106  28 June 2011  
Zimbabwe  G/TBT/2/Add.49  28 September 19 98 
 
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 58 - 
 
  G. Members who validated their Enquiry Point information in 2019  
Member  
Albania  Fiji Mali Senegal  
Angola  Finland  Malta  Seychelles  
Antigua and Barbuda  Georgia  Mauritius  Singapore  
Argentina  Germany  Mexico  Slovak Republic  
Australia  Ghana  Moldova, Republic of  Slovenia  
Bahrain, Kingdom of  Greece  Mongolia  South Africa  
Barbados  Grenada  Montenegro  Spain  
Belgium  Guatemala  Morocco  Sri Lanka  
Belize  Guinea  Mozambique  Suriname  
Bolivia, Plurinational 
State of  Guyana  Myanmar  Sweden  
Botswana  Hong Kong, China  Namibia  Switzerland  
Brazil  Hungary  New Zealand  Chinese Taipei  
Bulgaria  India Nicaragua  Tanzania  
Burundi  Indonesia  Nigeria  Thailand  
Cambodia  Ireland  Oman  The Gambia  
Canada  Israel  Pakistan  Togo 
Chile Italy Panama  Trinidad and Tobago  
China  Jamaica  Paraguay  Turkey  
Colombia  Japan  Peru Uganda  
Costa Rica  Kazakhstan  Philippines  Ukraine  
Côte d'Ivoire  Kenya  Poland  United Kingdom  
Cuba Korea, Republic of  Qatar  United States  
Czech Republic  Kuwait, the State of  Romania  Uruguay  
Denmark  Latvia  Russian Federation  Vanuatu  
Dominican Republic  Lesotho  Rwanda  Viet Nam  
Ecuador  Liberia  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Yemen  
Egypt  Lithuania  Saint Lucia  Zambia  
Estonia  Macao, China  Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines  Zimbabwe  
Eswatini  Malaysia  Samoa   
European Union  Maldives  Saudi Arabia, Kingdom 
of  
  
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 59 - H. Adopted final texts : website information8 
Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Canada  http://www.gazette.gc.ca/accue
il-home -eng.html  Federal adopted regulations  Government of Canada 
(Including: Health 
Canada, Canada Food 
Inspection Agency, 
Transport Canada, 
Natural Resources 
Canada, Environment 
and Climate Change 
Canada, Innovation, 
Science and Economic 
Development Canada)  Published biweekly on 
Wednesdays in the 
Canada Gazette Part II.  
 http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/sm
t-gst.nsf/eng/h_sf06129.html  Radiocommunications Regulations  Innovation, Science and 
Economic Development 
Canada (ISED)   
China  http://www.customs.gov.cn/  Laws and regulations in the field of import and 
export commodity inspection  General Administration 
of Customs, P.R.CHINA   
 http://www.samr.gov.cn/zw/  Laws and regulations in the field of market 
regulation  State Administration for 
Market Regulation   
 http://www.gb688.cn/bzgk/gb/i
ndex Mandatory national standard  State Administration for 
Market Regulation 
(Standardization 
Administration of the 
P.R.C.)   
 http://www.nmpa.gov.cn/  Medical products and cosmetics regulations  National Medical 
Products Administration   
 http://www.miit.gov.cn/n11462
95/index.html  Laws and regulations in the field of industry and 
information  Ministry of Industry and 
Information Technology 
of the People's Republic 
of China   
 http://www.mee.gov.cn/  Laws and regulations in the field of ecology and 
environment  Ministry of Ecology and 
Environment of the 
People's Republic of 
China   
 
8 In original language only.   
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 60 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Colombia  http://www.mincit.gov.co/tema
s-interes/reglamentos -tecnicos  Contiene el inventario de reglamentos técnicos 
vigentes, tramitados de manera regular, conforme 
a las disposiciones del Ac uerdo OTC de la OMC, la 
Decisión 562 de la CAN y el marco jurídico del 
Subsistema Nacional de la Calidad de Colombia 
establecido en el capítulo 7 del título 1 de la parte 
2 del libro 2 del Decreto Único Reglamentario del 
Sector Comercio, Industria y Turism o, Decreto 
1074 de 2015, modificado por el Decreto 1595 de 
2015.  Dirección de Regulación 
del Ministerio de 
Comercio, Industria y 
Turismo.  
  
Czech Republic  https://www.cmi.cz/node/212  Drafts General Measure; Final texts of General 
Measures - only in Czech language  Czech Metrology 
Institute (The website of 
the Czech Metrology 
Institute contains up -to-
date information 
concerning Drafts 
General Measure and 
Final texts of General 
Measures)   
 http://www.unmz.cz/urad/notifi
kace-cr-do-wto-tbt Draft General Measure notified according to the 
TBT Agreement; Drafts of other technical 
regulations notified according to the TBT 
Agreement; Fi nal texts - in Czech language and 
current final texts in English as well  Czech Office for 
Standards, Metrology 
and Testing   
 https://aplikace.mvcr.cz/sbirka -
zakonu/  Final texts of all regulations - only in Czech 
language; It is necessary to search for certain TBT 
final text because there are final texts of all 
regulations.9 Ministry of Interior of 
the Czech Republic   
 
9 The website of Czech Office for Standards, Metrology and Testing (see link above) concerning TBT drafts and TBT final texts i s updated regularly but we would 
like to emphasize that the update is carr ied out in certain days so it can happen it is necessary to wait for the update.   
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 61 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Ecuador  http://www.normalizacion.gob.e
c/estado -de-reglamentos/  Reglamentos Técnicos Vigentes.  
Proyectos de Mejora Regulatoria  Servicio Ecuatoriano de 
Normalización - INEN / 
Subsecretaría de Calidad 
- Ministerio de 
Producción, Comercio 
Exterior, Inversiones y 
Pesca   
European Union  https://eur -
lex.europa.eu/homepage.html?l
ocale=en  Comprehensive information on all EU legislation, 
including the final texts of all EU measures 
published in the Official Journal of the European 
Union.  Not applicable   
Hong Kong, China  Technical regulations  
https://www.itc.gov.hk/en/quali
ty/psis/regulations.htm  The webpage includes the major technical 
regulations in Hong Kong, China and other 
places.10 Product Standards 
Information Bureau 
(PSIB) subsumed within 
the Innovation and 
Technology Commission 
(ITC) under the 
Innovation and 
Technology Bureau 
(ITB) of Hong Kong, 
China.  PSIB is also the 
TBT Enquiry and 
Notification Point of HKC   
 Conformity Assessment  
https://www.itc.gov.hk/en/quali
ty/hkas/about.htm#  The webpage introduces the accreditation services 
for laboratories, certification bodies, inspection 
bodies through three accreditation schemes.  Hong Kong Accreditation 
Service (HKAS) 
subsumed within the 
Innovation and 
Technology Commission 
(ITC) under the 
Innovation and 
Technology Bureau 
(ITB) of Hong Kong, 
China.   
 
10 The list of links in the webpage is prepared on best effort basis which implies that it is non -exhaustive. Hong Kong, China ’s policy is to use international 
standards as fa r as possible and align domestic standards with international standards where appropriate. There is no central standards body  developing  and issuing 
domestic standards in Hong Kong, China . As a small and externally oriented economy, it is essential that our goods meet the standards of our major overseas markets . 
Where standards have to be applied in Hong Kong, China  for public health, safety or environmental reasons, our regulatory agencie s in general adopt international 
standards or prevailing overseas standards and avoid the position where setting of standards dictates market development or b ecomes a means of protecting certain 
sectors of the industry.   
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 62 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Israel  For final text of Laws:  
https://www.justice.gov.il/Units
/Reshomot/publications/Pages/
BookOfLaws.aspx  (Hebrew only)  Laws passed by the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) on 
the third reading  "Reshumot" (Official 
Government Gazette), 
Ministry of Justice   
 For final text of Regulations:  
https://www.justice.gov.il/Units
/Reshomot/publications/Pages/
Regulations.aspx  (Hebrew only)  Subsidiary legislation including regu lations, orders 
etc. "Reshumot" (Official 
Government Gazette), 
Ministry of Justice   
 For final text of Mandatory 
Standards:  
https://portal.sii.org.il/eng/stan
dardization/tekensearchex/.asp
x All Israeli standards. Mandatory standards can be 
sorted by the legal status: Official / Part official.  Standa rds Institution of 
Israel   
 List of Mandatory Standards:  
http://www.economy.gov.il/Eng
lish/Industry/Standardization/P
ages/OfficialStandardsApp.aspx  List of all mandatory standards.  Standardization 
Administration, Ministry 
of Economy and 
Industry   
Lithuania  http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tool
s-databases/tbt/en/search  Allows EU enterprises to find out at an early stage 
about the conditions of access to markets of third 
countries. Moreover, the notification of new 
measures at draft stage gives manufacturers the 
possibility to make their voice heard on proposed 
legislation on products before being adopted.  EC 
  
 www.lsd.lt  The list includes published TBT notifications issued 
by WTO member countries and draft legislation 
containing technical regulations which may become 
technical barriers to trade. Notifications remain on 
the LST website for 60 days.  Lithuanian Standards 
Board  
  
Mauritius  http://pmo.govmu.org  Legislations on National Flag  Prime Minister's Office   
 http://gra.govmu.org  Legislations on gambling and gaming activities  Prime Minister's Office  
Department: Gambling 
Regulatory Authority    
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 63 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Mauritius (cont'd)  http://commerce.govmu.org  Consumer Protection legislations  Ministry of Industry, 
Commerce and 
Consumer Protection 
(Commerce Division)   
 http://msb.intnet.mu  and 
http://mauritianstandards.com/  
(Standards catalogue under 
construction)  Conformity Assessment Services/Conformity 
Assessment Procedures (including te sting and 
calibration)/Standards referred in Regulations  Ministry of Industry, 
Commerce and 
Consumer Protection  
Department: Mauritius 
Standards Bureau   
 http://commerce.govmu.org/En
glish/Departments/Pages/LEGAL
-METROLOGY -SERVICES.aspx  Legislations covering the "Assizing" of instruments, 
weights and measures and the protection  of the 
consumer and the public at large in all transactions 
by weight and measure  Ministry of Industry, 
Commerce and 
Consumer Protection 
(Commerce Division)  
Department: Legal 
Metrology Services   
 http://environment.govmu.org  Legislations for the protection and management of 
the environmental assets of Mauritius  Ministry of Social 
Security, National 
Solidarity, and 
Environment and 
Sustainable 
Development 
(Environment and 
Sustainable 
Development Di vision)   
 http://labour.govmu.org  Legislations which provide for the protection of 
safety and health of any employees against any 
risk at his workplace  Ministry of Labour, 
Industrial Relations, 
Employment and 
Training   
 https://www.icta.mu/laws.html  Information and Communication Technologies 
legislations  Ministry of Technology, 
Communication and 
Innovation  
Department: 
Information and 
Communication 
Technologies Auth ority  
 http://health.govmu.org  Legislations covering Food, Pharmaceutical, 
Dangerous Chemical etc  Ministry of Health and 
Quality of Life    
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 64 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Mauritius (cont'd)  http://fisheries.govmu.org  Legislations on fish and fish products etc.  Ministry of Ocean 
Economy, Marine 
Resources, Fisheries, 
Shipping and Outer 
Island   
 http://eemo.govmu.org  Legislations on efficient use of energy as a means 
to reduce carbon emissions and protect the 
environment.  Ministry of Energy and 
Public Utilities  
Department: Energy 
Efficiency Management 
Office   
 http://rpa.govmu.org  Legislations  Ministry of Energy and 
Public Utilities  
Department: Radiation 
Protection Authority   
 http://agriculture.govmu.org/En
glish/AboutUs/Department/Page
s/Departments.aspx  Legislations on plant protection, animal disease 
and chemical fertilizers  Ministry o f Agro 
Industry and Food 
Security   
Morocco  http://www.khidmat -
almostahlik.ma/portal/fr/r%C3
%A9glementation  Lois, décrets et arrêtés en relations avec la 
surveillance du Marché et la protection du 
consommateur  Ministère chargé de 
l’Industrie et du 
Commerce   
 http://www.onssa.gov.ma/fr/in
dex.php?option=com _content&v
iew=article&id=498&Itemid=33
4 Lois, décrets et arrêtés relatifs au secteur agro -
alimentaire  Office National de 
Sécurité Sanitaire des 
Produits Alimentaires 
(ONSSA)   
 http://www.equipement.gov.ma
/ministere/Pages/Procedure -et-
formulaire.aspx  Lois et réglementations relatives au transport  Ministère chargé du 
Transport   
 http://www.mhpv.gov.ma/?pag
e_id=3628  Lois, décrets et arrêtés relatifs à l’habitat e 
l’urbanisme  Ministère de 
l’aménagement du 
territoire national, de 
l’urbanisme, de l’habitat 
et de la politique de la 
ville.   
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 65 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Morocco (cont'd)  Procédure : 
http://mem.gov.ma/SiteAssets/
PdfDocumentation/GuideProced
ures.pdf  
Loi: 
http://mem.gov.ma/SitePages/
MenuHaut/Documentation.aspx  Lois et procédures relatives au secteur de l’énergie  Ministère chargé de 
l’énergie et des mines   
 http://www.environnement.gov.
ma/fr/lois -et-
reglementations/textes -
juridiques  Lois et procédures relatives au secteur de 
l’environnement  Secrétariat d’état chargé 
du développement 
durable   
 https://www.sante.gov.ma/Regl
ementation/Pages/default.aspx  Lois, décrets et arrêtés relatifs aux médicaments et 
dispositifs médicaux  Ministère de la Santé   
 https://www.tourisme.gov.ma/f
r/vision -2020/competitivite -du-
tissu/reglementation  Lois, réglementations relatives aux activités 
touris tiques  Ministère du Tourisme 
du transport aérien, de 
l’artisanat et de 
l’économie sociale.   
 https://www.cndp.ma/fr/espace
-juridique/textes -et-lois.html  Lois, décrets et arrêtés relatifs à la protection des 
données  Nationale de contrôle de 
la protection des 
données   
Nicaragua  http://www.mific.gob.ni/SNC/S
NN/Cat%C3%A1logoNTON/tabi
d/907/language/en -
US/Default.aspx  
En este cátalo los reglamentos 
están organizados en lo que 
llamamos campos y responde a 
temas generales.  Normas Técnicas obligatorias Nicaragüenses 
(NTON)   corresponde o incluye todos los 
reglamentos técnicos  El Ministerio de 
Fomento, Industria y 
Comercio (MIFIC) es 
autoridad competente 
para la gestión de textos 
finales adoptados en el 
marco del Acuerdo OTC 
mediante los catá logos 
de normas, reglamentos 
y PEC a través del sitio 
Web oficial. Lo 
administra la Dirección 
de Normalización y 
Metrología (DNM) quien 
funge como Autoridad 
nacional de notificación 
y Servicio de 
Información para el 
acuerdo OTC.    
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 66 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Nicaragua (cont'd)  http://www.mific.gob.ni/SNC/S
NN/catalogoNTN/tabid/311/lang
uage/en -US/Default.aspx  
En este cátalo las normas están 
organizadas en lo que llamamos 
camp os y responde a temas 
generales.  Normas Técnicas Nicaragüenses (NTN) corresponde 
o incluye un listado de la normas voluntarias 
elaboradas, adoptadas y adaptadas, se accede 
mediante el siguiente enlace. En este catálogo los 
documentos completos no están dis ponibles para 
su descarga.    
Peru https://www.mincetur.gob.pe/r
eglamentostecnicos/  Contiene reglamentos técnicos y, las notificaciones 
de nuestros socios comerciales bilaterales.  Ministerio de Comercio 
Exterior y Turismo   
Saint Vincent and 
the Grenadines  www.svgbs.gov.vc  The services offered, the fees, and general 
information about the SVG Bureau of Standards.  Ministry of Finance, 
Economic Planning, 
Sustainable 
Development, and 
Information Technology   
Slovenia  http://www.pisrs.si/Pis.web/  Legal Information System (database of all 
regulations)  
 The Government Office 
for Legislation   
Sweden11 http://rkrattsbaser.gov.se/sfst   Any technical regulations or conformity assessment 
procedures that are allowed under EU law and not 
delegated to the Government or a Government 
Agency.  Riksdagen  
(Parliament)  Svensk 
författningssamling (SFS)  
 http://rkrattsbaser.gov.se/sfst   Any technical regulations or conformity assessment 
procedures that are allowed under EU law and are 
not in an Act by Parliament nor delegated to a 
Government Agency.  Regeringen  
(Government , including 
all Ministries)  Svensk 
författningssamling (SFS)  
 https://www.svk.se/om -
oss/foreskrifter/   The Swedish transmission system for electricity  Affärsverket svenska 
kraftnät  Svenska kraftnäts 
författningssamling 
(SvKF)  
 https://www.av.se/arbetsmiljoa
rbete -och-
inspektioner/publikationer/fores
krifter/#6   Work Environment, the Tobacco  Act and the 
Environmental Code when it comes to questions 
about genetic engineering and pesticides  Arbetsmiljöverket  
(Swedish Work 
Environment Authority)  Arbetsmiljöverkets 
författningssamling (AFS)  
 
11 Not all issued regulations and pr ocedures have been deemed to have significant effect  on trade by the issuing Agency or Ministry and have thus not been 
notified.  It is possible that other agencies may issue technical regulations or require conformity assessment procedures under current legislation but this far has chosen 
not to do so.   
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 67 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Sweden (cont'd)  https://www.boverket.se/sv/lag
--ratt/forfattningssamling/   Building regulations  Boverket  
(National Board of 
Housing, Building and 
Planning)  Boverkets 
författningssamling (BFS)  
 https://www.folkhalsomyndighe
ten.se/publicerat -
material/foreskrifter -och-
allmanna -rad/  Public health issues  Folkhälsomyndigheten  
(Public Health Agency of 
Sweden)  Folkhälsomyndighetens 
författningssamling 
(FoHMFS)  
 https://www.elsakerhetsverket.
se/om -oss/lag -och-
ratt/foreskrifter/   Electrical safety and for electromagnetic 
compatibility (EMC)  Elsäkerhetsverket  
(National Electrical 
Safety Board)  Elsäkerhetsverkets  
Författningssamling 
(ELSÄK -FS) 
 https://www.ei.se/sv/Publikatio
ner/Foreskrifter/   Energy markets  Energimarknadsinspekt -
ionen  
(Swedish Energy 
Markets Inspectorate)  Energimarknadsinspekti - 
onens författningssamling 
(EIFS)  
 http://www.energimyndigheten.
se/om -oss/foreskrifter/   Use of energy in society  Energimyndigheten  
(Swedish Energy 
Agency)  Statens energimyndighets 
författningssamling 
(STEMFS)  
 https://www.havochvatten.se/h
av/vagledning --
lagar/foreskrifter.html   Marine - and water -related issues  Havs- och 
vattenmyndigheten  
(Swedish Agency for 
Marine and Water 
Managem ent) Havs- och 
vattenmyndighetens  
Författningssamling 
(HVMFS)  
 http://www.jordbruksverket.se/
jordbruksverketsforfattninga r/s
okiforfattningssamlingen.4.4d4a
bf9b16871aa85b587e23.html   Agriculture  Jordbruksverket  
(Swedish Board of 
Agriculture)  Jordbruksverkets 
författningssamling 
(SJVFS)  
 https://www.kemi.se/lagar -och-
regler/kifs --
kemikalieinspektionens -
foreskrifter   Chemicals  Kemikalieinspektionen  
(Swedish Chemical 
Agency)  Kemikalieinspektionens 
författningssamling (KIFS)  
 http://www.konkurrensverket.s
e/Konkurrensverkets -
forfattningssamling -KKVFS/   Efficient competition in the private and public 
sectors, eff icient public procurement  Konkurrensverket  
(Swedish Competition 
Authority)  Konkurrensverkets 
författningssamling 
(KKVFS)  
 https://publikationer.konsumen
tverket.se/sv/sok/kovfs   Safety of products and services  Konsumentverket  
(Swedish Consumer 
Agency)  Konsumentverkets 
författningssamling 
(KOVFS)   
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 68 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Sweden (cont' d) https://www.livsmedelsverket.s
e/om-
oss/lagstiftning1/foreskrifter -i-
nummerordning   Healthy dietary habits, safe foods and fair practices 
in the food trade  Livsmedelsverket  
(Swedish National Food 
Agency)  Livsmedelsverkets  
Författningssamling 
(LIVSFS)  
 https://lakemedelsverket.se/ov
ergripande/Lagar --
regler/Lakemedelsverkets -
foreskrifter ---LVFS/   Development, manufacturing and marketing of 
drugs and other medicinal products  Läkemedelsverket  
(Swedish Medical 
Products Agency)  Gemensamma 
författningssamlingen 
avseende hälso - och 
sjukvård, socialtjänst, 
läkemedel, folkhälsa m.m. 
(HSLF -FS) 
 https://www.mprt.se/sv/blanket
ter--publikationer/foreskrifter/   Standards for transmitting and equipment for 
receiving radio and TV services  Myndigheten för press, 
radio och tv  
(Swedish Press and 
Broadcasting Authority)  Myndigheten för press, 
radio och tv:s 
författningssamling 
(MPRTFS)  
 https://www.digg.se/om -
oss/var -
verksamhet/forfattningssamling   Digitalization of the public sector  Myndigheten för digital 
förvaltning  Myndigheten för digital 
förvaltnings 
författningssamling 
(MDFFS)  
 https://www.msb.se/sv/regler/   Civil protection, public safety, emergency 
management and civil defence (including 
flammables, explosives, etc.)  Myndigheten för 
samhällsskydd och 
beredskap (MSB)  Myndigheten för  
samhällsskydd och 
beredskaps 
författningssamling 
(MSBFS)  
 https://www.naturvardsverket.s
e/Stod -i-
miljoarbetet/Rattsinformation/F
oreskrifter -allmanna -rad/  Environmental protection  Naturvårdsverket  
(Swedis h Environmental 
Protection Agency)  Naturvårdsverkets  
författningssamling (NFS)  
 https://www.pts.se/sv/dokume
nt/foreskrifter/   Electronic communications and postal sectors in 
Sweden, including competition,consumer 
protection, network security, postal affairs, and 
spectrum affairs  Post- och telestyrelsen  
(Swedish Post and 
Telecom Authority)  Post- och telestyrelsens  
författningssamling 
(PTFS)  
 https://www.kulturradet.se/om -
oss/forfattningssamling/   Cultural heritage  Riksantikvarieämbetet  
(Swedish National 
Heritage Board)  Kulturrådets 
författningssamling 
(KRFS)  
 http://www.sjofartsverket.se/O
m-oss/Lagrummet/   Maritime safety and availability  Sjöfartsverket  
(Swedish Maritime 
Administration)  Sjöfartsverkets  
författningssamling 
(SJÖFS)   
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 69 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Sweden (cont'd)  https://www4.skatteverket.se/r
attsligvagledning/24.html   Civil registration of private individuals and 
collection of taxes such as personal income tax, 
corporate tax, VAT and excise tax  Skatteverket  
(Swedish Tax Agency)  Skatteverkets  
författningssamling 
(SKVFS)  
 https://www.skogsstyrelsen.se/l
ag-och-tillsyn/forfattningar/  
 Forest related issues  Skogsstyrelsen  
(Swedish Forest 
Agency)  Skogsstyrelsens  
författningssamling 
(SKSFS)  
 https://www.spelinspektionen.s
e/foreskrifter -och-lagar/nya -
foreskrifter/   The Swe dish gaming and gambling market  Spelinspektionen  
(Swedish Gambling 
Authority)  Spelinspektionens  
författningssamling (SIFS)  
 https://energimyndigheten.a -
w2m.se/Home.mvc   Energy efficiency measures and investments in 
renewable energy technologies  Statens 
energimyndighet  
(Swedish Energy 
Agency)  Statens Energimyndighets 
författningssamling 
(STEMFS)  
 http://www.jordbruksverket.se/
jordbruksverketsforfattningar/fo
rfattningssamling.4.3ae5115a16
b6c62789837b49.html   Agri-food policy, and the agricultural and 
horticultural sectors  Statens jordbruksverk  
(Swedish Board of 
Agriculture)  Statens Jordbruksverks 
författningssamling 
(SJVFS)  
 https://www.stralsakerhetsmyn
digheten.se/regler/foreskrifter/   Nuclear safety, radiation protection and nuclear 
non-proliferation  Strålsäkerhetsmyndi -
gheten  
(Swedish radiation 
safety authority)  Strålsäkerhetsmyndighe - 
tens  
författningssamling 
(SSMFS)  
 https://www.swedac.se/lag -
ratt/swedacs -
foreskrifter/foreskrifter/   Measuring instruments, pre -packaged goods and 
precious metals, hallmarking  
(Note that conformity assessment procedures are 
described in the publication STAFS but only 
compulsory when refere nced by another agency 
than Swedac or by Swedac for measuring 
instruments or hallmarking)  Styrelsen för 
ackreditering och 
teknisk kontroll, Swedac  
(Swedish board for 
accreditation and 
conformity assessment)  Styrelsen för 
ackreditering och teknisk 
kontroll  
Styrelsens 
författningssamling 
(STAFS)  
 https://www.tlv.se/om -oss/om -
tlv/regelverk/foreskrifter.html   Dental and pharmaceutical benefits  Tandvårds - och 
läkemedelsförmånsver -
ket 
(Dental and 
Pharmaceutical Benefits 
Agency)  Gemensamma 
författningssamlingen 
avseende hälso - och 
sjukvård, socialtjänst, 
läkemedel, folkhälsa m.m. 
(HSLF -FS)  
  G/TBT/44  
 
- 70 - Member  Web address  Scope of information therein  Agency/Ministry 
responsible  Notes  
Sweden (cont'd)  https://www.transportstyrelsen.
se/sv/Regler/   Rail, air, sea and road transport  Transportstyrelsen  
(Swedish Transport 
Agency)  Transportstyrelsens 
författningssamling 
(TSFS)  
 https://www.tullverket.se/sv/o
moss/lagarochforeskrifter/sokitu
llverketsstyrdokument.4.7df61c
5915510cfe9e7f3c1.html   Customs related regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures  
 Tullverket  
(Customs ) Tullverkets 
författningssamling (TFS)  
Chinese Taipei  https://gazette.nat.gov.tw/egFr
ont/indexEng.do   
https://law.moj.gov.tw/Eng/ind
ex.aspx   Technical regulations and conformity assessment 
procedures    
Tanzania  www.tbs.go.tz  Standardization which cover standards catalogues, 
list of compulsory standards, draft standard for 
public comment  Tanzania Bureau of 
Standards   
Uganda  https://webstore.unbs.go.ug/  Final texts of standards and applicable conformity 
assessment procedures which  Uganda notifies to 
the TBT Committee    
 https://unbs.go.ug/  Final texts of other technical regulations and 
conformity assessment procedures which are 
enacted to enforce standards    
Ukraine  https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws
?lang=en  Final texts of technical regulations, as well as 
applicable conformity assessment procedures  Verkhovna Rada of 
Ukraine   
 https://www.kmu.gov.ua/ua/np
asearch  Final texts of technical regulations, as well as 
applicable conformity assessment procedures  Cabinet of Ministers of 
Ukraine   
United Kingdom  www.legislation.gov.uk  All UK and devolved legislation is included on this 
site. All UK and devolved 
legislatures.   
United States  Electronic Code of Federal 
Regulations (e -CFR) - 
https://gov.ecfr.io/cgi -bin/ECFR  The Code of Federal Regulations is the codification 
of the general and permanent rules published in 
the Federal Register by the departments and 
agencies of the United States Federal Government.  Office of the Federal 
Register, National 
Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA)   
 
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