G/TBT/45  
 
18 February 2021  
(21-1388) Page: 1/75 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade    
 
TWENTY -SIXTH  ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND  
OPERATION OF THE TBT AGREEMENT  
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
The WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (the Committee) will conduct its 
twenty -sixth 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 24-26 February 2021. This document contains information on developments in the Committee 
relating to the implemen tation and operation of the TBT Agreement from 1  January 
to 31 December  2020.  
 
_______________  
 
 
 
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/45  
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS  
1   EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 4 
2   IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS  ................................ ..... 7 
3   TRANSPARENCY AND NOTIFICATIONS  ................................ ................................ ........  8 
3.1   Notifications of technical regulations and conformity assess ment procedures  ......................  8 
3.1.1    Trends  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  8 
3.1.2    Notifications by Member  ................................ ................................ ........................... 10 
3.1.3   Use of notification formats  ................................ ................................ ........................ 12 
3.1.4    Notifications by development status and region  ................................ ........................... 15 
3.1.5    Regional approaches to notification  ................................ ................................ ............ 17 
3.1.6    Comment period provided in notifications  ................................ ................................ ...18 
3.1.7    Stated objectives of notifications  ................................ ................................ ............... 21 
3.1.8    Product coverage (HS codes) of notifications  ................................ ............................... 21 
3.1.9    COVID -19 ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 22 
3.1.10    Online tools for notifications  ................................ ................................ .................... 23 
3.2   Other TBT notifications  ................................ ................................ ................................ 26 
3.2.1    Notifications  under Article 10.7  ................................ ................................ .................. 26 
3.2.2    Notifications  under Article 15.2  ................................ ................................ .................. 26 
3.2.3    Notifications under the Code of Good Practice for the preparation, adopt ion and application 
of standards ("Code of Good Practice")  ................................ ................................ ................. 26 
3.3   TBT Enquiry  Points ................................ ................................ ................................ ......27 
3.4   Adopted final texts: website information  ................................ ................................ ........ 27 
4   SPECIFIC TRADE CONCERNS  ................................ ................................ .....................  28 
4.1   Trends  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 28 
4.2   STCs by Member  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 31 
4.2.1    Raising  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 31 
4.2.2    Responding  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 32 
4.3   STCs by region and development status  ................................ ................................ ........ 33 
4.4   Types of concerns raised in STCs ................................ ................................ .................. 36 
4.5   Stated objectives of measures subject to STCs  ................................ ............................... 37 
4.6   Product coverage of new STCs  ................................ ................................ ..................... 38 
4.7   COVID -19 ................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 40 
4.8   Number of times STCs are raised  ................................ ................................ .................. 40 
4.9   Relationship between notifications and STCs  ................................ ................................ ..42 
4.10   Use of eAgenda  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........ 44 
5   DISPUTES INVOLVING PROVISIONS OF THE  TBT AGREEMENT  ................................ .. 45 
6   SECRETARIAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES  ................................ .................  45 
7   TBT@40  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  45 
ANNEX  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  46 
A. Notifications by Member, 1995 -2020 ................................ ................................ ................ 46 
B. Revised Recommendation of the Committee on Coherent Use of Notification Formats  ............. 51 G/TBT/45  
 
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  C. Percentage of notifications that contain a comment period, by Member, 2020 ........................ 53 
D. Summary of STCs raised in 2020  ................................ ................................ ..................... 54 
E. Overview of new STCs raised in 2020  ................................ ................................ ............... 63 
F. Statements on Implementation and Administration of the Agreement under Article 15.2  ......... 71 
 
  G/TBT/45  
 
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  1  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY  
1.1.  Mr. Laurence Sandral  (Australia ) was elected by the TBT Committee as its Chairperson for 
2020. Three regular meetings were held: on 26-27 February2, 13-14 May3 and 28-30 October4, 
respectively . Due to the COVID -19 pandemic, the 13 -14 May meeting of the TBT Committee was 
held, on an exceptional basis, by w ritten procedure focusing only o n specific trade concerns .5 The 
Committee continued implementing the recommendations of the Eight h Triennial Review6 and 
adopted a timeline for the Ninth Triennial Review (Section 2) . 
1.2.  The TBT Committee piloted and launched eAgenda  during 2020. eAgenda is an online  tool that 
allows Members to submit specific trade concerns (STCs) and collaboratively build the agenda in 
real-time, enhanc ing transparency and g iving Members more time to prepare ahead of meetings . 
The use of eAgenda enabled the Committee to continue work during the COVID -19 lockdown  
(Section 4.10).  
1.3.  Strong historic record on transparency . Overall, there is a broad  implementation of the 
TBT Agreement transparency obligations by WTO Members , which continued to be the case in 2020.  
Since the Agreement entered into  force:  
a. 142 Members (87% of membership) have submitted at least one notification  of a proposed 
technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure , totalling 3 9,976 notifications  
(Article 10.6; Section 3.1.1);  
b. 145 Members (88% of membership) have subm itted at least one notification of a 
statement on implementation  and administration of the Agreement (Article 15.2; 
Section  3.2.2);  
c. 159 Members (97% of membership) have provided contact information  for their TBT 
Enquiry Point (Articles 10.1 and 10.2; Section 3.3); how ever,  
d. only 2 5 Members (1 5% of membership) have submitted at least one notification of a 
bilateral or regional agreement  on issues related to TBT measures (Article 10.7 ; 
Section  3.2.1) . 
1.4.  Notifications in 2020:  
a. 82 Members  submitted 3,354 notifications of new or changed TBT measures (a record) . 
However, this compares to 93 Members in 2019 - so while there were more notifications, 
fewer  Members were involved (Section 3.1.1);  
b. African Members  active. Again, African Members were amongst the most active in 
submitting TBT notifications . There were four East African Community countries among 
the top ten  notifying Members : Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. The rise in 
notifications from African M embers is notable since 2014,  indeed,  they submitted just 
under a third of all new notifications in 20 20 (Section s 3.1.2 and 3.1.4);  
c. Developing country Members are driving  growth.  Strong participation  from 
developing and least -developed Members  (LDCs)  are driving overall growth in  
notifications . The majority of new notifications (61%) in 2020 were submitted by 
developing Members (59) . LDCs (7) were responsible for 23%  - notifications by this latter 
category rose by 5% compared to 2019 (Section 3.1.4);  
d. COVID -19. More than 100 notifications of measures related to COVID -19 were submitted 
in 2020, in addition, COVID -19 came up in a number of STCs (Sections 3.1.9 and 4.7) ; 
 
2 G/TBT/M/80 . 
3 G/TBT/M/81 . 
4 G/TBT/M/82 . 
5 The timeline of the written procedure followed  for the 13 -14 May meeting is contained in document 
JOB/TBT/365 . 
6 G/TBT/4 1. G/TBT/45  
 
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  e. Less than 60 days  for comments, but  more extensions . Members continue to provide 
less than the recommended 60 -day comment period ; the average was 55 .7 days in 20 20. 
Since 2015 , Members have provided fewer than 60 days for comments (between 55 and 
56 days) . Twenty -five Members provided 60 or  more days for comment, on average, 
during the year . On a more positive note, Members are increasingly using addenda to 
extend comment periods (Section 3.1.6);  
f. Use of the new addendum format. The revised addendum format , adopted in 
November 2019 , was implemented in July 2020  – so far, it has been mainly used to provide 
information related to the adoption, publication or entry into force of measure s 
(Section  3.1.3);  
g. eTools  on the rise . Use of the TBT Notification Submission System (TBT NSS) is 
increasi ng: 93% of all TBT notifications were submitted using the TBT NSS, up from 35% 
in 2014 (Section 3.1. 10.1). The same goes for ePing. The number of subscribers grew to 
12,360 at the end of 2020, up from 8,821 at the end of 2019, with more than half of new 
subscribers coming from the private sector  (Section 3.1. 10.2); and, 
h. Less activity on standards . 38 notifications of work programmes (existence or updates) 
were received from 28 different standardizing bodies under  the Code of Good Practice for 
the Preparatio n, Adoption and Application of Standards . However , no new standardizing 
bodies notified acceptance of the Code. Overall,  since 1995,  192 standardizing bodies from 
144 Members or Observers accepted the Code of Good Practice (Section 3.2.3) . 
1.5.  Specific Trade C oncerns (STCs) in 2020:  
a. More new concerns, driven by developing country Members . Members reviewed a 
total of 214 STCs, including 57 new concerns. The number of new concerns raised is the 
highest in any one year since 1995  and 22 more than in 2019 (Section 4.1). As a  group, 
in 2020, developing country Members raised the largest number of  new STCs in any year 
since 1995  (Section 4. 3); 
b. Broader engagement . Since 1995, 68 Members (41% of membership) have raised at 
least one STC in the TBT Committee. In 20 20, participation in STCs broadened, as 41 
Members raised at least one STC (new or previously raised), compared to 35 in 2019  
(Sections 4.1 and 4.2);   
c. eAgenda support  helped . The increase in engagement was supported by the use of 
eAgenda . This is a tool to manage the online submission of STCs to collaboratively build 
the agenda in real -time, enhancing transparency and giving Members more time to 
prepare (Section 4. 10); 
d. HS chapters 84 and 85 , which cover electrical and ICT equipment , amongst others , were 
the product groups that came up in most notifications and new STCs during 2020 (Section s 
3.1.8 and 4.6) ; 
e. Many inactive STCs . A significant share of STCs are no longer on the agenda . 79% of all 
STCs discussed in the TBT Committee since 1995  have not been raised over the past two 
years.  However, in 2020, Members did revert to some longstanding STCs, some of which 
have been raised 15 to 30 times (Section 4. 8); and, 
f. Most STCs relate to notifications . There is complementarity  between the notification of 
proposed measures and their discussion in the Committee. 68% of all STCs raised between 
1995 and 2020 relate to notified measures (Section 4. 9). 
1.6.  Other developments in 2020:  
a. On technical assistance , the delivery of activities  in 2020 was severely affected due to 
the pandemic. This resulted in many planned TBT activities being postponed to 2021. 
Nonetheless, the Secretariat was able to hold various TBT technical assistance activities 
remotely (virtual workshops or seminars) (Secti on 6) ; and,  G/TBT/45  
 
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  b. TBT@40 . The Secretariat launched a  TBT@40 dialogue series to mark 40 years of the TBT 
Agreement and to also reflect on its future evolution. Three online events were organized  
(Section 7).  
  G/TBT/45  
 
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  2  IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS  
2.1.  The TBT Committee implement ed the recommendations of the Eighth Triennial Review during 
2020 as follows7: 
a. Decisions and recommendations . The Committee held discussions to further 
implementation of Eighth Triennial Review recommendations, i n particular on the 
development of guidelines on conformity assessment procedures, and on transparency.8 
b. Thematic sessions  and workshops . The Committee held f our thematic sessions,  and 
one workshop, in line with the work plan of the Eighth Triennial Revie w9:  
i. February  2020: Good Regulatory Practice – encouraging regulatory compatibility and 
cooperation10; 
ii. February  2020: Conformity Assessment Procedures – certificates of free sale; and, 
case studies of practical examples of how Members arrive at the accept ance of 
conformity assessment results11; 
iii. October 2020 : Technical Assistance12; 
iv. October 2020 : Technical Regulations  – mandatory marking and labelling 
requirements13; and,  
v. December 2020 : Standards – Workshop on the Role of Gender in the Development of 
Standards .14 
c. Other meetings . 
i. December 2020: Informal meeting on C onformity Assessment Procedures and COVID -
19 information sharing .15 
2.2.  The TBT Committee adopted the timeline for the Ninth Triennial Review at its October 2020 
meeting.16 
 
7 G/TBT/41 . 
8 For further information , see the Aide Memoire: JOB/TBT/273/Rev.7 , Sections 2.2 and 3.2.  
9 G/TBT/41 , para. 8.2 iv.  
10 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/287 . 
11 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/288 . 
12 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/306 . 
13 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/307 . 
14 The Moderator's  report is contained in G/TBT/ GEN/309 . 
15 The Chairperson's report is contained in JOB/TBT/395 . 
16 G/TBT/W/735 . G/TBT/45  
 
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  3  TRANSP ARENCY AND NOTIFICATIONS17 
3.1  Notifications of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures  
3.1.1   Trends  
3.1.  Members continued to submit a high  number of notifications of technical regulations and 
conformity assessment procedures to the TBT Committee in 2020, although growth slowed . 
Compared to 2019, the total number of notifications grew by less than 1%, slowing the previous 
trend of 14% annual average growth between 2015 and 2019  (Chart 1) . 
Chart  1: Total TBT notifications, 1995 -202018  
 
3.2.  In total, Members submitted 3,354 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 
(1,186), as well as 2,044 new notifications, 7 2 corrigenda to existing notifications, and 52 revisions 
(Chart 1b).19 
 
17 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. 
18 Notifications of unofficial translations of notified measures, supplements , are not considered part of 
total TBT notifications for the purposes of this report.  
19 This document uses the terminology adopted by the TBT Committee in the recommendation on 
"Coherent use of notification formats", G/TBT/35/Rev.1 , 21 November  2019. See Annex B.  
388501847
679 697631573620897
7238971029122915221892 1869
1772219421392237
19772331257930633336 3354
05001000150020002500300035004000
1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020Number of notifications
New notifications Addenda Corrigenda RevisionsG/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart 1b: Total TBT notifications, 2010 -2020  
 
 
3.3.  Whilst total numbers of notifications continued to increase, albeit more slowly, p articipation in 
submission of notifications in 2020 was lower  than previous years , with 82 Members ( exactly half of 
current  WTO membership) submitting at least one notification during the year (Chart  2), down from 
93 in 2019 . Since the entry into force of the TBT Agreement and up to 31  December 20 20, 142 
Members (representing 87%  of the full membership) have submitted at least one notification, 
totalling 3 9,976 notifications (see Annex A).  
141112151551 1597 15271424164817922085 2074 2044396
469576 468 621
4775797068411101 1186
4373484556
467053867472
1915192933
3034285187 52
18691772219421392237
19772331257930633336 3354
05001000150020002500300035004000
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020Number of notifications
New notifications Addenda Corrigenda Revisions Ave 1995-2020G/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart 2: Members' participation in the notificat ion process, 1995 -2020 
 
3.1.2   Notifications by Member  
3.4.  African Members were again amongst  the most active in submitting TBT notification s in 2020, 
with four East African Community Members in the top ten . The United States submitted the most 
notifications of any Member in 2020 (Chart 3) . Since 1995, the United States is the top notifier, 
followed by Brazil and Uganda  (Chart 4 ).  
020406080100120140160180
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
2020Number of Members
Number of Members notifying Number of Members not notifyingG/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart  3: Ten Members  that submitted most notifications  (new notifications  and 
revisions , addenda and corrigenda) during 2020 
 
 
Chart 4: Ten Members that submitted most notifications (new notifications, addenda and 
corrigenda, and revisions) during 1995 -2020 
 
370
318306
280
155145
12812111199
050100150200250300350400
United
States of
AmericaBrazil Uganda Kenya Tanzania Rwanda China Israel Egypt European
UnionNumber of notifications
New notifications and Revisions Addenda Corrigenda
3736
1922178616321469 1379 1326
9811184 1146370
318
306
99
12885 121
28052 554106
2240
2092
1731
1597
1464 1447
1261 1236 1201
050010001500200025003000350040004500
United
States of
AmericaBrazil Uganda European
UnionChina Ecuador Israel Kenya Mexico Saudi
Arabia,
Kingdom
ofNumber of notifications
1995-2019 2020G/TBT/45  
 
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  3.5.  Taking a closer look at the five top notifying Members (US, Brazil, Uganda, EU, and China; 
Chart 4 ), Chart  5 shows the annual volume of notifications submitted  by these Members over the 
past ten years . Whilst the annual volumes of notifications by China and the EU are relatively stable, 
Brazil maintained a stable level unt il 2017, after which the increase is notable. The US peaked in 
2016, and again  submitt ed a high volume in 2020 , whilst Uganda's notifications  rose dramatically 
as of 2017, peaking in 2019.  
Chart 5: Notifications submitted by the EU, Brazil, Uganda , the US and China  (new 
notifications, addenda and corrigenda, and revisions) during 2011-2020 
 
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", "revisi ons", "addenda", "corrigenda", as well as 
"supplement s"), which aims to increase  transparency of  notified measure s throughout the regulatory 
lifecycle.  A revised version of this recommendation was adopted in November 2019 , annexing a 
template to be used to indicate the reason for an addendum  (hereinafter referred to as the new 
addendum format) .20 The recommendation  applies in various situations, for example, to indicate 
when the comment period on a notifica tion has been ext ended (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.  Since 2011 more than 450 addenda have been notified every year, and in 2020 alone, 1,186 
were notified ( see Chart 1).  Several Members are quite active in notifying information through 
addenda (Chart 6).  
 
20 G/TBT/35/ Rev.1 , reproduced in Annex B.  
050100150200250300350400450500
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020Number of notifications
United States of America Uganda Brazil European Union ChinaG/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart 6: Ten Members that submitted most follow -up notifications  during 1995 -2020 
 
3.8.  Since the implementation of the new addendum format  in July 2020 , Members have been 
prompted to indicate, via a series of check boxes, the reason(s) for the addendum.  The information 
in Chart 7 covers 'reasons' interpreted b y the Secretariat prior to July 2020, and indicated by 
Members after this date.  In 2020, the main type of information  in addenda (63%) 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, 70% included a website address to the 
adopted final text .21  
 
21 G/TBT/41 , para. 6.19(e.i); G/TBT/1/R ev.14 , Section 6.3.1.11, page 33.  
2226
1025975
819
610572
417 408 388
280
05001000150020002500
United
States of
AmericaBrazil Ecuador Uganda European
UnionMexico Argentina Colombia Canada Chinese
TaipeiNumber of notifications
Revision Addenda Corrigenda Translation SupplementG/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart 7: Reasons for addend a submitted during 202022 
 
3.9.  The number of revisions  submitted  is comparatively low; between 2012 and 2018 the WTO 
received on average 32 revisions per year (Chart 1) ; having risen to 87 in 2019, 52 were received 
in 2020, the majority of which were submitted by Ecuador . The Members that have notified  the most 
revisions since 1995 are Ecuador  (72), China  (45), the US (32), Canada (25), South Africa (24), 
Thailand (24) and Brazil (2 3). The EU is the only Member that has notified unofficial translations 
through supplements , 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 .  
3.10.   The five top notifying Members use notification formats in different ways  (Chart 8). The US 
continues to notify more addenda and corrigenda combined than new notifications, while China rarely 
uses these formats. Nearly all of China's notifications are new notificat ions. The EU notifies fewer 
addenda than the US, Brazil, or Uganda. As indicated above, revisions are rarely used.  
 
22 Most addenda ( 82%) submitted in 20 20 relate to measures originally notified in previous years.  
Adopted/published/entered 
into force
63%Additional information 
available/other
14%Content/scope of 
measure changed
11%Comment period changed
7%Measure withdrawn/revoked
4%Interpretative guidance 
issued
1%G/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart 8: Use of notification formats  by the US, Brazil, Uganda,  the EU and China  during  
1995 -2020, 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  9). Again in 2020 the 
majority of notifications ( 61%) were submitted by 59 developing Members. Least -developed 
Members ( 7) were responsible for 23% of new notifications in 202023 and developed Members ( 15) 
for 16%. The level of notifications submitted by develop ed Members and least -developed Members 
rose compared to 201 9, an increase of 4% and 5%, respectively ; in contrast, notifications from 
developing  Members decreased by 5%. 
 
23 The top five notifying least -developed Members for the period 1995 to 2020 concerning new 
notifications are Uganda (1,273), Tanzania (518), Rwanda (429), Yemen (188) and Zambia (88).  
1880
1215 1273137215121897
903 778
310 21285
99
33
42
1944
23
8
7
454106
2240
2092
1731
1597
050010001500200025003000350040004500
United States of America Brazil Uganda European Union China
Regular Addenda Corrigenda RevisionG/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart 9: New notifications by development status, 1995 -2020 
 
3.12.   The rise in notifications from African Members is notable since 2014 (Chart 1 0). African 
Members  once again  submitted just under  a third of all new notifications in 2020, far more than any 
other regional group , followed by Members in Asia and in South and Central America and the 
Caribbean, with shares of 2 2% and 15%, respectively . Of the  one third attributed to African 
Members, Tanzania  accounts for 24%, Rwanda  for 23%, Uganda  for 19%, Kenya  for 16% and Egypt  
for 7%. 
0200400600800100012001400Number of notifications
Developed Members Developing Members Least-developed MembersG/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart 10: Share of d istribution of new notifications by region, 2014 -2020 
 
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.24 The GCC Gulf Standards Organization is one group of Members that 
has submitted a significant number of joint notifications  (Chart 1 1). The Andean Community has 
also made use of this approach, albeit to a much lesser extent , and made no joint notifications in 
2020.  (For historical data, see Chart 1 3 in G/TBT/44 , or see charts in previous reports ).25 
 
24 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.  
25 For statistical purposes, each  notification submitted jointly by the seven GSO Members counts as 
seven notifications in total notification counts, while each notification submitted jointly by the four Andean 
Community  Members counts as four notifications in total counts.  
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Africa Asia
CIS Europe
Middle East North America
South and Central America and the CaribbeanG/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart 11: New notifica tions by GSO members, 1995 -2020 
 
3.1.6   Comment period provided in notifications  
3.14.   In 20 20, Members provided on average only 55.7 days for comments on new notifications 
and revisions (Chart 1 2).26 This is despite the fact that the  Committee has agreed that the normal 
time limit for comments on notified technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures 
should be 60 days. Moreover, a ny Member able to provide a time -limit beyond 60 days , such as 90 
days,  is encouraged to do so and should in dicate this in the notification.27 The tendency of Members 
to provide shorter average comment periods  since 2015  continued in 2020.  
 
26 Chart 12 c overs only those 1,958  notifications in 2020 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 time of circulation ("lapsed" means that the deadline for comments stated on the 
notification was earlier than the date of circulation of the notification).  
27 G/TBT/1/Rev.14 , Section 6.3.1.8, page 30. 
184 184 184 184 184 184 184400 376
242398984
308
4584560
4265821168
492
188
0200400600800100012001400
Bahrain,
Kingdom ofKuwait, the
State ofOman Qatar Saudi Arabia,
Kingdom ofUnited Arab
EmiratesYemenNumber of notifications
Joint regional notifications National notificationsG/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart 12: Average number of days provided  for comments , new notifications and 
revisions, all Members , 199 6-2020 
 
 
 
3.15.   The average comment period provided by each Member in 2020 (who notified a total of five 
or more new notifications or revisions) is shown in Chart 1 3. Twenty -five Members provided 60 or 
more days for comment, on average , during the year  (from Colombia to T anzania, Chart 1 3). In 138 
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 comment period was non -applicable. 
During the year,  9 Members28 used the add endum format to notify extensions to comment periods 
on measures first notified in 2020; this information is also reflected in Chart 1 3. Annex C illustrates 
the percentage of notifications submitted in 2020 that provide a comment period, by Member (where 
five or more new notifications or revisions were notified).  
 
 
28 United States;  Brazil;  Canada; Colombia; Bangladesh; Chile; Ecuador; Korea; and, Trinidad and 
Tobago  (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
55.456.155.7
404244464850525456586062Average number of daysG/TBT/45  
 
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  Chart 1 3: Average comment period, by Member, 202029 
 
 
 
29 This chart includes only those Members that have notified five or more new no tifications or revisions 
in 2020 . 
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100GeorgiaJamaicaGhanaArgentinaEcuadorChinese TaipeiIndiaUnited States of AmericaMexicoNicaraguaBrazilKenyaJapanUkraineThailandKorea, Republic ofPhilippinesFranceEuropean UnionPeruViet NamIsraelSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofChileDenmarkTanzaniaRwandaUgandaEgyptKuwait, the State ofUnited Arab EmiratesOmanBurundiBahrain, Kingdom ofYemenBotswanaQatarAustraliaUruguayNigeriaTurkeyEl SalvadorLithuaniaChinaRussian FederationNew ZealandCanadaTrinidad and TobagoSwitzerlandColombia
Initial period provided Extension of comment period (through addenda)G/TBT/45  
 
- 21 - 
 
  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 2020.30 The second most cited objective was "Quality 
requirements", followed by "Consumer information, labelling", "Preventi on of deceptive practices 
and consumer protection",  and "Protection of the environment". When comparing this with the most 
cited objectives for the period 1995 to 2020, the top five objectives remain unchanged, albeit in a 
different order (Chart 14). 
Chart  14: Notification by objective, 1995 -202031 
 
 
3.1.8   Product coverage (HS codes) of notifications  
3.17.   Members provided HS codes  in roughly one third of notifications  in 2020 . The most frequently 
covered  product categories were electrical and ICT equipment, foodstuff, pharmaceuticals, medical 
devices, chemicals, construction equipment, vehicles, and tobacco. In the food sector in particular, 
measures were related to a wide range of products such as meat, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, 
confectionary items, cocoa, and beverages. Notifications were also related to household and 
construction items such as iron and steel, ceramics, and furniture items. In addition, Members 
notified measures related to chem icals and related sectors, such as cosmetics and soaps. Overall, 
notifications touched on 84 different HS chapters in 2020.   
 
30 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.  
31 This chart is ordered by totals from 1995 -2020. 82 notifications over the stated period (1995 -2020) 
did not specify any objec tive. 
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 environmentPrevention of deceptive practices and consumer protectionQuality requirementsProtection of human health or safety
Number of notifications
1995-2019 2020G/TBT/45  
 
- 22 - 
 
  Chart 15: Product coverage in notifications,  most commonly used HS chapters,  202032 
 
 
3.1.9   COVID -19 
3.18.   During 2020, more than 100 notifications related t o COVID -1933 were submitted by Members. 
The notified measures broadly related to streamlining certification procedures;  ensuring that medical 
goods are safe; and, making food available by relaxing technical  regulations .34 The bulk of 
notifications were received in the months of April, May and June ( Chart 16). 
 
32 This chart includes HS chapters indicated in 20 or more notifications  during the year . This information 
is based on HS codes included in Members' notifications as well as Secretariat interpretation where no codes 
are provided. In some cases, no cod es are assigned if the coverage of the measure is very broad.  This 
information is being made available for the first time in this Annual Review, and historical information will be 
made available at a later date.  
33 We classify TBT notifications as COVID -19 related if they contain the terms "coronavirus",  
"COVID", "SARS -COV-2" and "nCoV".  
34 For more information, see WTO Secretariat COVID -19 information note: "Standards, regulations and 
COVID -19 — what actions taken b y WTO members? " 
https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/covid19_e/standards_report_e.pdf . 
G/TBT/45  
 
- 23 - 
 
  Chart 16: Notification s related to COVID -19, 2020 
 
3.1.10   Online tools for  notifications  
3.1.10.1   TBT Notification Submission System  
3.19.   In 2020, 93% of all TBT notifications were submi tted using the TBT Notification Submission 
System (TBT NSS)35, continuing a robust  upward trend in the number of notifications submitted 
online  (Chart 17).  
 
35 G/TBT/1/Rev.14 , Section 6.6.4.1, page s 42-43. 
05101520253035Number of notificationsG/TBT/45  
 
- 24 - 
 
  Chart 1 7: Percentage of notifications submitted via the TBT NSS, 2014 -2020 
 
 
3.20.   In line with the overall picture concerning total notifications submitted and participation of 
Members, (see Charts 1 and 2), despite the increase in the percentage of notifications submitted via 
the NSS, only 64 Members (listed below ) used the TBT NSS in 2020, down  from 68 in 2019 
(Table  1).36 
Table 1: L ist of Members that used the TBT NSS  in 2020 
Member  
Argentina  Denmark  Jamaica  Nicaragua  Tanzania  
Australia  Ecuador  Japan  Nigeria  Thailand  
Bahrain, Kingdom of  Egypt  Kazakhstan  Pakistan  Trinidad and Tobago  
Bolivia, Plurinational 
State of  El Salvador  Kenya  Panama  Turkey  
Botswana  European Union  Korea, Republic of  Peru Uganda  
Brazil  Finland  Kuwait, the State of  Philippines  Ukraine  
Burundi  France  Lithuania  Russian 
Federation  United Arab Emirates  
Canada  Germany  Malaysia  Rwanda  United Kingdom  
Chile Ghana  Mexico  Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  United States of 
America  
China  Guatemala  Montenegro  South Africa  Uruguay  
Colombia  India Morocco  Sweden  Viet Nam  
Costa Rica  Indonesia  Namibia  Switzerland  Yemen  
Czech Republic  Israel  New Zealand  Chinese Taipei   
 
36 For access to the TBT NSS, please contact tbtnss@wto.org . 
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Submitted via NSS Non-NSSG/TBT/45  
 
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  3.1.10.2   ePing: SPS/TBT notification alert system  
3.21.   Given the high volume and diversity of SPS/TBT notifications circulated annually , it can be a 
challenge for stakeholders to track and react to changes in product requirements in a timely manner. 
One of the recommendations of the Seventh Triennial Review (2015) was for the WTO Secretariat 
to develop an alert system to facilitate access to these notifications.37 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 prod ucts/markets of interest to them. In addition, ePing's communication tools 
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.  
3.22.   Since its launch, ePing  has seen a s teady rise in subscribers from both the public and private 
sectors. On 31 December 2020, ePing had 12,360 registered users covering 182 countries and 
territories , compared to 8,821 users at the end of 2019 . Around 43% of registered users are from 
governmen ts and the rest from private companies, non -governmental organizations, academia and 
regional/international organizations.  In 2020, for the first time, there were more new registrations 
from the private sector than the public sector.  
3.23.   In terms of their reg istration filters for alerts, 56% of users  are interested in receiving 
notifications affecting "all" products while 44% have selected more specific product categories. With 
respect to their filters regarding "notifying Members", 73% of registered users  are interested in 
receiving notifications from all Members while others have identified specific trading partners. 
Regarding types of notifications, 8 7% are interested in tracking both SPS and TBT notifications while 
7% prefer to track TBT notificati ons only and 6% SPS notifications only.  
3.24.   Table 2 shows the 20 Members with the highest number of registered users.  In addition, TBT 
officials from 84 Members  have been granted admin rights upon their request, allowing them to 
manage ePing at the national le vel and access commutation tools at the international level.  
Table 2. Members with highest number of ePing registrations  
 Member  Number of 
ePing 
registrations  
1 Australia  706 
2 United States of America  482 
3 United Kingdom  480 
4 Turkey  354 
5 Kenya  345 
6 China  339 
7 Japan  337 
8 Indonesia  334 
9 Uganda  318 
10 India 307 
11 Brazil  304 
12 Viet Nam  291 
13 Canada  274 
14 Malaysia  271 
15 Ecuador  265 
16 Philippines  262 
17 New Zealand  247 
 
37 Seventh Triennial Review Report, G/TBT/37 , para. 5.2.d.iii . G/TBT/45  
 
- 26 - 
 
   Member  Number of 
ePing 
registrations  
18 Germany  230 
19 Colombia  229 
20 Mexico  218 
 
3.25.   The WTO, ITC and UNDESA have continued their collaboration in maintaining and introducing 
enhancements to the system. In 2020, two important updates were introduced  to the ePing system  
in response to TBT Committee discussions as well as feedback from users  during technical assistance 
activities. A first update relates to the TBT Committee's Eighth Triennial Review recommendation to 
encourage Members to disseminate comments  and replies related to  notified draft measures on a 
voluntary basis  and to discuss th e possible use of ePing for this purpose .38 In response, the 
Secretariat has introduced enhancements to the ePing  platform  to facilitate  the sharing of comments 
and replies39 and has also prepared a video tutorial illustrating how to do so .40 The second major 
update is the in troduction  of a chat function for ePing users with admin rights, typically Enquiry 
Points. Th is admin chat function, which is currently being piloted,  aims to create a community of 
Enquiry Points and provide them  with an informal communication channel to discuss notified 
regulations and other TBT matters bilaterally, at the regional level or with selected peers.  Other 
enhancements to ePing have included the  option to search and subscribe to COVID -19 related 
notifications41 and a simplified registration form.  
3.26.   In light of the C OVID -19 pandemic, the Secretariat has been delivering an increasing number 
of online training courses on ePing to respond to requests for capacity building.42 
3.2  Other TBT notifications  
3.2.1   Notifications  under Article 10.7  
3.27.   In 20 20, one agreement was notified under Article 10.7 .43 Since 1995, 150 agreements, four 
revisions, four corrigenda and one addendum have been notified under Artic le 10.7. Overall, 25 
Members (15% of membership) have submitted at least one notification under Article 10.7.  
3.2.2   Notifications  under Article 15.2  
3.28.   In 2020, four Members submitted their first statement (Côte d'Ivoire, Myanmar, Burkina Faso 
and the United Kingd om) under Article 15.2 of the TBT Agreement with respect to measures in 
existence or taken to ensure the implementation and administration of the TBT Agreement. One 
Member, Georgia, submitted a revision to its previous notification. Côte d'Ivoire and the U nited 
Kingdom both subsequently submitted supplements to their original notifications. In total, 145 
Members have submitted at least one notification under Article 15.2 (see Annex F). 
3.2.3   Notifications under the Code of Good Practice for the preparation, adopt ion and 
application of standards ("Code of Good Practice")  
3.29.   Since the launch of the WTO ISO Standards Information Gateway  in November 2016, there 
has been a significant increase in engagement b y 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 availab le, their work programmes. In 2020, no standardizing bodies notified the acceptance 
of the Code and 38 notifications of work programmes (existence or updates) were received from 28 
 
38 G/TBT/41 , para. 6.19 f.  
39 One Member (Swit zerland) has used this new feature of ePing to share information regarding 
comments it has provided on four notifications from other Members.  
40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it5 PN-vazuA&feature=youtu.be  In addition, the first draft of a 
Secretariat Note on Using ePing to Disseminate Comments and Replies on Notifications is contained in 
JOB/TBT/396 . 
41 https://youtu.be/Ob5ou6rYYH0   
42 For further details see Section 6 on Secretariat Technical Assistance Activities.  
43 G/TBT/10.7/N/151 . G/TBT/45  
 
- 27 - 
 
  different standardizing bodies .44 Websites are now the most common way of m aking work 
programmes available. At the end of 2020, 123 standardizing bodies had provided hyperlinks to 
where their work programmes can be found (others provide the work programmes as pdf files, which 
are made available on the gateway).  
3.30.   Between 1995 and 2020, 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 ha ve accepted the 
code can be accessed through  the TBT IMS  as well as t he Standards Information Gateway  which 
also contains the forms for the acceptance of and withdrawal from the Code of Good Practice, as 
well as the form to notify work programmes  and links to work p rogrammes  provided . 
3.3  TBT Enquiry  Points  
3.31.   159 Members (97% of membership) have so far provided contact information  for their TBT 
Enquiry Point (Articles 10.1 and 10.2).  
3.32.   In 2020, the Secretariat continued to reach 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 of this information. 
Member s 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"45 
3.33.   Enquiry Points are requested to verify and update as necessary their contact information as 
shown on the TBT IMS . Those Members which have not yet done so are invited to provide updated 
information to the Secretariat by email ( tbt@wto.org ).  
3.4  Adopted final texts: website information  
3.34.   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 technical 
regulations, as well as applicable conformity assessment procedures, can normally be accessed .46 
To date, 22 Members have provided this information to the Secretariat.47  
  
 
44 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 ). 
45 G/TBT/41 , para. 6.19.a.i . 
46 G/TBT/41 , para. 6.19.e.iii -iv. 
47 See G/TBT/44 , Annex H.  G/TBT/45  
 
- 28 - 
 
  4  SPECIFIC TRADE CONCERNS48  
4.1.  Members use the TBT Committee to discuss "specific trade concerns " (STCs) with respect to 
TBT measures which may affect their trade. These discussions may relate either to proposed or final 
measures; most of them – around 70 % – relate to notified measures (proposed  or final  measures). 
The Committee gives Members an opportunity to review STCs in a multilateral setting, and to seek 
further information and clarification, working towards resolution of concerns.  
4.2.  A significant proportion of the work of the TBT Committee is dedicated to the discussion of 
STCs. The number of STCs discussed has increased steadily since the creation of the WTO in 1995, 
(Chart 18). The discussion, which normally takes two days and, lately, covers more than sixty 
concerns per meeting, is a means of reducing potential trade tensions. It improves delegations ' 
understanding of the rationale behind other Members ' regulations, sheds light on details regarding 
implementation and enforcement, and presents an opportunity  for clarification – and for delegations 
to flag potential problems. In certain cases, this has effectively facilitated the resolution of trade 
issues arising between Members. Nevertheless, if trade concerns cannot be settled at the Committee 
level, delega tions are not precluded from using the formal WTO dispute settlement procedures.  
4.1  Trends  
4.3.  In 20 20, Members reviewed a total of 214 STCs, including 57 new concerns  (Chart 1 8). The 
number of new concerns raised is the highest in any one year since 1995, 22 more than in 201 9 
(Chart 1 8b). As has been the case in recent years, the vast majority of STCs discussed in 2020 were 
previously raised STCs. In 2020, Members discussed 1 57 previously raised concerns in TBT 
Committee meetings49, up from 150 in 2019 .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, 6 8 Members (41% of the full membership) have raised at  least one STC in the TBT Committee.  
 
48 The data for the charts in this sect ion 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 2020 can be found in An nex D. Annex E provides a 
more detailed overview of new STCs raised in 2020.  
51 See G/TBT/39/Rev.1 , para. 3.19 . In line with the approach used since 2016, 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 ST C. If it 
is raised again, it is counted as a previously raised STC. In other words, Members can raise the same STC 
more than once in the same year and each time the STC is raised in the Committee, it is counted (see 
Annex  D). G/TBT/45  
 
- 29 - 
 
  Chart 1 8: STCs raised, 1995 -2020  
 
 
 
Chart 1 8b: New STCs raised, 1995 -2020  
 
 
 
4101725
1745
3554
3749
326578106131
117150160
130147161173179184 185214
050100150200250Number of STCs
New STCs Previously raised STCs
0102030405060Nuimber of new STCsG/TBT/45  
 
- 30 - 
 
  4.4.  Chart 19 shows the yearly average number of STCs discussed per TBT Committee meeting. 
While in 2011, around 50 STCs were discussed on average per meeting, this number rose to 71 i n 
2020 (Chart 19), illustrating the steadily increasing workload for the Committee ar ising from STCs.  
Chart 19: Average number of STCs raised per Committee m eeting, 20 11-2020 
 
 
4.5.  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 8 and 18b. In 20 20, 
Members withdrew 6 STCs at the outset of Committee meetings, as compared to 5 in 201 9 and 4 in 
2018.52 
4.6.  As a result of the Eighth 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 Membe rs provide 
information about whether STCs are in respect of proposed or final measures. Slightly more than 
half of the new STCs raised in 2020 were in respect of proposed measures, comparatively lower than 
in 2019 ( Chart 20). 
 
52 G/TBT/M/74  - G/TBT/M/82 . 
53 G/TBT/43 . In the Eighth Triennial Review, Members agreed to apply the procedures on a trial basis for 
the March a nd 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) . 
5053
434954586061 6271
01020304050607080
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020Number of STCs
Average per meetingG/TBT/45  
 
- 31 - 
 
  Chart 20: Proposed and final m easures , new STCs raised in 2019 and 2020  
 
 
 
4.2  STCs by Member  
4.2.1   Raising  
4.7.  The EU, US and Canada were the Members that raised most STCs in 2020 (Chart 2 1). The large 
majority of these STCs were not new but raised previously.54 In 2020, 41 Members raised at least 
one STC (new or previously raised), compared to 35 in 2019.  
Chart 21: Top ten raising Members, 2020  
 
 
4.8.  During the period 1995 to 2020 there was a similar trend ; the EU and the US raised most STCs 
(new and previous) , more than 1,000  each (Chart 2 2).  
 
54 More than one Member may raise concerns (new and previous) about the same STC. Member s 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
2019
Proposed
28
Final
25Proposed/final & 
not indicated
4
2020
86
80
42
312826 25
18 18 17
0102030405060708090100
European
UnionUnited
States of
AmericaCanada Korea,
Republic
ofJapan Brazil Australia Costa
RicaChina ColombiaNumber of STCs
New PreviousG/TBT/45  
 
- 32 - 
 
  Chart 22: Top ten raising Members, 1995 -2020  
 
 
 
4.2.2   Responding  
4.9.  The EU, as well as China and India, responded  to most STCs (new and previous) raised in the 
Committee in 20 20 (Chart 2 3). 
Chart 23: Top ten responding Members, 2020  
 
 
1252
1187
579541
404
304
243 231 221195
0200400600800100012001400
European
UnionUnited
States of
AmericaCanada Japan Australia Mexico Korea,
Republic ofChina New Zealand Brazil
New Previous
46
31
24
1413
76 654
05101520253035404550
European
UnionChina India Russian
FederationSaudi
Arabia,
Kingdom ofUnited
States of
AmericaViet Nam Korea,
Republic ofColombia QatarNumber of STCs
New PreviousG/TBT/45  
 
- 33 - 
 
  4.10.   Overall, the EU was the Member responding  to most STCs  (new and previous)  in the 
Committee between 1995 and 20 20, followed by China and India (Chart 2 4).  
Chart 24: Top ten responding Members, 1995 -2020  
 
 
 
4.3  STCs by region and development status  
4.11.   Charts 2 5 and 2 6 provide information on the regional breakdown of participation in STC 
discussions.  Members from South and Central America and the Caribbean have raised a growing 
share of STCs since 2017, while North American Members have raised relatively  fewer over the same 
period.  In 20 20, no new STCs were raised by Members from the Middle East or Africa (Chart 2 5).  
596
384
235
130115 113 1119779
56
0100200300400500600700
European
UnionChina India Korea,
Republic ofRussian
FederationUnited
States of
AmericaBrazil Indonesia Ecuador ThailandNumber of STCs
New PreviousG/TBT/45  
 
- 34 - 
 
  Chart 25: Raising region, 2011 -2020  
 
 
4.12.   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 2 6). Since 2015, Members 
from South and Central America and the Caribbean have responded to a smaller share of STCs.  
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Africa Asia CIS Europe Middle East North America South and Central America and the CaribbeanG/TBT/45  
 
- 35 - 
 
  Chart 26: Responding region, 2011 -2020  
 
 
4.13.   In 20 20, 24 of the 57 new STCs were raised by developed Members, 21 by developing 
Members , and 12 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 
Member s have become more active in raising new STCs (Chart 2 7). Developing Members continued 
to be more active in raising STCs during 2020, raising the most new STCs in any year since 1995.  
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Africa Asia CIS Europe Middle East North America South and Central America and the CaribbeanG/TBT/45  
 
- 36 - 
 
  Chart 27: New STCs raised by development status, 1995 -202055 
 
 
 
4.4  Types of concerns raised in STCs  
4.14.   STCs may relate to a range of TBT measures. Around 60% of the new STCs in 2020 were 
related to technical regulations. The remaining 40% were related to conformity assessment 
procedures, or both technical regulations and con formity assessment procedures.  
4.15.   Of the issues highlighted by concerned Members in new STCs raised in 2020, 35 dealt with 
concerns about lack of notification or opportunity to comment (transparency), 34 with the concerned 
Members' need for more information o n state of play of a measure, or clarification on certain 
elements thereof , 31 with the time given for manufacturers to adapt to new requirements (6 -month 
reasonable interval) , 30 with inconsistency with or non -use of international standards , 27 with 
conce rns about unnecessary barriers to trade, 1 5 with concerns about discrimination, and 13 with 
concerns about the legitimacy of the measure (Chart 2 8). In addition, a number of other issues were 
raised in 33 instances.56 
 
55 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 statu s. 
56 '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.  
468 9
271317
9 1081220
1626
1625
719
1214
914
91324
11312
3 2475 1212
610
814
23
9
129
8912
23
3311
3 25248
78
20712
14
104
51321
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 2019 2020Number of new STCs
Developed members Both developed and developing members Developing members LDCsG/TBT/45  
 
- 37 - 
 
  Chart 2 8: Types of concerns raised, 19 95-202057 
 
 
 
4.5  Stated objectives of measures subject to STCs  
4.16.   By far the most common stated objective of measures subject to STCs between 1995 -2020 
was "Protection of human health and safety", matching the main objective cited in TBT notifications 
(Chart 29, Chart 1 4). Information 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 This chart is ordered by totals from 1995 -2020. Concerned Members may raise more than one type of 
concern per STC.  
82343155187244244290339364403
13115133033352734
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500technical assistancespecial and differential treatmentnprPPMtime to adapt, "reasonable interval"discriminationrationale, legitimacyinternational standardsother issues raised (free text)transparencyunnecessary barrier to tradefurther information, clarification
Number of times raised
1995-2019 2020G/TBT/45  
 
- 38 - 
 
  Chart 29: Stated objectives for the measures raised as STCs, 1995 -202058 
 
 
 
4.6  Product coverage of  new STCs  
4.17.   STCs raised  in 2020 were related to a wide range of sectors including electrical and ICT goods, 
food and feed, alcoholic beverages and wine, cosmetics, chemicals, toys, and vehicles (Chart 30). 
The sectors  triggering  the largest number of concerns were electrical and  ICT equipment , and food . 
 
58 This chart is ordered by totals from 1995 -2020. Measures subject to STCs may have more than one 
objective. Each objective identified is counted.  
019172749109108115149294
136117122226
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350Reducing trade barriers and facilitating tradeNational security requirementsProtection of animal or plant life or healthHarmonizationQuality requirementsOtherConsumer information, LabellingPrevention of deceptive practices and consumer proProtection of the environmentProtection of Human health or safety
Number of times stated
1995-2019 2020G/TBT/45  
 
- 39 - 
 
  Chart 30: Product coverage of new STCs, 202059 
 
 
 
 
4.18.   On electrical and ICT equipment60, STCs covered a wide range of products including mobile 
devices, air conditioners, power cords, electronic displays, and batteries. Several STCs were related 
to the trade impact of environmental -related measures on waste, energy efficiency and the circular 
economy. There were questions about the trade impact of measures intended to reduce the carbon 
footprint and improve sustainability  in specific sectors. It was noted that measures to reduce waste 
and boost the circular economy may have an impact on the design and production of electronic and 
electrical equipment. Other examples included measures addressing e -waste and hazardous 
chemic al waste associated with these products. The issue of alignment with international standards 
and practices also came up, for example, with respect to cryptography devices, or energy 
performance testing for certain household appliances.  
4.19.   In the food sector61, STCs covered fresh and pre -packaged food, non -alcoholic beverages , 
genetically modified food and organic products . Discussions on food -related measures were mostly 
associated with public health and nutrition. For instance, on nutrition there was discussi on on 
marketing and labelling, use of supplementary adhesive labels, sodium and vitamin content, 
amongst others. Other issues discussed included changes in organic certification for small farmers 
and cooperatives, and the trade impact of genetically modifi ed food certification.  
4.20.   Overall, labelling came up in more  than half of the new STCs and in particular, the trade 
concerns stemming from differences in labelling requirements across countries (see Chart 31). There 
was reference to the difficulties that MSMEs in developing economies face in accessing markets due 
to a lack of harmonization in labelling  rules. In the wine sector, for example, there were questions 
regarding changes to importer information requirements on wine labels, and discussion of 
geographical indications. In the cosmetics sector, Members spoke about differences in labelli ng 
requirements between the country of origin and importing country with regard to the ingredients 
and the results of specific tests. Concerns were also raised on information contained in labelling of 
 
59 This chart includes HS chapters indicate d in 3 or more STCs during the year . HS codes information is 
interpreted by the Secretariat, based on related notifications, and Members' statements as recorded in the 
minutes of meetings. In some cases, no codes are assigned if the coverage of the measure is very broad  or 
cannot be ascertai ned. This information is being made available for the first time in this Annual Review, and 
historical information will be made available at a later date.  
60 HS chapter s 84 and 85.  
61 HS chapters 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18 , 19, 20, 21, 22.  
G/TBT/45  
 
- 40 - 
 
  ICT equipment, for example, and whether this could lead  to consumer confusion. There was also 
discussion of energy efficiency labelling.  
Chart 31: Keywords  of new STCs, 202062 
 
 
 
4.7  COVID -19 
4.21.   During 2020, Members made a substantive reference to the  COVID -19 pandemic in 18 STCs . 
In most cases, it was considered t hat COVID -19 was impeding implementation and compliance with 
new regulations , and extensions to transition periods were requested .  
4.8  Number of times STC s are  raised  
4.22.   The number of times that an STC is raised may be related to the importance 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 for 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, 2 5% were raised 3 to 5 times, and only 1 9% were raised more than 5 times (Chart 32).  
 
62 This chart includes keywords  indicated in 3 or more STCs during the year . Keywords are interpreted 
and assigned by the Secretariat. This information is being made available for the first time in this Annual 
Review, and historical inform ation will be made available at a later date.  
G/TBT/45  
 
- 41 - 
 
  Chart 32: Number of times an STC is raised, 1995 -2020 
 
 
4.23.   Annex D lists those longstanding STCs that were raised again in 2020. The ten most frequently 
raised are listed below  (Table 3).  
Table 3: Ten most longstanding STCs raised in 2020  
ID Title Times 
Raised  
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 
Scheme (MLPS) (ID 294)  30 
332 Russian Federation - Draft Technical Regulation on Alcohol Drinks Safety (published on 
24 October 2011) (ID 332)  27 
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)  25 
367 India - Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory 
Registration) Order, 2012 (ID 367)  24 
393 European Union - Hazard -based approach to plant protection products and setting of 
import tolerances (ID 393)  23 
428 China - Regulations for the Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices (Order 
No. 650 of the State Council) (ID 428)  20 
466 China - Registration Fees for Drugs and Medical Device Products (ID 466)  17 
494 India - Draft Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages Standards)  Regulations, 
2015 (ID 494)  15 
502 Indonesia - Halal Product Assurance Law No. 33 of 2014 (ID 502)  15 
497 Russian Federation - Rules of cement certification (ID 497)  15 
 
 
 
1-2 Meetings
56%
3-5 Meetings
25%>5 Meetings
19%G/TBT/45  
 
- 42 - 
 
  4.24.   On the other hand , considering all STCs discussed in the TBT Committee since 1995, most 
(79%) were not raised  over the last two years (i.e. during the last six meetings of the Committee) 
(Chart 3 3). The remaining 21% were raised  over the last two years.63 These figures indicate  that an 
important share of the STCs discussed in the T BT Committee are no longer on the agenda, and 
presumably some form of progress was achieved, or Members pursued the issue through other 
means.  
Chart 3 3: Share of STCs discussed in last 2 years , raised during 1995 -2020 
 
 
 
4.9  Relationship between notifications and STCs  
4.25.   The number of notifications submitted and STCs raised have generally followed a similar trend 
from 1995 to 2020 (Chart 3 4, Chart 1, Chart 19).  
 
63 Around half of the STCs included in this group were brought to the Committee for the first time ("new 
STCs") over the past two years. The other half are STCs that were first brought to the Committee prior to 
2019. 
Not raised in last 2 
years
79%Raised in last 2 
years
21%G/TBT/45  
 
- 43 - 
 
  Chart 34: Notifications and new  and previous  STCs , 1995 -2020  
 
 
4.26.   Overall, 68% of STCs raise d since 1995 concern a measure notified to the TBT Committee. In 
2020, 59% of new STCs raised were related to notified measures (Chart 3 5). 
Chart 35: New STCs discussed related to notified measures , 1995 -2020  
 
-104090140190240
05001000150020002500300035004000
Number of new and previous STCsNumber of new notifications
All Notifications New and previous STCs
50% 50%
36%69%80%
54%87%
80%87%
79%100%
83%
67%66%63%66% 65%71%69%74%
54%68%
52%59%69%
59%
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 2019 2020PercentageG/TBT/45  
 
- 44 - 
 
  4.10  Use of eAgenda  
4.27.   At the end of 2019, the Committee developed the eAgenda tool to manage the online 
submission of STCs in order to collaboratively build the agenda of meetings in real -time. Members 
can raise, support or withdraw from STCs via the platform and can upload their statements prior to 
the meeting. All these features have enhanced transparency by giving Members increased lead -time 
to prepare for the upcoming Committee meetings. By the end of 2020, around 180 users from 70 
different Members were using eAgenda. During the last meeting of 20 20, 98% of STC were raised 
through the platform, whilst 97% of Members' statements were uploaded in eAgenda.  
  G/TBT/45  
 
- 45 - 
 
  5  DISPUTES INVOLVING PROVISIONS OF THE TBT AGREEMENT  
5.1.  From 1995 -2020, 56 WTO disputes have cited the TBT Agreement in their respective requests 
for consultations, the first formal step to initiate a WTO case. During 2020, a panel was established 
and composed with respect to a dispute lodged by Indonesia concerning certain measures by the 
European Union on palm  oil and oil  palm crop -based biofuels (DS5 93). Additionally, in 2020 Hong 
Kong, China requested consultations with the United States regarding certain measures concerning 
the origin marking requirement applicable to goods produced in Hong Kong, China (DS597) . 
5.2.  In addition, during 2020 the Appellate  Body reports were circulated, and then adopted, by the 
DSB with respect to the following two TBT disputes, respectively:  
a. the dispute brought by Ukraine against certain Russian measures affecting the importation 
of railway equipment (DS499); and  
b. the dispu tes brought by Honduras and the Dominican Republic against certain Australia n 
measures mandating tobacco plain packaging (DS435  and DS441 , respectively ).64 
6  SECRETARIAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES  
6.1.  TBT-related technical assistance has consistently been a mong the top topics requested in 
recent years. In 2019, for instance, 37 TBT -related training activities were organized by the WTO 
Secretariat, some in cooperation with other organizations. This high demand for and the WTO 
delivery of technical assistance,  however, was severely affected in 2020 due to the pandemic, thus 
resulting in many TBT activities planned for the year, being postponed to 2021.  
6.2.  Nonetheless, despite such limitations, the Secretariat was able to hold various TBT technical 
assistance acti vities remotely (virtual workshops or seminars). These virtual activities were designed 
to help participants expand their understanding of the TBT Agreement, discuss challenges in 
implementing it and learn more about the work of the TBT Committee. The Secr etariat, for instance, 
organized three virtual national workshops on the TBT Agreement (Paraguay, Peru, Zimbabwe) and 
one virtual national workshop on TBT and SPS Agreements (Brazil). In addition, training on the TBT 
and SPS Agreements was provided as one of the modules of the first online Regional Trade Policy 
Course (e -RTPC) for Caribbean Members.  
6.3.  As in previous years, there was strong demand for training on TBT transparency in general and 
ePing in particular. 18 virtual ePing training activities were org anized in 2020, sometimes as part of 
a broader training session on TBT. Several of these trainings focussed on how ePing can help in 
addressing some of the challenges emerging from the pandemic and discussed how to keep track of 
changes in product requirem ents, especially those related to COVID -19, and how to connect with 
stakeholders virtually to address potential trade issue s early on. In addition, a video tutorial on how 
to set up an ePing alert on COVID -19 related SPS and TBT notifications was developed . 
7  TBT@40  
7.1.  The Secretariat launched a  TBT@40 dialogue series  to mark 40 years of the TBT  Agreement 
and to also reflect on its future evolution. Three well -attended online events were organized: the 
first focused on how SPS/TBT transparency mechanisms contribute to better access to information, 
regulatory dialogue and reduced trade tensions. The second looked at how members use the TBT 
Committee to raise and discuss "specific trade  concerns" (STCs) with respect to each other's 
regulatory measures. Speakers discussed, in particular, how this practice has helped members 
address trade frictions without having to resort to WTO disputes. And the third, focused on 
international standards,  and looked at whether, 20 years on, the Committee's "Six Principles" on 
international standardization remain fit for purpose in a world of rapid change. Speakers in this 
series included current and former TBT  Committee delegates, members of standard -setting bodies, 
international organization officials and academics.  
______________  
 
64 The appeals against the Panel reports were submitted by Honduras and the Dominican Republic only. 
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 thus adopted by the Dispute Settlement 
Body on 27 August 2018.  G/TBT/45  
 
- 46 - 
 
  ANNEX  
A. Notifications by Member, 1995 -20201 
Members  Regular 
notifications 
2020 Addenda 
and 
Corrigenda 
2020 Revisions 
2020 Total 
Notifications 
2020 Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995  
Afghanistan  0 0 0 0 2 
Albania  3 0 0 3 96 
Angola  0 0 0 0 0 
Antigua and Barbuda  0 0 0 0 0 
Argentina  25 34 0 59 876 
Armenia  1 0 0 1 93 
Australia  11 6 0 17 248 
Austria  0 0 0 0 4 
Bahrain, Kingdom of  22 0 0 22 597 
Bangladesh  1 1 0 2 4 
Barbados  0 0 0 0 10 
Belgium  0 0 0 0 210 
Belize  0 0 0 0 12 
Benin  0 0 0 0 2 
Bolivia, Plurinational State 
of 2 6 0 8 66 
Botswana  20 0 0 20 131 
Brazil  155 163 0 318 2,240  
Brunei Darussalam  0 0 0 0 2 
Bulgaria  0 0 0 0 0 
Burkina Faso  0 0 0 0 0 
Burundi  24 0 0 24 85 
Cabo Verde  0 0 0 0 0 
Cambodia  0 0 0 0 22 
Cameroon  0 0 0 0 8 
Canada  31 11 0 42 1,150  
Central African Republic  0 0 0 0 10 
Chad 0 0 0 0 0 
Chile 37 24 1 62 851 
China  126 2 0 128 1,597  
Colombia  5 12 0 17 694 
Congo  0 0 0 0 3 
Costa Rica  4 11 0 15 281 
Côte d'Ivoire  0 0 0 0 17 
Croatia  0 0 0 0 39 
Cuba 0 0 0 0 21 
 
1 Supplement notifications are not included in this table.  G/TBT/45  
 
- 47 - 
 
  Members  Regular 
notifications 
2020 Addenda 
and 
Corrigenda 
2020 Revisions 
2020 Total 
Notifications 
2020 Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995  
Cyprus  0 0 0 0 1 
Czech Republic  3 13 0 16 482 
Democratic Republic of the 
Congo  0 0 0 0 0 
Denmark  9 0 0 9 261 
Djibouti  0 0 0 0 0 
Dominica  3 0 0 3 18 
Dominican Republic  0 0 0 0 280 
Ecuador  14 54 17 85 1,464  
Egypt  42 67 2 111 484 
El Salvador  7 4 0 11 316 
Estonia  0 0 0 0 15 
Eswatini  0 0 0 0 9 
European Union  72 27 0 99 1,731  
Fiji 0 0 0 0 1 
Finland  4 0 0 4 103 
France  11 0 0 11 269 
Gabon  0 0 0 0 2 
Georgia  6 0 0 6 112 
Germany  0 0 1 1 28 
Ghana  5 0 0 5 22 
Greece  0 0 0 0 0 
Grenada  2 0 0 2 30 
Guatemala  2 2 0 4 137 
Guinea  0 0 0 0 1 
Guinea -Bissau  0 0 0 0 0 
Guyana  4 0 0 4 60 
Haiti 0 0 0 0 1 
Honduras  2 9 0 11 137 
Hong Kong, China  0 0 0 0 95 
Hungary  0 0 0 0 36 
Iceland  0 0 0 0 2 
India 65 4 0 69 254 
Indonesia  3 9 0 12 263 
Ireland  0 0 0 0 5 
Israel  82 33 6 121 1,447  
Italy 0 0 0 0 36 
Jamaica  14 0 0 14 127 
Japan  37 17 0 54 989 
Jordan  0 0 0 0 48 G/TBT/45  
 
- 48 - 
 
  Members  Regular 
notifications 
2020 Addenda 
and 
Corrigenda 
2020 Revisions 
2020 Total 
Notifications 
2020 Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995  
Kazakhstan  2 0 0 2 28 
Kenya  103 177 0 280 1,261  
Korea, Republic of  65 6 0 71 1,106  
Kuwait, the State of  36 0 0 36 578 
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  5 0 0 5 45 
Luxembourg  0 0 0 0 0 
Macao, China  1 0 0 1 21 
Madagascar  0 0 0 0 0 
Malawi  0 0 0 0 39 
Malaysia  4 0 0 4 276 
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  3 0 0 3 14 
Mexico  22 30 0 52 1,236  
Moldova, Republic of  0 0 0 0 54 
Mongolia  0 0 0 0 11 
Montenegro  1 0 0 1 16 
Morocco  4 1 0 5 33 
Mozambique  0 0 0 0 15 
Myanmar  4 0 0 4 6 
Namibia  1 0 0 1 4 
Nepal  0 0 0 0 9 
Netherlands  0 0 0 0 630 
New Zealand  8 3 0 11 175 
Nicaragua  8 3 0 11 211 
Niger  0 0 0 0 0 
Nigeria  10 0 0 10 18 
North Macedonia  0 0 0 0 8 
Norway  0 0 0 0 89 
Oman  26 0 0 26 438 
Pakistan  2 0 0 2 120 G/TBT/45  
 
- 49 - 
 
  Members  Regular 
notifications 
2020 Addenda 
and 
Corrigenda 
2020 Revisions 
2020 Total 
Notifications 
2020 Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995  
Panama  4 1 0 5 130 
Papua New Guinea  0 0 0 0 1 
Paraguay  4 0 0 4 143 
Peru 9 15 0 24 189 
Philippines  21 3 5 29 333 
Poland  0 0 0 0 7 
Portugal  0 0 0 0 1 
Qatar  19 0 0 19 624 
Romania  0 0 0 0 94 
Russian Federation  16 0 0 16 111 
Rwanda  145 0 0 145 434 
Saint Kitts and Nevis  0 0 0 0 0 
Saint Lucia  0 0 0 0 57 
Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines  0 0 0 0 13 
Samoa  0 0 0 0 1 
Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of  52 3 0 55 1,201  
Senegal  0 0 0 0 14 
Seychelles  0 0 0 0 4 
Sierra Leone  0 0 0 0 0 
Singapore  4 2 0 6 83 
Slovak Republic  0 0 0 0 54 
Slovenia  0 0 0 0 122 
Solomon Islands  0 0 0 0 0 
South Africa  2 3 0 5 389 
Spain  3 0 0 3 81 
Sri Lanka  1 0 0 1 55 
Suriname  0 0 0 0 1 
Sweden  2 0 0 2 235 
Switzerland  12 2 0 14 344 
Chinese Taipei  51 38 1 90 727 
Tajikistan  0 0 0 0 6 
Tanzania  152 0 3 155 530 
Thailand  24 20 2 46 856 
The Gambia  0 0 0 0 5 
Togo 0 0 0 0 2 
Tonga  0 0 0 0 0 
Trinidad and Tobago  5 2 1 8 145 
Tunisia  0 0 0 0 29 
Turkey  8 1 0 9 185 G/TBT/45  
 
- 50 - 
 
  Members  Regular 
notifications 
2020 Addenda 
and 
Corrigenda 
2020 Revisions 
2020 Total 
Notifications 
2020 Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995  
Uganda  118 188 0 306 2,092  
Ukraine  18 11 1 30 271 
United Arab Emirates  26 1 0 27 501 
United Kingdom  3 1 0 4 59 
United States of America  126 232 12 370 4,106  
Uruguay  10 3 0 13 55 
Vanuatu  0 0 0 0 1 
Venezuela, Bolivarian 
Republic of  0 0 0 0 35 
Viet Nam  28 2 0 30 203 
Yemen  21 1 0 22 193 
Zambia  0 0 0 0 88 
Zimbabwe  1 0 0 1 2 
Grand Total  2,044  1,258  52 3,354  39,976  
 G/TBT/45  
 
- 51 - 
 
  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 2019.  
3 A "notification" refers to the official WTO document which is part of document series " G/TBT/N/[t hree 
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 form ats for unofficial translations contained in G/TBT/1/Rev.11 , Annex 5 – Unofficial 
Translations. Further information is contained in G/TBT/GEN/66 . G/TBT/45  
 
- 52 - 
 
   
  
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 2 007. 
G/TBT/45  
 
- 53 - 
 
  C. Percentage of notifications that contain a comment period, by Member, 20 207 
 
 
  
 
7 This chart includes only those Members that have notified five or more new no tifications or revisions in 
2020. 
0.042.958.161.575.086.487.588.991.992.092.093.594.795.095.596.296.897.598.198.6100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0 90.0 100.0GeorgiaEl SalvadorBrazilThailandSwitzerlandEgyptNicaraguaPeruJapanArgentinaUnited States of AmericaCanadaUkraineBotswanaMexicoChinese TaipeiEcuadorUgandaKenyaEuropean UnionYemenViet NamUruguayUnited Arab EmiratesTurkeyTrinidad and TobagoTanzaniaSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofRwandaRussian FederationQatarPhilippinesOmanNigeriaNew ZealandKuwait, the State ofKorea, Republic ofJamaicaIsraelIndiaFranceDenmarkChinaChileBurundiBahrain, Kingdom ofAustralia
Percentage of Members' notifications that contain a comment periodG/TBT/45  
 
- 54 - 
 
  D. Summary of STCs raised in 20 20 
The following table lists the 18 5 specific trade concerns raised in the TBT Committee during 20 20 
(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 -
2020)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2020)  
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 Scheme (MLPS) (ID 
294) 28 October 2020  7 30 3 
332 Russian Federation - Draft 
Technical Regulation on Alcohol 
Drinks Safety (published on 24 
October 2011) (ID 332)  28 October 2020  9 27 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) 28 October 2020  7 25 3 
367 India - Electronics and 
Information Technology Goods 
(Requirements for Compulsory 
Registration) Order, 2012 (ID 
367)  28 October 2020  8 24 3 
393 European Union - Hazard -based 
approach to plant protection 
products and setting of import 
tolerances (ID 393)  28 October 2020  21 23 3 
428  China - Regulations for the 
Supervision and Administration of 
Medical Devices (Order No. 650 of 
the State Council) (ID 428)  28 October 2020  5 20 3 
466 China - Registration Fees for 
Drugs and Medical Device 
Products (ID 466)  28 October 2020  4 17 3 
494 India - Draft Food Safety and 
Standards (Alcoholic Beverages 
Standards) Regulations, 2015 (ID 
494) 28 October 2020  12 15 3 
502 Indonesia - Halal Product 
Assurance Law No. 33 of 2014 (ID 
502) 28 October 2020  7 15 3 
497 Russian Federation - Rules of 
cement certification (ID 497)  28 October 2020  3 15 3 G/TBT/45  
 
- 55 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2020)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2020)  
505 Egypt - Manufacturer Registration 
System (Decree No. 43/2016 and 
Decree No. 992/2015) (ID 505)  28 October 2020  14 14 3 
526 China – Cybersecurity Law (ID 
526) 28 October 2020  8 12 3 
539 European Union - Titanium 
dioxide: Regulation (EC) No 
1272/2008 (CLP Regulation), 
Annex VI, Part 2 (ID 539)  28 October 2020  9 11 3 
533 China - Cyberspace Administration 
of China – Draft implementing 
measures for the Cybersecurity 
Review of Network Products and 
Services (ID 533)  28 October 2020  6 11 3 
535 European Union - Regulation (EC) 
No 1107/2009 - non-renewal of 
approval of the active substance 
picoxystrobin (ID 535)  28 October 2020  6 11 3 
534 China - Draft revised Encryption 
Law of the People's Republic of 
China by the Office of State 
Commercial Cryptography 
Administration (OSCCA) (ID 534)  28 October 2020  5 11 3 
524 European Union - Organic 
production and labelling - Maté 
(erva -mate) (ID 524)  28 Octo ber 2020  1 11 2 
544 Viet Nam - Cybersecurity 
Measures (ID 544)  28 October 2020  6 10 3 
545 China - Catalogue of Solid Wastes 
Forbidden to Import into China 
(ID 545)  28 October 2020  6 10 3 
553 European Union - Amendments to 
the Directive 2009/28/EC, 
Renewable Energy Directive (ID 
553) 28 October 2020  10 9 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)  28 October 2020  4 7 3 
568 Brazil - Technical Regulation 14, 8 
February 2018, to set the 
additional official identity, q uality 
standards for wine and derivatives 
of grape and wine products as 
well as the requirements to be 
acquainted and Technical 
Regulation No. 48, 31 August 
2018 published in the Official 
Gazette on 10 September 2018 
(ID 568)  28 October 2020  3 7 3 G/TBT/45  
 
- 56 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2020)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2020)  
580 European Union - Transitional 
periods for MRLs and international 
consultations (ID 580)  28 October 2020  14 6 3 
579 European Union - Chlorothalonil 
(pesticide active substance) (ID 
579) 28 October 2020  13 6 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)  28 October 2020  5 6 3 
576 China - Cosmetics Supervision and 
Administration Regulation (Draft) 
(ID 576)  28 October 2020  5 6 3 
588 Republic of Korea - Package 
Recycle Classification Regulation 
(ID 588)  28 October 2020  7 5 3 
594 European Union - Medical Device 
Regulation (MDR) and In Vitro 
Diagnostic Medical Devices 
Regulation (IVDR) (ID 594)  28 October 2020  6 5 3 
592 European Union - Concerns on 
regulations with regard to eco -
design requirements for various 
products in EU (ID 592)  28 October 2020  1 5 3 
602 Qatar - Ministry of Public Health 
Circular regarding shelf life for 
cheese (ID 602)  28 October 2020  3 4 3 
598 India - Air Conditioner and its 
related Parts (Quality Control) 
Order, 2018 (ID 598)  28 October 2020  2 4 3 
605 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - 
Electrical Clothes Dryers Energy 
Performance Requirements and 
Labelling (ID 605)  28 October 2020  1 4 3 
606 Republic of Korea - Ballast Water 
Management Act (ID 606)  28 October 2020  1 4 3 
618 Peru - Supreme Decree No. 015 -
2019-SA, which amends the 
Manual of Advertising Warnings 
approved by Supreme Decree No. 
012-2018-SA (ID 618)  28 October 2020  8 3 3 
608 Mexico - Draft Amendment to 
Mexican Official Standard NOM -
051-SCFI/SSA1 -2010: General 
specifications for the labelling of 
pre-packed food and non -alcoholic 
beverages (ID 608)  28 October 2020  7 3 3 G/TBT/45  
 
- 57 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2020)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2020)  
611 China - Draft Administrative 
Measures for Registration  of 
Overseas Producers of Imported 
Foods  (ID 611)  28 October 2020  7 3 3 
609 Colombia - Food Prioritized for its 
Sodium Content, Certification 
Requirements  (ID 609)  28 October 2020  5 3 3 
612 Russian Federation - Law No. 425 
- on Amending Article 4 of Russian 
Federation Law "On Protecting 
Consumer Rights"  (612)  28 October 2020  3 3 3 
615 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Saber 
Conformity Assessment Online 
Platform / Saleem Product Safety 
Program  (ID 615)  28 October 2020  3 3 3 
619 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 
Electrical Clothes Washing 
Machines – Energy and Water 
performance Requirements and 
labelling  (ID 619)  28 October 2020  2 3 3 
610 United States - Act to amend the 
environmental conservation law, 
in relation to regulation of toxic 
chemicals in children 's products 
(State of New York – Senate Bill 
501B/Assembly Bill 6296A) (ID 
610) 28 October 2020  1 3 3 
616 Mongolia - Mandatory 
Requirement for Enrichment of 
Agricultural Products with 
Vitamins  (ID 616)  28 October 2020  1 3 3 
627 European Union - Non-renewal of 
the approval of the active 
substance mancozeb (ID 627)  28 October 2020  9 2 2 
614 European Union - Regulation (EU) 
2018/848 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 
30 May 2018 on organic 
production and labelling of organic 
products  (ID 614)  28 October 2020  8 2 2 
620 Bangladesh - Hazardous Waste 
(E-waste) Management Rules, 
2019 (ID 620)  28 October 2020  4 2 2 
630 India - Quality Control Orders for 
Chemical and Petrochemical 
Substances (ID 630)  28 October 2020  3 2 2 
632 India – Toys (Quality Control) 
Order, 2020 (IND/131); 
Amendment in Policy Condition 
No. 2(iii) to Chapter 95 of ITC 
(HS), 2017 - Schedule -I (Import 
Policy) (IND/143) (ID 632)  28 October 2020  3 2 2 
622 India - Draft Chemicals 
(Management and Safety) Rules, 
2020 (ID 622)  28 October 2020  1 2 2 G/TBT/45  
 
- 58 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2020)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2020)  
625 United States - Guidance on 
Federal Conformity Assessment 
Activities (ID 625)  28 October 2020  1 2 2 
628 European Union - Draft 
Commission Regulation amending 
Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 
1925/2006 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council as 
regards botanical species 
containing hydroxyanthracene 
derivatives (ID 628)  28 October 2020  1 2 2 
633 India – FSSAI 's Food Safety and 
Standards (Food Products 
Standards and Food Additives) 
Regulations, 2011 and the new 
implementing veterinary 
certificate for dairy products (ID 
633) 28 October 2020  1 2 2 
634 European Union - EU Commission 
Regulation (EU) 2019/2013 for 
Energy Labelling of Electronic 
Displays (ID 634)  28 October 2020  1 2 2 
636 Australia - Maturation 
requirements for imported alcohol 
(ID 636)  28 October 2020  1 2 2 
640 Myanmar - Regulation on 
importation of alcoholic beverages 
(ID 640)  28 October 2020  1 2 2 
641 China - Provisions for Cosmetics 
Registration (Draft for Comments)  
(ID 641)  28 October 2020  3 1 1 
642 China - Administrative Measures 
on Cosmetic Label ling (ID 642)  28 October 2020  2 1 1 
650 Russian Federation - Federal Law 
n° 468 on wine making and wine 
growing in the Russian Federation 
(ID 650)  28 October 2020  2 1 1 
651 India - Order related to 
requirement of Non -GM cum GM 
free certificate accompanied with 
imported food consignment  (ID 
651) 28 October 2020  2 1 1 
643 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of Bahrain, State of 
Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, 
United Arab Emirates - Halal 
Feedstuff  (ID 643)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
644 China - Commercial Cryptography 
Administrative Regulations  (ID 
644) 28 October 2020  1 1 1 G/TBT/45  
 
- 59 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2020)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2020)  
645 Mexico - Decree amending, 
supplementing and repealing 
various provisions of the 
Regulations on Sanitary Control of 
Products and Services and the 
Implementing Regulations to the 
General Law on Health with 
Respect to Advertising  (ID 645)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
646 India - Phase II of the Mandatory 
Testing and Certification of 
Telecommunications Equipment 
(MTCTE), implementing the Indian 
Telegraph Amendment  (ID 646)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
647 Zimbabwe - Electricity (Minimum 
Energy Efficiency Performance of 
Domestic Electrical Appliances) 
Regulations, 2020  (ID 647)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
648 Mexico - Various State Measures 
Restricting Sale of Food and Drink 
Products to Minors  (ID 648)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
649 India - Indian standards and 
import restrictions in the 
automotive sector (Quality Control 
Orders): wheel rims, safety glass, 
helmets  (ID 649)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
652 Republic of Korea - Revision of 
Safety Conformation Criteria for 
Textile Products for Infants  (ID 
652) 28 October 2020  1 1 1 
653 United States - Appliance 
Efficiency for Sprinkler Bodies  (ID 
653) 28 October 2020  1 1 1 
654 Chile - Technical specifications for 
the design of energy efficiency 
labels for washing machines  (ID 
654) 28 October 2020  1 1 1 
655 European Union - Information 
requirements in SCIP database  
(ID 655)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
656 Tajikistan - Additional inspection 
control of imported food products 
for palm oil content  (ID 656)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
657 France - New legislative 
requirements about index of 
repairability of electrical and 
electronic equipment  (ID 657)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
658 European Union - Waste 
Framework Directive  (ID 658)  28 October 2020 1 1 1 
659 European Union - Wine labelling 
requirements – listing of importers 
for multiple destinations  (ID 659)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
660 India - Phthalic Anhydride (Quality 
Control) Order, 2019  (ID 660)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
661 Viet Nam - Decree 
No.17/2020/ND -CP (ID 661)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 G/TBT/45  
 
- 60 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2020)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2020)  
662 Panama - Onions and Potatoes 
Harvest Life and Sprouting 
Requirements  (ID 662)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
663 United Kingdom - Wine labelling 
and documentation requirements 
at the end of the Brexit transition 
period  (ID 663)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
664 United States - Revised Origin 
Marking Requirement for Goods 
Produced in Hong Kong  (ID 664)  28 October 2020  1 1 1 
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 Jul y 2010) and accompanying 
template, "Security and Business 
Continuity Agreement") (ID 274)  13 May 2020  4 30 2 
509 China - National Standards on 
Limits of Volatile Organic 
Compounds for Furniture (ID 509)  13 May 2020  1 13 2 
549 Viet Nam: Decree on the 
regulation on conditions for 
automobiles manufacturing, 
assembling importing and 
automotive warranty & 
maintenance services (ID 549)  13 May 2020  7 9 2 
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 May 2020  8 8 2 
601 United States - Modernization of 
the Labeling and Advertising 
Regulations for Wine, Distilled 
Spirits, and Malt Beverages (ID 
601) 13 May 2020  2 3 2 
607 Pakistan - Amendment to 
Pakistan 's Imports and Exports 
(Control) Act, 1950: Statutory 
Regulatory Order (SRO) 237 on 
labeling, shelf -life, and halal 
certification (ID 607)  13 May 2020  2 3 2 
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)  13 May 2020  2 3 1 G/TBT/45  
 
- 61 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2020)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2020)  
599 Ecuador - Energy Eff iciency 
Requirements for Clothes Dryers 
for Domestic Use (ID 599)  13 May 2020  1 3 2 
603 Turkey - Draft Amendment of the 
Regulation on Cosmetics (ID 603)  13 May 2020  1 3 2 
617 France - Mandatory Labelling of 
SAR Radio Equipment  (ID 617)  13 May 2020  1 2 2 
623 Colombia - Issuing the Technical 
Regulation on rational energy -use 
labelling for certain types of 
electrical and gas end -use 
equipment, for marketing in 
Colombia (ID 623)  13 May 2020  2 1 1 
621 Viet Nam - Draft Circular replacing 
the Circular No.05/2019/TT -BTTTT 
dated 9 July 2019 specifying the 
list of products and goods with 
unsafe capability under 
management responsibility of 
Ministry of Information and 
Communications (ID 621)  13 May 2020  1 1 1 
624 Russian Federation; Kazakhstan; 
Kyrgyz Republic; Armenia - 
Requirements for energy 
efficiency of energy related 
devices (ID 624)  13 May 2020  1 1 1 
626 European Union - Revision of the 
Batteries Directive (ID 626)  13 May 2020  1 1 1 
629 New Zealand - Consumer 
Information Standards (Origin of 
Food) Regulations 2019 (ID 629)  13 May 2020  1 1 1 
631 India - Food Safety and Standards 
Act, 2006 dated 27 January 2020 
regarding operationalization of 
Food Safety and Standards (Food 
Products Standards and Food 
Additives) Amendment 
Regulations, 2020 (ID 631)  13 May 2020  1 1 1 
635 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - SASO 
2663 Air conditioner Minimum 
Energy Performance, labelling and 
testing requirements for low 
capacity window type and single -
slit, and related certifications (ID 
635) 13 May 2020 1 1 1 
637 Russian Federation - Regulation 
on safety of alcoholic beverages, 
Technical Regulation TR EAEU 
047/2018 (ID 637)  13 May 2020  1 1 1 
638 Colombia - SIC External Circular 
002 on Notices for Mobile Device 
Packaging (ID 638)  13 May 2020  1 1 1 
639 India - Expansion of BIS 
Certification to plugs, socket 
outlets and power cords (ID 639)  13 May 2020  1 1 1 G/TBT/45  
 
- 62 - 
 
  Symbol  Title Date last raised  Members 
raising  Frequency 
raised 
(1995 -
2020)  Number 
of times 
raised 
(2020)  
489 China - Insurance Regulatory 
Commission (CIRC) Information 
and Communication Technology 
Regulation (ID 489)  26 February 2020  6 14 1 
477 China - Interim Measures for 
Quality Management of 
Commercial Coal (ID 477)  26 February 2020  2 14 1 
516 Ireland —- Public Health (Alcohol) 
Bill 2015 (ID 516)  26 February 2020  7 11 1 
546 India — Amended regulation on 
toy imports (ID 546)  26 February 2020  6 8 1 
557 Brazil - Draft Technical Resolution 
n° 51, 7 April 2017 on labelling of 
beverages, wine, and grape 
derivatives (ID 557)  26 February 2020  1 6 1 
566 Chile - Public Consultation for 
draft legislation setting out rules 
on the preparation, description 
and labelling of milk products 
deriving from milk (ID 566)  26 February 2020  4 4 1 
583 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 
Technical Regulation for plastic 
products OXO – biodegradable (ID 
583) 26 February 2020  4 4 1 
589 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Added 
Sugar Upper Limit in Some Food 
Products (ID 589)  26 February 2020  4 3 1 
585 European Union - Commission 
Delegated Regulation (EU) 
2019/945 on Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems and on Third -country 
Operators of Unmanned Aircraft 
Systems (ID 585) 26 February 2020  1 3 1 
600 Ghana - Administrative Process 
for Homologation of Model of 
Motor Vehicle and its Variants (ID 
600) 26 February 2020  2 2 1 
596 European Union - Revised Draft 
EU Regulation on Ecological 
Design Requirements for External 
Power Supply (ID 596)  26 February 2020  1 2 1 
613 India - Draft Food Safety and 
Standards (Labelling and Display) 
Regulations  (ID 613)  26 February 2020  2 1 1 
Total      214 
 
  G/TBT/45  
 
- 63 - 
 
  E. Overview of new STCs raised in 20 20  
The following table provides additional detail about the new specific trade concerns raised in 20 20. 
 
Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated 
objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
Armenia; 
Kazakhstan; 
Kyrgyz 
Republic; 
Russian 
Federation  Russian Federation; 
Kazakhstan; Kyrgyz 
Republic; Armenia - 
Requirements for energy 
efficiency of energy 
related devices (ID 624)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Protection of the 
environment  Vacuum;  Refrigerators; 
TV sets; Electric bulbs; 
Household; and Office 
equipment; etc  Korea  
Australia  Australia - Maturation 
requirements for 
imported alcohol (ID 636)  Not specified  Alcoholic beverages  Brazil  
Bahrain, 
Kingdom of; 
Kuwait, the 
State of; 
Oman; Qatar; 
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of; 
United Arab 
Emirates; 
Yemen  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of Bahrain, 
State of Kuwait, Oman, 
Qatar, Yemen, United 
Arab Emirates - Halal 
Feedstuff (ID 643)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Protection of 
animal or plant 
life or health  Animal feeding stuffs 
(ICS: 65.120)  US 
Banglad esh Bangladesh - Hazardous 
Waste (E -waste) 
Management Rules, 2019 
(ID 620)  Protection of the 
environment  Household appliances; 
Monitoring and control 
equipment; Medical 
equipment; Automatic 
machines; IT and 
Telecommunication  Canada  
EU 
Russian 
Federation  
US 
Chile Chile - Technical 
specifications for the 
design of energy 
efficiency labels for 
washing machines  (ID 
654)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling  Washing machines  Korea  
China  China - Draft 
Administrative Measures 
for Registration of 
Overseas Producers of 
Imported Foods (ID 611)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Food EU 
Japan  
Korea  
Mexico  
Switzerland  
Chinese Taipei  
US 
China  China - Provisions for 
Cosmetics Registration 
(Draft for Comments) (ID 
641) Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Cosmetics (HS: 33, ICS: 
71.100.70)  Japan  
Korea  
US 
China  China - Administrative 
Measures on Cosmetic 
Labelling (ID 642) Consumer 
information, 
Labelling  Cosmetics  Japan  
Korea  
China  China - Commercial 
Cryptography 
Administrative 
Regulations (ID 644)  Not specified  Cryptography devices  US 
Colombia  Colombia - Food 
Prioritized for its Sodium 
Content, Certification 
Requirements (ID 609)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  The full range of 
products covered are 
listed in notifications: 
G/TBT/N/COL/238  and 
G/TBT/N/COL/238/Add.1   Costa Rica  
Ecuador  
EU 
Guatemala  
US G/TBT/45  
 
- 64 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated 
objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
Colombia  Colombia - Issuing the 
Technical Regulation on 
rational energy -use 
labelling for certain types 
of electrical and gas end -
use equipment, for 
marketing in Colombia 
(ID 623)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection; 
Protection of the 
environment  Electrical and  gas end -
use equipme nt; Air 
conditioners  Korea  
US 
Colombia  Colombia - SIC External 
Circular 002 on Notices 
for Mobile Device 
Packaging (ID 638)   
Mobile Devices  US 
European 
Union  European Union - 
Regulation (EU) 
2018/848 of the 
European Parliament and 
of the Council of 30 May 
2018 on organic 
production and labelling 
of organic products (ID 
614) Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection; 
Protection of the 
environment  Organic products  Canada  
Chile 
Colombia  
Dominican 
Republic  
Ecuador  
Panama  
Paraguay  
Peru 
European 
Union  European Union - 
Revision of the Batteries 
Directive (ID 626)  Protection of the 
environment  All type of batteries, 
including those used in 
electric vehicles  Japan  
European 
Union  European Union - Non-
renewal of the approval 
of the active substance 
mancozeb (ID 627)  Protection of 
animal or plant 
life or health; 
Protection of 
Human health 
or safety; 
Protection of the 
environment  Mancozeb  (pesticide 
active substance used as 
fungicide)  Brazil  
Colombia  
Costa Rica  
Ecuador  
Guatemala  
Indon esia 
Nicaragua  
Paraguay  
US 
European 
Union  European Union - Draft 
Commission Regulation 
amending Annex III to 
Regulation (EC) No 
1925/2006 of the 
European Parliament and 
of the Council as regards 
botanical species 
containing 
hydroxyanthracene 
derivatives (ID 628)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Substances other than 
vitamins and minerals  Mexico  
European 
Union  European Union - EU 
Commission Regulation 
(EU) 2019/2013 for 
Energy Labelling of 
Electronic Displays (ID 
634) Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Protection of the 
environment  Electronic displays  China  
European 
Union  European Union - 
Information requirements 
in SCIP database (ID 
655) Protection of the 
environment  Chemicals  China  
European 
Union  European Union - Waste 
Framework Directive (ID 
658) Protection of the 
environment  Chemicals  India G/TBT/45  
 
- 65 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated 
objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
European 
Union  European Union - Wine 
labelling requirements – 
listing of importers for 
multiple destinations (ID 
659) Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection  Wine Australia  
European 
Union; France  France - Mandatory 
Labelling of SAR Radio 
Equipment (ID 617)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Radio equipment for 
which manufacturers are 
required to measure the 
specific absorption rate 
(SAR)  China  
European 
Union; France  France - New legislative 
requirements about index 
of repairability of 
electrical and electronic 
equipment (ID 657)  Protection of the 
environment  Electrical and electronic 
equipment  China  
India India - Draft Food Safety 
and Standards (Labelling 
and Display) Regulations 
(ID 613)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling  Pre-packaged food  EU 
US 
India India - Draft Chemicals 
(Management and 
Safety) Rules, 2020 (ID 
622) Not specified  Chemicals; cosmetics; 
pesticides; 
pharmaceuticals  US 
India India - Quality Control 
Orders for Chemical and 
Petrochemical Substances 
(ID 630)  Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection; 
Protection of 
Human health 
or safety; 
Protection of the 
environment  The full range of 
products covered are 
listed in the notifications: 
G/TBT/N/IND/116 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/121 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/122 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/123 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/124 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/125 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/ 126, 
G/TBT/N/IND/127 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/128 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/129 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/130 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/132 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/133 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/134 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/135 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/136 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/137 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/138 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/139 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/140 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/141 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/142 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/144 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/150 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/151 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/152 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/153 , 
G/TBT/N/IND/154  Canada  
EU 
Chinese Taipei  G/TBT/45  
 
- 66 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated 
objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
India India - Food Safety and 
Standards Act, 2006 
dated 27 January 2020 
regarding 
operationalization of Food 
Safety and Standards 
(Food Products Standards 
and Food Additives) 
Amendment Regulations, 
2020 (ID 631)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Food products and 
additives; Food products 
(milk products)  US 
India India – Toys (Quality 
Control) Order, 2020 
(IND/131); Amendment 
in Policy Condition No. -
(iii) to Chapter 95 of ITC 
(HS), 2017 - Schedule -I 
(Import Policy) (IND/143) 
(ID 632)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety; 
Protection of the 
environment; 
Quality 
requirements  Toys, dolls and  similar 
other recreational goods 
which are governed by 
BIS standards as 
specified in Policy 
Condition No. 2 of the 
Chapter 95 of ITC (HS) 
2017  Canada  
EU 
US 
India India – FSSAI 's Food 
Safety and Standards 
(Food Products Standards 
and Food Additives) 
Regulations, 2011 and 
the new implementing 
veterinary certificate for 
dairy products (ID 633)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Dairy products; Cheese  EU 
India India - Expansion of BIS 
Certification to plugs, 
socket outlets and power 
cords ( ID 639)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety; 
Protection of the 
environment; 
Quality 
requirements  Plugs and socket -
outlets/Alternating 
current direct connected 
static prepayment 
meters for active energy 
(Class 1 and 2)  China  
India India - Phase II of the 
Mandatory Testing and 
Certification of 
Telecommunications 
Equipment (MTCTE), 
implementing the Indian 
Telegraph Amendment 
(ID 646)  Other; 
Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Feedback device; 
Transmission terminal 
equipment; Broadband 
equipment (HS: 8517)  US 
India India - Indian standards 
and import restrictions in 
the automotive sector 
(Quality Control Orders): 
wheel rims, safety glass, 
helmets (ID 649)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety; 
Protection of the 
environment; 
Quality 
requirements  Safety glass; Automobile 
wheel rims; Protective 
headgear (helmet)  EU 
India India - Order related to 
requirement of Non -GM 
cum GM free certificate 
accompanied with 
imported food 
consignment (ID 651)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety; 
Protection of the 
environ ment Food products  Brazil  
US G/TBT/45  
 
- 67 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated 
objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
India India - Phthalic Anhydride 
(Quality Control) Order, 
2019 (ID 660)  Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection; 
Protection of 
Human health 
or safety; 
Protection of the 
environment  Phthalic Anhydride (HS: 
29173500)  Chinese Taipei  
Korea, 
Republic of  Republic of Korea - 
Revision of Safety 
Conformation Criteria for 
Textile Products for 
Infants (ID 652)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Textile products for 
infants  EU 
Mexico  Mexico  - Draft 
Amendment to Mexican 
Official Standard NOM -
051-SCFI/SSA1 -2010: 
General specifications for 
the labelling of pre -
packed food and non -
alcoholic beverages (ID 
608) Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Pre-packaged food  and 
non-alcoholic beverages  Canada  
Costa Rica  
El Salvador  
EU  
Guatemala  
Switzerland  
US 
Mexico  Mexico - Decree 
amending, supplementing 
and repealing various 
provisions of the 
Regulations on Sanitary 
Control of Products and 
Services and the 
Implementing 
Regulations to the 
General Law on Health 
with Respect to 
Advertising (ID 645)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection; 
Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Pre-packaged food and 
non-alcoholic beverages  US 
Mexico  Mexico - Various State 
Measures Restricting Sale 
of Food and Drink 
Products to Minors (ID 
648) Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Food and drink products  US 
Mongolia  Mongolia - Mandatory 
Requirement for 
Enrichment of Agricultural 
Products with Vitamins 
(ID 616)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Food products; wheat 
flour; salt  Russian 
Federation  
Myanmar  Myanmar - Regulation on 
importation of alcoholic 
beverages (ID 640)  Not specified  Alcoholic beverages  Mexico  
New Zealand  New Zealand - Consumer 
Information Standards 
(Origin of Food) 
Regulations 2019 (ID 
629) Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection  Imported and 
domestically produced 
fruit, vegetables, meat, 
fish, seafood which are 
fresh or frozen and no 
more than minimally 
processed; and cured 
pork; food products in 
general (ICS: 67.040)  Canada  G/TBT/45  
 
- 68 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated 
objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
Panama  Panama - Onions and 
Potatoes Harvest Life and 
Sprouting Requirements 
(ID 662)  Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection  Onions; Fresh potatoes 
(ICS: 67.080.01)  US 
Peru Peru - Supreme Decree 
No. 015 -2019-SA, which 
amends the Manual of 
Advertising Warnings 
approved by Supreme 
Decree No. 012-2018-SA 
(ID 618)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Food; Non -alcoholic 
beverages  Brazil  
Chile 
Colombia  
Costa Rica  
Ecuador  
EU 
Guatemala  
US 
Russian 
Federation  Russian Federation - Law 
No. 425 - on Amending 
Article 4 of Russian 
Federation Law "On 
Protecting Consumer 
Rights" (ID 612)  Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection  Technically complex 
goods; Smartphones, 
Tablets; Wearable 
devices; Computers; 
Smart function TVs  EU 
Japan  
US 
Russian 
Federation  Russian Federation - 
Regulation on safety of 
alcoholic beverages, 
Technical Regulation TR 
EAEU 047/2018 (ID 637)  Not specified  Alcoholic beverages  Mexico  
Russian 
Federation  Russian Federation - 
Federal Law n° 468 on 
wine making and wine 
growing in the Russian 
Federation (ID 650)  Not specified  Wine Australia  
EU 
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
- Saber Conformity 
Assessment Online 
Platform / Saleem 
Product Safety Program 
(ID 615)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection;  
Protection of 
animal or plant 
life or health; 
Protection of 
Human health 
or safety; 
Protection of the 
environment; 
Quality 
requirements; 
Reducing trade 
barriers and 
facilitating trade  Unglazed ceramic flags 
and paving, hearth or 
wall tiles; unglazed 
ceram ic mosaic cubes 
and the like, whether or 
not on a backing. (HS: 
690721, 690722, 
690723, ICS: 81.060, 
81.080, 91.100.23, 
91.140.70)  EU 
Switzerland  
US 
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
– Electrical Clothes 
Washing Machines – 
Energy and Water 
performance 
Requirements and 
labelling (ID 619)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Protection of the 
environment  Washing machines  Korea  
Mexico  G/TBT/45  
 
- 69 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated 
objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of  Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 
- SASO 2663 Air 
conditioner Minimum 
Energy Performance, 
labelling and testing 
requirements for low 
capacity window type and 
single -slit, and related 
certifications (ID 635)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling; 
Protection of the 
environment  Air conditioners (ICS 
23.120)  China  
Tajikistan  Tajikistan - Additional 
inspection control of 
imported food products 
for palm oil content (ID 
656) Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Food products; Baby 
food; Confectionary; 
Dairy products  Russian 
Federation  
United 
Kingdom  United Kingdom - Wine 
labelling and 
documentation 
requirements at the end 
of the Brexit transition 
period (ID 663)  Consumer 
information, 
Labelling  Wine Australia  
United States 
of America  United States - Act to 
amend the environmental 
conservation law, in 
relation to regulation of 
toxic chem icals in 
children 's products (State 
of New York – Senate Bill 
501B/Assembly Bill 
6296A) (ID 610)  Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection; 
Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Toxic chemicals in 
children's products; 
Domestic safety; 
Protective equipment; 
Clothes; Products of the 
chemical industry;  
Equipment for children 
(ICS: 13.120, 13.340, 
61.020, 71.100, 97.190)  EU 
United States 
of America  United States - Guidance 
on Federal Conformity 
Assessment Activities (ID 
625) Quality 
requir ements  Not specified  EU 
United States 
of America  United States - Appliance 
Efficiency for Sprinkler 
Bodies (ID 653)  Protection of the 
environment; 
Quality 
requirements  Spray  sprinkler bodies; 
Environmental 
protection; Water supply 
systems, Horticultural 
equipment (ICS 13.020, 
91.140.60, 65.060.70)  China  
United States 
of America  United States - Revised 
Origin Marking 
Requirement for Goods 
Produced in Hong Kong 
(ID 664)  Consum er 
information, 
Labelling  Not specified  Hong Kong, 
China  
Viet Nam  Viet Nam - Draft Circular 
replacing the Circular 
No.05/2019/TT -BTTTT 
dated 9 July 2019 
specifying the list of 
products and goods with 
unsafe capability under 
management 
responsibility of Mi nistry 
of Information and 
Communications (ID 621)  Protection of 
Human health 
or safety  Products  and goods with 
unsafe capability under 
management 
responsibility of Ministry 
of Information and 
Communications; 
Electromagnetic 
compatibility (EMC) 
(ICS: 33.100)  US G/TBT/45  
 
- 70 - 
 
  Members 
subject to 
STC STC title  Stated 
objective  Product coverage  Members 
raising 
concern  
Viet Nam  Viet Nam - Decree 
No.17/2020/ND -CP (ID 
661) Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection; 
Protection of 
Human health 
or safety; 
Protection of the 
environment  Automobiles  Thailand  
Zimbabwe  Zimbabwe - Electricity 
(Minimum E nergy 
Efficiency Performance of 
Domestic Electrical 
Appliances) Regulations, 
2020 (ID 647)  Protection of the 
environment  Household Refrigerator; 
Television (Plasma, LCD 
or CRT); Air conditioner; 
Induction cook stove; 
Domestic Fan (Wall, 
desk, pedestal or c eiling) 
(HS: 8418.10, 8418.30, 
8418.40, 8540.11, 
8540.12, 8540.20, 
8415.10, 8415.81, 
8415.82, 8415.83, 
8516.60, 8414.40)  Korea  
 
 
 
  G/TBT/45  
 
- 71 - 
 
  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 th is Agreement. 
Any changes of such measures thereafter 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 14 5 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 199 6 
 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/A dd.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  
Burkina Faso  G/TBT/2/Add.130  18 June 2020  
Burundi  G/TBT/2/Add.18  25 July 2016  
Cambodia  G/TBT/2/Add.103  12 July 2010  
Canada  G/TBT/2/A dd.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/45  
 
- 72 - 
 
  Member  Document  Date  
 G/TBT/2/Add.16 /Suppl.2  24 November 2003  
 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  
Côte d'Ivoire  G/TBT/2/Add.127  15 January 2 020 
 G/TBT/2/Add.127/Suppl.1  12 March 2020  
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 1998  
Czech Republic  G/TBT/2  8 November 1995  
 G/TBT/2/Suppl.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 200 1 
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 Octobe r 2018  
El Salvador  G/TBT/2/ Add.78  22 March 2004  
 G/TBT/2/Add.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  
Eswatini  G/TBT/2/Add.35  22 July 1997  
European Union  G/TBT/2/Add.1 2  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  
 G/TBT/2/Add.81/Rev .3 3 December 2019  
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 200 6 
Honduras  G/TBT/2/Add.50  22 October 1998  
Hong Kong, China  G/TBT/2/Add.1  29 January 1996  G/TBT/45  
 
- 73 - 
 
  Member  Document  Date  
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/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 2014  
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  
Myanmar  G/TBT/2/Add.129  21 February 2020 
Namibia  G/TBT/2/Add.42  9 December 1997  
 G/TBT/2/Add.108  16 March 201 2 G/TBT/45  
 
- 74 - 
 
  Member  Document  Date  
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  
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/Add.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  
Switzerland  G/TBT/2/Add.7  14 June 1996  
 G/TBT/2/Add.7/Rev.1  14 February 2008  G/TBT/45  
 
- 75 - 
 
  Member  Document  Date  
 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/ Rev.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/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/A dd.47/Rev.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 Kingdom  G/TBT/2/Add.128  21 February 2020 
 G/TBT/2/Add.128/Suppl.1  12 March 2020  
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/A dd.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.1 06  28 June 2011  
Zimbabwe  G/TBT/2/Add.49  28 September 19 98 
 
__________