G/TBT/37  
 
3 December 2015  
(15-6380)  Page: 1/26  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade    
 
SEVENTH TRIENNIAL REVIEW OF THE OPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 
AGREEMENT ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS  TO TRADE UNDER ARTICLE 15.4 
_______________ 
 
  
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
INTRODUCTI ON ............................................................................................................... 2
 
1   GOOD REGULATORY PRACTICES .................................................................................. 2  
2   REGULATORY COOPERAT ION BETWEEN MEMBERS ...................................................... 4  
3   CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES ................................................................... 5  
4   STANDARDS ................................................................................................................ 8 
5   TRANSP ARENCY ........................................................................................................ 12  
6   TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ........................................................................................... 16  
7   SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT ................................................................. 18  
8   OPERATION OF  THE COMMI TTEE ............................................................................... 19  
ANNEX: SUBMISSIONS FROM MEMBERS BY  TOPIC (NOV. 2012 – NOV. 2015) ............... 22  
 G/TBT/37 
 
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INTRODUCTION 
The Seventh Triennial Review is being carried out in 2015 in accordance with the mandate under 
Article 15.4 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement).1 It was concluded 
on 6 November 2015. The first six triennial reviews were completed in 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 
2009 and 2012.2 During the review period (November 2012 – November 2015), the Committee 
has undertaken work to follow-up on specific decisions and recommendations of the Sixth Triennial 
Review3, as well as those agreed in previous reviews.4   
Members recognize that the full implementation  of the Committee's existing decisions and 
recommendations is a process that may span ov er several reviews. In this regard, Members 
reiterate the importance of following up on previously agreed decisions and recommendations as 
contained in G/TBT/1/Rev.12.  
1  GOOD REGULATORY PRACTICES5 
"Good Regulatory Practice  (GRP) can contribute to the improved and effective 
implementation of the substantive obligations under the TBT Agreement. 
Effective implementation through best practices is seen as an important means 
of avoiding and minimizing unnecessary technical barriers to trade. Since the 
entry into force of the Agreement, the Committee has engaged in an in-depth 
exchange of experiences on various aspect s of Good Regulatory Practice in order 
to foster a common understand ing of the issues involved." 
G/TBT/26, para. 5, p.2 (emphasis added) 
 
1.1  Exchange of experiences 
1.1.  During the review period, most of the Commi ttee's exchange of experiences took place in the 
context of thematic sessions on GRP, held on 5 March 20136, 17 June 20137, and 18 March 2014.8 
There were two broad areas of discussion: (i) information exchange in relation to GRP, and (ii) 
work aimed at identifying a non-exhaustive list of voluntary mechanisms and related principles of 
GRP stemming from a mandate in the Sixth Triennial Review.9 
1.1.1  Information exchange 1.2.  A number of Members discussed in general  how GRP mechanisms are embodied in domestic 
legislation and policy. Canada presented its 2012 CDRM
10 focusing on the "one-for-one" rule aimed 
                                               
1 Article 15.4 of the TBT Agreement states, in full:  "Not later than the end of the third year from the 
date of entry into force of the WTO Agreement and at  the end of each three-year period thereafter, the 
Committee shall review the operation and implementation of this Agreement, includin g the provisions relating 
to transparency, with a view to recommending an adjustment of the rights and obligations of this Agreement 
where necessary to ensure mutual economic advantag e and balance of rights and obligations, without 
prejudice to the provisions of  Article 12.  Having regard, inter alia , to the experience gained in the 
implementation of the Agreement, the Committee shall, where appropriate, submit proposals for amendments to the text of this Agreement to the Council for Trade in Goods". 
2 Reports of these triennial reviews are contai ned in: G/TBT/5; G/TBT/ 9; G/TBT/13; G/TBT/19; 
G/TBT/26; and G/TBT/32. 
3 A list of submissions circulated in the TBT Commit tee relevant to the topics under review is contained 
in the Annex to this document (p. 22). 
4 A compilation of the TBT Committee's Decisions and Recommendations adopted since January 1995 is 
contained in document G/TBT/1/Rev.12.  This document also contains th e Committee's Rules of Procedure, 
including Guidelines for Observer Status for Governme nts and International Intergovernmental Organizations. 
5 Previous decisions and recommendations on GRP are contained in Section 1 (Part 1) of 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12. The latest Secretariat background no te is contained in JOB(08)/7, and a compilation of 
sources of information on GRP is contained in G/TBT/W/341. 
6 G/TBT/GEN/143.  
7 G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.1. 
8 G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.2. 
9 G/TBT/32, para. 4.  
10 CDRM is the Cabinet Directiv e on Regulatory Management. G/TBT/37 
 
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  at reducing administrative burden on business and eliminating unnecessary regulation.11 
The European Union described the EU REFIT12 Programme which conducts regular assessment and 
maintenance of regulation to ensure that it continues to achieve its legitimate objectives in the least costly and burdensome way.
13 Malaysia explained how it applied GRP in its rule-making 
process and Quality Regulatory Management System.14 Mexico shared information on how GRP 
principles – such as representativeness, cons ensus, transparency, rationality, internal 
coordination, harmonization, and review – were embo died in its domestic legislation. Mexico also 
described its regulatory improvem ent process overseen by COFEMER15, which includes 
deregulation, simplification, and the identification of regulatory gaps.16 The United States placed 
emphasis on embedding GRP into institutional and other mechanisms for implementing the TBT 
Agreement.17  
1.3.  A number of Members shared their experiences on transparency and consultation 
mechanisms. Using the example of liability-rules  for the repair, replacement and return of 
household automotive products, China showed how it employs an extensive public consultation 
process with a broad range of stakeholders as a means of implementing GRP.18 The EU described 
the general framework, principles and minimum crit eria of public consultation and transparency, 
and their key role in operationalizing GRP throughout the regulatory lifecycle.19 Chinese Taipei 
described how it applies GRP mechanisms for public consultation and transparency in its regulatory process, including through the use of online consultation mechanisms. A case study on a regulation aimed at harmonizing standards for mobile phone chargers was presented.
20 A number 
of other Members described similar mechanisms in  the context of exchanging experiences in the 
area of transparency.21 
1.4.  South Africa stressed the importance of regulatory impact assessment  (RIA) as a 
mechanism in the regulatory decision making process to assess options, to confirm the need for 
government intervention and to set policy object ives. South Africa recognized that although the 
manner in which RIAs were performed could differ from Member to Member, there were some widely used key steps on which discussions could be pursued.
22 The World Bank explained that RIA 
was both a process for preparing regulatory proposals and a document summarizing policy options, the scope and details of which varied between Members, but increasingly incorporated 
impacts on trade and international obligations in the assessment process.
23  
1.1.2  Non-exhaustive list of voluntary mechanisms and related principles 
1.5.  In the Sixth Triennial Review, the TBT Committee agreed to identify a non-exhaustive list of 
voluntary mechanisms and related principles of Good Regulatory Practice (the "non-exhaustive list") to guide Members in the efficient and effe ctive implementation of the TBT Agreement across 
the regulatory lifecycle.
24 During the review period, the Committee has undertaken work to 
advance this mandate.25  
                                               
11 G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.2, para. 2; RD/TBT/76. 
12 REFIT is the Regulatory Fitn ess and Performance Programme. 
13 G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.2, para. 4; RD/TBT/84. 
14 G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1, para. 1.2; RD/TBT/74. 
15 COFEMER is the Mexican Federal Comm ission on Regulatory Improvement. 
16 G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.2, para. 5; G/TBT/W/378. 
17 G/TBT/GEN/143, para. 1.5; RD/TBT/26. 
18 G/TBT/GEN/143, para. 1.2; RD/TBT/35. 
19 G/TBT/GEN/143, para. 1.3; RD/TBT/29. 
20 G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.2, para. 3; RD/TBT/79. 
21 See Section 6.1.1. 
22 G/TBT/W/418, para. 1.7. 
23 G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.2, para. 6; RD/TBT/78/Rev.1. 
24 G/TBT/32, para. 4. 
25 The latest version of the Chairperson's proposal is contained in JOB/TBT/119/Rev.1. In total,  
33 submissions from 17 Members (Argentina, Brazil, Ca nada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Egypt, EU, India, 
Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Re public of Korea, South Africa, Switzerlan d, Uganda, US) were discussed during the 
review period (the full list of  relevant submissions is contained in Annex I to JOB/TBT/119). G/TBT/37 
 
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  1.1.3  Other information on GRP 
1.6.  Regional initiatives on GRP were also discussed. Indonesia described relevant work of the 
SCSC26; it was noted that APEC27 members had been encouraged to take a "whole of government" 
approach for development of regulations, to use RIA, and to implement the 2005 APEC-OECD 
Integrated Checklist on Regulatory Reform.28 The US presented efforts in the context of APEC 
aimed at strengthening the implementation of GRP,  including with respect to implementation of 
public consultations through information technology and the Internet.29  
1.7.  The OECD updated the Committee on recent work, including the launch of the Regulatory 
Policy Outlook which analysed progress made by OECD members in improving the way they 
regulate against the benchmark of the 2012 OE CD Recommendation on Regulatory Policy and 
Governance.30 The UNECE updated the Committee on developments in WP.631, which broadly 
works at promoting good practice in the development and implementation of technical 
regulations.32 
1.2  Recommendations 
1.8.  Building on this exchange as well as on previous decisions and recommendations of the 
Committee, and with a view to furthering its wo rk in the area of GRP, the Committee agrees: 
a. to continue to exchange information  on mechanisms of GRP adopted by WTO Members 
that facilitate the implementation of the TBT Agreement; and,  
b. to hold a thematic session in March 201633 on RIAs, including discussion of:  
i. the extent to which RIAs could facilitate the implementation of the TBT Agreement, 
considering the constraints facing developing countries in carrying out RIAs; and 
ii. how trade impacts and TBT Agreement obligations could be taken into account in the 
preparation of RIAs. 
2  REGULATORY COOPERATION BETWEEN MEMBERS34 
"The Committee notes that regulatory cooperation between Members  is an 
effective means of disseminating GRP.  It can also build confidence between 
trading partners through enhancing mutual  understanding of regulatory systems, 
thereby supporting efforts that aim at re moving unnecessary barriers to trade. A 
fundamental component to regulatory coop eration is the promotion of dialogue 
between Members, including at senior level. A wide variety of approaches can be 
employed by regulators to collaborat e with each other – from information 
sharing to negotiating specific agreements." 
G/TBT/26, paras 14-15, p. 4 (emphasis added) 
 
2.1  Exchange of experiences 
2.1.  During the review period, most of the Co mmittee's exchange of experiences on regulatory 
cooperation between Members took place in the context of thematic sessions.35 Mexico described 
some principal characteristics of regulatory cooperation which have featured in various aspects of 
                                               
26 The SCSC is the APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance. 
27 APEC is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.  
28 G/TBT/GEN/143, para. 1.4; RD/TBT/28. JOB/TBT/119 
29 G/TBT/GEN/174, para. 2.1; RD/TBT/109. 
30 G/TBT/GEN/179; G/TBT/GEN/180. 
31 WP. 6 is the UNECE Working Party on Regulato ry Cooperation and Stan dardization Policies. 
32 G/TBT/GEN/140; G/TBT/GEN/146. 
33 See para. 8.3, below. 
34 Regulatory Cooperation between Members figured in the Committee's Fifth Triennial Review 
(G/TBT/26). The Committee held a Wo rkshop on Regulatory Cooperation between Members on 8-9 November 
2011 (G/TBT/W/348).  A Secretariat background document is contained in G/TBT/W/340. 
35 JOB/TBT/125; JOB/TBT/134. G/TBT/37 
 
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  the work of the TBT Committee.36 Mexico also recalled an earlier submission, together with Canada 
and the United States, describing a variety of colla borative approaches to regulatory cooperation 
across several sectors.37 New Zealand described efforts to promote regulatory coherence in wine 
trade in the context of the WWTG38 and the APEC WRF39.40 Switzerland suggested that "in-depth 
discussions" dedicated to topical issues relevant  to the implementation of the TBT Agreement 
could be a way for Members to discuss specific international regulatory or standardisation challenges, thereby contributing to early regu latory cooperation between Members on new or 
emerging issues.
41 Switzerland and China identified food la belling and energy efficiency standards, 
respectively, as two topics for such discussions.42  
2.2.  The OECD described its work to improve und erstanding of the mechanisms of international 
regulatory cooperation and their contribution to regulatory quality.43 The UNECE reported on work 
in WP.2944 and other sectoral initiatives for regulatory cooperation.45 
2.2  Recommendations 2.3.  Building on this exchange as well as on previous decisions and recommendations of the 
Committee, and with a view to furthering its wo rk and raising awareness of the importance of 
regulatory cooperation between Members, the Committee agrees:  
a. to deepen and broaden its information exchange in the area of regulatory cooperation 
between Members, based on topics identifi ed by Members. The purpose of this 
information exchange is to:  
i. provide Members with an opportunity to share factual information and experiences 
with respect to ongoing, new or emerging regulatory issues, including in specific 
sectors, without duplicating regulatory c ooperation work in other technical bodies46;  
ii. discuss possible elements of regulatory c ooperation between Members with the aim 
of making regulatory cooperation initiatives more effective; and, 
b. to hold thematic sessions on regulatory cooperation between Members in June and 
November 2016.47 The Committee will organize these sessions based on proposals from 
Members.  
3   CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES48 
"Five articles of the TBT Agreement address conformity assessment 
procedures , and establish obligations of a substantive and procedural nature. 
Articles 5 and 6 contain disciplines applying to central government bodies. 
Articles 7, 8 and 9 relate to conformity assessment procedures of local 
government bodies, non-governmental bo dies and international and regional 
systems." 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 2, para. 2.1, p.8 (emphasis added) 
                                               
36 G/TBT/W/396. 
37 G/TBT/W/317. 
38 WWTG is the World Wine Trade Group. 
39 WRF is the APEC Wine Regulatory Forum. 
40 G/TBT/GEN/174, para. 2.2; RD/TBT/107.  
41 G/TBT/W/400/Rev.1, paras 1.4 and 3.1; JOB/TBT/134, para. 5.2(e). 
42 G/TBT/W/400/Rev.1; G/TBT/W/416. 
43 G/TBT/GEN/180. 
44 WP. 29 is the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. 
45 G/TBT/GEN/178; RD/TBT/119; G/TBT/GEN/183. 
46 In line with Article 13.3 of the TBT Agreement. 
47 See para. 8.3, below. 
48 Previous decisions and recommendations on Conf ormity Assessment Procedures are contained in 
Section 2 (Part 1) of G/TBT/1/Rev.12. The latest Secr etariat background note is  contained in JOB/TBT/69. G/TBT/37 
 
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  3.1  Exchange of experiences 
3.1.  During the review period, most of the Commi ttee's exchange of experiences took place in the 
context of thematic sessions on conformity assessment procedures, held on 29 October 201349 and 
4 November 2014.50 
3.1.1  Approaches to conformity assessment 
3.2.  Members discussed criteria and methods of an alysis used to inform their evaluation of the 
range of choices in conformity assessment pr ocedures. The EU explained its conformity 
assessment system follows a risk-based approach, which aims for consistency and coherence in a 
given sector. Criteria for selection of conformi ty assessment procedures included the type of 
product and economic infrastructure of the sect or, and the nature, type and degree of risk 
associated with the product in light of its intended use.51 The EU also explained the role of market 
surveillance in relation to conformity assessment procedures and product liability regimes.52 The 
US explained that the NIST53 supported US Federal Agencies by coordinating government 
conformity assessment activities with the privat e sector to reduce unnecessary duplication and 
complexity. While US policy did not prescribe any specific approach to conformity assessment, 
NIST recommended a risk-based approach, whereby the level of rigor of the system was balanced 
against the risks associated with non-compliance and the risk of the product.54 
3.3.  Members discussed the importance of techni cal infrastructure (e.g. metrology, testing, 
certification, and accreditation55) – also referred to as quality infrastructure – in supporting the 
implementation of the TBT Agreement and facili tating international trade. Burundi shared 
information about its national standardization, metrology, quality assurance and testing system, 
and the responsibilities of the BBN.56 57 The EU (Germany) presented its development cooperation 
in the field of quality infrastructure.58 Malaysia shared its experience with standards and 
conformity assessment infrastructure, focusing on the role that Standards Malaysia plays in the development of standards, quality management, accreditation, and metrology infrastructure 
(SQAM).
59 Peru described its national plan for quality infrastructure and how it relates to efforts 
undertaken to enhance competitiveness.60 The US discussed the trade-facilitating role of a national 
quality infrastructure.61 
3.4.  Two Members described regional cooperation initiatives in relation to quality infrastructure. 
South Africa explained that the PAQI62 initiative coordinated regional efforts on metrology, 
standardization and accreditation of conformity assessment services, and involved four regional 
bodies (AFRAC, AFRIMETS, AFSEC and ARSO63). South Africa also described how Africa was 
becoming more strongly linked to the international framework of quality infrastructure, including through an increase in the number of internationally recognized accreditation bodies in Africa, and 
the launch of AFRAC in 2010 that created a link between national accreditation bodies and 
ILAC/IAF.
64 65 The US explained that the QICA66 was a regional cooperation initiative between the 
                                               
49 G/TBT/GEN/155. 
50 G/TBT/GEN/174. 
51 G/TBT/GEN/155, para. 6; RD/TBT/120. 
52 G/TBT/GEN/174, para. 1.1. 
53 NIST is the National Institut e of Standards and Technology. 
54 G/TBT/GEN/155, para. 7; RD/TBT/61. 
55 G/TBT/26, para. 59(b). Conformity assessment in rela tion to technical infrastructure includes bodies 
that provide conformity assessment se rvices; conformity assessment activities such as testing, inspection and 
certification; and conformity assessment systems. 
56 The BBN is the Burundian Standardization and Quality Control Bureau. 
57 G/TBT/GEN/162.  
58 G/TBT/GEN/156; RD/TBT/64. 
59 G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1, para. 1.2; RD/TBT/74. 
60 G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1, para. 1.3; RD/TBT/75. 
61 G/TBT/W/411/Rev.1. 
62 PAQI is the Pan-African Quality Infrastructure initiative.  
63 AFRAC is the African Accreditation Cooperation, AFRIMETS is the Intra-Africa Metrology System, 
AFSEC is the African Electrotechnical Standardization Commission and ARSO is the African Organization for 
Standardization. 
64 ILAC is the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation.  IAF is the International Accreditation 
Forum. 
65 G/TBT/GEN/174, para. 1.4; RD/TBT/105. G/TBT/37 
 
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  three regional organizations of the Americas responsible for standardization, metrology and 
accreditation (COPANT, SIM and IAAC67). It aimed to foster competitiveness, innovation, trade, 
and consumer safety by enhancing the ability of OAS68 member states to have access to 
internationally recognized quality infrastructure services.69 
3.1.2  Use of relevant international standards, guides or recommendations 
3.5.  The BIPM70 emphasized the importance of a common understanding and application of 
metrology for international trade, and explained how metrology underpinned the activities of 
conformity assessment.71 OIML provided information on transparency and approval procedures for 
OIML International Recommendations.72 ISO explained that the standards developed by CASCO73, 
collectively referred to as the ISO/CASCO toolbox, cover requirements for accreditation bodies and 
for a range of conformity assessment bodies including testing laboratories.74  
3.1.3  Facilitating the recognition of conformity assessment results 
3.6.  Members discussed approaches used to fac ilitate the acceptance of conformity assessment 
results, building on the "Indicative List".75 Japan described the practicality and value of the 
acceptance of foreign test results on condition that a certain level of reliability is ensured as a way to facilitate trade, including through the use of international laboratory accreditation schemes (e.g. ILAC MRA
76) and sector specific-schemes (e.g. IECEE CB scheme77, OECD GLP78 for chemicals).79 
South Africa explained it had yet to establish an operational government-to-government Mutual 
Recognition Agreement (MRA) for conformity assessment due primarily to: technical challenges, 
such as capacity constraints and institutional differences between parties; and, political challenges, including bias toward domestic testing facilities and difficulties on agreeing on the products or 
sectors to be covered.
80 Chinese Taipei shared experiences on use of accreditation by regulators 
and by industry. While regulators were sometime s reluctant to rely on accreditation due to a 
perceived loss of authority, accreditation in fact facilitated the work of regulators by providing 
technical support.81 Chinese Taipei also described how conformity assessment procedures could 
impose a significant burden on small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) impeding participation in international trade.
82 Ukraine recalled the importance of Members using accreditation as a tool 
to facilitate international trade, including through the framework of international systems for the recognition of conformity assessment results, such as mutual recognition agreements or arrangements (MRA/MLA) between accreditation bodies.
83 
3.7.  The ILAC and IAF described how their multilateral mutual recognition arrangements 
enhanced confidence in conformity assessment re sults, thereby reducing unnecessary duplication 
of certification and facilitating trade. However, the extent to which the ILAC and IAF arrangements 
can facilitate trade depends on their use by regulators.84 
                                                                                                                                               
66 QICA is the Quality Infrastructure Council of the Americas. 
67 COPANT is the Pan American Standards Commission, SIM is the Inter-American Metrology System 
and IAAC is the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation.  
68 OAS is the Organization of American States. 
69 G/TBT/GEN/174, para. 1.3; RD/TBT/104.  
70 BIPM is the International Bureau of Weights an d Measures. The Committee agreed to grant ad hoc 
observer status to BIPM at the meeting of 27-28 November 2012 (G/TBT/M/58, para. 4.3). 
71 G/TBT/GEN/174, para. 1.2; RD/TBT/103. 
72 G/TBT/GEN/141. 
73 CASCO is the ISO Committee on Conformity Assessment. 
74 G/TBT/GEN/155, para. 2; RD/TBT/53. 
75 The "Indicative List" refers to the "Indicative List of Approaches to Facilitate the Acceptance of the 
Results of Conformity Assessment", G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Annex 1 (Part 1), pp. 45-46. 
76 ILAC MRA is the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement. 
77 IECEE CB scheme is the IEC System of Conf ormity Assessment Sche mes for Electrotechnical 
Equipment and Components, Certification Body scheme. 
78 GLP is Good Laboratory Practice. 
79 G/TBT/W/412/Rev.1. 
80 G/TBT/GEN/155, para. 5; RD/TBT/58. 
81 G/TBT/GEN/155, para. 4; RD/TBT/59. 
82 G/TBT/W/417/Rev.1. 
83 G/TBT/W/420. 
84 G/TBT/GEN/155, para. 3; RD/TBT/54. G/TBT/37 
 
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  3.1.4  Other information relevant to CAP 
3.8.  Canada described its new regulatory framework for Federal Food Inspection.85 Other relevant 
updates were provided by: BIPM86, Codex87, IEC88, ISO89, ITC90, UNECE91, OIML92 and UNIDO.93 
3.2  Recommendations 
3.9.  Building on this exchange as well as on previous decisions and recommendations of the 
Committee, and with a view to furthering its work in the area of conformity assessment procedures, and in particular with respect to the recommendation from the Fifth Triennial Review 
to initiate work on developing practical guidance on the choice and design of mechanisms aimed at 
strengthening the implementation of the TBT Agreemen t, including the facilitation of acceptance of 
conformity assessment results
94, the Committee agrees: 
a. to continue to exchange information  in respect of the three areas of work identified in 
the Sixth Triennial Review (namely: Approaches to conformity assessment; Use of 
relevant international standards, guides or recommendations; and, Facilitating the recognition of conformity assessment results)
95; 
b. to exchange information  on initiatives of Members to enhance regulators’ reliance on 
international and/or regional systems for conformity assessment, including sectoral schemes, aimed at facilitating the recognition of conformity assessment results; 
c. to discuss  approaches to the use of quality infrastructure, both national and regional, for 
facilitating trade in respect of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures; 
d. to discuss  factors that Members consider relevant when deciding whether to accept tests 
and other conformity assessment results in  other Members. For example, relevant 
factors could be: the existence of international schemes, or mutual recognition agreements, for the acceptance of tests and other conformity assessment results; or 
reliance on accreditation to demonstrate technical competence of conformity assessment 
bodies; and, 
e. to hold a thematic session in March 2016
96 on developments in international and regional 
systems, and regional trade agreements (RTAs), relating to the recognition and 
acceptance of conformity assessment results. 
4  STANDARDS97 
"The provisions concerning the prepar ation, adoption and application of 
standards  are contained in Article 4 of the TBT Agreement and in the Code of 
Good Practice for the Preparation, Adop tion and Application of Standards (the 
"Code of Good Practice"). In addition, Arti cles 2.4, 2.5, 5.4, and Paragraph F of 
Annex 3 of the Agreement promote the use of relevant international standards, 
guides and recommendations as a basis for standards, technical regulations and 
conformity assessment procedures. Articles 2.6, 5.5 and Paragraph G of Annex 3 
                                               
85 G/TBT/GEN/154. 
86 G/TBT/GEN/148; G/TBT/GEN/165.  
87 G/TBT/GEN/136; G/TBT/GEN/153; G/TBT/ GEN/160; G/TBT/GEN/166; G/TBT/GEN/173. 
88 G/TBT/GEN/139; G/TBT/GEN/145; G/TBT/ GEN/152; G/TBT/GEN/159; G/TBT/GEN/164; 
G/TBT/GEN/170; G/TBT/M/ 64/Rev. 1, para. 3.5. 
89 G/TBT/GEN/135; G/TBT/GEN/ 155; G/TBT/GEN/169; RD/TBT/53. 
90 G/TBT/GEN/147; G/TBT/GEN/172. 
91 G/TBT/GEN/140; G/TBT/ GEN/146; G/TBT/GEN/178. 
92 G/TBT/GEN/141; G/TBT/GEN/158.  
93 G/TBT/GEN/142. 
94 G/TBT/26, para. 19(c). 
95 G/TBT/32, para. 5. 
96 See para. 8.3, below. 
97 Previous decisions and recommendations on Standards are contained in Section 3 (Part 1) of 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12. The latest Secretariat background note  is contained in JOB/TBT/ 42 (and JOB/TBT/42/Corr.1). G/TBT/37 
 
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  emphasize the importance of Members' participation in international 
standardization activities related to products for which they have either adopted, 
or expect to adopt, technical regulations." 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 3, para. 3.1, p. 12 (emphasis added, footnote omitted) 
 
4.1  Exchange of experiences 
4.1.  During the review period, most of the Commi ttee's exchange of experiences took place in the 
context of thematic sessions on standards, held on 5 March 201398 and 18 March 201499, as well 
as in the context of a thematic session on th e topic of transparency, held on 17 June 2014100. Four 
main areas were covered: (i) the Code of Good Practice; (ii) the "Six Principles"101; (iii) 
transparency in standard-setting; and, (iv) the use of standards in regulation. In addition, other 
information relevant to standards was provided by both Members and Observers. 
4.1.1  The Code of Good Practice 
4.2.  During the review period, four bodies accepted the Code of Good Practice (hereafter “the 
Code”) and none withdrew from it. To date, 165 st andardizing bodies (of all types) have notified 
their acceptance of the Code.102 
4.3.  Australia described how business and operational processes had been implemented by 
Standards Australia to ensure a more effective application of the principles contained in the Code. 
It was noted that addressing transparency early in the standard-setting process (at the proposal stage) in addition to holding consultations at the public comment stage had led to a more efficient 
delivery of standards, both in terms of quality and timeliness.
103 The EU described its 
standardization system and the three European  Standards Organizations (CEN, CENELEC and 
ETSI)104 explained how they applied the Code. CEN and CENLEC said they applied specific 
membership criteria that incorporated the Code, the Six Principles (see below) and additional 
elements, according to which they assessed member national standardization bodies.105 The US 
explained that ANSI106, a private sector organization, coordinated the market-driven US 
standardization system by accrediting US standards developing organizations (SDOs). ANSI 
accepted the Code on behalf of its over 200 accredited SDOs, and accreditation was according to SDOs meeting the requirements for due process as elaborated in the ANSI Essential Requirements.
107 
4.1.2  The "Six Principles" 
4.4.  Australia described its Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda, a policy initiative 
which aims to reduce regulatory burden and re move barriers to trade through acceptance or 
adoption of "trusted international standards" and risk assessments, and which aligns with the 
principles of Effectiveness and Relevance, and Coherence.108 Indonesia explained how also the Six 
Principles were important to consider in national standard-setting processes – including with 
respect to the importance of having a national policy in place to adopt international standards.109  
4.5.  The ISO and the IEC described their efforts to implement the Six Principles, highlighting their 
decision-making procedures and stressing the impo rtance of market relevance and effectiveness, 
                                               
98 G/TBT/GEN/144.  
99 G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1. 
100 G/TBT/GEN/167. 
101 The "Six Principles" refers to the "Decision of the Committee on Principles for the Development of 
International Standards, Guides and Recommendations with  Relation to Articles 2,  5 and Annex 3 of the TBT 
Agreement." G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Annex 2 (Part 1), pp. 47-49. 
102 G/TBT/CS/2/Rev.21. 
103 G/TBT/GEN/144, para. 1.2; RD/TBT/23. 
104 CEN is the European Committee for Standardization, CENELEC is  the European Committee for 
Electrotechnical Standardization and ETSI is the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.  
105 G/TBT/GEN/144, para. 1.3; RD/TBT/32; RD/TBT/33. 
106 ANSI is the American National Standards Institute. 
107 G/TBT/GEN/144, para. 1.5; RD/TBT/27.  
108 G/TBT/W/414/Rev.1. 
109 G/TBT/GEN/144, para. 1.4; RD/TBT/30. G/TBT/37 
 
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  as well as coherence among standardizing bodies.110 Similarly, the OIML provided information on 
transparency and approval procedures for OIML International Recommendations.111 
4.1.3  Transparency in standard-setting 4.6.  Egypt described the functions and procedures of the EOS
112, and provided examples of how 
transparency had helped to improve the development of standards by taking into account concerns 
expressed by stakeholders.113 Japan described the process of developing Japanese Industrial 
Standards (JIS), with a particular emphasis on the implementation of Pa ragraphs J and L of the 
Code relating to publication of a work programme  and receipt of comments before adoption of the 
standard.114 Japan stressed the importance of central government standardizing bodies publishing 
their work programmes on specific websites and notifying the specific website address to the ISO/IEC Information Centre, to enable stakeholders to quickly and easily identify future 
standardization work that is likely to affect them, thereby enhancing their ability to effectively 
participate in such activities. Japan also high lighted the need to improve information sharing 
amongst Members about the publications in which a notice announcing the period for commenting 
on a draft standard is published, in order to en able interested Members or businesses to become 
aware of the notice and take the opportunity to submit comments.
115 
4.1.4  Use of standards in regulation 
4.7.  Members discussed methods of referencing standards in regulation.116 Australia described its 
policy initiative to assess international standards for adoption or use in regulation, including as 
part of GRP.117 The European Union described the EU New Approach, under which legislation 
specified essential product requirements (health, safety and environment), while European 
harmonized standards supported legislation by prov iding one or more ways of meeting that policy 
objective (as expressed in the essential requirements), preserving the voluntary nature of standards.
118 The United States explained that US agencies rely on private sector voluntary 
standards to meet regulatory needs according to guidance set out in the US OMB119 Circular A-119 
(under revision during the review period). US  policy maintains a strong preference for using 
voluntary consensus standards in regulation, but also acknowledges that there are standards not 
developed in a consensus-driven process that are in use in the market – particularly in the area of 
information technology – and may be relevant and necessary in meeting agency missions and priorities.
120 Malaysia described the use of standards and technical regulations in supporting its 
regulatory framework.121 
4.1.5  Other information relevant to standards 
4.8.  Burundi described the establishment of its national standardization body, the BBN.122  China 
highlighted the importance of st andards for energy efficiency.123 Malaysia explained the standards 
development activities and procedures of Standards Malaysia, and that a new standards 
development process had been instituted in 2012 which reduced the time needed to develop and 
                                               
110 G/TBT/GEN/144, para. 1.6; RD/TBT/31; information on ISO voting procedures is provided in 
G/TBT/GEN/135. 
111 G/TBT/GEN/141. 
112 The EOS is the Egyptian Organization for Standardization. 
113 G/TBT/GEN/167, para. 6; RD/TBT/96. 
114 G/TBT/GEN/144, para. 1.7; G/TBT/W/357. 
115 G/TBT/W/413. 
116 It is noted that methods of refe rencing standards in regulation ha s been recognized as a mechanism 
of GRP (G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 1.1(b)ii, p. 5). 
117 G/TBT/W/414/Rev.1. 
118 G/TBT/GEN/144, para. 1. 3; G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1, para. 1.4; RD/TBT/83. 
119 OMB is the Office of Management and Budget. 
120 G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1, para. 1.5; RD/TBT/81. 
121 G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1, para. 1.2; RD/TBT/74. 
122 G/TBT/GEN/162. 
123 G/TBT/W/416. G/TBT/37 
 
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  adopt standards.124 Mexico provided a number of updates on its national standardization 
programme.125 
4.9.  Other relevant updates were provided by: BIPM126, Codex127, IEC128, ISO129, ITC130, 
UNCTAD131, UNECE132, OIML133 and jointly by a number of organizations on the UNFSS134 and its 
work on "voluntary sustainability standards".135 The ITC presented its online "standards map", an 
interactive portal providing information and comparability across "voluntary sustainability standards".
136 
4.2  Recommendations 
4.10.  Building on this exchange as well as on  previous decisions and recommendations of the 
Committee, and with a view to furthering its work  in the area of standards, the Committee agrees: 
a. to hold a thematic session in June 2016137 on methods of referencing standards in 
regulation, including Members' initiatives or policies that seek to utilize international 
standards in regulation; 
b. with respect to transparency in standard-setting: 
i. consistent with paragraph J of the Code, to encourage  Members' central government 
standardizing bodies, and non-governmental bodies that have accepted the Code, to publish their work programmes on websites and notify the specific website addresses 
where the work programmes are published to the ISO/IEC Information Centre; 
ii. consistent with paragraph L of the Code, to encourage  Members' central government 
standardizing bodies, and non-governmental bodies that have accepted the Code, to share information about the publication of a notice announcing the period for 
commenting on a draft standard (e.g. title and volume of publication, website 
address); and, 
iii. to discuss  ways of improving Members' access to the information mentioned in i and 
ii above. 
c. to exchange information and experiences on reasonable measures taken by Members to 
ensure that local government and non-governmental standardizing bodies involved in 
the development of standards within their territories, accept and comply with the 
Code.
138 
                                               
124 G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1, para. 1.2; RD/TBT/74. 
125 G/TBT/GEN/7/Add.17; G/TBT/GEN/7/Add.18; G/TBT/GEN/7/Add.19; G/TBT/GEN/7/Add.20. 
126 G/TBT/GEN/148; G/TBT/GEN/165. 
127 G/TBT/GEN/136; G/TBT/GEN/153; G/TBT/ GEN/160; G/TBT/GEN/166; G/TBT/GEN/173; 
G/TBT/GEN/177. 
128 G/TBT/GEN/139; G/TBT/GEN/145; G/TBT/ GEN/152; G/TBT/GEN/159; G/TBT/GEN/164; 
G/TBT/GEN/170. 
129 G/TBT/GEN/169. 
130 G/TBT/GEN/147; G/TBT/GEN/172. 
131 G/TBT/GEN/144, para. 1.8; G/TBT/GEN/ 144/Add.1, para. 1.6; RD/TBT/82.  
132 G/TBT/GEN/140; G/TBT/GEN/146. 
133 G/TBT/GEN/158. 
134 UNFSS is the UN Forum on Sustainability Standards. 
135 UNCTAD reported on the work of the UNFSS, esta blished jointly by five UN agencies (FAO, ITC, 
UNCTAD, UNEP and UNIDO). The objectiv e of UNFSS is to facilitate and st rengthen the effective and active 
participation by developing countries in the international dialogue on "voluntary sustainability standards". G/TBT/GEN/138. 
136 G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1, para. 1.6; RD/TBT/77. 
137 See para. 8.3, below. 
138 G/TBT/32, para. 7. G/TBT/37 
 
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  5  TRANSPARENCY139 
"The TBT Agreement contains transparency  provisions in: Articles 2 and 3 
(technical regulations); Articles 5, 7, 8 and 9 (conformity assessment 
procedures); Annex 3, paragraphs J, L, M,  N, O & P (standards ); and Articles 10 
(general transparency provisions) and 15 (final provisions). A number of 
decisions and recommendations have been made with a view to facilitating 
access to information and further improving the implementation of transparency 
procedures under the Agreement." 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 4, para. 4.1, p. 17 (emphasis added) 
5.1  Exchange of experiences 
5.1.  During the review period, most of the Commi ttee's exchange of experiences took place in the 
context of its Seventh Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange held on 18 June 2013
140 and a thematic session on transparency held on 18 June 2014.141 In the 
Committee’s discussions on transparency, three areas were discussed in particular: (i) enquiry 
points, (ii) online tools; and, (iii) regional experiences. A number of other issues were also raised. Members continued to submit a large number of TBT notifications during the review period 
(Chart 1). The Committee also adopted a recommendation on the coherent use of notification 
formats (G/TBT/35), and launched the online TBT notification submission system (TBT NSS).  
Chart 1: Total TBT notifications per Triennial Review period
142 
 
5.1.1  Functioning of enquiry points143 
5.2.  Members shared experiences on challenges  faced by enquiry points in responding to 
comments and requests, and with respect to building support among interested stakeholders in the private sector for the services of enquiry points.
144 Members also shared information about the 
                                               
139 Previous decisions and recommendations on Transp arency are contained in Section 4 (Part 1) of 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12. 
140 G/TBT/GEN/150; G/TBT/GEN/151; G/TBT/M/60, Annex 1, pp. 43-50. 
141 G/TBT/GEN/167. 
142 Figures for 2015 are up to and including 6 November 2015. 
143 Previous decisions and recommendations of the Committee on this topic are listed in 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 4.5.2, pp. 34-35. 
144 G/TBT/32, para. 16.  G/TBT/37 
 
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  role of enquiry points in mechanisms to facilitate internal coordination for the effective 
implementation of the TBT Agreement's transparency obligations.145  
5.3.  Brazil described efforts of its enquiry point to inform Brazilian exporters, in particular SMEs, 
about requirements in export markets and matt ers related to the TBT Agreement, including 
through the export alert system, training activities to interested parties, and the preparation of 
competitiveness studies and technical documents to enhance exporter awareness of TBT.146 China 
explained that its enquiry point translates notifications into Chinese for better engagement with 
domestic stakeholders, distributes brochures to raise awareness of other Members’ measures, is in 
contact with leading enterprises and trade associations that provided comments on other Members’ measures, and maintains branches throughout China with experts in different fields who are able to provide assistance regarding compliance with TBT requirements.
147 The EU described 
the importance of active communication with relevant stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of TBT obligations, and gave exam ples of awareness raising in the EU, including 
through the EU TBT website and alert system, and a promotional video on TBT notification 
procedures targeting SMEs.
148 
5.4.  Japan explained that its two TBT enquiry points are responsible for responding to enquiries 
from Members, internal coordination with relevant government ministries (on notifications and 
comments), as well as providing advice on TBT matters.149 Kenya described its TBT National 
Consultative Committee, which reviews and coordinates views on all issues pertaining to TBT. This 
includes, for example, the evaluation of notifications of other Members and coordination among ministries in light of developments in the TBT Committee.
150 Kenya also shared its experience with 
the development of a national database for dissemi nation of TBT notifications, NotifyKE, which is 
linked to the TBT Information Management System (TBT IMS).151 
5.5.  The Republic of Korea highlighted the impo rtant role of enquiry points and the need to 
further improve their functioning especially in the handling of comments.152 Malaysia described the 
role of its TBT enquiry point within national coordination efforts to administer the TBT Agreement; 
this work included the development of Malaysia's TBT National Mirror Committee, a WTO/TBT 
newsletter and an export alert system to inform stakeholders on TBT notifications.153 Mexico 
emphasized the importance of mechanisms to ensu re proper dissemination of TBT notifications to 
all interested domestic stakeholders, and of nati onal coordination schemes to ensure adequate 
follow up.154   
5.6.  Ukraine shared the initiatives undertaken by  its TBT enquiry point to enhance awareness and 
engagement of the private sector on TBT matters, including through various periodical and ad hoc 
free-of-charge publications providing information on new proposed measures (TBT and SPS 
notifications), and relevant topics arising at Committee meetings.155 The US described the value of 
enquiry points in directly lowering costs of trade, reducing information asymmetries, and 
increasing exports and access to new markets, and stressed the importance of cooperation 
between Members' enquiry points.156 The US also informed the Committee that it had developed a 
customized email alert service (NotifyUS), operated by its enquiry point, which allows stakeholders to subscribe and receive messages when new notifica tions are issued that corresponded to regions 
or products of their interest.
157 The US also explained how it engages with the private sector 
through Advisory Committees, which follow a whole-of-government, multi-stakeholder approach 
aimed at producing the best possible policy and regulatory outcomes.158 
                                               
145 G/TBT/GEN/151, paras 5-6.  
146 G/TBT/M/60, Annex 1, Section 3.1; G/TBT/GEN/151, para. 5; RD/TBT/45. 
147 G/TBT/M/60, Annex 1, Section 3.4; G/TBT/GEN/151, para. 5; RD/TBT/47. 
148 G/TBT/M/60, Annex 1, Section 3.5; G/TBT/GEN/151, para. 5; RD/TBT/44. 
149 G/TBT/M/60, Annex 1, Section 3.3; G/TBT/GEN/151, para. 5; RD/TBT/42. 
150 G/TBT/GEN/167, para. 3; RD/TBT/91.  
151 G/TBT/GEN/167, para. 12; RD/TBT/95. 
152 G/TBT/W/419/Rev.1. 
153 G/TBT/M/60, Annex 1, Section 3.6; G/TBT/GEN/151, para. 5; RD/TBT/39. 
154 G/TBT/W/396. 
155 G/TBT/GEN/167, para. 2; RD/TBT/90. 
156 G/TBT/M/60, Annex 1, Section 3.2; G/TBT/GEN/151, para. 5; RD/TBT/43. 
157 G/TBT/GEN/167, para. 4; RD/TBT/92. 
158 G/TBT/GEN/167, para. 5; RD/TBT/97. G/TBT/37 
 
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  5.1.2  Online tools159 
5.7.  The TBT Committee launched the TBT online Notification Submission System (TBT NSS) on 
31 October 2013. During 2014, a total of 798 notifications were submitted through the TBT NSS, 
representing 36% of the annual notification volume. Thirty Members were using the TBT NSS when 
this report was issued.160 Online submission has facilitated and accelerated the submission and 
processing of notifications, increasing the time available to Members to submit comments on notifications of interest. 
5.8.  The EU shared its experience and noted that the TBT NSS enabled the WTO Secretariat to 
issue notifications within two days of receptio n whereas this had previously taken one to two 
weeks. The system also enabled Members to trac k the status of submitted notifications through 
the system's dashboard and create templates to ease the preparation of similar notifications. As a 
future improvement, the EU suggested that the TB T NSS allow for direct uploading of a completed 
notification in PDF, in order to avoid copying and pasting the content of prepared notifications into 
the TBT NSS.161 Uganda suggested technical improvemen ts to the TBT NSS, so to allow for 
multiuser accounts and email alerts signalling rejection of notifications.162 
5.9.  Canada suggested the WTO Secretariat develo p a global email-based notification alert system 
in order to raise awareness and enable Members and their domestic stakeholders to be more 
engaged and benefit from TBT Agreement transparen cy provisions, improve internal coordination 
of trade matters important to the Member, and fo ster an additional avenue for dialogue among 
industry, regulators and trade policy officers.163 The Republic of Korea suggested that the 
Secretariat develop a WTO-based bulletin board system to administer comments on notified 
measures.164 
5.1.3  Regional experiences 5.10.  During the review period, Members discussed notifications made at the regional level. Peru 
(on behalf of the Andean Community) described th e coordination, preparation and submission of 
TBT notifications of regional technical regula tions and conformity assessment procedures. The 
Member holding the Presidency of the Andean Co mmunity notified these measures to the WTO on 
behalf of all four Members, through a multi-symbol notification document, and the notifying 
Member also received comments from other WTO Members and forwarded these to the sub-regional expert group.
165 Saudi Arabia (on behalf of the GCC166) explained that notification of 
GSO167 regional technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures had led to some 
duplication and complexity, and described efforts by GSO to coordinate preparation and timely 
submission of TBT notifications of GSO measures.168 The United States described good practices 
for the notification of regional technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures.169 
5.1.4  Other 
5.11.  During the review period, Members discussed a number of other issues relevant to 
transparency:  
                                               
159 Previous decisions and recommendations of the Committee on this topic are listed in 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 4.4.4, pp. 33-34. 
160 Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Ch ile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU, Georgia, 
Germany, India, Indone sia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Republic  of Korea, Malaysia, Rwanda, South Africa, 
Sweden, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Tu rkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, 
United Kingdom and the United States. 
161 G/TBT/GEN/167, para. 11. 
162 G/TBT/W/395. 
163 G/TBT/W/398; G/TBT/M/64/Rev.1, paras 2.283-2.297. 
164 G/TBT/W/419/Rev.1. 
165 G/TBT/GEN/167, para. 9; RD/TBT/94. 
166 The GCC is the Gulf Cooperation Council. 
167 The GSO is the Standardization Organization for th e Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the 
Gulf. The Committee agreed to grant ad hoc observer  status to GSO at the meeting of 5-6 November 2014 
(G/TBT/M/64, para. 4.5). 
168 G/TBT/GEN/167, para. 8; RD/TBT/93. 
169 G/TBT/W/415/Rev.1. G/TBT/37 
 
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  a. On Article 15.2  (Statement on Implementation and Administration of the TBT 
Agreement)170, six Members submitted their first171 statements and eight Members 
submitted revisions to their statements.172 Canada suggested a partnering exercise to 
encourage submission of notifications under Article 15.2 by the 30 Members that have 
not yet done so.173 
b. On follow-up174, the Committee adopted a recommendation on coherent use of 
notification formats175 in response to the mandate from the Fifth Triennial Review.176 
South Africa explained their use of notification templates and identified some challenges, 
such as accurately identifying HS codes.177  
c. On the provision of translations178, South Africa reiterated the importance of the 
Committee's existing recommendations on provision of translations to ensure that 
Members have the right to provide comments on draft technical regulations and/or 
conformity assessment procedures.179 
5.2  Recommendations 
5.12.  Building on this exchange as well as on  previous decisions and recommendations of the 
Committee, and with a view to furthering its work in the area of transparency, the Committee reiterates the importance of the full implemen tation of the existing body of decisions and 
recommendations adopted by the Committee in the area of transparency and agrees with respect 
to: 
a. functioning of enquiry points: 
i. to continue discussing  their role in facilitating internal coordination and in the 
handling of comments, and explore  ways to improve their functioning, including 
through the use of online tools and by addressing capacity building needs of developing Members; 
ii. to request  the Secretariat, based on experiences shared by Members and for the 
purposes of training and capacity building , to prepare a guide on best practices for 
enquiry points for the consideration of Members at the Eighth Special Meeting on 
Procedures for Information Exchange (November 2016)
180; 
b. follow-up , to encourage  Members to follow the recommendation on coherent use of 
notification formats181; 
c. provision of translations , building on existing recommendations of the Committee182, 
to encourage Members to provide translations of draft technical regulations and 
conformity assessment procedures in one of the WTO official working languages and 
                                               
170 Previous decisions and recommendations of the Committee on this topic are listed in 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 4.2, pp. 17-19. 
171 Lao PDR (G/TBT/2/Add.111); Mali (G/TBT/2/A dd.113); Montenegro (G/TBT/2/Add.110); Senegal 
(G/TBT/2/Add.115); Seychelles (G/TBT/2/Add.114); Tajikistan (G/TBT/2/Add.112). 
172 Canada (G/TBT/2/Add.6/Rev.3); Colombia (G/TBT/2/Add.18/Rev.1/Suppl.2); Kenya 
(G/TBT/2/Add.86/Rev.1); Rwanda (G/TBT/2/Add.85/Rev.1); Sri Lanka (G/TBT/2/Add.27/Rev.1); Switzerland (G/TBT/2/Add.7/Rev.2); Trinidad and Tobago (G/T BT/2/Add.47/Rev.1); Ukraine (G/TBT/2/Add.100/Rev.3, 
Rev.4 and Rev.5). 
173 G/TBT/M/64/Rev.1, paras. 2.2-2.5; JOB/TBT/107. 
174 Previous decisions and recommendations of the Committee on this topic are listed in 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 4.3.1.9, pp. 26-27. 
175 G/TBT/35. 
176 G/TBT/26, para. 43(c). 
177 G/TBT/GEN/151, para. 4; RD/TBT/38.  
178 Previous decisions and recommendations of the Committee on this topic are listed in 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 4.4.3, pp. 31-33. 
179 G/TBT/W/418, Section 3. 
180 G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 4.6, p. 36. See para. 8.3, below. 
181 G/TBT/35. 
182 G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 4.4.3, pp. 31-33. G/TBT/37 
 
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  make them available to Members and their exporters in an effective, efficient and 
transparent way, taking into account the special difficulties of developing Members; 
d. use of online tools: 
i. to encourage  Members in a position to do so to begin using the TBT NSS to facilitate 
and accelerate the submission and processing of notifications; 
ii. to request  the Secretariat to continue to improve the TBT NSS and TBT IMS in line 
with the needs of Members; 
iii. to request  the Secretariat to explore the development of an export alert system for 
TBT notifications, in cooperation with other organizations; and, 
iv. to request  the Secretariat to report back on d.ii and d.iii above at the Eighth Special 
Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange (November 2016)183; 
e. regional experiences , with a view to providing greater transparency and meaningful 
opportunity for comment, to discuss  the notification of regional technical regulations and 
conformity assessment procedures and recommend best practices. 
6  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE184 
"Provisions on technical assistance  are contained in Article 11 of the TBT 
Agreement. Technical assistance has been co nsidered an area of priority work for 
the Committee since its establishment; it figures on the agenda of the 
Committee on a permanent basis. Members have regularly, on a voluntary basis, 
exchanged experiences and information on technical assistance in order to 
enhance the implementation of Article 11 of the TBT Agreement." 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 5, para. 5.1, p. 37 (emphasis added) 
 
6.1  Exchange of experiences 
6.1.  During the review period, most of the Commi ttee's exchange of experiences took place in the 
context of thematic sessions on technical assistance, held on 29 October 2013185 and 
4 November 2014.186 
6.2.  The European Union presented the ACP- EU TBT Programme and described its general 
approach to TBT-related technical assistance, highlighting several objectives: demand-driven; 
anchoring in relevant trade and partnership agreements; building lasting infrastructures; and 
ensuring coherence and coordination between donors.187 Kenya and the EU (Sweden) described 
the TBT Mentorship Programme, which aimed to  improve the implementation of the TBT 
Agreement in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. This SIDA188 funded 
programme, which ran from 2008-2012, sought to: create awareness of TBT measures to enhance the understanding of the TBT Agreement among stak eholders; strengthen institutional capacities 
for conformity assessment bodies; strengthen national TBT enquiry points for effective service 
delivery, and improve regulatory infrastructure.
189 
6.3.  The Republic of Korea explained that the International Standards Infrastructure Cooperation 
Program, managed by KATS190 and KSA191, aims to enhance the national standardization capacities 
of partner economies, and strengthen relationships with national and regional standards 
                                               
183 G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 4.6, p. 36. See para. 8.3, below. 
184 Previous decisions and recommendations on Technical Assistance are contained in Section 5 (Part 1) 
of G/TBT/1/Rev.12. The latest Secretariat background note is contained in JOB/TBT/65. 
185 G/TBT/GEN/156. 
186 G/TBT/GEN/174. 
187 G/TBT/GEN/156; RD/TBT/66. ACP is the Africa n, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries. 
188 SIDA is the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. 
189 G/TBT/GEN/156; RD/TBT/56. 
190 KATS is the Korean Agency for technology and Standards. 
191 KSA is the Korean Standards Association. G/TBT/37 
 
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  organizations. Activities included a Seoul-based cooperation programme with significant 
participation of experts from GSO and ARSO, and pr ojects to address standardization, conformity 
assessment and legal metrology challenges.192 
6.4.  The United States presented the Stan dards Alliance, managed by ANSI and USAID193, which 
provides capacity-building assistance to developing Members, specifically related to 
implementation of the TBT Agreement. The progra mme objectives are: increased understanding of 
WTO TBT principles, implementation of the Code, improved transparency in the development and 
modification of technical regulations, and more robust and transparent engagement with the 
private sector in standards development and use.194 
6.5.  The Secretariat of the STDF195 described its coordination and funding role in SPS-related 
technical assistance. While there was scope to address certain TBT issues through STDF on the 
basis of synergies with SPS, for example in the ar ea of laboratory infrastructure, the mandate of 
STDF was currently limited to SPS issues.196 
6.6.  Information on technical assistance activities was provided by BIPM197, Codex198, IEC199, 
ISO200, ITC201, OIML202, UNIDO203 and UNECE.204 The WTO Secretariat provided information on its 
technical assistance activities during the review period.205 
6.2  Recommendations 
6.7.  Building on this exchange as well as on previous decisions and recommendations of the 
Committee, and with a view to furthering its work in the area of technical assistance, the Committee agrees: 
a. to reaffirm  the need to review the effectiveness of technical assistance and capacity 
building activities among Me mbers in the TBT area, and encourage  Members to continue 
to exchange experiences on technical assistance; 
b. to stress  the importance and discuss possible approaches to enhancing the active 
participation of developing Members in thematic sessions held by the Committee; 
c. to hold a thematic session in November 2016206 on technical assistance, including 
discussion of: 
i. the positive effects of technical assistance and capacity building in the TBT area for 
international trade; and, 
ii. possible approaches to identifying gaps between the demand207 and supply of 
technical assistance in the TBT area for developing Members, and seeking to close 
                                               
192 G/TBT/GEN/156; RD/TBT/57. 
193 USAID is the United States Agen cy for International Development. 
194 G/TBT/GEN/156; RD/TBT/60; G/TBT/M/58, para 3.4. 
195 The STDF is the Standards and Trade Development Facility. 
196 G/TBT/GEN/174. 
197 G/TBT/GEN/148; G/TBT/GEN/165. 
198 G/TBT/GEN/136; G/TBT/GE N/153; G/TBT/GEN/160; G/TB T/GEN/166; G/TBT/GEN/173; 
G/TBT/GEN/177.  
199 G/TBT/GEN/139; G/TBT/GE N/145; G/TBT/GEN/152; G/TB T/GEN/159; G/TBT/GEN/164; 
G/TBT/GEN/170. 
200 G/TBT/GEN/135; G/TBT/GEN/169.  
201 G/TBT/GEN/147; G/TBT/GEN/172. 
202 G/TBT/GEN/141; G/TBT/GEN/158. 
203 G/TBT/GEN/142. 
204 G/TBT/GEN/140; G/TBT/ GEN/146; G/TBT/GEN/178. 
205 TBT Committee meeting of 27-28 November 2012 (G/TBT/GEN/137; RD/TBT/18); TBT Committee 
meeting of 6-7 March 2013 (G/TBT/GEN/149; RD/TBT/ 37); TBT Committee meeting of 30-31 October 2013 
(G/TBT/GEN/157; G/TBT/GEN/161; RD/TBT/67); TBT Committee meeting of 19-20 March 2014 
(G/TBT/GEN/163; RD/TBT/88); TBT Technical Assi stance Activities in 2014-2015 (G/TBT/GEN/171; 
G/TBT/GEN/171/Rev.1; RD/TBT/101; RD/TBT/112); TBT Technical Assistance Activities in 2015-2016 
(G/TBT/GEN/171/Rev.2; G/TBT/GEN/171/Rev.3; RD/TBT/114). 
206 See para. 8.3, below. G/TBT/37 
 
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  them where they exist, including through exploring the need for more coordination 
and better targeted TBT-related technical assistance. 
7  SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT208 
"Article 12 of the TBT Agreement addresses Special and Differential 
Treatment  of Developing Country Members. Members have, on various 
occasions, exchanged information and views on the operation and 
implementation of this Article, including in the context of other items on the TBT 
Committee's agenda." 
G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 6, para. 6.1, p. 41 (emphasis added) 
 
7.1  Exchange of experiences 
7.1.  During the review period, most of the Commi ttee's exchange of experiences took place in the 
context of thematic sessions on special and differential treatment, held on 29 October 2013209 and 
4 November 2014.210 
7.2.  China highlighted the importance of working towards guidelines for the implementation of the 
special and differential treatment provisions of the TBT Agreement.211 China suggested 
establishing a TBT Committee electronic working group to develop special and differential treatment guidelines, and gave some preliminary ideas for themes of the guidelines, including: 
notifications; specific trade concerns; equivalence recognition; and, assistance for effective 
participation in international standardization work. Cuba stressed the importance of ensuring a 
better implementation of Article 12 on specia l and differential treatment, and of sharing 
experiences among Members to that end.212 
7.3.  Ecuador described the special and differentia l treatment provisions of the TBT Agreement and 
related case law, and put forward suggestions for strengthening and making Article 12 more 
effective and operational, especially in relation to avoiding unnecessary obstacles to trade (Article 
12.3), granting of exceptions (Article 12.8), international standards (Article 12.4), technical 
assistance (Articles 12.5, 12.6, 12.7 and 12.8) and notifications (Article 12.8).213 
7.4.  The European Union explained how the European Commission's Impact Assessment 
Guidelines integrate the development dimensio n in the EU rule-making process. Impact 
assessments should establish, amongst others, whether a proposed EU initiative has international impacts, which include impacts on trade with  other Members, and economic, social, and 
environmental impacts on developing Members to ensure coherence with the objectives of EU 
development policy. These impacts are considered by regulators on a case-by-case basis in the 
rule making process, in their efforts to strike an appropriate balance between the various interests 
at stake.
214 
7.5.  The WTO Secretariat provided information on work related to special and differential 
treatment in the Committee on Trade and Deve lopment and the Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures.215 
                                                                                                                                               
207 In line with the Committee's agreement on a demand-driven approach to the technical assistance. 
G/TBT/26, para. 59. 
208 Previous decisions and recommendations on Special and Differential are contained in Section 6 
(Part 1) of G/TBT/1/Rev.12. The latest Secretaria t background note is contained in JOB/TBT/65. 
209 G/TBT/GEN/156. 
210 G/TBT/GEN/174. 
211 G/TBT/GEN/156, para. 8; RD/TBT/62. 
212 JOB/TBT/62 
213 G/TBT/GEN/156, para. 8; JOB/TBT/71; JOB/TBT/49.  
214 G/TBT/GEN/156, para. 6; RD/TBT/66. 
215 G/TBT/GEN/156, para. 7; RD/TBT/63; RD/TBT/65. G/TBT/37 
 
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  7.2  Recommendations 
7.6.  Building on this exchange as well as on previous decisions and recommendations of the 
Committee, and with a view to furthering its work in the area of special and differential treatment, the Committee agrees: 
a. to encourage  Members to continue to exchange in formation on the implementation of 
Article 12 of the TBT Agreement, with a view towards enhancing the effective operation of Article 12. 
8  OPERATION OF THE COMMITTEE
216 
Operation of the Committee.  "Pursuant to Article 13 of the TBT Agreement, 
the TBT Committee was established with the purpose of: "affording Members the 
opportunity of consulting on any matters relating to the operation of this 
Agreement or the furtherance of its objectives, and shall carry out such 
responsibilities as assigned to it under this Agreement or by the Members". The 
Committee has, to date, essentially ha d two functions: (i) the review of 
measures and (ii) exchange of information on Members' experiences on the 
implementation of the Agreement." 
G/TBT/32, para. 23, p. 9.  
 
8.1  Exchange of experiences 
8.1.  During the review period the Committee held nine regular meetings , from March 2013 to 
November 2015.217 With respect to review of measures, a total of 126 new specific trade concerns 
(STCs) were raised in the review period (Chart 2). In addition, 124 previously raised STCs were 
also discussed.218 During 2014, the most new STCs were raised (47) in any given year since 1995. 
Chart 3 shows an overall upward trend in both notifications and STCs.219 
                                               
216 Previous decisions and recommendations on Operat ion of the Committee are contained in Section 7 
(Part 1) of G/TBT/1/Rev.12. The Annual Reviews of the Implementation and Operation of the TBT Agreement for 2013 and 2014 are contained in: G/TBT/34; and G/TBT/36. 
217 G/TBT/M/59; G/TBT/M/60; G/ TBT/M/61; G/TBT/M/62; G/TB T/M/63; G/TBT/M/64/Rev.1; 
G/TBT/M/65; G/TBT/M/ 66; and G/TBT/M/67. 
218 http://tbtims.wto.org/ . 
219 G/TBT/36. G/TBT/37 
 
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  Chart 2: New specific trade concer ns per Triennial Review period  
 
Chart 3: Trends in notifications and STCs220 
 
8.2.  Back-to-back with the regular meetings, the Committee also held thematic sessions  that 
addressed the following cross-cutting issues rela ted to the implementation and operation of the 
TBT Agreement: good regulatory practice221, regulatory cooperation between Members222, 
standards223, conformity assessment procedures224, transparency (including the Committee's 
                                               
220 Figures for 2015 are up to and including 6 November 2015. 
221 G/TBT/GEN/143; G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.1; G/TB T/GEN/143/Add.2; JOB/TBT/125; JOB/TBT/134. 
222 JOB/TBT/125; JOB/TBT/134. 
223 G/TBT/GEN/144; G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1; JOB/TBT/134. 
224 G/TBT/GEN/155; G/TB T/GEN/174; JOB/TBT/134. G/TBT/37 
 
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  Seventh Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange)225, technical assistance and 
special and differential treatment226, and the operation of the Committee.227 
8.2  Recommendations 8.3.  Building on the valuable experiences gain ed in the context of thematic sessions since 2012, 
and with a view to further deepening the Committee' s exchange of experiences on specific topics, 
the Committee agrees: 
a. to continue  to hold thematic sessions in conjunction with its regular meetings228; and, 
b. on the following work programme  for thematic sessions229:  
i. March 2016: conformity assessment procedures230 and good regulatory practice231 
ii. June 2016: regulatory cooperation between Members232 and standards233 
iii. November 2016: transparency, including the Eighth Special Meeting on Procedures 
for Information Exchange234, technical assistance235 and regulatory cooperation 
between Members236 
iv. In 2017 and 2018, Members will continue to hold thematic sessions as appropriate 
pursuant to the decisions and recommendations before the Committee. 
 
                                               
225 G/TBT/GEN/151; G/TBT/GEN/ 167; JOB/TBT/125; JOB/TBT/134. 
226 G/TBT/GEN/156; G/TBT/GEN/174. 
227 JOB/TBT/125; JOB/TBT/134. 
228 At the Sixth Triennial Review, Members agreed on the need to focus and deepen their work and 
decided to dedicate time to thematic sessions in response to the specific decisions and recommendations in the Triennial Review reports, in order to press for gr eater progress on these issues (G/TBT/32, para. 26). 
229 This listing is flexible. Members may agree to incl ude other matters for discuss ion, or they may agree 
to otherwise adapt this work programme to reflect un foreseen developments. The Committee will organize 
these thematic sessions base d on proposals from Members. 
230 See para. 3.9, above. 
231 See para. 1.8, above. 
232 See para. 2.3, above. 
233 See para. 4.10, above. 
234 G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 4.6, p. 36. See para. 5.12, above. 
235 See para. 6.7, above. 
236 See para. 2.3, above. G/TBT/37 
 
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  ANNEX: SUBMISSIONS FROM MEMBERS BY TOPIC (NOV. 2012 – NOV. 2015)1 
Member Symbol & Date Title 
Good Regulatory Practice  
United States JOB/TBT/148 
13 October 2015 Comments from United States on 
JOB/TBT/135 
China JOB/TBT/146 
13 October 2015 Comments from China on JOB/TBT/135 
Uganda JOB/TBT/138 
24 September 2015 Comments from Uganda on JOB/TBT/135 
Australia G/TBT/W/414/Rev.1 
21 August 2015 WTO Member Initiatives to Encourage the 
Adoption of International Standards – Seventh Triennial Review 
South Africa G/TBT/W/418 
1 June 2015 Good Regulatory Practice – Regulatory Impact 
Assessment (RIA); Risk Assessment; Draft 
Technical Regulations and Conformity 
Assessment Procedures not available in WTO 
Working Languages – Seventh Triennial 
Review 
Mexico G/TBT/W/396 
20 January 2015 Regulatory Cooperation, Good Regulatory 
Practice and Transparency – Seventh Triennial 
Review 
Mexico G/TBT/W/378 
17 March 2014 Good Regulatory Practice: the Mexican 
Experience 
Regulatory Cooperation Between Members  
United States JOB/TBT/148 
13 October 2015 Comments from United States on 
JOB/TBT/135 
India JOB/TBT/147 
13 October 2015 Comments from India on JOB/TBT/135 
China JOB/TBT/146 
13 October 2015 Comments from China on JOB/TBT/135 
Chile JOB/TBT/144 
13 October 2015 Comments from Chile on JOB/TBT/135 
Argentina JOB/TBT/141 
1 October 2015 Comments from Argentina on JOB/TBT/135 
Mexico JOB/TBT/139 
28 September 2015 Comments from Mexico on JOB/TBT/135 
Switzerland G/TBT/W/400/Rev.1 
9 June 2015 Proposal on the Operation of the Committee – 
Seventh Triennial Review 
China G/TBT/W/416 
1 June 2015 Proposal for a Thematic Discussion on Energy 
Efficiency Standards – Seventh Triennial 
Review  
Switzerland G/TBT/W/400 
12 March 2015 Proposal on the Operation of the Committee – 
Seventh Triennial Review 
Mexico G/TBT/W/396 
20 January 2015 Regulatory Cooperation, Good Regulatory 
Practice and Transparency – Seventh Triennial Review 
Conformity Assessment Procedures  
United States JOB/TBT/148 
13 October 2015 Comments from United States on 
JOB/TBT/135 
India JOB/TBT/147 
13 October 2015 Comments from India on JOB/TBT/135 
China JOB/TBT/146 
13 October 2015 Comments from China on JOB/TBT/135 
                                               
1 Submissions are arranged by subject, in reverse ch ronological order. Should a submission be relevant 
to more than one topic it will appear more than once. More general information, su ch as the reports provided 
by the Chairperson on thematic sessions or information provided by observers is not included in this list.  G/TBT/37 
 
- 23 - 
 
  Member Symbol & Date Title 
Peru, Singapore and 
Switzerland JOB/TBT/145 
13 October 2015 Comments from Peru, Singapore and 
Switzerland on JOB/TBT/135 
Chinese Taipei JOB/TBT/142 
8 October 2015 Comments from Chinese Taipei on 
JOB/TBT/135 
Mexico JOB/TBT/139 
28 September 2015 Comments from Mexico on JOB/TBT/135 
Uganda JOB/TBT/138 
24 September 2015 Comments from Uganda on JOB/TBT/135 
Japan JOB/TBT/137 
23 September 2015 Comments from Japan on JOB/TBT/135 
Japan G/TBT/W/412/Rev.1 
13 July 2015 
 Conformity Assessment Procedures – Seventh 
Triennial Review 
United States 
 G/TBT/W/411/Rev.1 
13 July 2015 Improving the Understanding of the Trade 
Enabling Benefits of a National Quality 
Infrastructure – Seventh Triennial Review 
Chinese Taipei G/TBT/W/417/Rev.1 
10 July 2015 Proposal on the Recognition and Acceptance 
of Conformity Assessment Results – Seventh 
Triennial Review 
Ukraine G/TBT/W/420 
4 June 2015 Conformity Assessment Procedures – Seventh 
Triennial Review 
Chinese Taipei G/TBT/W/417 
1 June 2015 Proposal on the Recognition and Acceptance 
of Conformity Assessment Results – Seventh 
Triennial Review 
Japan G/TBT/W/412 
1 June 2015 Conformity Assessment Procedures – Seventh 
Triennial Review 
United States G/TBT/W/411 
29 May 2015 Improving the Understanding of the Trade 
Enabling Benefits of a National Quality Infrastructure – Seventh Triennial Review 
Canada G/TBT/GEN/154 
25 October 2013 A New Regulatory Framework for Federal Food 
Inspection: Discussion Document 
Standards  
China JOB/TBT/146 
13 October 2015 Comments from China on JOB/TBT/135 
Mexico JOB/TBT/139 
28 September 2015 Comments from Mexico on JOB/TBT/135 
Uganda JOB/TBT/138 
24 September 2015 Comments from Uganda on JOB/TBT/135 
Japan JOB/TBT/137 
23 September 2015 Comments from Japan on JOB/TBT/135 
Australia G/TBT/W/414/Rev.1 
21 August 2015 WTO Member Initiatives to Encourage the 
Adoption of International Standards – Seventh 
Triennial Review 
Japan G/TBT/W/413/Corr.1 
5 June 2015 
 Transparency – Seventh Triennial Review 
Australia G/TBT/W/414 
1 June 2015 WTO Member Initiatives to Encourage the 
Adoption of International Standards – Seventh 
Triennial Review 
Japan G/TBT/W/413 
1 June 2015 Transparency – Seventh Triennial Review 
Mexico G/TBT/GEN/7/Add.20 
8 October 2014 Communication pursuant Article 10.3.1 of the 
TBT Agreement 
Mexico G/TBT/GEN/7/Add.19 
7 May 2014 Communication pursuant Article 10.3.1 of the 
TBT Agreement 
Burundi G/TBT/GEN/162 
24 February 2014 Information concerning the Burundian 
Standardization and Quality Control Bureau 
(BBN)  G/TBT/37 
 
- 24 - 
 
  Member Symbol & Date Title 
Mexico G/TBT/GEN/7/Add.18 
1 October 2013 Communication pursuant Article 10.3.1 of the 
TBT Agreement 
Mexico G/TBT/GEN/7/Add.17 
1 May 2013 Communication pursuant Article 10.3.1 of the 
TBT Agreement 
Japan G/TBT/W/357 
18 February 2013 Transparency in Standard-Setting 
Transparency  
United States JOB/TBT/148 
13 October 2015 Comments from United States on 
JOB/TBT/135 
India JOB/TBT/147 
13 October 2015 Comments from India on JOB/TBT/135 
China JOB/TBT/146 
13 October 2015 Comments from China on JOB/TBT/135 
Peru, Singapore and 
Switzerland JOB/TBT/145 
13 October 2015 Comments from Peru, Singapore and 
Switzerland on JOB/TBT/135 
Mauritius JOB/TBT/143 
13 October 2015 Comments from Mauritius on JOB/TBT/135 
Republic of Korea JOB/TBT/140/Corr.1 
1 October 2015 Comments from Republic of Korea on 
JOB/TBT/135 
Mexico JOB/TBT/139 
28 September 2015 Comments from Mexico on JOB/TBT/135 
Uganda JOB/TBT/138 
24 September 2015 Comments from Uganda on JOB/TBT/135 
Republic of Korea G/TBT/W/419/Rev.1 
13 July 2015 Transparency – Seventh Triennial Review 
United States G/TBT/W/415/Rev.1 
13 July 2015 Best Practices for the Notification of Regional 
Technical Regulations – Seventh Triennial 
Review 
Seychelles JOB/TBT/133 
18 June 2015 Comments by Seychelles on G/TBT/W/395 – 
Seventh Triennial Review 
Uganda JOB/TBT/131 
12 June 2015 Comments by Uganda on G/TBT/W/419 – 
Seventh Triennial Review 
Uganda JOB/TBT/130 
12 June 2015 Comments by Uganda on G/TBT/W/418 – 
Seventh Triennial Review 
Uganda JOB/TBT/129 
12 June 2015 Comments by Uganda on G/TBT/W/415 – 
Seventh Triennial Review 
Uganda JOB/TBT/128 
12 June 2015 Comments by Uganda on G/TBT/W/413 – 
Seventh Triennial Review 
Japan G/TBT/W/413/Corr.1 
5 June 2015 
 Transparency – Seventh Triennial Review 
Republic of Korea G/TBT/W/419 
1 June 2015 
 Transparency – Seventh Triennial Review 
South Africa G/TBT/W/418 
1 June 2015 Good Regulatory Practice – Regulatory Impact 
Assessment (RIA); Risk Assessment; Draft 
Technical Regulations and Conformity 
Assessment Procedures not available in WTO 
Working Languages – Seventh Triennial 
Review 
United States G/TBT/W/415 
1 June 2015 Best Practices for the Notification of Regional 
Technical Regulations – Seventh Triennial 
Review 
Japan G/TBT/W/413 
1 June 2015 
 Transparency – Seventh Triennial Review 
Indonesia JOB/TBT/124 
10 March 2015 Comments by Indonesia G/TBT/W/395 – 
Seventh Triennial Review G/TBT/37 
 
- 25 - 
 
  Member Symbol & Date Title 
Canada G/TBT/W/398 
26 February 2015 Proposal for a WTO-Based Alert Notification 
System Global Export Alert! Notification 
System 
Mexico JOB/TBT/122 
25 February 2015 Proposal for G/TBT/W/395 – Seventh Triennial 
Review 
Mexico G/TBT/W/396 
20 January 2015 Regulatory Cooperation, Good Regulatory 
Practice and Transparency – Seventh Triennial 
Review 
Uganda G/TBT/W/395 
15 January 2015 Proposal for Further Improvement of the WTO 
TBT Online Notification Submission System (TBT NSS) – Seventh Triennial Review 
Uganda G/TBT/GEN/176 
16 December 2014 Proposal for a WTO-Based Alert Notification 
System Global Export Alert! Notification 
System: Statement by Uganda at the TBT 
Committee Meeting of 5-6 November 2014. 
Canada JOB/TBT/109 
10 October 2014 Proposal for a WTO-Based Alert Notification 
System Global Export Alert! Notification System 
TBT Committee G/TBT/35 
24 June 2014 Coherent use of Notification Formats 
Technical Assistance  
Uganda JOB/TBT/150 
30 October 2015 Comments from Uganda on 
JOB/TBT/135/Rev.1 
Chile JOB/TBT/144 
13 October 2015 Comments from Chile on JOB/TBT/135 
Mauritius JOB/TBT/143 
13 October 2015 Comments from Mauritius on JOB/TBT/135 
Republic of Korea JOB/TBT/140/Corr.1 
1 October 2015 Comments from Republic of Korea on 
JOB/TBT/135 
Mexico JOB/TBT/139 
28 September 2015 Comments from Mexico on JOB/TBT/135 
 
Special and Differential Treatment 
 
Ecuador JOB/TBT/71 
30 October 2013 General Comments Concerning the 
Implementation of Article 12 of the 
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade 
Cuba JOB/TBT/62 
10 September 2013 Comments and Contributions from Cuba for 
the Thematic Session on Special and 
Differential Treatment to be held on 29 October in the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade 
Ecuador JOB/TBT/49 
3 July 2013 Preparation of the Thematic Session on 
Special and Differential Treatment and 
Technical Assistance to be held on 29 October 
2013 
Operation of the Committee  
United States JOB/TBT/148 
13 October 2015 Comments from United States on 
JOB/TBT/135 
India JOB/TBT/147 
13 October 2015 Comments from India on JOB/TBT/135 
China JOB/TBT/146 
13 October 2015 Comments from China on JOB/TBT/135 
Peru, Singapore and 
Switzerland JOB/TBT/145 
13 October 2015 Comments from Peru, Singapore and 
Switzerland on JOB/TBT/135 
Chile JOB/TBT/144 
13 October 2015 Comments from Chile on JOB/TBT/135 
Argentina JOB/TBT/141 
1 October 2015 Comments from Argentina on JOB/TBT/135 G/TBT/37 
 
- 26 - 
 
  Member Symbol & Date Title 
Mexico JOB/TBT/139 
28 September 2015 Comments from Mexico on JOB/TBT/135 
Uganda JOB/TBT/138 
24 September 2015 Comments from Uganda on JOB/TBT/135 
Switzerland G/TBT/W/400/Rev.1 
9 June 2015 Proposal on the Operation of the Committee – 
Seventh Triennial Review 
China G/TBT/W/416 
1 June 2015 Proposal for a Thematic Discussion on Energy 
Efficiency Standards – Seventh Triennial 
Review  
Switzerland G/TBT/W/400 
12 March 2015 Proposal on the Operation of the Committee – 
Seventh Triennial Review 
 
 
__________