WT/ACC/COM/7  
 
7 October 2016  
(16-5413) Page: 1/8 
Working Party on the Accession  
of the Union of the Comoros  Original: French  
 
  ACCESSION OF THE UNION  OF THE COMOROS  
INFORMATION ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE  
 The following communication, dated 26 September 2016 , is being circulated at the request 
of the delegation of the Union of the Comoros.  
 
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  1. Description of re levant laws, regulations, administrative orders, etc. relating to 
implementation and administration of technical barriers to trade . All necessary 
references should be provided.  
 
Answer : 
 
The relevant laws, regulations, administrative orders, etc. relating to implementation and 
administration of technical barriers to trade are the following:  
 
 Law No. 12-016/AU  on legal metrology, adopted on 2 0 December  2012 for the 
purpose  of: 
 defining the legal units of measurement and establishing the conditions of use;  
 defining, organizing and establishing the criteria  for legal metrological control ; 
 laying down  the criteria  for manufactur ing, repair ing, import ing, export ing, selling, 
possessing and us ing measuring instruments subject to legal metrological control;  
 definin g the competent legal metrology bodies.  
For the purposes of this Law, legal metrology is understood to mean "the entirety of the legislative 
and regulatory procedures established by, or by reference to, public authorities, and implemented 
on their behalf i n order to specify and to ensure, in a regulatory or contractual manner, the 
appropriate quality and credibility of measurements related to official controls , in areas  where 
measuring instruments  are required ". 
 Law No. 95-009 of 20 June  1995 on the creatio n, organization and operation of the 
National Institute  for Research  in Agriculture , Fisheries and  the Environment  
(INRAPE) , whose responsibilities include : 
promoting techniques and methods to increase productivity in agriculture and fisheries and 
to prote ct the environment ; 
guaranteeing the quality of export and import products.  
 Law No. 94-018 of 22 June  1994 establishing the Framework Law on the 
Environment, as amended by Law No.  95-007 of 19 June  1995, which aims to: 
(a) preserv e the diversity and integrity of the environment in the Federal Islamic Republic  
of the Comoros as an integral part of the universal heritage , rendered  particularly 
vulnerable by the country's insularity ; 
(b) create the conditions for sustainable use, in both quantit ative and qualit ative terms, of 
natural resources by present  and future generations ; 
(c) ensure that all citizens live in  an ecologically healthy and balanced environment.  
 Decree No. 15-05/PR establishing  the National Fishery Product Quality Control and 
Certification Office (ONCQCPH ), responsible for the monitoring of hygiene 
conditions  applicable to fishery products throughout the fish eries sector  and 
export certification : 
Pursuant to this Decree, the ONCQCPH is tasked with  drafting legislation and regulations on 
hygiene conditions applicable  to fishery products and traceability and safety criteria for  fishery and 
aquaculture products, and ensuring their application . 
 Decree No. 12-210/PR establishing  the National Standards Council  (CNN) , whose 
responsibilities are as follows : 
 identif ying and analysing the need for standards in the various sectors of the 
national  economy ; 
 setting up technical committees to develop  Comorian standards ; WT/ACC/COM/7  
 
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   approving, appropriating, harmonizing and adopting COMESA standards and those of 
other standard -setting  bodies;  
 creating a mark of conformity with Comorian  standards and issuing licences.  
 Decree No. 99-087/CE on the creation, mandate and organization of the consumer 
product standardization and quality service, whose main responsibilities are to: 
(1) develop  and codify all technical rules relating to all domestic production and 
import ation. These rules concern : 
 the composition, quality and dimensions  of products ; 
 the range of products to be manufactured ; 
 the streamlining of manufacturing processes;  
 the interc hangeability of components of machinery used in production plants.  
(2) coordinate all work and studies on standardization and the a cquisition of 
standards -related documentation;  
(3) develop  and promote  the adopt ion of national trade facilitation standards with a view 
to greater integration of domestic products in regional markets;  
(4) assist companies with  quality management;  
(5) protect the quality of products and services by creating  a national certification system, 
and, in the future, a Comorian standard s conformity mark;  
(6) introduce a law on legal metrology as a necessary complement to standardization ; 
(7) provide technical expertise and advisory services to the public authorities and the 
private sector ; 
(8) represent the Comoros in national, regional and international standard -setting bodies;  
(9) defend consum ers and the country's interests as regards  the quality of products, 
goods and services;  
(10) organize awareness  raising and further training sessions and courses for individuals  
and/or legal perso ns, dealing with  standardization and quality  issues . This Order 
provides for the creation of a documentation and information unit within the 
standardization service.  
 Order No. 14/086/MPEEIA on the adoption and application of the Codex  
Alimentarius sanit ary and phytosanitary standards  
This Order adopts a number of standards of the Codex Alimentarius of the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization 
(WHO), for the purpose of applying them as domestic standa rds. 
Imports and exports of certain consumer food products  are subject to the Codex sanitary 
and phytosanitary measures, the list of which was adopted  in 2014.  
 Order No. 12/089/MFEBICEP on the adoption and application of the 
Codex  Alimentarius sanitary and  phytosanitary standards  
This Order adopts a number of standards of the Codex Alimentarius of the Food and 
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization 
(WHO) , for the purpose of applying them as domestic  regulatory  measures . 
It provides references to the sanitary and phytosanitary standards applying to  the import or 
export of certain consumer food products.  WT/ACC/COM/7  
 
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   Order No. 011/004/ of 7 April  2011 designating the focal points for non -tariff 
barriers (NTBs) in  the COMESA -EAC-SADC Tripartite  Free Trade Area  
This Order was drafted in accordance with the recommendations of the national workshop on 
non-tariff barriers jointly organized by COMESA and TradeM ark in Moroni in February 2011, 
pursuant to Article 10(2) of the COMESA E AC SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area  Agreement. 
It was recommended to appoint focal points for non -tariff barriers (NTB) within the 
institutions concerned.  
 Order No. 11/02/MRPECE  of 3 April  2011 establishing the National Follow -Up 
Committee on the non -tariff  barrier (NTB) removal  process  
 Order No. 09-013 bis of 23 November  2009 establishing the National Codex 
Alimentarius Committee (CNCA) in the Union of the Comoros, with the following 
responsibilities : 
(1) defining national strategic guidelines in respect of the  Codex;  
(2) developing and/or adopting Codex Alimentarius standards, recommendations, 
directives, testing methods, inspection, certification and codes of practice as a basis 
for domestic  food regulations;  
(3) ensuring, as far as possible, that standards are fully in line  with 
Codex  Alimentarius  standards;  
(4) ensuring close cooperation between all key sectors dealing with  food issues , such as 
ministries, producers, operators, private bodies and consumers;  
(5) ensuring synergy of acti on with non -governmental organizations  and associations , by 
avoiding any overlapping and strengthening the public -private partnership system ; 
(6) managing the document collection and ensuring the technical coordination of 
information exchange and research  and development  activities;  
(7) examin ing draft Codex standards and other texts and documents received by the 
Secretariat of the Codex Alimentarius Commission or those of the technical 
committees and determin ing the country's position on these draft standards, texts 
or documents;  
(8) ensuring the efficient management of funds made available to  the National Codex 
Committee  for all Codex programmes;  
(9) introducing a funding strategy to ensure  that activities  are sustainable ; 
(10)  monitoring and evaluating the implementation of activities by the various  stakeholders ; 
(11)  contributing to the development and promotion of  food-related  technical regulations 
and other regulatory texts by the various stakeholders and monitoring compliance;  
(12)  ensuring the harmonization and effectiveness of implementation strategies and/or 
approaches , without encroaching on the responsibilities and roles of sectoral ministries 
in their specific areas of competence.  
However, CNCA membership is not  open to representatives of the profession, as recommended by 
the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the FAO an d WHO. WT/ACC/COM/7  
 
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   Order No. 09-010 of 2 November  2009 designating a national C odex  focal point  
2. Information regarding:  
(a) Names of publications, if any, on work relating to draft technical regulations or 
standards and procedures;  
Answer : 
It is planned to harmonize  and adopt the COMESA standards and those of  other 
standard -setting bodies, pursuant to the terms of reference of the National Standards 
Council, but these standards do not yet have  publication titles. 
(b) The name (s) and address (es) of the enquiry point(s ) foreseen in Article 10.1 and 
10.3 of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (the Agreement) with 
an indication as to whether it is/they are fully operational;  
Answer : 
The enquiry point is the Foreign Trade Directorate.  
(c) The name and address of the agency dealing with consultations as foreseen in 
Article  14 of the Agreement;  
Answer : 
Direction du commerce extérieur  
BP: 474, Moroni, Comores  
Tel.: +269 773 85 31 or 773 85 07  
Email: meci@comorestelecom.k m 
(d) The name s and address es of agencies that are dealing with other specific functions 
foreseen in the Agreement;  
Answer : 
 Directorate -General of Customs  (P.O. Box 95, Moroni ; tel.: +269 773 41 47; 
website : www.douane s.km); 
 the standardization and quality service, whose responsibilities are described above;  
 the Foreign Trade Directorate for the purposes of  consumer protection, in cooperation 
with the Comorian Consumer Federation ; the Internal  Trade Directorate is resp onsible 
for fraud  control;  
 the Fishery Product Quality Control and Certification Office , responsible for the 
monitoring of hygiene conditions applicable to fishery products throughout the 
fisheries sector  and export  certification;  
 the Codex Alimentarius fo cal point as regards Codex standards;  
 the Union of Chambers of Commerce's TBT focal point . 
(e) The scope of responsibility of the central government authorities in the area of 
notification requirements foreseen in Article  10.11 of the Agreement and of 
individual government authorities, if the responsibility is divided among two or 
more such authorities;  
Answer : 
The Foreign Trade Directorate is the only national authority responsible for TBT notification . 
(f) Measures and arrangements to ensure that national  and sub -national authorities 
preparing new technical regulations or substantial amendments to existing ones, 
provide early  information on their proposals.  WT/ACC/COM/7  
 
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  Answer : 
No steps or measures have as yet be en taken  to ensure the provision of early information on all 
new technical regulations , substantial amendments to existing technical regulations , or draft  
technical regulations . However , Article 3.3 on the creation, mandate and organization of the 
consumer product standardization and quality service specifies th at the service is "responsible for 
issuing all national trade facilitation standards with a view to greater integration o f 
domestic  products in regional and international markets" . 
 
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  ANNEX to Order No.  12/089/MFEBICEP on the adoption and ap plication of the 
Codex  Alimentarius sanitary and phytosanitary standards  
No. Reference  Title Last 
modified  
1 CAC/GL 10 -1979 Codex Advisory Lists of Mineral Salts and Vitamin Compounds 
for Use in Foods for Infants and Children  2009 
2 CODEX STAN 281 - 1971 Standard for Evaporated Milks  2010 
3 CAC/GL 14  - 1991 Guide for the Microbiological Quality of Spices and Herbs 
Used in Processed Meat and Poultry Products  1991 
4 CAC/GL 17 – 1993 Guideline Procedures for the Visual Inspection of Lots of 
Canned Foods fo r Unacceptable Defects  1993 
5 CAC/GL 19 - 1995 Guidelines for the Exchange of Information in Food Safety 
Emergency Situations  1995 
6 CAC/GL 20 – 1995 Principles for Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification  1995 
7 CAC/GL 22R – 1997 Regional Gu idelines for the Design of Control Measures 
for Street -Vended Foods (Africa)  1999 
8 CAC/GL 24 – 1997 General Guidelines for Use of the Term "Halal"  1997 
9 CAC/GL 25 - 1997 Guidelines for the Exchange of Information between 
Countries on Rejections of Impo rted Foods  1997 
10 CAC/GL 26 - 1997 Guidelines for the Design, Operation, Assessment and 
Accreditation of Food Import and Export Inspection and 
Certification Systems  2010 
11 CAC/GL 30 - 1999 Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological 
Risk Assessment  2012 
12 CAC/GL 27 - 1997 Guidelines for the Assessment of the Competence of Testing 
Laboratories Involved in the Import and Export Control 
of Food 2006 
13 CAC/GL 32 - 1999 Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and 
Marketing o f Organically Produced Foods  1999 
14 CAC/GL 38 - 2001 Guidelines for Design, Production, Issuance and 
Use of Generic Official Certificates  2009 
15 CAC/GL 40 - 1993 Guidelines on Good Laboratory Practice in Pesticide 
Residue  Analysis  2010 
16 CAC/GL 41 - 1993 Pesticide Residue Analysis : Portion of Commodities to which 
Maximum Residues Limits Apply and which is Analy sed 2010 
17 CAC/GL 45 - 2003 Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment 
of Foods Derived from Recombinant -DNA Plants  2008 
18 CAC/GL 47 - 2003 Food Import Control Systems  2006 
19 CAC/GL 48 - 2004 Model Certificate for Fish and Fishery Products  2004 
20 CAC/GL 60 - 2006 Principles for Traceability / Product Tracing as a Tool Within 
a Food Inspection and Certification System  2006 
 WT/ACC/COM/7  
 
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  ANNE X to Order No.  14/086/MPEEIA on the adoption and application of the 
Codex  Alimentarius sanit ary and phytosanitary standards  
No. Reference  Title Last 
modified  
1 CODEX STAN 70  Standard for Canned Tuna and Bonito  1995 
2 CODEX STAN 12  Standard for Honey  2001 
3 CODEX STAN 108  Standard for Natural Mineral Waters  1997 
4 CODEX STAN 150  Food Grade Salt  2011 
5 CODEX STAN 94  Canned Sardines and Sardine -Type Products  1981 
6 CODEX STAN 146  Labelling of Prepackaged Foods for Special Dietary Uses  1985 
7 CODEX STAN 64 Concentrated Orange Juice Preserved Exclusively by 
Physical  Means  1981 
8 CODEX STAN 52  Dessicated Coconut  1971 
9 CODEX STAN A -11(a)  Yoghurt  – Specification – Part 1: Yoghurt (Yogurt) and 
Sweetened Yoghurt (Yogurt)  1975 
10 CODEXSTANA – 11(b)  Yoghurt – Specification – Part 2: Flavoured Yoghurt (Yogurt)  1976 
11 CAC/RCP1 - 1969 Code of Practice - General Principles of Food Hygiene  2003 
12 CAC/RCP10 - 1976 Code of Practice for Canned Fish  1976 
13 CAC/RCP14 - 1976 Code of Hygienic Practice for  Poultry Pro cessing  1976 
14 CAC/RCP9 - 1976 Code of Practice for Fresh Fish   
15 CODEX STAN 184 - 1993 Fresh Mangoes  1993 
16 CAC/RCP21  ; 1979  Code of Hygienic Pra ctice for Foods for Infants and  Children  1979 
17 CAC/RCP41 - 1993 Code for Ante -Mortem and  Post-Mortem Inspection of 
Slaughter Animals and for Ante -Mortem and Post -Mortem 
Judgement of Slaughter  Animals and Meat  1993 
 
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