G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
8 March 2017 
(17-1363) Page: 1/81 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade    
 
  DECISIONS AND RECOMM ENDATIONS ADOPTED BY  THE  
WTO COMMITTEE ON TEC HNICAL BARRIERS TO T RADE  
SINCE 1 JANUARY 1995  
 
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT1 
Revision  
 
 
The present document contains the thirteenth  revision of the compilation of the TBT Committee's 
Decisions and Recommendations. This revision, which supersedes all previous G/TBT/1 documents, 
is in two parts. Part 1 contains the Committee's decisions and recommendations adopted since 
1 January 1995. Part 2 contains the Committee's Rules of Procedure including G uidelines for 
Observer Status for Governments and International Intergovernmental Organizations.  
 
_______________  
                                                
1 This document has b een prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the positions of Members or to their rights and obligations under the WTO.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  Contents  
PART 1: DECISIONS AN D RECOMMENDATIONS AD OPTED BY THE COMMITT EE ON 
TECHNICAL BARRIERS T O TRADE  ................................ ................................ .....................  6 
1   GOOD REGULATORY PRAC TICE  ................................ ................................ ....................  6 
1.1   Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ....................  6 
1.2   Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................  8 
2   REGULATORY COOPERATI ON BETWEEN MEMBERS  ................................ ......................  9 
2.1   Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ....................  9 
2.2   Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 10 
3   CONFORMITY ASSESSMEN T ................................ ................................ .......................  10 
3.1   Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................... 10 
3.2   Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 15 
4   STANDARDS  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  15 
4.1   Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................... 16 
4.2   Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 20 
5   TRANSPARENCY  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  20 
5.1   General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 20 
5.1.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................ 20 
5.2   Statement on Implementation and Administration of the TBT Agreement 
(Article  15.2)  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 21 
5.2.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................ 21 
5.2.2    Documents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 22 
5.2.3    Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 22 
5.3   Notifications of Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures  ................... 22 
5.3.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................ 23 
5.3.1.1    General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 23 
5.3.1.2    "Significant effect on trade of other Members"  ................................ .......................... 23 
5.3.1.3    Timing of Notifications  ................................ ................................ ........................... 24 
5.3.1.4    Submission of Notifications (Format and Guidelines)  ................................ ................. 24 
5.3.1.5    Notification of Labelling requirements  ................................ ................................ ......26 
5.3.1.6    Notifications  of Proposed Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment 
Procedures of Local Governments at the Level Directly Below that of the Central 
Government  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 26 
5.3.1.7    Regional approaches to notification of technical regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures ................................ ................................ ................................ .......26 
5.3.1.8    Length of time allowed for comments  ................................ ................................ ......27 
5.3.1.9    Handling of comments  ................................ ................................ ........................... 27 
5.3.1.10    Timing of Entry into Force of Te chnical Regulations and Understanding of 
"Reasonable Interval" under Article 2.12  ................................ ................................ ............... 28 
5.3.1.11    Follow -up ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 29 
5.3.1.12    Monthly Listing of Notifications Issued by the WTO Secretariat  ................................ ..30 G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  5.3.2    Documents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 30 
5.3.3    Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 30 
5.4   Notifications related to Standards  ................................ ................................ ................. 31 
5.4.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................ 31 
5.4.1.1    Notification of the Acceptance of, or Withdrawal from, the Code of Good Practice 
(Paragraph C)  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 31 
5.4.1.2    Notification of the Existence of a Work Programme (Paragraph J)  ............................... 31 
5.4.1.3   Publishing of a Notice (Paragraph L)  ................................ ................................ ........ 32 
5.4.2    Documents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 33 
5.4.3    Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 33 
5.5   Notification under Article 10.7 of the TBT Agreement  ................................ ...................... 34 
5.5.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................ 34 
5.5.2    Documents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 34 
5.6   Dissemination of Information  ................................ ................................ ....................... 34 
5.6.1    Publication  ................................ ................................ ................................ .............. 34 
5.6.1.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ............. 34 
5.6.1.2    Documents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 34 
5.6.1.3    Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 34 
5.6.2    Texts of Notified Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedu res .............. 35 
5.6.2.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ............. 35 
5.6.3    Provision of Translations  ................................ ................................ ........................... 36 
5.6.3.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ............. 36 
5.6.3. 2   Documents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 37 
5.6.3.3    Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 37 
5.6.4    Online Tools  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 37 
5.6.4.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ............. 38 
5.6.4.2    Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 39 
5.7   Enquiry Points  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............ 39 
5.7.1    Establishment of Enquiry Points  ................................ ................................ ................. 39 
5.7.1.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ............. 39 
5.7.1.2    Documents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 40 
5.7.2    Functioning of Enquiry Points  ................................ ................................ .................... 40 
5.7.2.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ............. 40 
5.7.2.2    Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 41 
5.7.3    Booklets on Enquiry Points  ................................ ................................ ........................ 42 
5.7.3.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ............. 42 
5.7.3.2    Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 42 
5.8   Special Meetings on Procedures for Information Exchange  ................................ ............... 42 
5.8.1    Decisions  and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................ 42 
5.8.2    Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 42 G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  6   TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  ................................ ................................ ...........................  43 
6.1   Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................... 43 
6.2   Documents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 47 
6.3   Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 47 
7   SPECIAL AND DIFFEREN TIAL TREATMENT  ................................ ................................ . 48 
7.1   Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................... 48 
7.2   Events  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 49 
8   OPERATION OF THE COM MITTEE  ................................ ................................ ...............  49 
8.1   Review of Specific Trade Concerns  ................................ ................................ ................ 49 
8.1.1    Decisions and recommendations  ................................ ................................ ................ 49 
8.1.2    Documents  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 51 
ANNEXES TO PART 1  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 52 
1   INDICATIVE LIST OF A PPROACHES TO FACILIT ATE ACCEPTANCE OF TH E 
RESULTS OF CONFORMIT Y ASSESSMENT  ................................ ................................ ....... 52 
2   DECISION OF THE COMM ITTEE ON PRINCIPLES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
INTE RNATIONAL STANDARDS,  GUIDES AND RECOMMEND ATIONS WITH 
RELATION TO ARTICLES  2, 5 AND ANNEX 3 OF THE AGREEMENT  ................................ ... 54 
3   FORMAT AND GUIDELINE S FOR NOTIFICATION P ROCEDURES FOR 
TECHNICAL REGULATION S AND CONFORMITY ASS ESSMENT PROCEDURE S ...................  57 
3.1   Recommendation of the Committee on Coherent Use of Notification Formats  ..................... 57 
3.2   Format and Guidelines for New Notification (of draft technical regulations and 
conformity assessment pro cedures)  ................................ ................................ ..................... 58 
3.3   Format for Addenda  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....62 
3.4   Format for Corrigenda  ................................ ................................ ................................ .63 
3.5   Format for Revision  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....64 
3.6   Format for Supplements (Unoffi cial Translations)  ................................ ............................ 65 
4   NOTIFICATION FORMAT UNDER ARTICLE 10.7  ................................ ..........................  67 
5   BOOKLETS ON ENQUIRY POINTS  ................................ ................................ ...............  68 
5.1   Objective, name, address, telephone number, fax number, an d e-mail and Internet 
addresses, if available, of WTO TBT enquiry point(s)  ................................ .............................. 68 
5.2   Who can use the enquiry point(s)  ................................ ................................ ................. 68 
5.3   Information available from enquiry point(s)  ................................ ................................ ...68 
5.4   Facilities offered (including charges, if any).  ................................ ................................ ..68 
6   FORMAT FOR THE VOLUN TARY NOTIFICATION OF  SPECIFIC TECHNICAL 
ASSISTANCE NEEDS OR RESPONSES  ................................ ................................ ..............  69 
7   FORMAT FOR NOTIFICAT IONS RELATE D TO THE CODE OF GOO D PRACTICE 
FOR THE PREPARATION,  ADOPTION AND APPLICA TION OF STANDARDS 
CONTAINED IN ANNEX 3  OF THE WTO TBT AGREE MENT  ................................ ................  71 
7.1   Notification of acceptance of the WTO TBT Code of Good Practice (Paragraph C) to 
the WTO Secretariat  ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 71 
7.2   Notification of acceptance and of existence of work programme under the WTO TBT 
Code of Good Practice (Paragraph C and J) to the ISO/IEC Information Centre  ......................... 72 G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  PART 2:  RULES OF PROCEDURE F OR THE MEETINGS OF T HE WTO COMMITTEE ON 
TECHNICAL BARRIERS T O TRADE AND GUIDELIN ES FOR OBSERVER STAT US FOR 
GOVERNMENTS AND INTE RNATIONAL INTERGOVER NMENTAL ORGANIZATION S ...........  75 
Annex A  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................ 80 
Annex B  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................ 81 
 G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  PART 1: DECISIONS AN D RECOMMENDATIONS AD OPTED BY THE COMMITT EE ON 
TECHNICAL BARRIERS T O TRADE  
1  GOOD REGULATORY PRAC TICE  
1.1.  Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) can contribute to the improved and effective implement ation 
of the substantive obligations under the TBT Agreement. Effective implementation through best 
practices is seen as an important means of avoiding unnecessary obstacles to trade. 
Institutionalizing the various mechanisms, processes and procedures of G RP through laws, 
regulations and guidance, as well as through the creation and designation of institutions within 
Member governments to oversee regulatory processes, is seen as a means of giving effect to GRP. 
Effective internal policy coordination, includ ing among regulators, standardizing bodies and trade 
officials implementing the TBT Agreement, is stressed. Additionally, regulatory cooperation 
between Members is an effective means of disseminating GRP.2 
1.1  Decisions and r ecommendation s 
1.2.  Since the entry into  force of the Agreement, the Committee has engaged in an in -depth 
exchange of experiences on various aspects of GRP in order to foster a common understanding of 
the issues involved.3  
a. In 1997, in order to assist the implementation of the relevant provision s of the 
Agreement, the Committee agreed to the following4: 
i. when considering the preparation of a technical regulation, it is important for 
Members first to identify the related problem, including its magnitude and the 
legitimate objective; and then consid er all options available consistent with the 
Agreement, bearing in mind that in accordance with Articles 2.2 and 2.3 a technical 
regulation shall not be more trade restrictive than necessary to fulfil a legitimate 
objective, and shall not be maintained if the circumstances or objectives giving rise 
to its adoption no long exist or if the changed circumstances or objectives can be 
addressed in a less trade -restrictive manner. If a technical regulation is required, it 
shall comply with the relevant provisions  of the Agreement, including Articles 12.3 
and 12.7;  
ii. to avoid duplication of work and to ensure effective implementation of the 
Agreement, coordination between governmental regulatory authorities, trade officials 
and national standardizing bodies is essent ial; 
iii. to invite Members, on a voluntary basis, to submit descriptions of their approach to 
technical regulations; and  
iv. to examine the various approaches to the preparation, adoption and application of 
technical regulations and their consequences for market access, with a view to 
assisting regulatory authorities through promoting awareness of their rights and 
obligations under the Agreement.  
b. In 2000, in order to assist the implementation of the relevant provisions of the 
Agreement, the Committee agreed  to reiterate points 1.2 a. (iii) and (iv) above.5 
c. In 2003, noting that the issue of GRP is important, evolving, and worthy of further 
discussion in the TBT Committee, to further its work on GRP, the Committee agreed6: 
                                                
2 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, paras. 8 -9, and 14.  
3 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, paras.  23-24; G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000,  para. 37 ; G/TBT/13, 
11 November 2003, para. 14; G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, paras. 19 -20; G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, 
para. 11; G /TBT/32, 29 November 2012, paras. 3 -4; G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, paras.  1.1-1.7. 
4 G/TBT/5, 19 No vember  1997, para. 24 (a) -(b). 
5 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000,  para. 37 . 
6 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003, para. 14. G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  i. to invite Members to exchange experiences r elated to the identification of elements 
of GRP at the domestic level;  
ii. to continue its exchanges on Members' experiences and focus its discussion on, inter 
alia, choice of policy instruments, mandatory versus voluntary measures, and the 
use of regulatory i mpact assessments to facilitate GRP; and  
iii. to initiate a process of sharing experiences on equivalency in the Committee 
particularly with regard to how the concept is implemented in practice.  
d. In 2006, with a view to deepening understanding of the contributio n GRP can make to 
the implementation of the TBT Agreement, the Committee agreed to share experiences 
on7:  
i. factors used by regulators to determine whether there is a need to regulate in a 
given situation or whether other instruments are better suited to fu lfil the legitimate 
objective sought;  
ii. the use of tools, such as regulatory impact assessment, to assist regulatory decision -
making (including with respect to (i) above);  
iii. the use of performance -based regulations by Members;  
iv. how GRP have been integrated in to Members' regulatory structures, including the 
use of mechanisms to ensure openness, transparency and accountability of the 
regulatory processes;  
v. the establishment of domestic administrative mechanisms to facilitate cooperation 
and coordination between competent authorities and co -ordination with other 
stakeholders;  
vi. how regulatory cooperation between Members has contributed to the avoidance of 
unnecessary regulatory differences;  
vii. steps taken and criteria used to arrive at an equivalency decision between  Members 
(Article 2.7), or harmonization on the basis of international standards (Article 2.6); 
and 
viii. to hold a workshop on GRP addressing, among other topics, regulatory impact 
assessment.  
e. In 2009, with the purpose of enabling Members to ensure improved com pliance with the 
obligations set out in the TBT Agreement in the preparation of technical regulations and 
conformity assessment procedures, the Committee agreed8: 
i. to compile a list of guidelines for GRP taking into account Members' experiences and 
existing  relevant work of other organizations;  
ii. to prepare an illustrative list of mechanisms used for the implementation of GRP 
based on contributions from Members including, for instance, mechanisms used for: 
public consultation; use of RIA tools; use of performa nce-based regulations; use of 
relevant international standards, guides or recommendations as a basis for technical 
regulations and conformity assessment procedures; and methods of referencing 
standards in regulations; and  
iii. to continue to share views and exp eriences on aspects of regulatory coordination and 
administrative mechanisms to facilitate internal coordination between competent 
                                                
7 G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, para. 19. 
8 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 11.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  authorities, including between trade policy and regulatory authorities, and interested 
parties.  
f. In 2012, with a view of furth ering its work in the area of GRP, the Committee agreed9:  
i. to identify a non -exhaustive list of voluntary mechanisms and related principles of 
GRP and to guide Members in the efficient and effective implementation of the TBT 
Agreement across the regulatory  lifecycle, including, but not limited to, the following 
areas:  
- transparency and public consultation mechanisms;  
- mechanisms for assessing policy options, including the need to regulate (e.g. 
how to evaluate the impact of alternatives through an evidence -based 
process, including through the use of regulatory impact assessment (RIA) 
tools);  
- internal (domestic) coordination mechanisms;  
- approaches to minimizing burdens on economic operators (e.g. how to 
implement mechanisms that ensure reflection of the TBT Agr eement's 
substantive obligations in the design and development of regulations);  
- implementation and enforcement mechanisms (e.g. how to provide practical, 
timely and informative guidance needed for compliance);  
- mechanisms for review of existing technical r egulations and conformity 
assessment procedures (e.g. how to evaluate the effectiveness and continued 
adequacy of existing measures, including with a view to assessing the need 
for amendment, simplifi cation or possible repeal); and  
- mechanisms for taking ac count of the special development, financial and 
trade needs of developing Members in the preparation and application of 
measures, with a view to ensuring that they do not create unnecessary 
obstacles to exports from developing Members.  
g. In 2015, with a view  to furthering its work in the area of GRP, the Committee agreed10: 
i. to continue  to exchange information on mechanisms of GRP adopted by WTO 
Members that facilitate the implement ation of the TBT Agreement; and   
ii. to hold  a thematic session in March 2016 on RIA s, including discussion of:  
- the extent to which RIAs could facilitate the implementation of the TBT 
Agreement, considering the constraints facing developing countries in 
carrying out RIAs; and  
- how trade impacts and TBT Agreement obligations could be taken  into 
account in the preparation of RIAs.  
1.2  Events  
a. On 18 -19 March 2008, with a view to advancing its work on GRP, the Committee held a 
Workshop on GRP, which addressed, among other topics, regulatory impact 
assessment.11 
                                                
9 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 4.  
10 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, par a. 1.8.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  b. On 5 March 2013, the Committee held a Thematic Session on GRP.12  
c. On 17 June 2013 the Committee held a second Thematic Session on GRP.13 
d. On 18 March 2014, the Committee held a third Thematic Session on GRP.14 
e. On 17 March 2015, the Committee held a first Thematic Session  on the Seventh 
Triennial R eview, covering, inter alia , GRP.15 
f. On 16 June 2015, the Committee held a second Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , GRP16. 
g. On 8 March 2016, the Committee held a Thematic Session on GRP.17 
2  REGULATORY COOPERATI ON BETWEEN MEM BERS  
2.1.  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 removing 
unnecessary barriers to trade. A fundamental component to regulatory cooperation is the 
promotion of dialogue between Members, including at senior level. A wide variety of approaches 
can be employed by regulators to collaborate with e ach other – from information sharing to 
negotiating specific agreements.18 
2.1  Decisions and r ecommendations  
a. In 2006, with a view to deepening understanding of the contribution GRP can make to 
the implementation of the TBT Agreement, the Committee agreed , inter alia, to share 
experiences on19:  
i. how regulatory cooperation between Members has contributed to the avoidance of 
unnecessary regulatory differences.  
b. In 2009, in order to further enhance information on regulatory cooperation between 
Members, the Committee a greed20: 
i. to exchange information  on the different approaches to regulatory cooperation 
between Members that aim at, inter alia , enhancing mutual understanding of 
regulatory systems and identifying, where possible, avenues for greater regulatory 
convergence;  and 
ii. to hold a workshop on regulatory cooperation.  
c. In 2015, with a view to furthering its work and raising awareness of the importance of 
regulatory cooperation between Members, the Committee agreed21:  
                                                                                                                                                  
11 The Summary Report of the Workshop is contained in G/TBT/W/287 , 6 June 2008 . The Chairman's 
Report of the Workshop to the TBT Committee is contained in G/TBT/M/44, 10 June 2008, Annex 1. The 
Workshop was held in response to the recommendation  contained in G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006,  para. 20. 
12 The Moderator's summary and the final programme are contained in G/TBT/GEN/143, 11 March 2013 .  
13 The Chairman's report is contained in  G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.1, 25 June 2013.  
14 The Chairman's report and the fi nal programme are contained in  G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.2,  
26 March 2014.  
15 The Chairman's report is contained in JOB/TBT/125, 25 March 2015 , paras. 1.1 -1.2. 
16 The Chairperson's report is contained in JOB/TBT/134, 26 June 2015 , para. 1.1 . 
17 The Chairperson's re port is contained in G/TBT/GEN/191, 17 March 2016.  
18 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, paras. 14 -15. 
19 G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, para. 19.  
20 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 16.  
21 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 23(b).  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  i. to deepen and broaden  its information exchange in the area of regulatory 
cooperation between Members, based on topics identified by Members. The purpose 
of this information exchange is to:  
- provide Members with an opportunity to share factual information and 
experiences with respect to ongoing, new or emergin g regulatory issues, 
including in specific sectors, without duplicating regulatory cooperation work 
in other technical bodies22;  
- discuss possible elements of regulatory cooperation between Members with 
the aim of making regulatory cooperation initiatives m ore effective; and  
ii. to hold thematic sessions on regulatory cooperation between Members in June and 
November 2016. The Committee will organize these sessions based on proposals 
from Members.   
2.2  Events  
a. On 8 -9 November 2011, recognizing the benefits of regulato ry co -operation for the 
dissemination of GRP, the Committee held a Workshop on regulatory co -operation 
between Members.23  
b. On 17 March 2015, the Committee held a first Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , regulatory cooper ation between Members.24 
c. On 16 June 2015, the Committee held a second Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , regulatory cooperation between Members.25 
d. On 14 June 2016, the Committee dedicated a Thematic Session on regulatory 
cooperation between Members to the topic of energy efficiency.26 
e. On 9 November 2016, the Committee dedicated a Thematic Session on regulatory 
cooperation between Members to the topic of food labelling.27 
3  CONFORMITY ASSESSMEN T 
3.1.  Five articles of the TBT Agreeme nt 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 loc al 
government bodies, non -governmental bodies and international and regional systems. The 
definition of a conformity assessment procedure is contained in Annex 1, Paragraph 3 of the 
Agreement.  
3.1  Decisions and r ecommendations  
3.2.  The Committee has regularly enga ged in information exchange on the use of conformity 
assessment procedures with a view to improving Members' implementation and understanding of 
Articles 5 -9.28  
                                                
22 In line with Article 13.3 of the TBT Agreement.  
23 The Summary Report of the Workshop is contained in G/TBT/W/348, 14 February 2012. A background 
note by the Secretariat, circulated before the Workshop, is cont ained in document G/TBT/W/340, 7 September 
2011.   
24 The Chairman's report is contain ed in JOB/TBT/125, 25 March 2015 , paras. 2.1 -2.2 and 4.1 . 
25 The Chairperson's report is contained in JOB/TBT/134, 26 June 2015 , para. 1.1 and 5.1 -5.2. 
26 The moderators' report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/198, 23 June 2016.  
27 The moderators' report is contain ed in G/TBT/GEN/205, 22 November 2016.  
28 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, para. 29(c); G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000, paras. 28 and 33; 
G/TBT/ 13, 11 November 2003, para. 40;  G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, para. 46;  G/TBT/26, 13 November 
2009, para. 19, G/T BT/32, 29 No vember 2012, para. 5 ; G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, paras. 3. 1-3.8. In 1996, G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  a. In 1997, in order to further the objectives of Articles 5 and 6, including in particular the 
need to avoid the creation of unnecessary obstacles to international trade due to 
conformity assessment procedures, and with a view to making recommendations to 
remove any unnecessary duplication of conformity assessment, the Committee agreed to 
the followin g29: 
i. the Committee will pursue further discussions on ISO/IEC Guides. Members are 
invited, on a voluntary basis, to continue providing information on their experience in 
using relevant international guides and recommendations on conformity assessment, 
and t he extent to which these guides and recommendations have served as a basis 
for the recognition of conformity assessment procedures adopted by bodies in their 
territories and in regional and international conformity assessment systems, or as a 
harmonized ap proach to conformity assessment. In the light of this exercise, the 
Committee will consider ways and means for better implementation of Articles 5  
and 6;  
ii. for transparency purposes and to support the work of the Committee, a list of 
relevant international guides and recommendations related to conformity assessment 
procedures will be consolidated, circulated and updated regularly by the Secretariat 
for the information of Members;  
iii. the Committee will review the role of regional and international systems for 
conformity assessment as covered by Article 9 and how these systems could 
contribute to solving the problems of multiple testing and certification/registration for 
traders and industries, including in particular small and medium size enterprises. 
This exerc ise will also address the extent to which international guides and 
recommendations contribute to the establishment of these systems, and the possible 
technical assistance needed for developing countries to develop operational 
conformity assessment procedur es within the context of Articles 11.6, 11.7 and 
12.5; and  
iv. the Committee will review the operation of Articles 6, 10.7 and other relevant 
provisions which contain disciplines with respect to recognition of the results of 
conformity assessment procedures. I n this regard, Members are invited, on a 
voluntary basis, to exchange information. The review will also address the possible 
difficulties and problems associated with MRAs. In the light of this exercise, the 
Committee may consider the usefulness of draftin g guidelines, inter alia  for MRAs.  
b. In 1997, in order to further the objectives of Articles 5 and 6, including in particular the 
need to avoid the creation of unnecessary obstacles to international trade due to 
conformity assessment procedures, and with a v iew to making recommendations to 
remove any unnecessary duplication of conformity assessment, the Committee agreed to 
invite Members, on a voluntary basis:  
i. to exchange information on their experience in the various types of conformity 
assessment procedures  and their conditions of application. In the light of this 
exercise, the Committee will consider making recommendations aimed at ensuring 
that procedures for the assessment of conformity avoid the creation of unnecessary 
obstacles to international trade30; and  
ii. to exchange information on th e operation of Articles 6, 10.7  (Section 3.2.  a.iv, page 
11) and other relevant provisions which contain disciplines with respect to 
recognition o f the results of conformity assessment procedures.31 
                                                                                                                                                  
the Committee established  a Technical Working Group to examine certain ISO/IEC Guides on conformity 
assessment procedures (G/TBT/M/6, 6 December 1996, para. 14). The Working Group me t three times and the 
Reports are c ontained in G/TBT/M/7 -8 and 10 (1997).  
29 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, para. 29(a), (b), (d) and (e).  
30 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, para. 29(c).  
31 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, para. 29(e).  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  c. In 2000, the Committee developed an indicative list describing different approaches to 
facilitate acceptance of results of conformity assessment. This list is contained in 
Annex  1  (on page 52 of this document). The Committee noted the following in respect 
of this list32: 
i. the list was not intended to prescribe particular approaches that Members might 
choose to adopt as it was recogni zed that the application of different approaches 
would depend on the situation of Members and the specific sectors involved; and  
ii. governments and non -governmental bodies might choose to apply different 
approaches across different sectors, or apply more than  one procedure within 
individual sectors, taking into account variations in procedures in different Members 
and perceived levels of risk in the acceptance of results in different sectors.  
d. In 2000, the Committee agreed to invite Members, on a voluntary basi s: 
i. to supply further information on the different mechanisms used in their jurisdiction 
for acceptance of results of conformity assessment and further discuss the different 
approaches with a view to analysing them in the light of Articles 5 and 633; and 
ii. to further exchange information on their experience in the use of supplier's 
declaration of conformity (SDoC). Such experience could include the following:  an 
indication of the sectors/product categories where supplier's declaration of 
conformity is used in r elation to technical regulations and standards;  a further 
definition of the conditions supporting effective use of such an approach and the 
costs of these conditions; considerations that may deem such an approach 
inappropriate from a regulatory perspective ; and an identification of technical 
infrastructure to support reliance on this approach .34 
e. In 2003, with a view to improving Members' implementation of Articles 5 -9 of the 
Agreement and promoting a better understanding of Members' conformity assessment 
systems, the Committee agreed to a work programme35: 
i. to exchange information and experiences on existing conformity assessment 
procedures and practices, the use of relevant international standards, guides and 
recommendations, and the participation of Members i n national, regional and 
international accreditation schemes;  
ii. to exchange information and experiences and hold a workshop on SDoC covering 
issues such as: the regulatory authorities, sectors and suppliers which use SDoC; the 
surveillance mechanism, liabili ty law and penalties used to ensure that products 
comply with requirements; the incentives for suppliers to comply with requirements; 
and the legislation that underpins the relationship between buyers and sellers;  
iii. to invite representatives from relevant in ternational and regional accreditation fora 
to provide information on their operation and the participation of Members, in 
particular, developing country Members, in their systems. Moreover, users, such as 
certification bodies, should also be invited to sh are their experiences in this respect;  
iv. to hold a workshop on the different approaches to conformity assessment, including 
on the acceptance of conformity assessment results; and  
v. to take stock of the progress made on this Work Programme and reflect it in it s 
Annual Report to the Council for Trade in Goods.  
                                                
32 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000, para. 27 and Annex 5.  
33 G/TBT/ 9, 13 November 2000, para. 28. 
34 G/TBT/ 9, 13 November 2000, para. 33. 
35 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003, paras.  40 and 41.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  f. In 2006, with a view to furthering the understanding of the implementation of 
Articles  5-9 of the Agreement, the Committee agreed to continue sharing experiences 
on36: 
i. approaches to conformity assessment, a nd in particular on:  
- various considerations that are relevant when deciding on the need for a 
conformity assessment procedure and on the type of procedure, including the 
level of risk associated with products;  
- the use of different types of conformity asses sment procedures;  
- the design and implementation of SDoC and situations for which SDoC may 
be a suitable conformity assessment procedure; and  
- the use of accreditation to qualify the technical competence of conformity 
assessment bodies.  
ii. the use of internatio nal standards, guides or recommendations in Members' domestic 
conformity assessment procedures;  
iii. recognition of conformity assessment results, and in particular on:  
- unilateral recognition of results of foreign conformity assessment, including 
on existing go vernment designation schemes in relation to Article  6.1.2;  
- the participation of foreign conformity assessment bodies in domestic 
conformity assessment procedures pursuant to Article 6.4;  
- the operation of existing MRAs, including cases where implementation has not 
been deemed satisfactory; and their cost -effectiveness; and  
- voluntary mutual recognition arrangements and on the extent to which 
results of conformity assessment are accepted by regulators.  
g. In 2009 , with a view to facilitating trade, the Committee agreed37: 
i. to continue to exchange information on different approaches to facilitating 
acceptance of conformity assessment results;  
ii. to exchange information on the criteria, methods of analysis and concepts used by 
Members to inform their evaluation of the ra nge of choices in conformity assessment 
procedures, including in the context of a risk management framework;  
iii. based on these exchanges, and those referred to on page 9 of this document 
(Section 2.1  b, above), to initiate work  on developing practical guidelines on how to 
choose and design efficient and effective mechanisms aimed at strengthening the 
implementation of the TBT Agreement, including the facilitation of acceptance of 
confo rmity assessment results ( inter alia  MRAs, equivalence agreements and 
Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC)); and  
iv. to consider, in light of the above work, the need to build on the current "Indicative 
List of Approaches to Facilitate the Acceptance of  the Results of Conformity 
Assessment".  
h. In 2012, in order to initiate work on developing practical guidance on the choice and 
design of mechanisms aimed at strengthening the implementation of the TBT 
                                                
36 G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, para. 46.  
37 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 19.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  Agreement, including the facilitation of acceptance of c onformity assessment results, the 
Committee agreed to organize its work in three thematic areas38:  
i. Approaches to conformity assessment. With respect to the choice and design of 
conformity assessment procedures, Members will exchange information on criteria  
and methods of analysis used to inform their evaluation of the range of choices in 
conformity assessment procedures. This exchange may include, for instance, how 
the assessment and management of risk affects the choice of conformity assessment 
procedure, and how Members' approach to market surveillance may affect this 
choice. A possible output of this work could be the development of an illustrative list 
of principles to guide the selection of conformity assessment procedures;  
ii. Use of relevant international  standards, guides or recommendations. Members will 
exchange information on how they use relevant existing international standards, 
guides or recommendations, or the relevant parts of them, as a basis for their 
conformity assessment procedures. To this end , relevant bodies involved in the 
development of such instruments may be invited to inform the Committee of the 
current status of their work; and  
iii. Facilitating the recognition of conformity assessment results. Building on the 
"Indicative List" (Second Trien nial Review), Members will continue their exchange of 
information on approaches that may facilitate the acceptance of conformity 
assessment results. For instance, Members may explore how international and 
regional systems for conformity assessment (e.g. re gional and intergovernmental 
initiatives, voluntary cooperation arrangements between accreditation bodies, and 
voluntary cooperation arrangements between conformity assessment bodies) can 
contribute to building globally robust and trade facilitative scheme s (as envisaged 
under Article 9 of the TBT Agreement). To this end, relevant bodies involved in the 
development of such instruments may be invited to inform the Committee of the 
current status of their work.  
i. In 2015, with a view to furthering its work in t he 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 implementa tion of the TBT 
Agreement, including the facilitation of acceptance of conformity assessment results39, 
the Committee agreed40: 
i. to continue to exchange information in respect of the three areas of work identified 
in the Sixth Triennial Review (namely: Approa ches to conformity assessment; Use of 
relevant international standards, guides or recommendations; and, Facilitating the 
recognition of conformity assessment results)41; 
ii. 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;  
iii. 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;  
iv. to discuss factors that Members consider relevant when deciding whether to accept 
tests and other conformity assessment results in other Members. For exa mple, 
relevant factors could be: the existence of international schemes, or mutual 
recognition agreements, for the acceptance of tests and other conformity assessment 
                                                
38 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 5 .  
39 G/TBT/26, para. 19(c).  
40 G/TBT/37, para. 3.9. 
41 G/TBT/32, para. 5. G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  results; or reliance on accreditation to demonstrate technical competence of 
conformity a ssessment bodies; and  
v. to hold a thematic session in March 2016 on developments in international and 
regional systems, and regional trade agreements (RTAs), relating to the recognition 
and acceptance of conformity assessment results.  
3.2  Events  
a. A Symposium on Conformity Assessment Procedures was held on 8 -9 June 1999.42  
b. A Special Meeting dedicated to Conformity Assessment Procedures was held on  
29 June 2004.43 
c. A Workshop on Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) was held on  
21 March 2005.44 
d. A Workshop on t he Different Approaches to Conformity Assessment, including on the 
Acceptance of Conformity Assessment Results, was held on 16 -17 March 2006.45 
e. A Thematic Session on Conformity Assessment Procedures took place on  
29 October 2013.46 
f. A Thematic Session on Con formity Assessment Procedures took place on  
4 November 2014.47 
g. On 16 June 2015, the Committee held a second Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , Conformity Assessment Procedures.48 
h. A Thematic Session on Conformity Assessme nt Procedures took place on 8 March 
2016.49 
4  STANDARDS  
4.1.  The provisions concerning the preparation, adoption and application of standards are 
contained in Article 4 of the TBT Agreement and in the Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, 
Adoption and Applica tion of Standards (the "Code of Good Practice"). In addition, Articles 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 regulation s and 
conformity assessment procedures. Articles 2.6, 5.5 and Paragraph G of Annex 3 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.50 
4.2.  In 2000, at the Second Triennial Review of the Agreement, the Committee noted that in 
order for international standards to make a maximum contribution to the achievement of the trade 
facilitating objectives of the Agreement, it was important that all Members had the opportunity to 
participate in the elaboration and adoption of international standards. Adverse trade effects might 
arise from standards emanating from international bodies as defined in the Agreement which had 
no procedur es for soliciting input from a wide range of interests. Bodies operating with open, 
impartial and transparent procedures, that afforded an opportunity for consensus among all 
                                                
42 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000,  Annex 1.  
43 The Report of the special meeting is contained in G/TBT/M/33/Add.1 , 21 October 2004 . 
44 The Report of the workshop is contained in Annex 1 of G/T BT/M/35 , 24 May 2005 . 
45 The Report of the workshop is contained in G/TBT/M/38/Add.1 , 6 June 2006 . 
46 The Chairman's report and the final programme are contained in G/TBT/GEN/155, 4 November 2013.  
47 The Chairman's report and the final programme are contained  in G/TBT/GEN/174, 11 November 
2014.  
48 The Chairperson's report is contained in JOB/TBT/134, 26 June 2015 , paras. 2.1 -2.5. 
49 The Chairperson's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/190, 17 March 2016.  
50 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 20.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  interested parties in the territories of at least all Members, were seen as more likely to develop 
standards which were effective and relevant on a global basis and would thereby contribute to the 
goal of the Agreement to prevent unnecessary obstacles to trade. In order to improve the quality 
of international standards and to ensure th e effective application of the Agreement, the Committee 
agreed that there was a need to develop principles concerning transparency, openness, 
impartiality and consensus, relevance and effectiveness, coherence and developing country 
interests that would cla rify and strengthen the concept of international standards under the 
Agreement and contribute to the advancement of its objectives. In this regard, the Committee 
adopted a Decision containing a set of principles it considered important for international 
standards development.51 These principles were seen as equally relevant to the preparation of 
international standards, guides and recommendations for conformity assessment procedures. The 
dissemination of such principles by Members and standardizing bodies in  their territories would 
encourage the various international bodies to clarify and strengthen their rules and procedures on 
standards development, thus further contributing to the advancement of the objectives of the 
Agreement.52 
4.1  Decisions and r ecommendatio ns 
a. In 1995, the Committee noted that the Agreement contains a number of provisions on 
regional standardizing bodies and systems for conformity assessment. In order to keep 
abreast of the activities of such bodies and systems, the Committee agreed53: 
i. that re presentatives of regional standardizing bodies and systems for conformity 
assessment may be invited to address the Committee on their procedures and how 
they relate to those embodied in the Agreement, on the basis of agreed lists of 
questions.  
b. In 1997, wit h a view to developing a better understanding of international standards 
within the Agreement, the Committee agreed54: 
i. to explore ways and means of improving the implementation of Articles 2.6, 5.5, 
11.2, 12.5 and paragraph G of the Code with a view to enha ncing Members' 
awareness of, and participation in, the work of international standardizing bodies. As 
appropriate, the Committee will consider the usefulness of communicating its views 
to the relevant international standardizing bodies for their considerat ion. 
c. In 1997, the Committee agreed to seek information from international standardizing 
bodies regarding their procedures to ensure cooperation with their national members 
and regional standardizing bodies and to consider the usefulness of communicating th e 
Committee's views to the relevant international standardizing bodies.55 Also, with a view 
to developing a better understanding of international standards within the Agreement, 
the Committee agreed56: 
i. to invite Members, on a voluntary basis, to submit speci fic examples to the 
Committee addressing the difficulties and problems they encounter in relation to 
international standards, including those mentioned in paragraph 18 (of G/TBT/5), 
taking into account Article 12.4. This information exchange process, as we ll as the 
indications obtained through the notifications of draft regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures, would provide relevant information on the national practices 
of Members, and on the manner in which international standardizing bodies 
devel oped standards. In the light of this experience sharing exercise, the Committee 
may consider the usefulness of communicating its views to relevant international 
standardizing bodies for their consideration;  
                                                
51 This Decision is contained in Annex 2 (on page 54 of this document).  
52 G/TBT/9, 13 Nov ember 2000, para. 20 . 
53 G/TBT/M/3, 5 January 1996, para. 15; G/TBT/W/14, 29 September 1995, p. 4.  
54 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, para. 22(a).  
55 G/TBT/5, 19 Nov ember 1997, para. 13. 
56 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, para. 22 (b)-(d). G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  ii. to consider the appropriate means for the Committ ee to express its views to relevant 
international standardizing bodies regarding the preparation of international 
standards, and to invite international standardizing bodies to follow the relevant 
principles of the Code of Good Practice; and  
iii. in accordance with the rules of procedures of the Committee and on an ad hoc basis 
as agreed, relevant international standardizing bodies will be invited to meetings of 
the Committee to enable them to take into account the on -going discussions in the 
WTO, and to increas e Members' awareness of the activities of these organizations. 
Relevant international standardizing bodies will be invited to provide prior 
information concerning their activities.  
d. In 2000, the Committee adopted a Decision on Principles for the Development  of 
International Standards, Guides and Recommendations with Relation to Articles 2, 5 and 
Annex 3 of the TBT Agreement. This Decision is contained in Annex 2 (on page 54 of this 
document).57  
e. In 2006, with regard to the accept ance of the Code of Good Practice by regional 
standardizing bodies, the Committee agreed58: 
i. to encourage regional standardizing bodies to accept the Code of Good Practice and 
to notify their acceptance of the Code to the ISO/IEC Information Centre.  
f. In 2009,  the Committee recognized the need for international standards to be relevant 
and effectively respond to regulatory and market needs, as well as scientific and 
technological developments, while not creating unnecessary obstacles to international 
trade. In light of the above, the Committee59:  
i. encouraged Members, Observer organizations and relevant bodies involved in the 
development of standards to exchange experiences and circulate case studies – or 
other research – on the impacts of standards on economic de velopment and 
international trade;  
ii. stressed the importance of ensuring the effective application of the Code of Good 
Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards (Annex 3 of the 
TBT Agreement); and  
iii. encouraged the full application of  the six principles set out in the above -mentioned 
Decision, and the sharing of experiences in respect of their use.  
g. In 2009, the Committee noted that several Members had raised concerns regarding 
"private standards" and trade impacts thereof, including ac tual or potential unnecessary 
barriers to trade. The Committee also noted that other Members considered that the 
term lacks clarity and that its relevance to the implementation of the TBT Agreement 
had not been established. Without prejudice to the differe nt views expressed, the 
Committee recalled that Article 4.1 of the TBT Agreement requires that Members shall 
take such reasonable measures as may be available to them to ensure that 
standardizing bodies accept and comply with the Code of Good Practice. The  Committee 
further expressed the need to strengthen implementation of Article 4. In view of this, the 
Committee60: 
i. recalled its discussion in the Third Triennial Review61 regarding standards developed 
by bodies that are not commonly considered standardizing bodies;  
                                                
57 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000, para. 20 and Annex 4.  
58 G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, paras. 66 -67 and 68 (g)(i). This recommendation is also reproduced in 
this docu ment on page 30. 
59 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 25.  
60 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 26. 
61 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003, para. 25.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  ii. reiterated its 1997 invitation to Members to share their experiences with respect to 
steps taken to fulfil their obligations under Article 4, and to exchange information 
regarding the reasons some standardizing bodies have not yet accepted the Cod e of 
Good Practice62; and  
iii. with a view to facilitating an informed discussion on the development and use of 
standards in general, including with regard to standards developed by non -
governmental bodies, Members were invited to share their experiences related  to the 
implementation of the TBT Agreement, including the Code of Good Practice. 
Discussions would neither prejudge the role of the TBT Committee nor the scope of 
the TBT Agreement with respect to any issue that may arise.  
h. In 2009, the Committee recognize d the advances made in increasing meaningful 
participation by developing country Members in standardizing activities in areas of 
interest to them, but noted that for many developing country Members challenges 
remain, both financially and technically. In vi ew of achieving further progress, the 
Committee63: 
i. encouraged Members, Observer organizations and relevant bodies involved in the 
development of standards, to exchange information on initiatives implemented, 
successes achieved and obstacles encountered.  
i. In 2012, with a view to furthering its work in the area of standards, the Committee 
agreed to undertake work in the following three thematic areas64: 
i. The Code of Good Practice  
The Committee reiterates the importance of ensuring the effective application of the  
Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards 
(Annex 3 of the TBT Agreement, hereafter the "Code of Good Practice"), and the 
importance of strengthening the implementation of Article  4 of the TBT Agreement. 
It is recalle d that in the context of the Fifth Triennial Review, several Members raised 
concerns regarding "private standards" and the trade impact thereof, while other 
Members considered that the term lacked clarity and that its relevance to the 
implementation of the  TBT Agreement had not been established.65 During the review 
period, the Committee reverted to this discussion. The Committee hereby reiterates 
the recommendations made at the Fifth Triennial Review66 and, in view of the need 
to further strengthen implementa tion of Article 4, agrees:  
- 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 a nd comply with the Code of Good Practice.  
ii. The "Six Principles"  
The Committee reiterates the importance of ensuring the full application of the six 
principles set out in the Committee's 2000 Decision (the "Six Principles"67) on the 
development of internation al standards, and the sharing of experiences in respect 
of their use. In this respect, the Committee agrees:  
 
                                                
62 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, para. 12(a). This recommendation is also reproduced in this document  
on page 30. 
63 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 27.  
64 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, paras. 6 -9.  
65 These concerns are reflected in the Fifth Triennia l Review Report (G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, 
para. 26). 
66 The three recommendations contained in G /TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 26(a) –(c). 
67  The full text of this Decision (hereafter the "2000 Committee Decision")  is contained in Annex 2 
(page 53 of this document ). G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 19 - 
 
  - to exchange information on efforts to promote the full application of the Six 
Principles set out in the 2000 Committee Decision. The Committee may  also 
invite relevant bodies involved in the development of international standards, 
guides or recommendations to share their experiences with the us e of these 
same principles; and  
- in the deliberations on the Six Principles, to give particular attention to  how 
the "Development Dimension" is taken into consideration.  
iii. Transparency in standard -setting68 
During the review period, the Committee emphasized, in particular, the importance 
of transparency in the development of standards.69 It is recalled in this regar d that 
several paragraphs of the Code of Good Practice are relevant to transparency in 
standard -setting, including paragraphs J through Q.70 With respect to the 
development of international standards, the Principle on Transparency contained in 
the 2000 Comm ittee Decision states, inter alia , that transparency procedures should, 
at a minimum, provide an "adequate period of time for interested parties in the 
territory of at least all members of the international standardizing body to make 
comments in writing an d take these written comments into account in the further 
consideration of the standard". In light of this, the Committee agrees:  
- To exchange information on how relevant bodies involved in the development 
of standards – whether at the national, regional or  international level – 
provide opportunity for public comment.  
j. In 2015, with a view to furthering its work  standards, as well as  in the area of 
transparency in standard -setting , the Committee agreed71: 
i. consistent with paragraph J of the Code, to encourage M embers' 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 Informat ion 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 pub lication, website 
address);  
iii. to discuss ways of improving Members' access to the information mentioned in i and 
ii above72; 
                                                
68 Relevant existing decisions and recommendations are contained in G/TBT/1/Re v.10, 9 June 2011, 
Section IV.C.2.(iii) on page 29. 
69 The G/TBT/GEN/39 / - series of documents includes information on Members' publications in relation 
to technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures and standards.  It is also recalled that Members 
have previously agreed that statements under Article 15.2 of the Agreement should specify the names of 
publications that are used to announce work relevant to Paragraphs J, L and O of Annex 3 of the Agreement 
(G/TBT/1/Rev.10, pag e 17).  
70 For example, Paragraph L of the Code  of Good Practice  states, inter alia , that "before adopting a 
standard, the standardizing body shall allow at least 60 days for the submission of comments on the draft 
standard by interested parties within the t erritory of a Member of the WTO".  
71 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 4.10(a), (b) and (c).  
72 In 2016, the "WTO ISO Standards Information Gateway" was launched. The Gateway can be accessed 
at https://tbtcode.iso.org/sites/wto -tbt/home.html  and provides information on standardizing bodies that have 
accepted the Code of Good Practice and, if available, their work programmes. The notification formats for the 
acceptance of and withdrawal from the Co de of Good Practice as well as to notify work programmes, can also 
be found on the gateway.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  iv. to hold  a thematic session in June 2016 on methods of referencing standards  in 
regulation, including Members' initiatives or policies that seek to utilize international 
standards in regulation;  and 
v. 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.  
4.2  Events  
a. An Information Session of Bodies Involved in the Preparation of International Standards 
was held on 19 November 1998.73 
b. A Worksho p on the Role of International Standards in Economic Development was held 
on 16 -17 March 2009.74 
c. The Sixth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange, held on  
22 June 2010, included a session on Transparency in Standard Setting.75  
d. A Thematic Se ssion on Standards was held on 5 March 2013.76 
e. A Thematic Session on Standards was held on 18 March 2014.77 
f. A Thematic Session on Transparency, held on 17 June 2014, included a session on 
Transparency in Standard Setting.78 
g. On 16 June 2015, the Committee held  a second Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , Standards.79 
h. A Thematic Session on Standards was held on 14 June 2016.80 
5  TRANSPARENCY  
5.1.  The TBT Agreement contains transparency provisions in: Articles 2 and 3 (technical 
regulat ions); Articles 5, 7, 8 and 9 (conformity assessment procedures); Annex 3, paragraphs J, L, 
M, N, O & P (standards); and Articles 10 (general transparency provision) 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.  
5.1  General  
5.1.1   Decisions and r ecommendation s 
a. In 2009 and 2012, the Committee reiterated the importance of Members fully complying  
with their transparency obligations under the TBT Agreement and in particular those 
related to the notification of technical regulations and conformity assessment 
procedures, as required under Articles 2.9, 2.10, 5.6, 5.7 and 10.7. The Committee 
stressed that transparency is a fundamental pillar in the implementation of the TBT 
                                                
73 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000, Annex 1 . 
74 G/TBT/M/47, 5 June 2009, pp. 81 -83. 
75 G/TBT/M/51, 1 October 2010, pp. 82 -88. 
76 The Moderator's summary and the final program me are available in G/TBT/GEN/144, 11 March 2013.  
77 The Chairman's report and the final programme are available in G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1, 26 March 
2014.  
78 The Moderator's report  and the final programme are contained in G/TBT/GEN/167, 24 June 2014.  
79 The Cha irperson's report is contained in JOB/TBT/134, 26 June 2015 , para. 3.1 . 
80 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/199, 23 June 2016.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  Agreement and a key element of GRP.81 The Committee noted the significant stock of 
decisions and recommendations that it has developed since 1995, and agreed82: 
i. to stress the importan ce of full implementation of this existing body of decisions and 
recommendations by Members.  
5.2  Statement on Implementation and Administration of the TBT Agreement 
(Article  15.2)  
5.2.  Pursuant to Article 15.2, Members have an obligation to submit a statement on t he measures 
in existence or taken to ensure the implementation and administration of the Agreement, including 
the provisions on transparency. Such statements, to be made by a Member promptly after the 
date on which the WTO Agreement enters into force for i t, give a brief overview of how individual 
Members implement the TBT  Agreement. Since the establishment of the Committee, Members 
have emphasized the importance of fulfilling their obligations under Article 15.2.83  
5.2.1   Decision s and recommendations  
a. In 1995, wi th respect to the contents of Article 15.2 statements, the Committee 
agreed84: 
i. the statement should cover the legislative, regulatory and administrative action 
taken as a result of the negotiation of the Agreement or currently in existence to 
ensure that th e provisions of the Agreement are applied. If the Agreement itself has 
been incorporated into domestic law, the statement should indicate how this has 
been done. In other cases, the statement should describe the content of the relevant 
laws, regulations, a dministrative orders, etc. All necessary references should also be 
provided.  
ii. in addition, the statement should specify:  
- the names of the publications used to announce that work is proceeding on 
draft technical regulations or standards and procedures for as sessment of 
conformity and those in which the texts of technical regulations and 
standards or procedures for assessment of conformity are published under 
Articles 2.9.1, 2.11; 3.1 (in relation to 2.9.1 and 2.11); 5.6.1, 5.8; 7.1, 8.1 
and 9.2 (in relation t o 5.6.1 and 5.8); and paragraphs J, L and O of Annex 3 
of the Agreement;  
- the expected length of time allowed for presentation of comments in writing 
on technical regulations, standards or procedures for assessment of 
conformity under Articles 2.9.4 and 2.1 0.3; 3.1 (in relation to 2.9.4 and 
2.10.3); 5.6.4 and 5.7.3; 7.1, 8.1 and 9.2 (in relation to 5.6.4 and 5.7.3); 
and paragraph L of Annex 3 of the Agreement;  
- the name and address of the enquiry point(s) foreseen in Articles 10.1 and 
10.3 of the Agreement wi th an indication as to whether it is/they are fully 
operational; if for legal or administrative reasons more than one enquiry 
point is established, complete and unambiguous information on the scope of 
responsibilities of each of them;  
- the name and address  of any other agencies that have specific functions 
under the Agreement, including those foreseen in Articles 10.10 and 10.11 of 
the Agreement; and  
                                                
81 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 29.  
82 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 32 and G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, par a. 11.  
83 G/TBT/5,  19 November 1997 , para. 7; G/TBT/9 , 13 November 2000, para.  9; G/TBT/13, 
11 November 2003 , para. 7; G/TBT/19 , 14 November 2006, para. 6.  
84 G/TBT/M/2, 4 October 1995 , para. 5, G/TBT/ W/2/Rev.1 , 21 June 1995, p. 2 . G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  - measures and arrangements to ensure that national and sub -national 
authorities preparing new technical regul ations or procedures for assessment 
of conformity, or substantial amendments to existing ones, provide early 
information on their proposals in order to enable the Member in question to 
fulfil its obligations on notifications under Articles 2.9, 2.10, 3.2, 5.6, 5.7 and 
7.2 of the Agreement.  
b. In 1997, in order to ensure the submission of statements under Article 15.2 and to 
improve the implementation and administration of the Agreement, the Committee 
agreed85: 
i. with due consideration to the obligations under Art icle 15.2 to inform the Committee 
of measures in existence or taken to ensure the implementation and administration 
of the Agreement, Members who have not submitted such information are expected 
to do so without further delay. They are invited to indicate any difficulties and needs 
in this respect, so that technical assistance may be provided as appropriate;  and 
ii. for the purpose of information exchange, Members are invited, on a voluntary basis, 
to make oral presentations to further elaborate on the arrangem ents they have in 
place to achieve an effective implementation and administration of the provisions of 
the Agreement, including those under Article 12. This exercise would be a useful 
means of sharing information with respect to good practices and in meeti ng the 
needs of those Members that may be seeking assistance.  
c. In 2000, the Committee agreed86: 
i. to encourage Members to continue sharing their experiences on the arrangements 
they had in place to achieve an effective implementation and administration of the 
provisions of the Agreement.  
d. In 2003, in order to assist Members in meeting their obligations under Articles 15.2 and 
10.1, the Committee87: 
i. invited Members to seek assistance from other Members that had met their 15.2 
obligations to share their knowledge and experience in this regard.  
5.2.2   Documents  
a. Members' Statements on Implementation and Administration of the Agreement are 
contained in the G/TBT/2/Add - series.88 
b. A list of Members having submitted their 15.2 Statements is maintained in the 
G/TBT/GEN/1/ - series. 
5.2.3   Event s 
a. On 8 November 2007, the WTO Secretariat organized a Workshop on the Statement on 
Implementation and Administration of the TBT Agreement under Article 15.2.89 
5.3  Notifications  of Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures  
5.3.  Articles 2, 3, 5, and 7 of the TBT Agreement contain the notification obligations related to 
technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures. In addition, the TBT Committee has 
put in place detailed procedures for the implementation of these provisions (set  out below), which 
                                                
85 G/TBT/5, 19 November 199 7, para. 7.  
86 G/TBT/ 9, 13 November 200 0, para. 9. 
87 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003 , para. 7.  
88 This information can be downloaded from the TBT IMS, at : http://tbtims.wto.org . See Section  
5.6.3.2   "Online Tools" for further details.  
89 G/TBT/M/43, 21 January 2008 , para. 3-5. G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  have been refined over the years. The importance of fulfilling notification provisions has been 
regularly reiterated by the TBT Committee, as notifications can make an important contribution 
towards avoiding unnecessary obstacles to trad e and provide Members with the opportunity to 
influence the development of technical requirements of other Members.  
5.4.  Article 2.9 of the TBT Agreement provides that Members have an obligation to notify a 
proposed technical regulation whenever a relevant inte rnational standard does not exist or when 
the technical content of the proposed technical regulation is not in accordance with the technical 
content of relevant international standards and if the technical regulation may have a significant 
effect on trade of other Members. Similarly, Article 5.6 of the TBT Agreement provides that 
Members have an obligation to notify a proposed conformity assessment procedure whenever a 
relevant international guide or recommendation issued by international standardizing bodi es does 
not exist or the technical content of the proposed conformity assessment procedure is not in 
accordance with relevant international guides or recommendations issued by international 
standardizing bodies and if the conformity assessment procedure ma y have a significant effect on 
trade of other Members.  
5.3.1   Decisions and r ecommendation s 
5.3.1.1   General  
a. In 2009, based on experience shared between Members on the implementation of 
notification obligations, the Committee agreed90: 
i. to reiterate the importance of ensuri ng that Members comply fully with the 
notification requirements in Articles 2.9 and 5.6 of the TBT Agreement ; 
ii. to encourage Members to endeavour to submit those notifications at an early stage, 
when measures are still in draft form, to ensure time and adequ ate opportunity for 
comments, for comments to be taken into account and for proposed measures to be 
modified; and  
iii. to reaffirm the importance of establishing mechanisms to facilitate internal 
coordination for the effective implementation of the TBT Agreemen t's notifications 
obligations.  
5.3.1.2   "Significant effect on trade of other Members"  
a. In 1995, with a view to ensuring a consistent approach to the selection of proposed 
technical regulations and procedures for assessment of conformity to be notified, the 
Committ ee established the following criteria91:  
i. for the purposes of Articles 2.9 and 5.6, the concept of "significant effect on trade of 
other Members" may refer to the effect on trade:  
- of one technical regulation or procedure for assessment of conformity only, o r 
of various technical regulations or procedures for assessment of conformity in 
combination;  
- in a specific product, group of products or products in general; and  
- between two or more Members;  
ii. when assessing the significance of the effect on trade of techni cal regulations, the 
Member concerned should take into consideration such elements as:  
                                                
90 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 34.  
91 G/TBT/M/2, 4 October 1995, para. 5 ; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1,  21 June 1995 , p. 7. G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  - the value or other importance of imports in respect of the importing and/or 
exporting Members concerned, whether from other Members individually or 
collectively;  
- the po tential growth of such imports; and  
- difficulties for producers in other Members to comply with the proposed 
technical regulations.  
iii. the concept of a significant effect on trade of other Members should include both 
import -enhancing and import -reducing effec ts on the trade of other Members, as 
long as such effects are significant.  
b. In 2012, with a view to enhancing the practical application of the concept of "significant 
effect on trade of other Members", the Committee agreed92: 
i. to encourage Members, for the pu rpose of enhancing predictability and transparency 
in situations where it is difficult to establish or foresee whether a draft technical 
regulation or conformity assessment procedure may have a "significant effect on 
trade of other Members", to notify such  measures.  
5.3.1.3   Timing of Notifications  
a. In 1995, the Committee agreed that when implementing the provisions of Articles 2.9.2, 
3.2 (in relation to Article 2.9.2), 5.6.2 and 7.2 (in relation to Article 5.6.2), a notification 
should be made when a draft with the  complete text of a proposed technical regulation 
or procedures for assessment of conformity is available and when amendments can still 
be introduced and taken into account. 93 
5.3.1.4   Submission of Notification s (Format and Guidelines)  
a. The agreed  version of  the Fo rmat and Guidelines for the submission of notifications is  
contained in Annex 3.2 (on page 58 of this document).94 
b. In 1995, the Committee recommended that information contained in the notification 
form should be as complete as possible and no section should be left blank. Where 
necessary, "not known" or "not stated" should be indicated.95  
c. In 2000, the Committee noted that enhancement of Internet usage can facilitate access 
to and exchange of information by Members. This would al so facilitate and provide the 
maximum time possible for receiving notifications, obtaining and translating of relevant 
documents, and the presentation of comments. With a view to facilitating access to 
information by Members, as well as to strengthen the n otification process, including the 
time needed for the publication and circulation of notification by the Secretariat, the 
Committee96: 
i. agreed that whenever possible Members should file notifications by downloading, 
filling out and returning the complete fo rm by e -mail to the Secretariat. The 
Committee will continue to explore ways to shorten the time for the submission, 
publication and circulation of notifications, as well as to examine the steps that would 
be needed to facilitate the electronic transmissio n of information among Members to 
complement the hard copy information exchange.97 
                                                
92 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 12.  
93 G/TBT/M/2, 4 Octo ber 1995 , para. 5; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1,  21 June 1995 , p. 7. 
94 G/TBT/M/2,  4 October 1995 , para. 5; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1, 21 June 1995 , p. 3-6. 
95 G/TBT/M/2,  4 October 1995 , para. 5; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1, 21 June 1995 , p. 3. 
96 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000,  paras. 13, 15 and A nnex 3 . 
97 The TBT NSS was launched in October 2013, and provides Members with an alternative (voluntary) 
online method for submitting TBT notifications. See Section 5.6.3.2   "Online Tools" for further details.   G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  ii. requested that Members transmit their notifications to the Secretariat electronically 
via the Central Registry of Notifications (CRN) at crn@wto.org in order to accelerate 
their processing.98 
d. In 2003, with regard to the electronic transmission of information on proposed 
standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, the Committee 
agreed99:  
i. to examine the feasibility of creating a central depository for n otifications on the 
WTO website, which would enable Members to complete notification forms on line. 
This would complement, not replace, the submission of notifications to the CRN.  
e. In 2009, the Committee noted that, in practice, for the sake of greater tran sparency, 
some Members choose to notify draft measures when they are in accordance with 
relevant international standards, guides or recommendations. With a view to increasing 
transparency on the use of international standards, the Committee agreed100: 
i. to enc ourage Members, whenever possible and on a voluntary basis to indicate in 
Box 8 of the notification format whether or not they consider that a relevant 
international standard exists and, if appropriate, to provide information about 
deviations; and  
ii. to note  the provisions contained in Articles 2.9.3 and 5.6.3 of the TBT Agreement 
stating that Members, upon request, provide other Members with particulars or 
copies of a proposed technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure and, 
whenever possible, id entify the parts which, in substance, deviate from relevant 
international standards or from relevant guides and recommendations issued by 
international standardizing bodies.  
f. In 2012, with respect to the online submission of notifications, the Committee agr eed101: 
i. to request the rapid development of a TBT on -line Notification Submission System 
(TBT NSS) to foster more expedient processing and circulation of notifications by the 
Secretariat.102 
g. In 2014, with a view to facilitating the traceability of information pertaining to a given 
notification (e.g. amendments, availability of the adopted text, entry into force), and 
avoiding confusion between new notifications and previously notified measures, the 
Committee agreed103: 
i. to a recommendation on the coherent use of n otification formats (new notification, 
addenda, corrigenda, revision and supplement).  
h. In 2015, the Committee agreed104: 
i. to encourage Members to follow the recommendation on coherent use of notification 
formats.105 
                                                
98 G/TBT/M/15, 3 May 1999, paras.  43 and 45; G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000,  paras. 13, 15 and Annex 
3; G/TBT/13,  11 November 2003 , para. 26 .  
99 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003 , para. 27. 
100 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 36.  
101 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 18.  
102 The TBT NSS w as launched in October 2013, and is available at: https://nss.wto.org/tbtmembers. 
Members may request access to the system through the WTO Secretariat, by sending an email to: 
tbtnss@wto.org . See Section 5.6.3.2    "Online Tools" for further details.  
103 G/TBT/35, 24 June 2014. The recommendation also appears  under Section 5.3.1.10 (d) " Follow -up", 
page 30, and is reproduced in full in Annex 3.1 (on page 56 of this document).  
104 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 5.12(b).  
105 G/TBT/35 , 24 June 2014.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  5.3.1.5   Notification of Labelling requirements  
a. In 1995 , with the purpose of clarifying the coverage of the Agreement with respect to 
labelling requirements, the Committee took the following decision106: 
i. In conformity with Article  2.9 of the Agreement, Members are obliged to notify all 
mandatory labelling requir ements that are not based substantially on a relevant 
international standard and that may have a significant effect on the trade of other 
Members. That obligation is not dependent upon the kind of information which is 
provided on the label, whether it is i n the nature of a technical specification or not.  
5.3.1.6   Notifications of Proposed Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment 
Procedures of Local Governments at the Level Directly Below that of the Central 
Government  
a. In 2006, with regard to the notification of proposed technical regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures of local governments at the level directly below that of the 
central government, the Committee agreed107: 
i. to invite Members to indicate the local government bodies in their jurisdiction t hat 
are subject to the notification obligations contained in Articles 3.2 and 7.2.  
b. In 2009, the Committee noted, despite an increase in the number of measures notified 
under Articles 3.2 and 7.2, that this level remained generally low. In light of this, th e 
Committee agreed108: 
i. to recommend that Members continue to discuss possible ways to improve 
coordination between relevant authorities at the central level and the local level 
directly below the central level with respect to notifications under Articles 3.2  and 
7.2, including through dissemination of good practices; and  
ii. to request the Secretariat to remain engaged in providing statistical information with 
respect to Articles 3.2 and 7.2.  
c. In 2012, the Committee agreed109: 
i. to reaffirm the importance of establish ing mechanisms to facilitate internal 
coordination for the effective implementation of the TBT Agreement's notification 
obligations, including with respect to the notification of  measures in line with 
Articles  3.2 and 7.2.110 
5.3.1.7   Regional approaches to notificat ion of technical regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures  
a. In 2015, with a view to providing greater transparency and meaningful opportunity for 
comment on regional experiences, the Committee agreed : 
i. to discuss the notification of regional technical  regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures and to recommend best practices.111 
                                                
106 G/TBT/M/2, 4 October 1995 , para. 5; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1, 21 June 1995 , p. 10. 
107 G/TBT/19,  14 November 2006, paras. 52 and 68(b)(i).  
108 G/TBT/26, 13  November 2009, para. 38.  
109 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 14.  
110 It was noted that the establishment of internal coordination mechanisms is also an important 
element of GRP. See Section 1.1 (on page s 6-8 of this document). See also: G/TBT/32, 29 Novemb er 2012, 
para. 14, footnote 28.  
111 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 5.12(e).  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  5.3.1.8   Length of time allowed for comments  
a. In 2000 and 2003, with respect to time limits for presentation of comments on notified 
technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures , the Committee agreed:  
i. the normal time limit for comments on notifications should be 60 days. Any Member 
which is able to provide a time limit beyond 60 days, such as 90 days, is encouraged 
to do so and should in dicate this in the notification112; and  
ii. in order to improve the ability of developing country Members to comment on 
notifications, and consistent with the principle of special and differential treatment, 
developed country Members are encouraged to provide more than a 60 -day 
comment period.113 
b. In 2009, the Committee agreed114: 
i. to recall its earlier recommendation that the normal time limit for the presentation of 
comments should be at least 60 days, and its encouragement to Members to provide, 
whenever possible, a time limit beyond 60 days, such  as 90 days;  
ii. to recall that developed country Members are encouraged to provide more than a  
60-day comment period, to improve the ability of developing country Members to 
make comments on notifications consistent with the principle of special and 
differe ntial treatment; and  
iii. to reiterate that an insufficient period of time for presentation of comments on 
proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment may prevent Members 
from adequately exercising their right to submit comments.  
5.3.1.9   Handling of comme nts 
a. In 1995, in order to improve the handling of comments on proposed technical 
regulations and procedures for assessment of conformity submitted under Articles 2.9.4, 
2.10.3, 3.1 (in relation to 2.9.4 and 2.10.3), 5.6.4, 5.7.3 and 7.1 (in relation to 5.6. 4 
and 5.7.3) of the Agreement, the Committee agreed on the following procedures115: 
i. each Member should notify the WTO Secretariat of the authority or agency (e.g. its 
enquiry point) which it has designated to be in charge of handling of comments 
received; an d 
ii. a Member receiving comments through the designated body should without further 
request:  
- acknowledge the receipt of such comments;  
- explain within a reasonable time to any Member from which it has received 
comments, how it will proceed in order to take the se comments into account 
and, where appropriate, provide additional relevant information on the 
proposed technical regulations or procedures for assessment of conformity 
concerned; and  
- provide to any Member from which it has received comments, a copy of th e 
corresponding technical regulations or procedures for assessment of 
conformity as adopted or information that no corresponding technical 
regulations or procedures for assessment of conformity will be adopted for 
the time being.  
                                                
112 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000 , para. 13 and Annex 3, p.  22. 
113 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003 , para. 26 . 
114 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, paras. 39 -40. 
115 G/TBT/M/2,  4 October 1995 , para. 5;  G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1, 21 June 1995 , p. 9. G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  b. In 2003, the Committee agr eed116: 
i. to invite Members to formulate their requests to enquiry points, on comment periods 
or on any other matter, in one of the three official languages of the WTO;  
ii. to encourage Members to voluntarily respond to comments in writing if so requested, 
and to share their responses with the TBT Committee. Members are also encouraged 
to draft their responses in one of the three official languages of the WTO;  and 
iii. to invite Members, on a voluntary basis, to disseminate their comments and 
responses by means of natio nal websites and to draw the Committee's attention to 
these.  
c. In 2006, with a view to facilitating the implementation of transparency procedures under 
the Agreement, the Committee agreed117: 
i. to encourage Members to provide sufficient time between the end of t he comment 
period and the adoption of the notified technical regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures for the consideration of comments made and the preparation 
of subsequent responses;  
ii. to encourage Members to exchange comments and to provide info rmation on 
websites on which comments received from Members and replies thereto are posted, 
taking into account the fact that some bilateral communications between Members 
could be of a confidential nature; and  
iii. to request the Secretariat to prepare a list of these websites, based on the 
information provided by Members.  
d. In 2009, the Committee agreed118: 
i. to stress the importance of an efficient and effective handling of comments on 
notified measures and, in this respect, to reiterate its previous recommendation s on 
the handling of comments, including the recommendation to voluntarily respond to 
comments in writing, if so requested, and to share these replies with the TBT 
Committee and to encourage Members to draft their responses in one of the three 
official lan guages of the WTO;  
ii. to note the importance of domestic coordination to ensure that comments received 
are followed up and taken into account in finalizing the draft measure;  
iii. to recall its earlier recommendations about the sharing, on a voluntary basis, of 
comments on notified draft measures and replies thereto, including through the use 
of websites; and  
iv. to recommend that the Committee continues to discuss ways to improve the 
effective implementation of the provisions of the TBT Agreement on handling of 
comm ents, including assessing the feasibility of utilizing the TBT Information 
Management System (TBT IMS) as a platform where comments on notified 
measures, and replies thereto, could be posted on a voluntary basis.  
5.3.1.10   Timing of Entry into Force of Technical Reg ulations and Understanding of 
"Reasonable Interval" under Article 2.12  
5.5.  In the 2001 Ministerial Decision on Implementation -related Issues and Concerns, Ministers 
stated that "Subject to the conditions specified in paragraph 12 of Article 2 of the Agreement on 
                                                
116 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003 , para. 26.  
117 G/TBT/19,  14 November 2006, paras. 58  and 68(d)(i) -(iii). 
118 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 42.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  Technical Barriers to Trade, the phrase 'reasonable interval' shall be understood to mean normally 
a period of not less than 6 months, except when this would be ineffective in fulfilling the legitimate 
objectives pursued."119  
a. In 2002, the Committee took note of the above -mentioned Ministerial Decision regarding 
the implementation of Article 2.12 of the Agreement, and decided  as follows120: 
i. Subject to the conditions specified in paragraph 12 of Article 2 of the Agreement on 
Technical Barriers to Trade, the p hrase "reasonable interval" shall be understood to 
mean normally a period of not less than six months, except when this would be 
ineffective in fulfilling the legitimate objectives pursued.  
b. In 2006, with a view to facilitating the implementation of transpa rency procedures under 
the Agreement, the Committee agreed121: 
i. to encourage Members to provide an interval of more than six months, when 
possible, between the publication of technical regulations and their entry into force.  
5.3.1.11   Follow -up 
a. In 2003, in order to fac ilitate the follow -up on Members' technical regulations and 
conformity assessment procedures brought to the attention of the Committee, the 
Committee agreed122:  
i. to have amendments to notifications carry the same document symbol as that of the 
original notif ication to allow them to be adequately traced;  
ii. to encourage Members to share, on a voluntary basis, with the Committee any 
follow -up information on issues that have been previously brought to its attention.  
b. In 2009, the Committee agreed123: 
i. to recall its ear lier recommendation encouraging Members to notify the availability of 
the adopted final text as an addendum to the original notification and to provide 
information on where the final text can be obtained, including website address;  
ii. to stress the importanc e of making such addenda when a proposed regulation is 
either adopted, published or enters into force and especially in cases where the 
relevant dates have not been provided in the original notification or have been 
changed; and  
iii. to recommend that the Commi ttee establish common procedures on how and under 
which format (addendum, corrigendum, revision) to notify modifications or any other 
information relevant to previously notified measures.  
c. In 2012, with a view to advancing the work of establishing common pr ocedures for the 
use of notification formats the Committee agreed124: 
i. To exchange experiences on Members' use of notification formats (addendum, 
corrigendum, revision, new notification).125 
                                                
119 WT/MIN(01)/17, 20 November 2001, para. 5.2. 
120 G/TBT/M/26, 6 May 2002 , para. 15; WT/MIN(01)/17, 20 November 2001, para. 5.2. 
121 G/TBT/19,  14 November 2006, paras. 61-63 and 68(e)(i).  
122 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003 , para. 28.  
123 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 43.  
124 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 15.  
125 It was noted that one possibl e starting point could be the recommendations developed by the SPS 
Committee and contained in Section F on "Addenda, Revisions and Corrigenda" of G/SPS/7/Rev.3. See 
G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 15, footnote 30.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  d. In 2014, with a view to facilitating the traceability of information p ertaining to a given 
notification (e.g. amendments, availability of the adopted text, entry into force), and 
avoiding confusion between new notifications and previously notified measures, the 
Committee agreed126: 
i. to a recommendation on the coherent use of no tification formats (new notification, 
addenda, corrigenda, revision and supplement).  
e. In 2015, the Committee agreed127 to encourage Members to follow the recommendation 
on coherent use of notification formats.128 
5.3.1.12   Monthly Listing of Notifications Issued by the W TO Secretariat  
a. In 2000, the Committee agreed  on the following with a view to providing a brief 
indication of the notifications issued129: 
i. the Secretariat is requested to prepare a monthly table of notifications issued, 
indicating the notification numbers, n otifying Members, Articles notified under, 
products covered, objectives and final dates for comments.130  
5.3.2   Documents  
a. Notifications under Article 2, 3, 5, and 7 are circulated in the document series 
G/TBT/N/[Member]/[Number].  
5.3.3   Events  
a. A Workshop and the Second S pecial Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange 
was held on 14  September  1998, which included discussion on notification practices.131 
b. The Third Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on  
28 June 2001, which included discussion  on notification practices.132 
c. On 21 -22 October 2003, with the objective of improving Members' understanding of the 
preparation, adoption and application of labelling requirements in the context of the 
implementation of the Agreement, as well as of the impac t of such requirements on 
market access, the Committee held a Learning Event on Labelling, which focused on 
developing country Members' concerns.133 
d. The Fourth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchanges was held on  
2-3 November 2004, which incl uded discussion on notification practices.134 
e. The Fifth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 
7-8 November 2007, which included discussion on notification practices.135 
f. The Sixth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchan ge was held on 22 June 
2010, which included discussion on good practices in notification.136 
                                                
126 G/TBT/35, 24 June 2014 and is reproduc ed in full in Annex 3 .1 (on page 56 of this document) . 
127 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 5.12(b).  
128 G/TBT/35 , 24 June 2014.  
129 G/TBT/9, 13  November 2000,  para. 13 and Annex 3 , p. 22.  
130 These reports can be downloaded from the TBT IMS : http://tbtims.wto.org . This information can also 
be access through ePing, the  TBT and SPS notification a lert system : www.epingalert.org . See Section 
5.6.3.2   4 "Online Tools" for further details.  
131 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000,  Annex 1.  
132 The Chairman's Report is contained in Annex 1 of G/TBT/M/24 , dated 14 August 2001 . 
133 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003 , para. 3. 
134 The Summary Report  of the meeting is contained in Annex 2 of G/TBT/M/34 , dated 5 January 2005 . 
135 The Summary Report as well as the Chairman's Report are contained in Annex 1 and 2, respectively, 
of G/TBT/M/43, dated 21 January 2008.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  g. The Seventh Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 
18 June 2013, which included discussion of good practices in the use of notification 
formats.137 
h. On 16 June 2015, the Committee held a second Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , discussion of regional experiences.138 
5.4  Notif ications related to  Standards  
5.6.  Article 4 of the Agreement establishes a "Code of Good Pra ctice for the Preparation, Adoption 
and Application of Standards" (the "Code"). The text of the Code is contained in Annex 3 of the 
TBT Agreement. The Code provides that, inter alia , Members shall ensure that their central 
government standardizing bodies a ccept and comply with the Code, and to take such reasonable 
measures as may be available to them to ensure that local government and non -governmental 
standardizing bodies within their territories, as well as regional standardizing bodies of which they 
or one or more bodies within their territories are members, accept and comply with the Code. The 
Code is open for acceptance to any such bodies (Paragraph B). Standardizing bodies that have 
accepted or withdrawn from the Code shall notify this fact (Paragraph C), as well as the existence 
of a work programme (Paragraph J).  
5.4.1   Decisions and recommendations  
5.4.1.1   Notification of the Acceptance of, or Withdrawal from, the Code of Good Practice 
(Paragraph C)  
a. In 1997, in order to improve the transparency, acceptance of, and compliance with the 
Code, the Committee agreed139: 
i. to invite Members to share their experience with respect to the steps taken to fulfil 
their obligations under Article 4 and to exchange information on the reasons why 
certain standardizing bodies as identifi ed in Article 4.1 have not yet accepted the 
Code;  
ii. that Members should take appropriate action to inform standardizing bodies of the 
provisions of the Code and the benefits they would gain from accepting it; and  
iii. that the Secretariat will draw up a list of standardizing bodies on the basis of 
information provided by Members for this purpose.  
b. In 2006, with a view to facilitating the implementation of transparency procedures under 
the Agreement, and with regard to the acceptance of the Code of Good Practice by  
regional standardizing bodies, the Committee agreed140: 
i. to encourage regional standardizing bodies to accept the Code of Good Practice and 
to notify their acceptance of the Code to the ISO/IEC Information Centre.  
5.4.1.2   Notification of the Existence of a Work Prog ramme (Paragraph J)  
a. In 1997, in order to improve the transparency, acceptance of, and compliance with the 
Code, the Committee agreed141: 
                                                                                                                                                  
136 The Summary Report as well as the Chair man's Report are contained in Annex 1 and 2, respectively, 
of G/TBT/M/51, dated 1 October 2010.  
137 The Summary Report is contained in the Annex of G/TBT/M/60, 23 September 2013.  
138 The Chairperson's report is contained in JOB/TBT/134, 26 June 2015 , paras. 4. 1-4.6. 
139 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997,  paras. 12(a), (b) and (d).  
140 G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, paras. 66 -67 and 68(g)(i ). This recommendation is als o reproduced 
in Section 5 on p. 20. 
141 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997,  para. 12(c) .   G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  i. to examine any problems faced by Members in the implementation of the provisions 
of the Code, for example, problems encou ntered in publishing work programs every 
six months as required under paragraph J, so that appropriate technical assistanc e 
can be provided, if necessary.  
b. In 1999, the Committee agreed142:  
i. that the communication of the work programmes of standardizing bodi es via the 
Internet would be another possibility to fulfil paragraph J obligations on 
transparency. Hard copies of such work programmes would, nevertheless, always be 
made available on request in accordance with paragraph P of the Code of Code of 
Good Prac tice.  
c. In 2006, with a view to facilitating the implementation of transparency procedures under 
the Agreement, the Committee agreed143: 
i. to invite the ISO/IEC Information Centre to provide information to the Committee on 
the status of notifications of the exi stence of a work programme made under 
Paragraph J when the WTO TBT Standa rds Code Directory is published;  and 
ii. to encourage standardizing bodies that communicate their work programmes via the 
internet to specify the exact web pages where the information on work programmes 
is located under the item "Publication" of the notification form.  
d. In 2015, with a view to furthering its work in the area of transparency in standard -
setting, the Committee agreed144: 
i. consistent with paragraph J of the Code, to encourage Memb ers' 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;  and 
ii. to discuss ways of improving Members' access to the information mentioned in i 
above.  
5.4.1.3   Publishing of a Notice (Paragraph L)  
a. In 1997, in order to improve the transparency, acceptance of, and compliance with the 
Code, the Committee agreed145: 
i. witho ut prejudice to the views of Members concerning the coverage and application 
of the Agreement, the obligation to publish notices of draft standards containing 
voluntary labelling requirements under paragraph L of the Code is not dependent 
upon the kind of information provided on the label.  
b. In 2003, with regard to the electronic transmission of information on proposed 
standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, the Committee 
took note of Paragraph L of the Code of Good Practice whi ch states that: "No later than 
at the start of the comment period, the standardizing body shall publish a notice 
announcing the period for commenting in the publication referred to in paragraph J," and 
agreed146:  
i. that the electronic publication of notices a nnouncing the periods for comments can 
constitute another possibility for the fulfilment of this transparency obligation.  
                                                
142 G/TBT/M/15, 3 May 1999, paras. 67 -69.   
143 G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, paras. 64-65 and 68(f)(i) -(ii).   
144 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 4.10(b).  
145 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, para. 12(e).   
146 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003 , para. 27. G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  c. In 2015, with a view to furthering its work in the area of transparency in standard -
setting, the Committee agreed147: 
i. consistent with pa ragraph 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 pub lication, website 
address); and  
ii. to discuss ways of improving Members' access to the information mentioned in i 
above.   
5.4.2   Documents  
a. Notifications under the Code of Good Practice are circulated by the WTO Secretariat in 
the document  series G/TBT/CS/N/[Number].148 The agreed format is contained in 
Annex  7 (on page 71 of this document).  
b. The agreed format for notification  of the existence of a work programme  to the ISO/IEC 
Information Centre is contained in Annex 7 (on page 71 of this document).  
5.4.3   Events  
a. The Fourth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchanges was held on  
2-3 November 2004, which included discussion on transparency in standard -setting.149 
b. The Sixth Special  Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 22 June 
2010, which included discussion on transparency in standard -setting.150 
c. A Thematic Session on Transparency was held on 17 June 2014, which included 
discussion of transparency in standard -setting.151 
d. On 16 June 2015, the Committee held a second Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , discussion of transparency in standard -setting.152 
e. The Eighth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 
8 November 2016, which included discussion of transparency in standard -setting.153 
                                                
147 G/TBT/37, 3 December  2015, para. 4.10(b).  
148 This information can be downloaded from the TBT IMS  under "Reports" : http://tbtims.wto.org . See 
Section 5.6.3.2    "Online Tools" for further details. See Annex 7 (on page 70 of this document) for further 
information  on the notification template . Pursuant to the Ministerial Decision taken in Marrakesh on 15 April 
1994 on "Proposed Understanding on WTO -ISO Standards Information System", a " Memorandum of 
Understanding (MoU) on WTO Standards Information Service Operated by ISO" was reached between the 
Secretary -General of the ISO Central Secretariat and the Director -General of the WTO.  This MoU established a 
WTO-ISO Information System regardi ng standardizing bodies under Paragraphs C and J of the Code of Good 
Practice. Pursuant to Paragraph  2 of the MoU and in order to ensure a uniform and efficient operation of the 
procedures for notifications, the ISO and the WTO Secretariats developed notif ication formats and related 
guidelines, which were to be used by standardizing bodies accepting the Code of Good Practice  (contained in 
G/TBT/W/4).  In 2016, the "WTO ISO Standards Information Gateway " was launched. The Gateway can be 
accessed at https://tbtcode.iso.org/sites/wto -tbt/home.html  and provides information on standardizing bodies 
that have accepted the Code of Good Practice and, if available, their work programmes. The notification 
formats  for the acceptance of and withdrawal from the Code of Good Practice as well as to notify work 
programmes , can also be found on the gateway.  
149 The Summary Report of the meeting is contained in Annex 2 of G/TBT/M/34 , dated 5 January 2005 . 
150 The Summar y Report as well as the Chairman's Report are contained in Annex 1 and 2, respectively, 
of G/TBT/M/51, dated 1 October 2010.  
151 The Moderator's summary and the final programme are contained in G/TBT/GEN/167, 24 June 2014.  
152 The Chairperson's report is conta ined in JOB/TBT/134, 26 June 2015 , paras. 4.1 -4.6. 
153 The Summary Report is contained in the Annex of G/TBT/M/70, 17 February 2017.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  5.5  Notification under Article 10.7 of the TBT Agreement  
5.7.  The TBT Agreement contains an obligation to notify agreements between Members on issues 
related to technical regulations, stand ards or conformity assessment procedures which may have a 
significant effect on trade (Article 10.7).  
5.5.1   Decision s and recommendations  
a. In 1996, the Committee agreed to adopt the  format for notifications under Article 10.7 of 
the Agreement contained in Annex 4 (on page 67 of this document).154 
5.5.2   Documents  
a. Notifications under Article 10.7 are circulated under document symbol 
G/TBT/10.7/N/[Number].155 
5.6  Dissemination of Information  
5.6.1   Publication  
5.8.  Members are required to publish a notice of a p roposed technical regulation or conformity 
assessment procedure if it may have a significant effect on trade of other Members, and whenever 
a relevant international standard (or, in the case of a conformity assessment procedure, a relevant 
guide or recomme ndation issued by an international standardizing body) does not exist or the 
proposed measure is not in accordance with the technical content of relevant international 
standards (or, in the case of a conformity assessment procedure, relevant guides or 
recommendations issued by international standardizing bodies) (Articles 2.9.1 and 5.6.1).  
5.6.1.1   Decisions and r ecommendation s 
a. In 2006 and 2009, with regard to the publication of a notice of proposed technical 
regulations and conformity assessment procedures (pursua nt to Articles 2.9.1 and 
5.6.1), the Committee agreed156:  
i. to examine ways in which the publications for such notices – and their content – are 
made available, so as to enable all interested parties to become acquainted with 
them.  
5.6.1.2   Documents  
a. Information on of ficial publications related to technical regulations, standards and 
conformity assessment in the form of a list, including website references, is contained in 
the document G/TBT/GEN/39/ -series.157 
5.6.1.3   Events  
a. The Fifth Special Meeting on Procedures for Informatio n Exchange was held on 
7-8 November 2007, which included discussion on publication practices .158 
                                                
154 G/TBT/M/5,  19 September 1996 , para. 15; G/TBT/W/25 , 3 May 1996.  
155 This information can be downloaded from the TBT IMS: http://tbtims.wto.org . See Section 
5.6.3.2   "Online Tools" for further details.  
156 G/TBT/19,  14 November 2006, paras.  51 and 68(a)(i) ; G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 46.  
157 This information ca n be downloaded from the TBT IMS, under  report "Publications": 
http://tbtims.wto.org . 
158 The Summary Report as well as the Chairman's Report are contained in Annex 1 and 2, respectively, 
of G/TBT/M/43, dated 21 January 2008.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  5.6.2   Texts of Notified Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures  
5.9.  Articles 2.9.3 and 5.6.3 of the TBT Agreement state that Members shall, upon request , 
provide to other Members particulars or copies of the proposed technical regulation or conformity 
assessment procedures, and wherever possible identify the parts which in substance deviate from 
relevant international standards, or relevant guides or reco mmendations issued by international 
standardizing bodies.  
5.6.2.1   Decisions and recommendations  
a. In 2006, with a view to facilitating the implementation of transparency procedures under 
the Agreement, and with regard to texts of notified technical regulations and c onformity 
assessment procedures, the Committee agreed159: 
i. to encourage Members to provide:  
- more detailed information on proposed technical regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures in Section 6 "Description of content" of the 
notification form; and  
- the website address where Members can download the full text of the notified 
measure in Section 11 "Text available from" of the notification form or any 
other means to qui ckly and easily access the text;  
ii. to explore ways to attach to the notification form a copy of the text of the notified 
measure; and  
iii. to encourage Members to notify the availability of the adopted final text as an 
addendum to the original notification and to provide information on where the final 
text can be obtained, including website addres s. 
b. In 2007, with the purpose of facilitating access to notified draft texts, the Committee 
decided160: 
i. to establish a facility whereby Members may, on a voluntary basis, provide the WTO 
Secretariat with an electronic version of the notified draft text (attac hment) together 
with the notification format. (Texts will be stored on a WTO server and accessed 
through a hyperlink in the notification format.)  
c. In 2009, with a view to improving access to texts of notified measures, the Committee 
agreed161: 
i. to reiterate it s earlier recommendation to indicate a website address in Box 11 "Text 
available from" of the notification format; and  
ii. to encourage Members to use the facility provided by the WTO Secretariat and to 
send electronic versions of notified texts together with the notification format to be 
hyperlinked in the notification itself.  
d. In 2012, with a view to increasing transparency across the regulatory lifecycle, and on 
methods Members use to assess the potential impact on trade of draft measures, the 
Committee agree d162: 
i. to encourage Members when notifying draft measures to provide access – on a 
voluntary basis and depending on their individual situations – to assessments, such 
                                                
159 G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, paras. 68(c)(i) -(iii).   
160 G/TBT/M/43, 21 January 2008, para.  129.  Guidelines for the use of this facility are contained  in 
document G/TBT/GEN/65 , 14 December 2007.  
161 G/TBT/26, 13  November 2009, para. 49.  
162 G/TBT/32, 29  November 2012, para. 13.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  as regulatory impact assessment (RIA), that they have undertaken on the potential 
effects of  the draft measure, including likely impacts on consumers, industry and 
trade (e.g. a cost -benefit analysis, analysis of alternative measures). This can be 
achieved, for instance, through a hyperlink to the assessment in Box 8 of the 
notification template or by including the assessment in the draft measure itself.  
5.6.3   Provision of Translations  
5.10.   Article 10.5 of the TBT Agreement states that developed country Members shall, if 
requested by other Members, provide in English, French or Spanish, translations of the d ocuments 
covered by a specific notification, or in case of voluminous documents, of summaries of such 
documents.  
5.6.3.1   Decisions  and recommendations  
a. In 1995, in order to avoid difficulties that can arise from the fact that the documentation 
relevant to technical  regulations, standards and procedures for assessment of conformity 
is not available in one of the WTO working languages and that a body other than the 
enquiry point may be responsible for such documentation, the Committee agreed163: 
i. when a translation of a relevant document exists or is planned, this fact shall be 
indicated on the WTO TBT notification form next to the title of the document. If only 
a translated summary exists, the fact that such a summary is available shall be 
similarly indicated;  
ii. upon rece ipt of a request for documents, any translated summaries that exist in the 
language of the requester or, as the case may be, in a WTO working language, shall 
be automatically sent with the original of the documents requested;  
iii. Members shall indicate under point 11 of the WTO TBT notification form the exact 
address, e -mail address, telephone and fax numbers of the body responsible for 
supplying the relevant documents if tha t body is not the enquiry point; and  
iv. when a Member seeks a copy of a document relating  to a notification which does not 
exist in that Member's WTO working language, it will be advised, on request, by the 
notifying Member of other Members that have requested, as of that date, a copy of 
the document. The Member seeking a copy of a document re lating to a notification 
may then contact such other Members in order to determine whether the latter are 
prepared to share, on mutually agreed terms, any translation that they have or will 
be making into relevant WTO working language(s).  
b. In 2003, in the context of the handling of comments, the Committee agreed164: 
i. to encourage Members under Article 10.5, to provide translations of the documents 
covered by specific notifications, in any WTO official language of their choosing 
without being requested to do so . 
c. In 2006, with a view to facilitating the implementation of transparency procedures under 
the Agreement, and with regard to texts of notified technical regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures, the Committee agreed165: 
i. to explore ways to enhance the  sharing of translation of documents referred to in 
notifications, such as posting on Members' websites or developing a format to inform 
other Members of the existence of translations of notified  measures.  
                                                
163 G/TBT/M/2, 4 October 1995 , para. 5; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1, 21 June 1995 , pp. 7-8. 
164 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003, para. 26.  
165 G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, para. 68(c)(iv).   G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  d. In 2007, with a view to enhancing the sharing of t ranslation of documents referred to in 
notifications and facilitating information -sharing by Members on the availability of 
unofficial translations on the Internet, the Committee agreed166: 
i. to set up a mechanism whereby Members are invited, on a voluntary ba sis, to 
provide information about the availability of unofficial translations of notified 
measures;  
ii. that this will be done through the circulation by the Secretariat of a supplement to 
the original notification submitted by a Member; and  
iii. that such informa tion should be provided to the Central Registry for Notifications 
(crn@wto.org ) in the format contained in Annex 3.6 ( on page 65 of this 
document).167 
e. In 2009, the Committee noted that, in the  absence of a translation, Section 6 of the 
notification format "Description of the content", as well as prompt replies to specific 
questions on the content, are important sources of information for understanding the 
proposed measure and the main basis for  comments from interested parties. In light of 
the above, the TBT Committee agreed168: 
i. to reaffirm its recommendation that Members share, on a voluntary basis, unofficial 
translations of documents referred to in notifications, for example by posting them 
on Members' websites or by providing these unofficial translations to the WTO 
Secretariat for further dissemination through the agreed mechanism; and  
ii. to encourage Members, in cases when a notified document is not in one of the WTO 
official languages, to provi de a comprehensive description of the measure in Section 
6 "Description of the content" of the notification format.  
f. In 2015, the Committee agreed  to encourage  Members to provide translations of draft 
technical regulations and conformity assessment procedu res in one of the WTO official 
working languages and make them available to Members and their exporters in an 
effective, efficient and transparent way, taking into account the special difficulties of 
developing Members.169 
5.6.3.2   Documents  
a. Unofficial translations o f notified measures are circulated in the document series 
G/TBT/N/[Member]/[Number]/[Suppl.].  
5.6.3.3   Events  
a. On 16 June 2015, the Committee held a second Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , discussion of the provision of transla tions.170 
5.6.4   Online Tools  
5.11.   At the request of Members, the Secretariat launched the web -based application, the TBT 
Information Management System (TBT IMS)171 in July 2009. The TBT IMS is a comprehensive 
source of information on TBT notifications and other transpar ency-related documents. The system 
contains information on all types of notifications under the TBT Agreement, such as notifications of 
                                                
166 G/TBT/M/43, 21 January 2008, para. 131.  Guidelines for the u se of the facility are contained  in 
document G/TBT/GEN/6 6, 14 December 2007.   
167 The TBT NSS was launched in October 2013, and provides Members with an alternative (voluntary) 
online method for submitting supplement notifications. See Section 5.6.3.2   "Online Tools" for further details.  
168 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 52.  
169 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 5.12(c).  
170 The Chairperson's report is contained in JOB/TBT/134, 26 June 2015 , paras. 4.1 -4.6. 
171 http://tbtims.wto.org   G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, notifications of agreements under 
Article 10.7 and notificat ions made under Paragraph C the Code of Good Practice of the TBT 
Agreement. The system also contains Members' Statements on Implementation and Administration 
of the TBT Agreement made under Article 15.2, the list of TBT National Enquiry Points and 
informat ion on specific trade concerns discussed in the TBT Committee. The TBT IMS allows for 
advanced searching and reporting on notifications based on a variety of criteria, inter alia, product 
codes, n otification keywords, objectives  of the notified measures , geographic grouping, and dates 
for comments.  
5.12.   Members are of the view that an efficient and well -functioning WTO -based IT system that 
provides a common platform for available information will contribute significantly to an improved 
implementation of the TBT Agreement's transparency provisions, and in particular those relating to 
notification.172  
5.6.4.1   Decisions and r ecommendations  
a. In 2012, in order to develop the existing TBT IMS so that it becomes a more effective 
tool to assist Members in the implementation of the  TBT Agreement's transparency 
provisions, the Committee agreed173: 
i. to request the rapid development of a TBT on -line Notification Submission System 
(TBT NSS)174 to foster more expedient processing and circulation of notifications by 
the Secretariat;  
ii. to note t hat the TBT NSS and TBT IMS should be developed in a flexible manner, to 
accommodate the particularities of the TBT Agreement. There should, for example, 
be scope for: the use of a standardized PDF template for uploading notification 
forms; the development  of criteria (e.g. common product categories encompassing 
different HS codes) to facilitate the indication of the products covered by notification; 
the development of "standardized" alert systems (dates, products of interest); and 
the development of system s that allow for improved links with Members' own 
websites and databases (e.g. web services); and  
iii. to discuss further enhancement of the TBT IMS.  
b. In 2015, the Committee agreed175: 
i. to encourage Members in a position to do so to begin using the TBT NSS to facil itate 
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 syste m for 
TBT notifications, in cooperation with other organizations176; and  
iv. to request the Secretariat to report back on ii and iii above at the Eighth Special 
Meeting on Procedures for Infor mation Exchange (November 2016).  
                                                
172 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 17.  
173 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 18.  
174 The TBT NSS was launched in October 2013, and is available at: https://nss.wto.org/tbtme mbers . 
Members may request access to the system through the WTO Secretariat, by sending an email to: 
tbtnss@wto.org .  
175 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 5.12(d).  
176 The WTO has, in cooperation wi th UNDESA and ITC, deve loped a TBT and SPS notification alert 
system, called ePing. ePing allows government agencies and private sector stakeholders, especially SMEs, to 
keep track of notifications affecting foreign markets and products of particular interest to them. The system  is 
globally accessible and free of charge and is also equipped with an Enquiry Point Management Tool enabling 
registered enquiry points to monitor national activity and custom several settings. The system can be accessed 
on www.epingalert.org . G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  5.6.4.2   Events  
a. The Fourth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchanges was held on  
2-3 November 2004, which included discussion of online tools.177 
b. A Thematic Session on Transparency was held on 17 June 2014, which included 
discussion of online tools.178 
c. The Fifth Special Meeting on Procedure s for Information Exchange was held on 
7-8 November 2007, which included discussion on the use of electronic tools.179 
d. The Sixth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 22 June 
2010, which included discussion on electronic database s.180 
e. The Seventh Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 
18 June 2013, which included discussion of online tools.181 
f. On 17 March 2015, the Committee held a first Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , discussion of online tools.182 
g. On 16 June 2015, the Committee held a second Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , discussion of online tools.183 
h. The Eighth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 
8 November 2016, which included discussion of online tools.184 
5.7  Enquiry Points  
5.7.1   Establishment of Enquiry Points  
5.13.   Under the TBT Agreement, two provisions mandate Members to create enquiry points. 
Article 10.1 concerns enquiries regarding, inter alia , technical re gulations, conformity assessment 
procedures and standards issued by central or local government bodies, non -governmental bodies 
which have the legal power to enforce a technical regulation, or regional standardization bodies of 
which such bodies are member s or participants. Article 10.3 relates, inter alia , to enquiries on 
standards and conformity assessment procedures issued by non -governmental bodies and regional 
bodies of which they are members or participants.  
5.7.1.1   Decisions and r ecommendations  
a. In 1999, the Committee agreed that e -mail addresses of enquiry points should be 
provided, where available, in order to be included in document G/TBT/ENQ/ - series.185 
b. In 2009, in order to improve implementation of provisions related to the work of Enquiry 
Points, the Comm ittee agreed186: 
i. to stress the importance of operational capacity of Enquiry Points, especially with 
respect to the provision of answers to enquiries and the promotion of a dialogue; and  
                                                
177 The Summary Report of the meeting is contained in Annex 2 of G/TBT/M/34 , dated 5 January 2005 . 
178 The Moderator's summary and the final programme are contained in G/TBT/GEN/167, 24 June 2014.  
179 The Summary Report as well as the Chairman's Report are contained in Annex 1 and 2, respectively, 
of G/TBT/M/43, dated 21 January 2008.  
180 The Summary Report as well as the Chairman's Report are contained in Annex 1 and 2, respectively, 
of G/TBT/M/51, dated 1 October 2010.  
181 The Summary  Report is contained in the Annex of G/TBT/M/60, 23 September 2013.  
182 The Chairman's report is contained in JOB/TBT/125, 25 March 2015 , paras. 3.1 -3.3. 
183 The Chairperson's report is contained in JOB/TBT/134, 26 June 2015 , paras. 4.1 -4.6. 
184 The Summary Repo rt is contained in the Annex of G/TBT/M/70, 17 February 2017.  
185 G/TBT/M/15, 3 May 1999, paras. 41 and 45 and Annex 1.  
186 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 54.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  ii. to recommend that developing country Members identify challenges which they face 
with respect to the establishment and operations of their enquiry points and indicate 
the nature of the technical assistance needed to overcome these difficulties.  
5.7.1.2   Documents  
a. A list of national enquiry points is is contained in the document G/TBT/ ENQ/ - series .187 
5.7.2   Functioning of Enquiry Points  
5.7.2.1   Decisions and recommendations  
5.7.2.1.1   Handling and Processing of Requests  
a. In 1995, with the purpose of improving the handling of requests from other Members 
received under Article 10.1 and 10.3, the Committee agreed188: 
i. an enquiry point should, without further request, acknowledge the receipt of the 
enquiry.  
b. In 1995, with respect to problems of supplying and obtaining requested documentation 
on notified technical regulations and procedures for assessment of conformity, th e 
Committee agreed189: 
i. requests for documentation should contain all the elements permitting the 
identification of the documents and in particular, the WTO TBT notification number 
symbol to which the requests refer. The same information should appear on the 
documents supplied in response to such requests;  
ii. any request for documentation should be processed if possible within five working 
days. If a delay in supplying the documentation requested is foreseen, this should be 
acknowledged to the requester, along wi th an estimate of when the documents can 
be provided;  
iii. E-mail requests for documentation should include name, organization, address, 
telephone and fax numbers, and e -mail address in the request; and  
iv. electronic delivery of documentation is encouraged and re quests should indicate 
whether an electronic version or hard copy is desired.  
c. In 2012, noting that enquiry points in some contexts faced challenges in responding to 
comments and requests, the Committee agreed190: 
i. to recommend that Members share experiences w ith regard to challenges faced by 
enquiry points in responding to comments and requests, with a view to improving 
their functioning; and  
ii. to discuss the functioning of enquiry points, including with respect to building 
support among interested stakeholders in the private sector for the services of the 
enquiry points.  
d. In 2015 , the Committee agreed  to continue  discussing the role of enquiry points in 
facilitating internal coordination and in the handling of comments, and explore ways to 
                                                
187 This information is now available on the TBT IMS. In addition, a predefined report "Enquiry Poin t(s) 
List" under "Reports": http://tbtims.wto.org . 
188 G/TBT/M/2, 4 October 1995 , para. 5; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1, 21 June 1995 , p. 13.   
189 G/TBT/M/2,  4 October 1995 , para. 5; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1, 21 June 1995 , p. 8; G/TBT/M/15, 
3 May 1999, para. 45 a nd Annex 1 . 
190 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 16.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  improve their functioni ng, including through the use of online tools and by addressing 
capacity building needs of developing Members.191 
5.7.2.1.2   Enquiries which the Enquiry Points should be prepared to Answer  
a. In 1995, with a view to encouraging a uniform application of Articles 10.1 and 1 0.3 of 
the Agreement, the Committee agreed192: 
i. an enquiry should be considered "reasonable" when it is limited to a specific product, 
or group of products, but not when it goes beyond that and refers to an entire 
business branch or field of regulations, or p rocedures for assessment of conformity;  
ii. when an enquiry refers to a composite product, it is desirable that the parts or 
components, for which information is sought, are defined to the extent possible. 
When a request is made concerning the use of a produc t it is desirable that the use 
is related to a specific field; and  
iii. the Enquiry Point(s) of a Member should be prepared to answer enquiries regarding 
the membership and participation of that Member, or of relevant bodies within its 
territory, in internation al and regional standardizing bodies and conformity 
assessment systems as well as in bilateral arrangements, with respect to a specific 
product or group of products. They should likewise be prepared to provide 
reasonable information on the provisions of su ch systems and arrangement.  
5.7.2.2   Events  
a. A Workshop and the Second Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange 
was held on 14  September  1998, which included discussion on the functioning of enquiry 
points.193 
b. The Fourth Special Meeting on Procedures for  Information Exchange was held on 
2-3 November 2004, which included discussion on the handling of comments and the 
functioning of enquiry points.194 
c. The Fifth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 
7-8 November 2007, which include d discussion on technical cooperation and the work of 
enquiry points.195 
d. The Sixth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 22 June 
2010, which included discussion on the operation of enquiry points.196 
e. The Seventh Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 
18 June 2013, which included discussion on the functioning of enquiry points.197 
f. On 16 June 2015, the Committee held a second Thematic Session on the Seventh 
Triennial Review, covering, inter alia , discussion o f a proposed survey on the functioning 
of enquiry points.198 
g. The Eighth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 
8 November 2016, which included discussion on the functioning of enquiry points.199 
                                                
191 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 5.12(a)(i).  
192 G/TBT/M/2,  4 October 1995 , para. 5; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1, 21 June 1995 , p. 13.   
193 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000,  Annex 1.  
194 The Summary Report of the meeting is contained in Annex 2 of G/TBT/M/34, dated 5 January 2005.  
195 The Summary Report as well as the Chairman's Report are contained in Annex 1 and 2, respectively, 
of G/TBT/M/43, dated 21 January 2008.  
196 The Summary Report as well as the Chairm an's Report are contained in Annex 1 and 2, respectively, 
of G/TBT/M/51, dated 1 October 2010.  
197 The Summary Report is contained in the Annex of G/TBT/M/60, 23 September 2013.  
198 The Chairperson's report is contained in JOB/TBT/134, 26 June 2015 , paras. 4.1 -4.6. G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  5.7.3   Booklets on Enquiry Points  
5.7.3.1   Decisions and recommendations  
a. In 1995, in order to improve publicity concerning the role of enquiry points in answering 
queries from Members as provided in Articles 10.1 and 10.3 of the Agreement, the 
Committee agreed200: 
i. the issuing of brochures on enquiry points wou ld be of value; and  
ii. all booklets issued by Members should contain the elements and, as far as possible, 
follow the layo ut set out in Annex 5 (on page 68 of this document).  
b. In 2015, the Committee agreed  to request the Secretari at, 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).201 
5.7.3.2   Events  
a. A Thematic Session on Transparency was held on 17 June 2014, which included 
discussion of functioning of enquiry points.202 
5.8  Special Meetings on Procedures for Information Exchange  
5.8.1   Decision s and recommendations  
a. In 1995, in order to g ive Members the opportunity to discuss the activities and problems 
relating to information exchange and to review periodically how well notification 
procedures work, the Committee agreed that203: 
i. Regular meetings of persons responsible for information exchan ge, including persons 
responsible for enquiry points and notifications, will be held on a biennial basis. 
Representatives of interested observers will be invited to participate in such 
meetings. The meetings will deal only with technical issues, leaving an y policy 
matters for consideration by the Committee itself.  
5.8.2   Events  
a. A Special Joint Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange of the Committees on 
Technical Barriers to Trade and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures was held on  
6-7 November 1995.204 
b. A Workshop and the Second Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange 
was held on 14  September  1998.205 
c. The Third Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on  
28 June 2001.206 
d. The Fourth Special Meeting on Procedures for Informat ion Exchanges was held on  
2-3 November 2004.207 
                                                                                                                                                  
199 The Summary Report is contained in the Annex of G/TBT/M/70, 17 February 2017.  
200 G/TBT/M/2,  4 October 1995 , para. 5; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1 , 21 June 1995 , pp. 11-12. 
201 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, 5.12(a)(ii).  
202 The Moderator's summary and the final programm e are contained in G/TBT/GEN/167, 24 June 2014.  
203 G/TBT/M/2, 4 October 1995 , para. 5; G/TBT/W/2/Rev.1 , 21 June 1995 , p. 11; G/TBT/9, 
13 November 2000,  para. 13 and Annex 3.  
204 The Chairman's Report is contained in document G/TBT/W/16 , dated 22 November 1995 . 
205 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000,  Annex 1.  
206 The Chairman's Report is contained in Annex 1 of G/TBT/M/24 , dated 14 August 2001 . G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  e. The Fifth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 
7-8 November 2007.208 
f. The Sixth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on  
22 June 2010.209 
g. The Seventh Special  Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on  
18 June 2013.210 
h. The Eighth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was held on 8 
November 2016.211 
6  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
6.1.  Provisions on technical assistance are contained in Article 11 of the TBT Agreement. Technical 
assistance has been considered 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 exper iences and information on technical assistance in order to 
enhance the implementation of Article 11 of the TBT Agreement.  
6.1  Decisions and r ecommendations  
a. In 1995, in considering the ways in which the provisions of Article 11 could be given 
operational signi ficance, the Committee agreed212: 
i. that technical assistance would remain as an item of the agenda of the Committee on 
a permanent basis and would be included on the agenda of a regular meeting of the 
Committee when so requested by a Member in accordance with  the agreed 
procedures ; and  
ii. to exchange information on technical assistance as follows213: specific needs for 
technical assistance, as well as information that may be provided by potential donor 
Members on their technical assistance programmes, may be commun icated to 
Members through the Secretariat. Members will take into account the provisions of 
Article 11.8 of the TBT Agreement when considering requests for technical assistance 
from the least -developed country Members. In agreement with requesting Members 
or potential donor Members, as the case may be, the information concerning specific 
needs and technical assistance programmes would be circulated by the Secretariat to 
all Members on an informal basis. Whilst information would be multilateralized in this 
manner, technical assistance would continue to be provided on a bilateral basis. The 
Secretariat would reflect the information circulated under this procedure in the 
documentation prepared for annual reviews of the implementation and operation of 
the Agreem ent if the Members concerned so agree.  
b. In 1997, in order to enhance the implementation of Article 11, the Committee agreed214: 
i. to invite Members, on a voluntary basis, to exchange information regarding the 
implementation of Article 11, including to communica te to the Committee annually 
                                                                                                                                                  
207 The Summary Report of the meeting is contained in Annex 2 of G/TBT/M/34 , dated 5 January 2005 . 
208 The Summary Report as well as th e Chairman's Report is contained in Annex 1 and 2, respectively, 
of G/TBT/M/43 , dated 21 January 2008.  
209 The Summary Report as well as the Chairman's Report is contained in Annex 1 and 2, respectively, 
of G/TBT/M/51, dated 1 October 2010.  
210 The Summary Rep ort is contained in the Annex of G/TBT/M/60 , 23 September 2013. The final 
programme is contained in G/TBT/GEN/150 , 17 June 2013.  
211 The Summary Report is contained in the Annex of G/TBT/M/70, 17 February 2017 . The final 
programme is contained in JOB/TBT/207 /Rev.1.  
212 G/TBT/W/14, 29 September 1995 , p. 3; G/TBT/M/3, 5 January  1996, paras. 14 -15.   
213 G/TBT/W/14, 29 September 1995 , p. 3; G/TBT/M/3, 5 January 1996 , paras. 14 -15.   
214 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, para. 31 . G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 44 - 
 
  any information concerning their national and regional technical assistance 
programmes; and  
ii. to invite Members that require technical assistance to inform the Committee of any 
difficulties they encounter in the implementation an d operation of the Agreement, 
and the kind of technical assistance they may need. Other Members are invited to 
contribute to the technical assistance process by sharing their experience in the 
implementation and operation of the Agreement.  
c. In 2000, in cons idering technical assistance, the Committee agreed to develop a demand 
driven technical cooperation programme related to the Agreement, taking into account 
existing and proposed technical assistance activities, as well as seeking ways to achieve 
more effec tive cooperation and coordination among donors to better target the needs 
identified by developing country Members. The Committee agreed that the programme 
would need to evolve on the basis of the following elements215:  
i. design of a survey with the assistanc e of relevant international, regional and bilateral 
organisations to assist developing countries in needs identification;  
ii. identification and prioritization by developing and least developed country Members 
of their specific needs in the TBT field;  
iii. consid eration of existing technical assistance activities by multilateral, regional and 
bilateral organizations with a view to the effective and efficient development of 
technical assistance programmes;  
iv. enhancement of c o-operation between donors;  
v. reassessment o f needs in light of agreed priorities, identification of technical 
assistance partner s and financial considerations; and  
vi. that the progress made in implementing the programme should be assessed by the 
Committee in the context of the Third Triennial Review a nd the Committee should 
also reflect its work on the programme in its Annual Report to the General Council.216 
d. In 2000, Members were also invited, on a voluntary basis , to further communicate 
information on technical assistance programmes they proposed, prov ided or received.217 
e. In 2003, in light of the work programme218 on TBT -related technical assistance and in 
order to assist Members in implementing and operationalizing Article 11, the Committee 
agreed as follows.219  
i. noting the importance of transparency in the provision of technical assistance and 
the need for coordination at the national, regional and international levels. 
Recognizing that improvements are needed to facilitate the meeting of demand and 
supply of technical assistance, and with a view to building  on the information 
received, the Committee agrees:  
- to consider the creation of an information coordination mechanism including 
through the possible development of voluntary notification procedures for 
donors, and recipient Members to communicate informat ion on current and 
                                                
215 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000, paras. 45 and 46 . 
216 G/TBT/ 9, 13 November 200 0, para. 46 . 
217 G/TBT/ 9, 13 November 200 0, para. 45 . 
218 With respect to the "work programme", it is noted that in 2001, Ministers confirmed the approach to 
technical assistance being developed by the Committee on Technical Barrier s to Trade, reflecting the results of 
the Triennial Review work in this area, and mandated this work to continue (WT/MIN(01)/17, 
20 November  2001, para. 5.1). 
219 G/TBT/13, 11 November 2003 , paras. 54-56. G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  future activities. To this end, and considering proposals made by Members, 
the Chair is requested to hold consultations with interested Members to:  
1  examine what extent an Internet facility could serve this purpose;  
2  examine what an appr opriate management approach might be; 
and  
3  report to the Committee by mid -2004;  
 
- that the survey questionnaire could be a dynamic tool to maintain information 
on developing country Members' needs and encourages Members, on a 
voluntary basis, to update res ponses to the survey questionnaire; and  
- to invite Members to communicate to the Committee pertinent information 
regarding technical assistance activities of relevant regional and international 
bodies.  
ii. with regard to technical assistance provided by the Se cretariat, the Committee 
agreed:  
- to explore how the results of the Committee's discussions (e.g., on needs 
identified, lessons learned, gaps in technical assistance activities) could be 
reflected in the WTO's Technical Assistance and Training Plan; and  
- to request the Secretariat, as part of the Committee's standing agenda item 
on technical assistance, to regularly deliver information on its recently 
concluded programmes and future plans on TBT -related technical assistance, 
and reflect this in the Committe e's annual reviews. This should include 
information on modality, content, participation and any feedback from 
recipient Members.  
iii. with regard to the appropriate role of the Committee in relation to technical 
assistance, the Committee:  
- agreed on the need for  Members and the Secretariat to raise the profile of 
TBT issues at the international and national levels;  
- reaffirmed the need for its future work to contribute to enhanced cooperation 
and coordination between those involved in technical assistance;  
- reaffirmed the need to continue facilitating the exchange of national 
experiences;  
- should provide a forum for feedback and assessment of the outcomes and 
effectiveness of technical assistance; and  
- considered, based on Members' experience of technical assistance  received 
and provided, developing further elements of good practice in technical 
assistance in the TBT field.  
f. In 2005, with a view to increasing transparency in the identification and prioritization of 
technical assistance needs, the Committee agreed220: 
i. to adopt, for use on a trial basis for two years, a Format for the Voluntary 
Notification of Specific Technical Assistance Needs or Responses. The Format is 
contained in Annex 6 (on page 69 of this document).  
g. In 2006, with a vie w to facilitating the implementation of the TBT Agreement's provisions 
on technical assistance, the Committee agreed221:  
                                                
220 G/TBT/16 , 8 November 2005 ; G/TBT/M/37, 22 December 2005, para. 82.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 46 - 
 
  i. to encourage Members to make use of the Format for the Voluntary Notification of 
Specific Technical Assistance Needs or Responses222;  
ii. to review, in 2007, the use of the Format for the Voluntary Notification of Specific 
Technical Assistance Needs or Responses, including the possible further development 
of the demand -driven technical cooperation mechanism;  
iii. to exchange experiences in respect o f the delivery and receipt of technical assistance 
with a view to identifyin g good practices in this regard;  and 
iv. to invite observer international standardizing bodies and other international 
standardizing bodies to provide information on steps taken to ens ure effective 
participation of developing country Members in their work.  
h. In 2009, the Committee agreed223: 
i. to encourage Members to make use of the Format for the Voluntary Notification of 
Specific Technical Assistance Needs or Responses as a complement to ot her bilateral 
and/or regional means of r equesting technical assistance.  
i. In 2009, building on the previous recommendation that Members exchange experiences 
in respect of the delivery and receipt of technical assistance with a view to identifying 
good practi ces in this regard , the Committee agreed224: 
i. to encourage Members and relevant bodies involved in the provision of technical 
assistance to exchange information to identify such practices.  
j. In 2009, consistent with the Committee's agreement on a demand -driven  approach to 
technical assistance, the Committee encouraged Members to review their capacity 
building needs and priorities in the following areas in particular225: 
i. GRP: The Committee considers that experience gained in the area of GRP for the 
effective imple mentation of the TBT Agreement should be shared. Technical 
assistance in the area of GRP should be considered an integral element of capacity 
building activities to strengthen implementation of the TBT Agreement and draw on 
the expertise of both Members an d other relevant organizations;  
ii. Conformity assessment: Members are encouraged to participate in technical 
cooperation activities in the area of conformity assessment consistent with sector -
specific national priorities. Capacity building activities – at the  national or regional 
level as appropriate – aimed at improving technical infrastructure (e.g. metrology, 
testing, certification, and accreditation) as well as capacity to enforce (including with 
respect to market surveillance and product liability) should  be consistent with 
national priorities and take into account the existing level of technical infrastructure 
development;  
iii. Standards development: Members should undertake efforts to build understanding of 
the strategic importance of standardization activiti es through increased outreach in 
sectors of priority interest. It may be beneficial to explore incentives to increase 
support and promotion of such activities, particularly in developing country 
Members; and  
iv. Transparency: Members stress the importance of r einforcing the operation of enquiry 
points.  
                                                                                                                                                  
221 G/TBT/19,  14 November 2006, paras. 78(a)-(c) and 77 . 
222 G/TBT/16 , 8 November 2005.  See: Annex 6 (on page 69 of this document) . 
223 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 63.  
224 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 57.  
225 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, pa ra. 59.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 47 - 
 
  k. In 2012, the Committee reiterated the importance of enhancing the effectiveness of the 
delivery and receipt of TBT technical assistance and capacity, and agreed226:  
i. to request that Members review the effectiveness  of TBT technical assistance and 
capacity building activities among Members, with a view to exploring ways and 
means to focus such activities on relevant capacity building needs and priorities 
thereby enhancing their usefulness, particularly in beneficiary  developing Members.  
l. In 2015, with a view to furthering its work in the area of technical assistance, the 
Committee agreed227: 
i. to reaffirm the need to review the effectiveness of technical assistance and capacity 
building activities among Members in the TBT area, and encourage Members to 
continue to exchange experiences on technical assistance;  
ii. to stress the importance and discuss possible approaches to enhancing the  active 
participation of developing Members in thematic  sessions held by the Committee; 
and 
iii. to hold a thematic session in November 2016 on technical assistance, including 
discussion of:  
- the positive effects of technical assistance and capacity building in the TBT 
area for international trade; and  
- possible approaches to identifying gaps between the  demand228 and supply of 
technical assistance in the TBT area for developing Members, and seeking to 
close them where they exist, including through exploring the need for more 
coordination and better targeted TBT -related technical assistance.  
6.2  Documents  
a. Notifications of Specific Technical Assistance Needs or Responses are contained in the 
following document series: G/TBT/TA -[number]/[Member].  
6.3  Events  
a. On 19 -20 July 2000, the Committee held a Workshop on Technical Assistance and 
Differential Treatment in the cont ext of the TBT Agreement.229 
b. On 18 March 2003, with the objectives of further developing the technical cooperation 
programme and providing an opportunity for further information exchange on technical 
assistance, on both the demand and supply sides, a special  workshop on TBT -related 
technical assistance was held.230  
c. On 29 October 2013, the Committee held a Thematic Session on Technical Assistance 
and Special and Differential Treatment.231 
d. On 4 November 2014, the Committee held a Thematic Session on Technical Assi stance 
and Special and Differential Treatment.232  
                                                
226 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 21.  
227 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 6.7(a) -(c). 
228 In line with the Committee's agreement on a demand -driven approach to the technical assistance. 
G/TBT/26, para. 59.  
229 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000, Annex 1.  
230 The Summary Report by the Chairperson is contained in Annex A of G/TBT/M/29 , 19 May 2003 . 
231 The Chairman's report and the final programme are contained in G/TBT/GEN/156 , 4 November 2013.  
232 The Chairman's report and the final programme are contained in G/TBT/GEN/174, 11 November 
2014.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  e. On 9 November 2016, the Committee held a Thematic Session on Technical 
Assistance.233 
7  SPECIAL AND DIFFEREN TIAL TREATMENT  
7.1.  Article 12 of the TBT Agreement addresses Special and Differential Treatment of Developi ng 
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.  
7.1  Decisions and r ecommendations  
a. In 1997, with a view to operationalize and implement the provisions of Article 12, the 
Committee agreed to the following234: 
i. the Committee will consider including the following matters in its future programme 
of work, which could be taken up during the next three years an d reviewed during 
the Second Triennial Review of the Agreement:  
- the use of measures to engender capacity building in developing country 
Members, including the consideration of measures relevant to transfer of 
technology to these countries, for the purpose of preparation and adoption of 
technical regulations, standards or conformity assessment procedures, taking 
into account their special development, financial and  trade needs;  
- the preparation of a study by the Secretariat to establish the state of 
knowledge  concerning the technical barriers to the market access of 
developing country supplie rs, especially small and medium -sized enterprises 
(SMEs), as a result of standards, technical regulations and co nformity 
assessment procedures;  
- inviting representatives of  relevant international standardizing bodies and 
international systems for conformity assessment procedures to make written 
and oral presentations to the Committee with a view to assessing whether 
and how account is taken of the special problems of develop ing countries in 
such bodies and systems. The Secretariat will circulate a compendium of the 
written contributions by the relevant organisations; and  
- the encouragement of the organization of international meetings relevant to 
the provisions of the Agreeme nt in the territories of developing country 
Members to give greater representative participation by such Members to the 
deliberations and recommendations of such international meetings, and the 
electron ic dissemination of information:  
ii. to invite Members, on  a voluntary basis, to exchange information on the 
implementation of Article 12, including information related to Articles 12.2, 12.3, 
12.5, 12.6, 12.7 and 12.9; and  
iii. to invite Members, on a voluntary basis, to exchange information on any specific 
problems they face in relation to the operation of Article 12.  
b. In 2006, in order to have a more focused exchange of information, the Committee 
agreed235: 
i. to encourage Members to inform the Committee of special and differential treatment 
provided to developing countr y Members, including information on how they have 
                                                
233 The Moderator's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/204, 22 November 2016.  
234 G/TBT/5, 19 November 1997, para. 33.  
235 G/TBT/19, 14 November 2006, para. 82. G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 49 - 
 
  taken into account special and differential treatment provisions in the preparation of 
technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures; and  
ii. to encourage developing country Members to undertake th eir own assessments of 
the utility and benefits of such special and differential treatment.  
c. In 2012, with a view to furthering discussion in the area of special and differential 
treatment, the Committee agreed236:  
i. to exchange views and explore ideas on the implementation of Article 12 of the TBT 
Agreement with respect to the preparation of technical regulations, standards and 
conformity assessment procedures, and the enhancement of the effective operation 
of Article 12, in coordination with the WTO Committee  on Trade and Development.  
d. In 2015, w ith a view to furthering its work in the area of special and differential 
treatment, the Committee agreed:  
i. to encourage Members to continue to exchange information on the implementation of 
Article 12 of the TBT Agreemen t, with a view towards enhancing the effective 
operation of Article 12.237 
7.2  Events  
a. On 19 -20 July 2000, the Committee held a Workshop on Technical Assistance and 
Differential Treatment in the context of the TBT Agreement.238 
b. On 29 October 2013, the Committee hel d a Thematic Session on Technical Assistance 
and Special and Differential Treatment.239 
c. On 4 November 2014, the Committee held a Thematic Session on Technical Assistance 
and Special and Differential Treatment.240 
8  OPERATION OF THE COM MITTEE  
8.1  Review of Specific T rade Concerns  
8.1.  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 objectiv es, and shall carry out such 
responsibilities as assigned to it under this Agreement or by the Members". Since its first meeting, 
Members have used the TBT Committee as a forum to discuss issues related to specific measures 
(technical regulations, standard s or conformity assessment procedures) maintained by other 
Members. These are referred to as "specific trade concerns" (STCs) and relate normally to 
proposed draft measures notified to the TBT Committee or to the implementation of existing 
measures.  
8.1.1   Decisi ons and recommendations  
a. In 2009, noting the accelerated growth in the number of specific trade concerns raised 
at Committee meetings, as well as in the number of WTO Members raising concerns or 
substantively supporting those of other Members, the Committee  emphasized the 
importance of making the discussion more efficient in order to secure a more prompt 
                                                
236 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 22.  
237 G/TBT/37, 3  December 2015, para. 7.6.  
238 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000, Annex 1.  
239 The Chairman's report and the final programme are contained in G/TBT/GEN/156 , 4 November 2013.  
240 The Chairman's report and the final programme are contained in G/TBT/GEN/174, 11 November   
2014.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 50 - 
 
  response to concerns raised. In order to streamline the consideration of STCs, the TBT 
Committee agreed  to apply the following procedures, to the extent pra cticable241: 
i. Members wishing to propose the inclusion of a specific trade concern in the 
annotated draft agenda should directly inform both the Secretariat and the 
Member(s) involved of their intention to do so no less than fourteen calendar days  
prior to th e convening of the TBT Committee meeting;  
ii. the annotated draft agenda issued by the Secretariat in advance of each Committee 
meeting will include all specific trade concerns communicated by Members to the 
Secretariat; it will indicate which concerns are bei ng raised for the first time and 
which have been previously raised. It should be circulated as early as possible but no 
less than ten calendar days  before the meeting;  
iii. requests to include specific trade concerns on the agenda should be accompanied by 
a reference to the symbol of the notification. In cases where the measure has not 
been notified, the request should provide a brief description of the measure, 
including relevant references; and  
iv. there may be instances where a Member wishes to bring a concern to  the 
Committee's attention after the deadline has passed. In this case, additional specific 
trade concerns can still be included in the agenda of the TBT Committee meeting 
under "Specific Trade Concerns", provided that Members wishing to raise the 
relevant  concerns have previously informed the Member(s) involved of their intention 
to do so. However such concerns will only be addressed after all specific trade 
concerns contained in the annotated draft agenda have been discussed.  
b. In 2012, considering the subs tantive body of recommendations and decisions before the 
Committee, Members agreed on the need to focus and deepen their work. Noting that 
follow -up was a long -term endeavour, Members saw benefit to dedicating time to 
thematic topics in response to the spe cific decisions and recommendations of the 
Committee, in order to press for greater progress on these issues. To this end, the 
Committee agreed :  
i. in order to ensure the efficiency of the discussion of STCs, to further reflect on ways 
to streamline the work  of the Committee in the consideration of STCs 242; and  
ii. to hold thematic sessions in conjunction with its regular meetings during 2013 -
2015.243 
c. In 2015, building on the valuable experiences gained 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 agreed244: 
i. to continue to hold thematic sessions in conjunction with its regular meetings; and,  
ii. on the following work programme  for thematic sessions:  
- March 2016 : conformity assessment procedures  and good regulatory 
practice ; 
- June 2016: regulatory cooperation between Members  and standards ; 
- November 2016: transparency , including the Eighth Special Meeting on 
Procedures for Information Exchange, technical assistance  and regulatory 
cooperation between Members ; and  
                                                
241 G/TBT/26, 13  November 2009, paras. 67 -68. 
242 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 24.   
243 G/TBT/32, 29 November 2012, para. 26 . 
244 G/TBT/37, 3 December 2015, para. 8.3.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 51 - 
 
  - In 2017 and 2018, Members will continue to hold thematic sessions as 
appropriate pursuant to the decisions and recommendations before the 
Committee.  
8.1.2   Documents  
a. In 2009, the Committee encouraged the Secretaria t to continue to compile information 
about the status of specific trade concerns and to make this available to Members 
regularly with a view to providing a useful database for Members to track concerns of 
importance to them.245 The G/TBT/GEN/74/ -series of do cuments contain an overview of 
specific trade concerns raised in the TBT Committee.246 It provides statistical information 
on the concerns raised since the first meeting of the TBT Committee in 1995 and lists 
the specific trade concerns sorted by date, frequ ency and the number of Members that 
have expressed concern.  
_______________  
 
 
 
                                                
245 G/TBT/26, 13 November 2009, para. 69.  
246 The information is now available on the TBT IMS :http://tbtims.wto.org . G/TBT /1/Rev.12  
 
- 52 - 
 
 ANNEXES TO PART 1  
1  INDICATIVE LIST OF A PPROACHES TO FACILIT ATE ACCEPTANCE OF TH E RESULTS OF 
CONFORMITY ASSESSMEN T 
1. Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) For Conformity Assessme nt to Specific 
Regulations  
Governments may enter into agreements which will result in the acceptance of the results of 
conformity assessment originating in the territory of either party.  
2. Cooperative (Voluntary) Arrangements Between Domestic And Foreign Conformity 
Assessment Bodies  
This includes arrangements among accreditation bodies as well as arrangements between 
individual laboratories, between certification bodies, and between inspection bodies. Such 
arrangements have been common for many years and have been developed for the commercial 
advantage of the participants. Some of these agreements have been recognized by governments 
from time to time as the basis for acceptance of test results and certification activities in the 
mandatory sector.  
3. The U se Of Accreditation To Qualify Conformity Assessment Bodies  
Accreditation bodies have been working towards harmonization of international practices for 
accreditation of conformity assessment bodies. This has resulted in the development of global 
networks to facilitate recognition and acceptance of results of conformity assessment. These 
networks take the form of multilateral recognition agreements or arrangements (MLAs) whereby 
each participant undertakes to recognize the accreditation granted or certifica tes issued by any 
other party to the agreement or arrangement as being equivalent to that granted by itself and to 
promote that equivalence throughout its territory of operation. There are international standards 
and guides for such arrangements.  
4. Govern ment Designation  
Governments may designate specific conformity assessment bodies, including bodies located 
outside their territories, to undertake conformity assessment.  
5. Unilateral Recognition Of Results Of Foreign Conformity Assessment  
A government ma y unilaterally recognize the results of foreign conformity assessment procedures. 
In this it may be guided by Article 6.1 of the TBT Agreement. The conformity assessment body 
may be accredited abroad under recognized regional or international accreditation  systems. In the 
absence of accreditation, the conformity assessment body may prove its competence by other 
means. On the basis of equivalent competence of the conformity assessment body, foreign test 
reports and certificates are recognized unilaterally.  
6. Manufacturer's / Supplier's Declarations (SDoC)  
Manufacturer's/supplier's declaration of conformity is a procedure by which a supplier (as defined 
in ISO/IEC Guide 22:1996, a supplier is the party that supplies the product, process or service and 
may be  a manufacturer, distributor, importer, assembler, service organization, etc.) provides 
written assurance of conformity to the specified requirements. The declaration identifies the party 
responsible for making the declaration of conformity and for the con formity of the 
product/process/service itself. Under this approach, the manufacturer/supplier, rather than the 
regulatory authority, takes on the responsibility for ensuring that products entering a market 
comply with the mandatory technical regulations. A ssessment may be undertaken either by the 
suppliers own internal test facility or by an independent test facility.  
This system is often predicated on:  
(a) adequate market surveillance;  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 53 - 
 
  (b) substantial penalties for false or misleading declarations;  
(c) an appropriate  regulatory environment; and  
(d) an appropriate product liability regime.  
 
 
_______________  
 
 G/TBT /1/Rev.12  
 
- 54 - 
 
 2  DECISION OF THE COMM ITTEE ON PRINCIPLES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
INTERNATIONAL STANDA RDS, GUIDES AND RECO MMENDATIONS WITH REL ATION TO 
ARTICLES 2, 5 AND AN NEX 3 OF THE AGREEMENT  
Decision1 
 
The following principles and procedures should be observed, when international standards, guides 
and recommendations (as mentioned under Articles 2, 5 and Annex 3 of the TBT Agreement for 
the preparation of mandatory technical regulat ions, conformity assessment procedures and 
voluntary standards) are elaborated, to ensure transparency, openness, impartiality and 
consensus, effectiveness and relevance, coherence, and to address the concerns of developing 
countries.  
The same principles s hould also be observed when technical work or a part of the international 
standard development is delegated under agreements or contracts by international standardizing 
bodies to other relevant organizations, including regional bodies.  
1. Transparency  
All essential information regarding current work programmes, as well as on proposals for 
standards, guides and recommendations under consideration and on the final results should be 
made easily accessible to at least all interested parties in the territories o f at least all WTO 
Members. Procedures should be established so that adequate time and opportunities are provided 
for written comments. The information on these procedures should be effectively disseminated.  
In providing the essential information, the tra nsparency procedures should, at a minimum, 
include:  
a. the publication of a notice at an early appropriate stage, in such a manner as to enable 
interested parties to become acquainted with it, that the international standardizing body 
proposes to develop a pa rticular standard;  
b. the notification or other communication through established mechanisms to members of 
the international standardizing body, providing a brief description of the scope of the 
draft standard, including its objective and rationale. Such comm unications shall take 
place at an early appropriate stage, when amendments can still be introduced and 
comments taken into account;  
c. upon request, the prompt provision to members of the international standardizing body 
of the text of the draft standard;  
d. the provision of an adequate period of time for interested parties in the territory of at 
least all members of the international standardizing body to make comments in writing 
and take these written comments into account in the further consideration of the 
standard;  
e. the prompt publication of a standard upon adoption; and  
f. to publish periodically a work programme containing information on the standards 
currently being prepared and adopted.  
It is recognized that the publication and communication of notices, no tifications, draft standards, 
comments, adopted standards or work programmes electronically, via the Internet, where feasible, 
can provide a useful means of ensuring the timely provision of information. At the same time, it is 
also recognized that the requ isite technical means may not be available in some cases, particularly 
with regard to developing countries. Accordingly, it is important that procedures are in place to 
enable hard copies of such documents to be made available upon request.  
                                                
1 G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000, para. 20 and Annex 4.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 55 - 
 
  2. Openness  
Membership of an international standardizing body should be open on a non -discriminatory basis 
to relevant bodies of at least all WTO Members. This would include openness without 
discrimination with respect to the participation at the policy development leve l and at every stage 
of standards development, such as the:  
a. proposal and acceptance of new work items;  
b. technical discussion on proposals;  
c. submission of comments on drafts in order that they can be taken into account;  
d. reviewing existing standards;  
e. voting a nd adoption of standards; and  
f. dissemination of the adopted standards.  
Any interested member of the international standardizing body, including especially developing 
country Members, with an interest in a specific standardization activity should be provide d with 
meaningful opportunities to participate at all stages of standard development. It is noted that with 
respect to standardizing bodies within the territory of a WTO Member that have accepted the Code 
of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards by Standardizing 
Bodies (Annex 3 of the TBT Agreement) participation in a particular international standardization 
activity takes place, wherever possible, through one delegation representing all standardizing 
bodies in the territo ry that have adopted, or expected to adopt, standards for the subject -matter 
to which the international standardization activity relates. This is illustrative of the importance of 
participation in the international standardizing process accommodating all r elevant interests.  
3. Impartiality and Consensus  
All relevant bodies of WTO Members should be provided with meaningful opportunities to 
contribute to the elaboration of an international standard so that the standard development 
process will not give privi lege to, or favour the interests of, a particular supplier/s, country/ies or 
region/s. Consensus procedures should be established that seek to take into account the views of 
all parties concerned and to reconcile any conflicting arguments.  
Impartiality sh ould be accorded throughout all the standards development process with respect to, 
among other things:  
a. access to participation in work;  
b. submission of comments on drafts;  
c. consideration of views expressed and comments made;  
d. decision -making through consens us; 
e. obtaining of information and documents;  
f. dissemination of the international standard;  
g. fees charged for documents;  
h. right to transpose the international standard into a regional or national standard; and  
i. revision of the international standard.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 56 - 
 
  4. Effe ctiveness and Relevance  
In order to serve the interests of the WTO membership in facilitating international trade and 
preventing unnecessary trade barriers, international standards need to be relevant and to 
effectively respond to regulatory and market nee ds, as well as scientific and technological 
developments in various countries. They should not distort the global market, have adverse effects 
on fair competition, or stifle innovation and technological development. In addition, they should 
not give prefer ence to the characteristics or requirements of specific countries or regions when 
different needs or interests exist in other countries or regions. Whenever possible, international 
standards should be performance based rather than based on design or descri ptive characteristics.  
Accordingly, it is important that international standardizing bodies:  
a. take account of relevant regulatory or market needs, as feasible and appropriate, as well 
as scientific and technological developments in the elaboration of standa rds;  
b. put in place procedures aimed at identifying and reviewing standards that have become 
obsolete, inappropriate or ineffective for various reasons; and  
c. put in place procedures aimed at improving communication with the World Trade 
Organization.  
5. Cohe rence  
In order to avoid the development of conflicting international standards, it is important that 
international standardizing bodies avoid duplication of, or overlap with, the work of other 
international standardizing bodies. In this respect, cooperatio n and coordination with other 
relevant international bodies is essential.  
6. Development Dimension  
Constraints on developing countries, in particular, to effectively participate in standards 
development, should be taken into consideration in the standards development process. Tangible 
ways of facilitating developing countries' participation in international standards development 
should be sought. The impartiality and openness of any international standardization process 
requires that developing countries ar e not excluded de facto from the process. With respect to 
improving participation by developing countries, it may be appropriate to use technical assistance, 
in line with Article 11 of the TBT Agreement. Provisions for capacity building and technical 
assistance within international standardizing bodies are important in this context.  
 
_______________  
 G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 57 - 
 
  3  FORMAT AND GUIDELINE S FOR NOTIFICATION P ROCEDURES FOR TECHNI CAL 
REGULATIONS AND CONF ORMITY ASSESSMENT PR OCEDURES  
3.1  Recommendation of the Committee on Coherent U se of Notification Formats2  
The Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade makes the following recommendation to enhance 
the coherent use of the notification formats:  
 
Type  Description  
New 
Notification  Members should use a new notification3 to notify the d raft text of a proposed 
technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure (hereafter referred to as 
the "notified measure"). If the notified measure is associated with a previously 
notified measure (e.g. amending or supplementing an adopted measure, or 
replacing a withdrawn or revoked measure)4, the symbol(s) of the associated 
notified measure(s) should be indicated in Box 8 of the new notification.  
Addenda5 Members should use an addendum to notify additional information related to a 
notification or the text of a notified measure, including if:  
The comment period has been changed (e.g. extended or re -opened);  
The notified measure is adopted, published, or enters into force, especially in cases 
where relevant dates have not been provided in the ori ginal notification or have 
been changed. Members are encouraged to indicate how the final text of the 
measure can be obtained, including website address;  
The notified measure is withdrawn or revoked. If replaced with a new measure, 
where possible, the sy mbol of the corresponding new notification should be 
indicated;  
The content or scope of a notified measure is partially changed or amended. In this 
case, Members should consider opening a new comment period;  
Interpretive guidance is issued; and  
Any o ther useful and relevant additional information directly related to a 
notification or notified measure has been made available that does not qualify as a 
corrigenda, revision or supplement.  
Corrigenda  Members should use a corrigendum to correct minor admi nistrative or clerical 
errors (which do not entail any changes to the meaning of the content) in:  
a notification or subsequent related addendum or revision; and  
the text of the notified measure.  
Revision  Members should use a revision to indicate that the notified measure has been 
substantially re -drafted prior to adoption or entry into force. A revision replaces 
the original notification. A revision should normally open a new comment period.  
Supplement  Members should use a supplement to notify the ava ilability of unofficial 
translations of notified measures.6 
                                                
2 G/TBT/35, 24 June 2014.  
3 A "notification" refers to the official WTO document which is part of document series  
"G/TBT/N/[three digit country code]/#".  
4 Note: The WTO Secretariat is exploring  the feasibility of an IT solution whereby searches on relevant 
WTO databases (e.g. TBT  IMS, I -TIP) would automatically retrieve associated  notifications (so as not to lose 
the thread through the life -cycle of the measure).  
5 Note: T he option of a new addenda format with a list of tick boxes  could be annexed  to this 
recommendation.  
6 In 2007 the TBT Committee agreed (G/TBT/M/ 43, Section II.C.3, 21 January 2008 ) that Members 
should use the formats for unofficial translations contained in G/TBT/1/Rev.11, Annex 5 – Unofficial 
Transl ations. Further information is contained in G/TBT/GEN/66 . G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 58 - 
 
  3.2  Format and Guidelines for New Notification (of draft technical regulations and 
conformity assessment procedures)  
3.2.1 Format  
  
  
G/TBT/N/XXX/XXX  
 
Date 
(00-0000)  Page:  
Committee on Techni cal Barriers to Trade    
NOTIFICATION7 
 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.  
 
 
1. 
 Notifying Member:       
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):       
2. 
 Agency responsible:       
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e -mail and web -site 
addresses, if available) of agency o r authority designated to handle comments regarding 
the notification shall be indicated if different from above:       
3. 
 Notified under Article 2.9.2 [   ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:       
4. 
 
 Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.  
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):       
 
5. 
 Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:       
6. 
 Description of content:       
7. 
 Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:       
8. 
 Relevant documents:       
9. 
 Propos ed date of adoption:  
Proposed date of entry into force:       
  
10. 
 Final date for comments:       
11. 
 Texts available from: National enquiry point [   ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e -mail and web -site addresses, if available of the other body:       
 
 
                                                
7 Where boxes appear under Items 3 and 11 of the format, notifiers are requested to check the relevant 
box or indicate relevant information under "other".  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 59 - 
 
  3.2.2  Guidelines   
 
Item Description  
1. Notifying Member:  Government, including the competent 
authorities of the European Union, which has 
acceded to the Agreement and which is making 
the notification; if applicable, name of local 
government involved Articles 3.2 and 7.2).  
2. Agency responsible  Body elaborating a proposal for or promulgating 
a technical regulation or procedures for 
assessment of conformity. The authority or 
agency designa ted to handle comments 
regarding the specific notification shall be 
indicated if different from above.  
3. Notified under8 Relevant provision of the Agreement:  
Article  2.9.2: proposed technical regulation by 
central government body;  
Article  2.10.1: techni cal regulation adopted for 
urgent problems by central government body;  
Article 3.2: proposed technical regulation or 
technical regulation adopted for urgent problems 
by local government (on the level directly below 
that of the central government);  
Article  5.6.2: proposed procedures for 
assessment of conformity by central government 
body;  
Article 5.7.1: conformity assessment procedure 
adopted for urgent problems by central 
government body;  
Article 7.2: proposed procedure for assessment 
of conformity or confo rmity assessment 
procedure adopted for urgent problems by local 
government (on the level directly below that of 
the central government)  
Other Articles under which notification can arise 
in cases of urgency set out in those Articles are:  
Article  8.1: adopt ed procedures for assessment 
of conformity by non -governmental body,  
Article 9.2: adopted procedures for assessment 
of conformity by international or regional 
organization.  
4. Products covered  HS or CCCN (chapter or heading and number) 
where applicable. N ational tariff heading if 
different from HS or CCCN. ICS numbers may be 
provided in addition, where applicable. A clear 
description is important for an understanding of 
the notification by delegations and translators. 
Abbreviations should be avoided.  
                                                
8 Notifiers are requested to check the rele vant box or indicate relevant information under "other".  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 60 - 
 
  Item Description  
5. Title and number of pages  Title of the proposed or adopted technical 
regulation or procedure for the assessment of 
conformity that is notified. Number of pages in 
the notified document. The language(s) in which 
notified documents are available. If a transla tion 
of the document is planned, this should be 
indicated. If a translated summary is available, 
this too should be indicated.  
6. Description of content   An abstract of the proposed or adopted technical 
regulation or procedures for assessment of 
conformit y clearly indicating its content. A clear 
comprehensible description stating the main 
features of the proposed or adopted technical 
regulation or procedures for assessment of 
conformity is important for an understanding of 
the notification by delegations a nd translators. 
Abbreviations should be avoided.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the 
nature of urgent problems where 
applicable  For instance: health, safety, national security, ... 
etc. 
8. Relevant documents   (1) Publication where notice appears, i ncluding 
date and reference number; (2)  Proposal and 
basic document (with specific reference number 
or other identification) to which proposal refers; 
(3) Publication in which proposal will appear 
when adopted; (4) Whenever practicable, give 
reference to r elevant international standard. If it 
is necessary to charge for documents supplied, 
this fact should be indicated.  
9. Proposed dates of adoption and entry 
into force  The date when the technical regulation or 
procedures for assessment of conformity is 
expected to be adopted, and the date from 
which the requirements in the technical 
regulation or procedures for assessment of 
conformity are proposed or decided to enter into 
force, taking into consideration the provisions of 
Article  2.12. 
10. Final date for comments  The date by which Members may submit 
comments in accordance with Articles  2.9.4, 
2.10.3, 3.1 (in relation to 2.9.4 and 2.10.3), 
5.6.4, 5.7.3 and 7.1 (in relation to 5.6.4 and 
5.7.3) of the Agreement. A specific date should 
be indicated. The Commit tee has recommended 
a normal time limit for comments on 
notifications of 60 days. Any Member which is 
able to provide a time limit beyond 60 days is 
encouraged to do so. Members are encouraged 
to advise of any extension to the final date for 
comments.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 61 - 
 
  Item Description  
11. Texts available from9 If available from national enquiry point, put a 
cross in the box provided. If available from 
another body, give its address, e -mail, telex and 
telefax number. If available in a web -site, 
provide the web -site address. Such indications  
should not in any way discharge the relevant 
enquiry point of its responsibilities under the 
provisions of Article  10 of the Agreement.  
 
 
 
 
 
_______________  
 
                                                
9 Notifiers are requested to check the relevant box or indicate relevant information under "other".  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 62 - 
 
  3.3  Format for Addenda  
  
G/TBT/N/XXX/#/Add.#  
 
Date 
(00-0000)  Page: 62/81 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  
NOTIFICATION  
Addendum  
 The following communication, dated      , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of      . 
 
_______________  
 
 
      
 
      
 
__________  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 63 - 
 
  3.4  Format for Corrigenda  
  
G/TBT/N/XXX/#/Corr.#  
 
Date 
(00-0000)  Page: 63/81 
Committee on Tec hnical Barriers to Trade  Original:  
NOTIFICATION  
Corrigendum  
 The following communication, dated       , is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of      . 
 
_______________  
 
 
      
 
      
 
__________  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 64 - 
 
  3.5  Format for Revision  
  
G/TBT/N/XXX/#/Rev.#  
 
Date 
(00-0000)  Page:  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade    
NOTIFICATION10 
Revision  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.  
 
 
1. 
 Notifying Member:       
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):       
2. 
 Agency responsible:       
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, e -mail and web -site 
addresses, if available) of agency o r authority designated to handle comments regarding 
the notification shall be indicated if different from above:       
3. 
 Notified under Article 2.9.2 [   ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:       
4. 
 
 Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.  
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):       
 
5. 
 Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:       
6. 
 Description of content:       
7. 
 Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:       
8. 
 Relevant documents:       
9. 
 Propos ed date of adoption:  
Proposed date of entry into force:       
  
10. 
 Final date for comments:       
11. 
 Texts available from: National enquiry point [   ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e -mail and web -site addresses, if available of the other body:       
 
                                                
10 Where boxes appear under Items 3 and 11 of the format, notifiers are requested to check the 
relevant box or indicate relevant information under "other".  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 65 - 
 
  3.6  Format for Supplements (Unofficial Translations)  
  
G/TBT/N/COUNTRY/#/Suppl.#  
Date 
(00-0000)  Page:  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade    
AVAILABILITY OF TRAN SLATIONS  
NOTE BY TH E SECRETARIAT11 
Supplement  
 
 The Secretariat has been informed that an unofficial translation into [language] of the 
document referenced in this notification is available for consultation at:  
 
  http://www. ...........................................  
 or can be requested from:  …………………………………………..  
_____________________________________________________________________________  
Comité des obstacles techniques au commerce  
 
TRADUCTIONS DISPONIB LES 
NOTE DU SECRÉTARIAT11 
Supplément  
 
 Le Secrétariat a été informé qu'un e traduction non officielle en [langue] du document auquel 
renvoie la présente notification pouvait être consultée à l'adresse suivante:  
 
  http://www. ....................................  
 ou peut être obtenue à l'adresse suivante:   ……………………………………  
_______ _______________________________________________________________________  
Comité de Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio  
ACCESO A TRADUCCIONE S 
NOTA DE LA SECRETARÍ A11 
Suplemento  
 
 Se ha comunicado a la Secretaría que en la dirección:  
 
  http://www. .............. .............................  
se puede consultar una traducción no oficial al [idioma] del documento a que se hace referencia en 
la presente notificación.  
 o puede solicitarse a:   ...........................................................  
_______________  
                                                
11 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and without prejudice to 
the positions of Members or to their rights or obligations under the WTO./Le présent document a ét é établi par 
le Secrétariat sous sa propre responsabilité et est sans préjudice des positions des Membres ni de leurs droits 
ou obligations dans le cadre de l'OMC./El presente documento ha sido elaborado bajo la responsabilidad de la 
Secretaría y se entien de sin perjuicio de las posiciones de los Miembros ni de sus derechos y obligaciones en el 
marco de la OMC.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 66 - 
 
   
  
  
G/TBT/N/COUNTRY/#/Suppl.#  
 
Date 
(00-0000)  Page:  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:   
AVAILABILITY OF TRAN SLATIONS  
NOTE BY THE SECRETAR IAT12 
Supplement  
 The delegation of       has provided the Secretariat with an unofficial translation into 
      of the document referenced in this notification. The document is available for consultation 
at: 
 
      
_______________________________________________ _______________________________  
Comité des obstacles techniques au commerce  
TRADUCTIONS DISPONIB LES 
NOTE DU SECRÉTARIAT12 
Supplément  
 La délégation de       a communiqué au Secrétariat une traduction non officielle en langue 
      du document auquel renvoie la présente notification. Cette traduction peut être consultée à:  
 
      
______________________________________________________________________________  
Comité de Obstáculos Técnicos al Comercio  
ACCESO A TRADUCCIO NES 
NOTA DE LA SECRETARÍ A12 
Suplemento  
 La delegación de       ha remitido a la Secretaría una traducción no oficial al       del 
documento a que se hace referencia en la presente notificación. La traducción se puede consultar  
en: 
 
_______________  
                                                
12 This document has been prepared under the Secretariat's own responsibility and without prejudice to 
the positions of Members or to their rights or  obligations under the WTO./ Le présent document a été établi par 
le Secrétariat sous sa propre responsabilité et est sans préjudice des positions des Membres ni de leurs droits 
ou obligations dans le cadre de l'OMC. /El presente documento ha sido elaborado bajo la responsabilidad de la 
Secretaría y se entiende sin perjuicio de las posiciones de los Miembros ni de sus derechos y obligaciones en el 
marco de la OMC.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 67 - 
 
  4  NOTIFICATION FORMAT UNDER ARTICLE 10.7  
   
  
G/TBT/10.7/N/XX  
 
Date 
(00-0000)  Page:  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 
AGREEMENT REACHED BY A MEMBER WITH ANOTHER COUNTRY OR COUNTRIES  
ON ISSUES RELATED TO TECHNICAL REGULATIONS, STANDARDS  
OR CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
 Under Article 10.7 of the Agreement "Whenever a Member has reached an 
agreement with any other country or countries on issues related to technical regulations, 
standard s or conformity assessment procedures which may have a significant effect on trade, at 
least one Member party to the agreement shall notify other Members through the Secretariat of 
the products to be covered by the agreement and include a brief description  of the agreement." 
The following notification under Article 10.7 has been received.  
 
1. Notifying Member :  
2. Title of the bilateral or plurilateral Agreement:  
3. Parties to the Agreement:  
4. Date of entry into force of Agreement:  
5. Products cove red (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading):  
6. Subject matter covered by the Agreement (technical regulations, standards or 
conformity assessment procedures):  
7. Brief description of the Agreement:  
8. Further information ava ilable from:  
 
 
 
 
_______________  
 G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 68 - 
 
  5  BOOKLETS ON ENQUIRY POINTS  
5.1.  All booklets issued by Members should contain the elements and, as far as possible, follow 
the layout set out below:  
5.1  Objective, name, address, telephone number, fax number, and e -mail and Inte rnet 
addresses, if available, of WTO TBT enquiry point(s)  
(a) Refer to the provisions of Articles 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 of the Agreement on 
Technical Barriers to Trade.  
(b) Date established, and name of responsible officer.  
5.2  Who can use the enquiry point(s)  
(a) Refer to the provisions of Articles 2.9.3 and 2.10.2; 3.1 (in relation to 2.9.3 and 
2.10.2); 5.6.3 and 5.7.2; 7.1, 8.1 and 9.2 (in relation to 5.6.3 and 5.7.2); 10.1 
and 10.3; paragraphs M and P of Annex 3 of the Agreement.  
5.3  Information available from enquiry point( s) 
a. Documentation  
i. Refer to the provisions of Articles 2.9.3 and 2.10.2; 3.1 (in relation to 2.9.3 and 
2.10.2); 5.6.3 and 5.7.2; 7.1, 8.1 and 9.2 (in relation to 5.6.3 and 5.7.2); 10.4, 
10.8.1 and 10.8.2; paragraphs M and P of Annex 3 of the Agreement. 
Docum entation that can be obtained from the enquiry point(s): Procedures for 
handling documentation on proposed or adopted domestic regulations and standards 
and procedures for assessment of conformity  
b. Notifications: content, format, comment period  
i. Refer to th e provisions of Articles 2.9.2, 2.10.1, 3.2, 5.6.2, 5.7.1, 7.2, 8.1, 9.2 and 
paragraphs C and J of Annex 3 of the Agreement, and to the decisions of the 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade regarding format and comment period).  
ii. Procedures for handling  notifications issued by other Members of the Agreement, for 
issuing notifications from domestic sources, and for handling comments on 
notifications received or issued.  
c. Publication:  
i. Refer to the provisions of Articles 2.9.1 and 2.11; 3.1(in relation to 2. 9.1 and 2.11); 
5.6.1 and 5.8; 7.1, 8.1 and 9.2 (in relation to 5.6.1 and 5.8); 10.1.5; and 
paragraphs J, L and O of Annex 3 of the Agreement.  
ii. Procedures for ensuring compliance with these provisions of the Agreement, 
including any publications by the enqu iry point(s).  
5.4  Facilities offered (including charges, if any)  
a. Data bank (content and form of documents, e.g. paper, microfilm, computer, etc.).  
b. Access to data (retrieval system: manual, tape, on -line; software used).  
c. Languages used.  
d. Translation, if any.  
e. Brief description of the Agreement: objectives, date of entry into force, date joined, 
status in domestic law.  
f. List of Members of the Agreement.  
g. List of enquiry points of other Members.  
 
_______________  
 G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  6  FORMAT FOR THE VOLUN TARY NOTIFICATION OF  SPECIFIC TECHN ICAL ASSISTANCE 
NEEDS OR RESPONSES  
  
  
G/TBT/TA  
 
Date 
(00-0000)  Page:  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
VOLUNTARY NOTIFICATI ON  
OF SPECIFIC TECHNICA L ASSISTANCE  
NEEDS OR RESPONSES  
 
1.  
 Notifying Member (including, if appl icable, an indication of relevant bodies)  
............................................................................................................................. ..
. 
2. The technical assistance activity needed or provided may be relevant to the 
following Article(s) of the TBT  Agreement13: 
[ ... ] Articles 2 and 3 on technical regulations  
[ ... ] Article 4 and Annex 3 on standards and the Code of Good Practice  
[ ... ] Articles 5, 7 and 8 on development of conformity assessment procedures  
[ ... ] Article 6 on recognition of conformity assessment  
[ ... ] Article 9 on international and regional systems for conformity assessment  
[ ... ] Articles 2, 5 and 10 on information exchange (e.g. notifications, enquiry point)  
[ ... ] Article 11 on technical assistanc e to other Members  
[ ... ] Article 12 on special and differential treatment of developing country Members  
[ ... ] Article 13 on the TBT Committee (participation in work of TBT Committee)  
[ ... ] Other: ..................................................... .......................................................  
 
3. Brief description of objective and rationale of the technical assistance activity, 
including, if possible, an estimation of the resources needed or on offer (e.g., 
financial or man -hours)14: 
...............................................................................................................................  
                                                
13 For needs: if there is difficulty in establishing which Articles of the TBT Agreement are rele vant, it is 
recommended that the "Needs assessment" and/or "Awareness raising" box be crossed under Point 4.  Under 
Point 2 it may then be sufficient to cross the "Other" box and indicate "General".  
14 This description should explain how this activity is in tended to enhance implementation of specific 
provision(s) of the TBT  Agreement listed in Point 2.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  4.  
 
 
 Nature and timing of technical assistance activity needed or on offer (key words):  
Type of assistance  
[ ... ]  Awareness raisi ng  
[ ... ]  Needs assessment  
[ ... ]  Skills training  
[ ... ]  Infrastructure development  
[ ... ]  Other: 
................................................................................................................  
Policy area covered  
[ ... ]  Technical re gulations  
[ ... ]  Conformity assessment procedures  
[ ... ]  Standardization  
[ ... ]  Information exchange  
[ ... ]  Other: 
................................................................................................................  
Mode of delivery  
[ ... ] Workshop, seminar or other event  
[ ... ]  Project -based activity  
[ ... ]  Other: 
...............................................................................................................  
Dates  
[ ... ]  Envisaged start date for activity: ........... ...........................................................  
[ ... ]  Estimated duration: ..........................................................................................  
 
5.
 
  
 
 Further information available from:  
[ ... ]  National enquiry point.  
[ ... ]  Other contact point 15:......................................................................................  
[ ... ]  Other reference16:...........................................................................................  
 
 
_______________  
 
 
                                                
15 Name of a contact person with telephone and e -mail address.  
16 For example an Internet address, or the address of a body other than that of the Enquiry Point .  For 
response notifications, this space could be used to make reference to previous relevant submissions or 
statements made in the TBT  Committee (or other body).  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  7  FORMAT FOR NOTIFICAT IONS RELATED TO THE CODE OF GOOD PRACTIC E FOR THE 
PREPARATION, ADOPTIO N AND APPLICATION OF  STANDARDS CONTAINED IN ANNEX 3 
OF THE WTO TBT AGREE MENT  
7.1  Notification of acceptance of the WTO TBT Code of Good Practice (Paragraph C) to 
the WTO  Secretariat  
  
  
G/TBT/CS/N/  
 
Date 
(00-0000)  Page:  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade    
 
 
 
 
Under paragraph C of the Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and 
Application of Standards contained in Annex 3 to the WTO Agreement o n Technical Barriers to 
Trade, "Standardizing bodies that have accepted or withdrawn from this Code shall notify this fact 
to the ISO/IEC Information Centre in Geneva." The following notification conveyed to the 
Secretariat from the ISO/IEC Information Cen tre is being circulated for the information of 
Members.  
NOTIFICATION  
UNDER PARAGRAPH C OF  THE WTO TBT CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE  
NOTIFICATION OF ACCE PTANCE  
Country/Customs Territory/Regional Arrangement:       
Name of standardizing body:        
Address of standardizing body:        
Telephone:       Fax:        
E-mail:       Internet:       
Type of standardizing body:  
[   ] central governmental  [   ] local governmental  [   ] non -governmental  
Scope of current and expected standardization activities:        
Date:       
 
 
_______________  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  7.2  Notification of acceptance and of existence of work progr amme under the WTO TBT 
Code of Good Practice (Paragraph C and J) to the ISO/IEC Information Centre 17 
Form A  
 
*WTO - World Trade Organization, TBT - Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade  
                                                
17 Forms A, B and C can be downloaded from the WTO ISO Standards Information Gateway 
https://tbtcode.iso.org/sites/wto -tbt/home.html . G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 73 - 
 
  Form B  
 G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 74 - 
 
  Form C  
G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 75 - 
 
  PART 2: RULES OF PRO CEDURE FOR THE MEETI NGS OF  THE WTO COMMITTEE ON  
TECHNICAL BARRIERS T O TRADE AND GUIDELIN ES FOR OBSERVER STAT US FOR 
GOVERNMENTS AND INTE RNATIONAL INTERGOVER NMENTAL ORGANIZATION S 
Decision  
a. In 1995, the Committee adopted the following Rules of Procedure, including Guidelines 
for Observ er Status for Governments (Annex  A, below) and International 
Intergovernmental Organizations in the WTO (Annex  B, below)1:  
 
CHAPTER I - Meetings  
 
Rule 1 
 
 The Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (hereinafter the Committee) shall meet as 
necessary, bu t not less than once a year.  
 
Rule 2 
 
 Meetings of the Committee shall be convened by the Director -General by a notice issued, 
preferably three weeks, and in any event not less than ten calendar days, prior to the date set for 
the meeting. In the event tha t the tenth day falls on a weekend or a holiday, the notice shall be 
issued no later than the preceding WTO working day. Meetings may be convened with shorter 
notice for matters of significant importance or urgency at the request of a Member concurred in b y 
the majority of the Members.  
 
CHAPTER II - Agenda  
 
Rule 3 
 
 A list of the items proposed for the agenda of the meeting shall be communicated to 
Members together with the convening notice for the meeting. It shall be open to any Member to 
suggest items fo r inclusion in the proposed agenda up to, and not including, the day on which the 
notice of the meeting is to be issued.  
 
Rule 4 
 
 Requests for items to be placed on the agenda of a forthcoming meeting shall be 
communicated to the Secretariat in writing, t ogether with the accompanying documentation to be 
issued in connection with that item. Documentation for consideration at a meeting shall be 
circulated not later than the day on which the notice of the meeting is to be issued.  
 
Rule 5 
 
 (Will not apply)  
 
Rule 6 
 
 The first item of business at each meeting shall be the consideration and approval of the 
agenda. Representatives may suggest amendments to the proposed agenda, or additions to the 
agenda under "Other Business". Representatives shall provide the Ch airperson or the Secretariat, 
and the other Members directly concerned, whenever possible, advance notice of items intended to 
be raised under "Other Business".  
 
Rule 7 
 
 The Committee may amend the agenda or give priority to certain items at any time in t he 
course of the meeting.  
 
                                                
1 G/TBT/M/1, 28 June 1995, para. 13. G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 76 - 
 
  CHAPTER III - Representation  
 
Rule 8 
 
 Each Member shall be represented by an accredited representative.  
 
Rule 9 
 
 Each representative may be accompanied by such alternates and advisers as the 
representative may require.  
 
CHAPTER  IV - Observers  
 
Rule 10 
 
 Representatives of States or separate customs territories may attend the meetings as 
observers on the invitation of the Committee in accordance with the guidelines in Annex  1 to these 
Rules.  
 
Rule 11  
 
 Representatives of internat ional intergovernmental organizations may attend the meetings 
as observers on the invitation of the Committee in accordance with the guidelines in Annex  2 to 
these Rules.  
 
CHAPTER V - Officers  
 
Rule 12  
 
 The Committee shall elect a Chairperson2 and may ele ct a Vice -Chairperson from among the 
representatives of Members. The election shall take place at the first meeting of the year and shall 
take effect at the end of the meeting. The Chairperson and Vice -Chairperson shall hold office until 
the end of the fir st meeting of the following year.  
 
Rule 13  
 
 If the Chairperson is absent from any meeting or part thereof, the Vice -Chairperson shall 
perform the functions of the Chairperson. If no Vice -Chairperson was elected or if the 
Vice-Chairperson is not present, t he Committee shall elect an interim Chairperson for that meeting 
or that part of the meeting.  
 
Rule 14  
 
 If the Chairperson can no longer perform the functions of the office, the Committee shall 
designate the Vice -Chairperson referred to in Rule 12 or, if no Vice -Chairperson was elected it shall 
elect an interim Chairperson to perform those functions pending the election of a new Chairperson.  
 
Rule 15 
 
 The Chairperson shall normally participate in the proceedings as such and not as the 
representative of a Member. The Chairperson may, however, at any time request permission to act 
in either capacity.  
                                                
2 The Committee shall apply the relevant guidelines contained in the "Guidelines for Appointment of 
Officers to WT O Bodies" (WT/L/31 dated 7 February 1995).  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 77 - 
 
  CHAPTER VI - Conduct of Business  
 
Rule 16 
 
 The Chairperson may consider postponing a meeting in the event that he or she feels that 
doing so may result in a m ore representative level of participation by WTO Members.  
 
Rule 17 
 
 In addition to exercising the powers conferred elsewhere by these rules, the Chairperson 
shall declare the opening and closing of each meeting, shall direct the discussion, accord the rig ht 
to speak, submit questions for decision, announce decisions, rule on points of order and, subject to 
these rules, have complete control of the proceedings. The Chairperson may also call a speaker to 
order if the remarks of the speaker are not relevant.  
 
Rule 18 
 
 During the discussion of any matter, a representative may raise a point of order. In this case 
the Chairperson shall immediately state the ruling. If the ruling is challenged, the Chairperson 
shall immediately submit it for decision and it shall  stand unless overruled.  
 
Rule 19 
 
 During the discussion of any matter, a representative may move the adjournment of the 
debate. Any such motion shall have priority. In addition to the proponent of the motion, one 
representative may be allowed to speak in  favour of, and two representatives against, the motion, 
after which the motion shall be submitted for decision immediately.  
 
Rule 20 
 
 A representative may at any time move the closure of the debate. In addition to the 
proponent of the motion, not more th an one representative may be granted permission to speak in 
favour of the motion and not more than two representatives may be granted permission to speak 
against the motion, after which the motion shall be submitted for decision immediately.  
 
Rule 21 
 
 During the course of the debate, the Chairperson may announce the list of speakers and, 
with the consent of the meeting, declare the list closed. The Chairperson may, however, accord 
the right of reply to any representative if a speech delivered after the lis t has been declared closed 
makes this desirable.  
 
Rule 22 
 
 The Chairperson, with the consent of the meeting, may limit the time allowed to each 
speaker.  
 
Rule 23 
 
 Representatives shall endeavour, to the extent that a situation permits, to keep their oral  
statements brief. Representatives wishing to develop their position on a particular matter in fuller 
detail may circulate a written statement for distribution to Members, the summary of which, at the 
representative's request, may be reflected in the recor ds of the Committee.  
 
Rule 24 
 
 In order to expedite the conduct of business, the Chairperson may invite representatives 
that wish to express their support for a given proposal to show their hands, in order to be duly 
recorded in the records of the Committ ee as supporting statements; thus, only representatives 
with dissenting views or wishing to make explicit points or proposals would actually be invited to 
make a statement. This procedure shall only be applied in order to avoid undue repetition of points 
already made, and will not preclude any representative who so wishes from taking the floor.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 78 - 
 
  Rule 25 
 
 Representatives should avoid unduly long debates under "Other Business". Discussions on 
substantive issues under "Other Business" shall be avoided, and the  Committee shall limit itself to 
taking note of the announcement by the sponsoring delegation, as well as any reactions to such an 
announcement by other delegations directly concerned.  
 
Rule 26 
 
 While the Committee is not expected to take action in respe ct of an item introduced as 
"Other Business", nothing shall prevent the Committee, if it so decides, to take action in respect of 
any such item at a particular meeting, or in respect of any item for which documentation was not 
circulated at least ten calen dar days in advance.  
 
Rule 27 
 
 Representatives should make every effort to avoid the repetition of a full debate at each 
meeting on any issue that has already been fully debated in the past and on which there appears 
to have been no change in Members' pos itions already on record.  
 
Rule 28 
 
 Proposals and amendments to proposals shall normally be introduced in writing and 
circulated to all representatives not later than twelve hours before the commencement of the 
meeting at which they are to be discussed.  
 
Rule 29 
 
 If two or more proposals are moved relating to the same question, the meeting shall first 
decide on the most far -reaching proposal and then on the next most far -reaching proposal and so 
on. 
 
 
Rule 30 
 
 When an amendment is moved to a proposal, th e amendment shall be submitted for 
decision first and, if it is adopted, the amended proposal shall then be submitted for decision.  
 
Rule 31 
 
 When two or more amendments are moved to a proposal, the meeting shall decide first on 
the amendment farthest rem oved in substance from the original proposal, then, if necessary, on 
the amendment next farthest removed, and so on until all the amendments have been submitted 
for decision.  
 
Rule 32 
 
 Parts of a proposal may be decided on separately if a representative r equests that the 
proposal be divided.  
 
CHAPTER VII - Decision -Making  
 
Rule 33  
 
 Where a decision cannot be arrived at by consensus, the matter at issue shall be referred to 
the Council for Trade in Goods.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
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  Rule 34  
 
 (Will not apply)  
 
CHAPTER VIII - Langua ges 
 
Rule 35 
 
 English, French and Spanish shall be the working languages.  
 
CHAPTER IX - Records  
 
Rule 36 
 
 Records of the discussions of the Committee shall be in the form of minutes.3 
 
CHAPTER X - Publicity of Meetings  
 
Rule 37 
 
 The meetings of the Comm ittee shall ordinarily be held in private. It may be decided that a 
particular meeting or meetings should be held in public.  
 
 
Rule 38 
 
 After a private meeting has been held, the Chairperson may issue a communiqué to the 
Press.  
 
CHAPTER XI - Revision  
 
Rule 39 
 
 The Committee may decide at any time to revise these rules or any part of them.  
 
                                                
3 The customary practice under the GATT 1947, whereby representatives may, upon their request, 
verify those portions of the draft records containing their statements, prior to the issuance of such records, 
shall b e continued.  G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 80 - 
 
   
Annex A 
 
Guidelines for Observer Status for Governments in the WTO  
 
 The purpose of observer status in the General Council and its subsidiary bodies is to allow a 
government to better acquaint itself with the WTO and its activities, and to prepare and initiate 
negotiations for accession to the WTO  Agreement.  
 
 Observer governments shall have access to the main WTO document series. They may also 
request technical assist ance from the Secretariat in relation to the operation of the WTO system in 
general, as well as to negotiations on accession to the WTO Agreement.  
 
 Representatives of governments accorded observer status may be invited to speak at 
meetings of the bodies to which they are observers normally after Members of that body have 
spoken. The right to speak does not include the right to make proposals, unless a government is 
specifically invited to do so, nor to participate in decision -making.  
 
 
_______________  
 
 G/TBT/1/Rev.13  
 
- 81 - 
 
   
Annex B  
 
Guidelines for Observer Status for International  
Intergovernmental Organizations in the WTO1 
 
 The purpose of observer status for international intergovernmental organizations 
(hereinafter referred to as "organizations") in the WTO is to enable these organizations to follow 
discussions therein on matters of direct interest to them.  
 
 Requests for observer status shall accordingly be considered from organizations which have 
competence and a direct interest in trade policy matters, or which,  pursu ant to paragraph  V:1 of 
the WTO Agreement, have responsibilities related to those of the WTO.  
 
 Requests for observer status shall be made in writing to the WTO body in which such status 
is sought, and shall indicate the nature of the work of the organizat ion and the reasons for its 
interest in being accorded such status.  
 
 Requests for observer status shall be considered on a case -by-case basis by each WTO body 
to which such a request is addressed, taking into account such factors as the nature of work of  the 
organization concerned, the nature of its membership, the number of WTO Members in the 
organization,  reciprocity with respect to access to proceedings, documents and other aspects of 
observership, and whether the organization has been associated in th e past with the work of the 
CONTRACTING PARTIES to GATT 1947.  
 
 In addition to organizations that request, and are granted, observer status, other 
organizations may attend meetings of the Ministerial Conference, the General Council or subsidiary 
bodies on the specific invitation of the Ministerial Conference, the General Council or the subsidiary 
body concerned, as the case may be. Invitations may also be extended, as appropriate and on a 
case-by-case basis, to specific organizations to follow particular is sues within a body in an 
observer capacity.  
 
 Organizations with which the WTO has entered into a formal arrangement for cooperation 
and consultation shall be accorded observer status in such bodies as may be determined by that 
arrangement.  
 
 Organizatio ns accorded observer status in a particular WTO body shall not automatically be 
accorded such status in other WTO bodies.  
 
 Representatives of organizations accorded observer status may be invited to speak at 
meetings of the bodies to which they are obser vers normally after Members of that body have 
spoken. The right to speak does not include the right to circulate papers or to make proposals, 
unless an organization is specifically invited to do so, nor to participate in decision -making.  
 
 Observer organiz ations shall receive copies of the main WTO documents series and of other 
documents series relating to the work of the subsidiary bodies which they attend as observers. 
They may receive such additional documents as may be specified by the terms of any form al 
arrangements for cooperation between them and the WTO.  
 
 If for any one -year period after the date of the grant of observer status, there has been no 
attendance by the observer organization, such status shall cease.  
 
 
__________  
 
 
 
                                                
1 These guidelines shall apply also to other organizations referred to by name in the WTO Agreement.