G/TBT/N/BWA/37  
 
27 November 2013  
(13-6484)  Page: 1/3  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member:  BOTSWANA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Botswana WTO-TBT Enquiry  Point 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :   
Botswana Bureau of Standards Information Centre 
Private Bag B0 48 
Gaborone Botswana Tel : (+267) 3903200 
Fax:(+267)3903120 
Toll Free Number: (0800 600 900) E-mail: infoc@hq.bobstandards.bw  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 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):  
13 A plugs, socket-outlets, adaptors and connection units (ICS 29.120.30). 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  13 A plugs, 
socket-outlets, adaptors and connection units Part 3: Adaptors - Specification (70 pages, in English).  
6. Description of content:  This part of Botswana Standard specifies requirements for 
adaptors having insulating sleeves on the line and neutral plug pins and suitable for use 
with socket-outlets complying with BOS 41: Part 2, with particular reference to safety in 
normal use. Adaptors specified in this part of Botswana Standard are intended for household, commercial and light industrial purposes. The adaptors are suitable for the 
connection of portable appliances, sound vision equipment, luminaries, etc, in a.c. 
circuits only, operating at voltages not exceeding 250 V r.m.s at 50 Hz. 
Assemblies comprising a plug and one or more portable socket-outlets connected 
together by flexible cord or cable are not considered to be adaptors according to this 
part of Botswana Standard. Devices incorporating switches, transformers, timers, themostats or other control means are outside the scope of this Botswana Standard. 
NOTE 1:  In order to maintain safety and interchangeability with plugs and socket-
outlets it is necessary that these products comply with the requirements of clauses 10, 
13 and clause 14, however their body outline need not be limited at a distance of 6.35 mm from the engagement face. 
NOTE 2:  Requirements for electromagnetic compatibility are not given for the following 
reasons: G/TBT/N/BWA/37 
 
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  - An adaptor does not emit intolerable electromagnetic interference since significant 
electromagnetic disturbances are only generated during insertion and withdrawal, which are not continuous; 
- An adaptor is mechanical by nature of construction. The product is therefore 
immune from electromagnetic interference. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Safety.  
8. Relevant documents:    
- BS 219:1977, Specification for soft solders. - BS 546, Specification, Two-pole and earthing-pin plugs, socket-outlets and socket-
outlets adaptors. 
- BS 646, Specification, Cartridge fuse-links (rated up to 5 amperes) for a.c. and 
d.c. service 
- BS 1362, Specification for general purpose fuse links for domestic and similar 
purposes (primarily for use in plugs). 
- BOS 41, 13 A plugs, socket-outlets, adaptors and connection units - BOS 41-1, Specification for rewireable and non-rewireable 13A fused plugs. 
- BOS 41-2, Specification for 13A switched and unswitched socket-outlets. 
- BS 1363-4 Specification for 13 A fused connection units: Switched and 
unswitched. 
- BS 2572, Specification for phenolic laminated sheet and epoxy cotton fabric 
laminated sheet. 
- BS 2782, Methods of testing plastics - BS 2782-3, Mechanical properties. 
- BS 2782, Method 365C: 1992, Determination of Rockwell hardness. 
- BS 2870, Specification for rolled copper and copper alloys: sheet, strip and foil - BS 3042, Test probes to verify protection by enclosures. 
- BS 4573, Specification for 2-pin reversible plugs and shaver sockets-outlets 
- BS 4662, Specification for boxes for the enclosure of electrical accessories. - BS 5216, Specification for patented cold drawn steel wire for mechanical springs. - BS 5901, Method of test for determining the comparative and the proof tracking 
indices of solid insulating materials under moist conditions. 
- BS 6004, Specification for PVC - insulated cables (non-armoured) for electric 
power and lighting. 
- BS 6217, Guide to graphical symbols for use on electrical equipment 
- BS 6458, Fire hazard testing for electrotechnical products. - BS 6458-2: Methods of test. 
- BS 6458, Section 2.1, Glow-wire test. 
- BS 6500:1994, Specification for insulated flexible cords and cables.   
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    To be determined To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:  2 months from date of dispatch. G/TBT/N/BWA/37 
 
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  11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [ X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body:    
Botswana Bureau of Stan dards Information Centre 
Private Bag B0 48 
Gaborone Botswana 
Tel:  (+267) 3903200 
Fax:(+267)3903120 Toll Free Number: (0800 600 900)  
Email:  infoc@hq.bobstandards.bw