G/TBT/35  
 
24 June 2014  
(14-3649)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade 
  
 
  
COHERENT USE OF NOTIFICATION FORMATS 
RECOMMENDATION 
Adopted at the meeting of 18-19 June 2014 
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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 notification
1 to notify the draft text of a proposed 
technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure (hereafter referred to as 
the "notified measure"). If the notified measure is associated with a previously 
notified measure (e.g. amending or supplementing an adopted measure, or replacing a withdrawn or revoked measure)
2, the symbol(s) of the associated 
notified measure(s) should be indicated in Box 8 of the new notification. 
Addenda3 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 original 
notification or have been changed. Members are encouraged to indicate how 
the final text of the measure can be obtained, including website address; 
 The notified measure is withdrawn or revoked. If replaced with a new 
measure, where possible, the symbol of the corresponding new notification 
should be indicated; 
 The content or scope of a notified measure is partially changed or amended. 
In this case, Members should consider opening a new comment period; 
 Interpretive guidance is issued; and 
 Any other useful and relevant additional information directly related to a 
notification or notified measure has been made available that does not 
qualify as a corrigenda, revision or supplement. 
                                               
1 A "notification" refers to the o fficial WTO document which is part of document series "G/TBT/N/[three 
digit country code]/#". 
2 Note: The WTO Secretariat is exploring the feasibilit y 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). 
3 Note: The option of a new addenda format with a list of tick boxes could be annexed to this 
recommendation. G/TBT/35 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Type Description 
Corrigenda Members should use a corrigendum to correct minor administrative or clerical 
errors (which do not entail any changes to the meaning of the content) in: 
 a notification or subsequent related addendum or revision; and 
 the text of the notified measure. 
Revision Members should use a revision to indicate that the notified measure has been 
substantially re-drafted prior to adoption or entry into force. A revision replaces 
the original notification. A revision should normally open a new comment period. 
Supplement Members should use a supplement to  notify the availability of unofficial 
translations of notified measures.4 
 
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4 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 
Translations. Further information is contained in G/TBT/GEN/66.