G/TBT/N/USA/1568  
22 January 2020  
(20-0573) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AME RICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) [1595]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated i f different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [X], 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):  Railroad 
safety, brake systems; Quality (ICS 03.120), Mechanical testing (ICS 19.060), Railway 
rolling stock (ICS 45.060)  
5. Title, numbe r of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Miscellaneous 
Amendments to Brake System Safety Standards and Codification of Waivers (26 page(s), 
in English)  
6. Description of content:  Notice of proposed rulemaking - FRA is proposing to revise its 
regulations governing brake inspections, tests, and equipment. The proposed changes 
include the incorporation of relief from various provisions provided in long -standing 
waivers related to single car air brake tests, end -of train devices, helper service, an d brake 
maintenance. FRA is also proposing to extend the time that freight rail equipment can be 
"off-air" before requiring a new brake inspection. In addition, FRA is proposing various 
modifications to the existing brake related regulations for clarity an d to remove outdated 
or unnecessary provisions. The proposed revisions would benefit railroads and the public 
by reducing unnecessary costs, creating consistency between U.S. and Canadian 
regulations, and incorporating the use of newer technologies demonst rated to maintain or 
increase safety. The proposed rule would reduce the overall regulatory burden on 
railroads.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of human health or safety; Harmonization; Cos t saving and 
productivity enhancement  
8. Relevant documents:   
•  85 Federal Register (FR) 2494, 15 January 2020; Title 49 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Parts 218, 221 and 232:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-01-15/html/2019 -27749.htm  
https://www.go vinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2020-01-15/pdf/2019 -27749.pdf  
•  Background information, including a Proposed Regulatory Impact Analysis, 
available from Regualtions.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FRA -
2018-0093 G/TBT/N/USA/1568  
 
- 2 - 
 
  •  G/TBT/N/USA/391  Proposed Rule on Electronically Controlled Pneumatic Brake 
Systems; related information available at 
https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FRA -2006-26175  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  16 March 2020  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2020/TBT/USA/20_0574_00_e.pdf