G/TBT/GEN/245  
 
25 April 2018  
(18-2596) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS E CONOMIC COMMISSION F OR EUROPE (UNECE) 
RELATED TO THE WORK OF THE WTO TBT COMMI TTEE  
STATEMENT BY UNECE  
This document contains information provided by UNECE  at the TBT Committee meeting of 
21-22 March 2018 under Agenda Item 5 (Observers).  
 
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1.  UNECE would like to recall that the organization hosts several standards setting bodies – 
including the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) and UN/CEFACT 
among othe rs. Additionally, a unique body, the Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and 
Standardization Policies – or Working Party 6 - develops and shares best practice in the area of 
technical regulations, standardization policies, and policies related to quali ty infrastructure as well 
as conformity assessment and market surveillance. It encourages and supports regulatory 
cooperation among members in specific sectors, such as the equipment used in installations with a 
high risk of explosion.  
2.  The 27th session of  the Working Party 6 will took place from 28 to 30 November. The session 
was held back to back to an International  Conference on "Standards for the Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs) ".  
3.  The Conference opened with a High Level Panel with leaders from majo r standards bodies that 
shared their views on how standards can further the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for 
Sustainable Development. It then looked at how standards help achieve specific SDG Goals:  
 standards for the empowerment of women and girls (G oal 5)  
 standards to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (SDG Goal 12), in 
particular as relates to the apparel and clothing industry;  
 standards for the sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for 
sustainable development " (SDG Goal 14).  
4.  A publication reflecting the background, proceedings and outcome of the Conference report are 
available online : 
http://www.unece.org/fileadm in/DAM/trade/wp6/documents/2017/Conference_Report.pdf   
5.  The Working Party session then follow ed, with in particular, of potential interest to member 
states, panels on:  
 Managing risks within regulatory systems  
 Education on standards and standards -related is sues  
 Regional and international regulatory cooperation  
 Challenges to market surveillance for market surveillance authorities  G/TBT/GEN/245  
 
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  6.  Member States agreed to create an Advisory Board that will work with the Bureau to support 
and monitor the activities of the Work ing Party.   
7.  The Working Party adopted the new Recommendation T on "Standards and Regulations for 
Sustainable Development". The recommendation provides guidance to member states on how to 
use risk management tools in regulatory frameworks to implement SDGs.  
8.  The Working Party also launched a new initiative on cybersecurity which aims at addressing 
various risks posed to the cybersecurity environment, and focus on the aspect of conformity 
assessment.   
9.  A technical cooperation project "Strengthening the national  capacity of trade -support 
institutions of Kyrgyzstan " is under way by the secretariat of the Working Party. The project is 
based on the UNECE Needs Assessment Study on Regulatory and Procedural  Barriers  to Trade in 
Kyrgyzstan from 2015.  
10.  The project has d eveloped training materials including train the trainer training materials on 
the topics of risk management in regulatory systems, conformity assessment and market 
surveillance.  
11.  I would also like to mention an event and research project that the United Nat ions is pursuing 
in cooperation with standards organizations in the area of standardization and sustainable 
development . 
12.  The event, co -organized by UNECE , ISO and other standards organizations as well as other 
UN Agencies in Geneva, will focus on "Standard s for the SDGs ". It will be held on 26 September 
2018. The event is a follow up to the November 2017 Conference on the same topic mentioned 
earlier . It will capitalize on the presence in Geneva of more than 400 representatives of the 
standards community ga thered for the ISO General Assembly.  
13.  We hope to attract policymakers from the UNECE region and beyond to the event, to promote 
the value of standards for the realization of the SDG goals by countries and communities.  
14.  UNECE would like to invite interested  delegations present at this Committee to be in contact 
with the Secretariat if they wish to have a role in the organization of event . 
 
  
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