G/TBT/36
23 February 2015
(15-1042)  Page: 1/48
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade   
 
 
TWENTIETH ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND 
OPERATION OF THE TBT AGREEMENT 
 
NOTE BY THE SECRETARIAT1 
 
 
The WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (the Committee) will conduct its 
Twentieth Annual Review of the Implementati on and Operation of the WTO Agreement on 
Technical Barriers to Trade (the TBT Agreement) under Article 15.3 at its next meeting on 18-19 
March 2015. This document contains information on developments in the Committee relating to 
the implementation and operation of the TBT Ag reement from 1 January to 31 December 2014.  
 
 
_______________ 
 
 
                                               
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the position of Members or to thei r rights and obligati ons under the WTO. G/TBT/36 
 
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  TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
1   MEETINGS OF  THE COMMITTEE ................................................................................... 3  
2   MECHANISMS FOR REVI EW OF TBT MEASURES ........................................................... 3  
2.1   Notifications of technical regulation s and conformity asse ssment procedures ...................... 3  
2.1.1   Trends in new notifications and fo llow-up (addenda, corri genda, revision) ....................... 3  
2.1.2   Members' engageme nt in notifications ....................................................................... 6  
2.1.3   Notifications by regi on and developm ent stat us ........................................................... 7  
2.1.4   Comment period prov ided in notifications ................................................................... 9  
2.1.5   Online submission of  notifications (TBT NSS) ............................................................. 10 
2.1.6   Stated objectives of notifications .............................................................................. 11 
2.1.7   Other TB T Notifications ........................................................................................... 12 
2.2   Specific Trad e Concerns (STCs) .................................................................................. 13 
2.2.1   Trends in STCs ...................................................................................................... 13 
2.2.2   Members' engagement in STCs ................................................................................ 15 
2.2.3   STCs by region and developmen t stat us .................................................................... 17 
2.2.4   Types of concer ns raised in STCs ............................................................................. 20 
2.2.5   Stated objectives of measures subject to STCs ........................................................... 21 
2.2.6   Frequency – the number of times a given STC is raised in the Committee ...................... 22 
2.2.7   Relationship between  notification s and STCs .............................................................. 23 
3   DISPUTES INVOLVING PROVIS IONS OF THE TBT AGREEMENT .................................. 24  
4   TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ........................................................................................... 24  
ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................ 27  
A. Notifications by Member, 1995-2014 ............................................................................... 27 
B. Summary of STCs  Raised in 2014  ................................................................................... 34 
C. Overview of new STCs raised in 2014 .............................................................................. 41 G/TBT/36 
 
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1  MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE 
1.1.  The Committee elected2 Mr. Filipe Ramalheira (Portugal) as its Chairperson for 2014. 
1.2.  Three regular meetings were held (19-20 March, 18-19 June and 5-6 November 2014).3 
There was record engagement of Members in the review of TBT measures during the year, with 
the highest number of TBT notifications submitted (2,239) and new specific trade concerns (STCs) raised (47) in any given year since 1995.
4  Developing Members notified 80% of new notifications 
in 2014, and raised more STCs than developed Members during the year (contrary to the general 
trend since 1995). 
1.3.  Back-to-back with the regular meetings, the Committee held thematic sessions on various 
cross-cutting issues related to the operation an d implementation of the Agreement, including: 
Standards5, Good Regulatory Practice6, Transparency7, Conformity Assessment Procedures8, and 
Technical Assistance and Special and Differential Treatment.9 
1.4.  On 19-20 March 2014, the Committee adopted it s report of the Nineteenth Annual Review of 
the Implementation and Operation of the TBT Agreement under Article 15.3.10 At the same 
meeting, the Committee carried out the Nineteenth A nnual Review of the Code of Good Practice for 
the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards (hereafter 'the Code'). 
1.5.  At the meeting of 18-19 June 2014, the Committee adopted a recommendation on coherent 
use of notification formats (G/TBT/35). 
1.6.  At the 5-6 November 2014 meeting, the Committee granted ad hoc observer status to the 
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) St andardization Organization (GSO).11 
1.7.  Representatives of the BIPM, Codex, IEC, ISO, ITC, UNECE and WHO updated the Committee 
on activities relevant to the work of the TB T Committee, including on technical assistance.  
2  MECHANISMS FOR RE VIEW OF TBT MEASURES12 
2.1  Notifications of technical regulati ons and conformity assessment procedures 
2.1.1  Trends in new notifications an d follow-up (addenda, corrigenda, revision) 
2.1.  In 2014, Members submitted 1,535 new notifications (including 29 revisions) of technical 
regulations and conformity assessment proc edures. 619 addenda and 56 corrigenda to 
notifications were also submitted (Chart 1).13 In total, 2,239 TBT notifications were submitted in 
2014, the most in a single year since the entry into force of the Agreement on 1 January 1995. Since 2007, Members have submitted more than 1,000 notifications annually with that figure 
increasing to 1,500 since 2012 (Chart 2). Since the entry into force of the Agreement up to 
31 December 2014, 18,886 new notifications, 4,379 addenda and corrigenda, and 148 revisions have been submitted by 126 Members. 
                                               
2 Pursuant to Article 13.1 of the TBT Agreement and to its Rules of Procedure. 
3 G/TBT/M/62-64. 
4 http://tbtims.wto.org/  
5 The Chairman's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/144/Add.1. 
6 The Chairman's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/143/Add.2. 
7 The Chairman's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/167. 
8 The Chairman's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/174. 
9 The Chairman's report is contained in G/TBT/GEN/174. 
10 G/TBT/34 
11 G/TBT/GEN/2/Rev.7. 
12 The data for the graphs in this section are dr awn from the TBT IMS, more detail is contained in 
Annex  A. 
13 This document uses the terminology adopted by the TBT Committee in the recommendation on 
"Coherent use of notification formats", G/TBT/35, 18 June 2014. G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 1: Total TBT notifications, 1995-2014 
 
Chart 2: New notifications, 1995-2014 
 
2.2.  Over the last ten years there has been  a marked growth in the use of addenda and 
corrigenda, with a record 675 notified in 2014 (Chart 3). The US (1,027), Brazil (462), Ecuador (435), Colombia (310) and the EU (303) have notified the most addenda and corrigenda since 
1995. 
G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 3: Addenda and corrigenda notified, 1995-2014 
 
 
2.3.  While the number of revisions has also grown, this format is used infrequently (Chart 4). 
China (25), Brazil (17), Canada (14), the Dominican Republic (10) and Korea (9) have notified 
most revisions since 1995. 
Chart 4: Revisions notified, 1995-2014 
 
 
2.4.  The share of new notifications to which one (or more) addendum, corrigendum, or revision 
was submitted increased by around 25% over the years 2008-2011 (Chart 5). More recently 
(2012-2014), this share decreased from around  15% to 13%. Since follow-up notifications 
(addenda, corrigenda and revisions) are counted in the year which their parent notification was issued, this decrease may reflect a time lag between a new notification and subsequent follow-up, according to the lifecycle of measures within Members' domestic regulatory processes. 
G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 5: Share of TBT notifications subject to follow-up notifications (Addenda, 
Corrigenda, or Revisions), 1995-201414 
 
 
2.1.2  Members' engagement in notifications 
2.5.  The ten Members that submitted the most  TBT notifications in 2014 (Chinese Taipei and 
Kuwait both notified 62 measures) are shown in Chart 6. Some Members were more active in 
submitting follow-up to previous notifications, while others submitted more new notifications.  
Chart 6: Most active notifying Members, 2014 
 
                                               
14 Follow-up notifications (addenda, corrigenda and revi sions) are counted in the year that their parent 
new notification was issued, not the year in which they were issued. 
G/TBT/36 
 
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  2.6.  From a historical perspective, the most active notifying Members in 2014 contrast with the 
trends observed over the period 1995-2013 (Chart 7). Some Members were particularly active in 2014; For example, Ecuador, the United Arab Emirates, Chinese Taipei, and Kuwait do not figure in the most active notifying Members since 1995. Other Members that have historically been the 
most active were less so in 2014 (e.g. China and Japan did not figure amongst the most active 
notifying Members in 2014).  
 
Chart 7: Most active notifying Members, 1995-2013, and 2014 
 
2.1.3  Notifications by region and development status 
2.7.  The number of new notifications submitted by Members grouped by region is presented in 
Charts 8 and 9. More than half the new notifi cations in 2014 were submitted by Members from 
Middle East and South and Central America and Caribbean regions (Chart 8). Compared to 
previous years, Members in the South and Centra l America and Caribbean region increased their 
level of new notifications in 2014 (Chart 8). Grow th in the number of new notifications submitted 
by Members in the Middle East region is one driver of the overall increase in new notifications since 
2009 (Chart 8).  
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Chart 8: Distribution of new notifications by region, 2014 
 
 
 
Chart 9: Number of new notifications by region, 1995-2014 
 
 
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  2.8.  Developing Members continued to submit significantly more new notifications in 2014 than 
developed Members (Chart 10). In 2014, new notifications from developing Members represented 80% of the total (Chart 11). Least-developed country Members (LDCs) notified less frequently and in 2014 notifications from this group declined.
15  
Chart 10: New notifications by development status, 1995-2014 
 
 
 
Chart 11: New notifications, by development status, 2014 
 
 
 
2.1.4  Comment period provided in notifications 
2.9.  The Committee has recommended that the normal time-limit for presentation of comments 
on notified technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures should be 60 days, and 
that any Member able to provide more than 60 days (such as 90 days) is encouraged to do so.16 In 
                                               
15 The LDC which has notified most since 1995 is Uganda (456). Other LDCs notify much less 
frequently: Tanzania (44), Zambia (44) and Rwanda (36). All other LD Cs have submitted 12 or fewer new 
notifications since 1995. 
16 G/TBT/1/Rev.12,  Section 4.3.1.6, page 23-24. 
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  2014, Members on average provided 60 days for comments in the 1,345 cases where notifications 
specified a comment period (Chart 12). In to tal, 190 notifications did not specify a comment 
period, stated it as non-applicable, or had a comment period which had lapsed.  
Chart 12: Average number of days allowed for comments, 1995-201417 
 
 
2.1.5  Online submission of notifications (TBT NSS) 
2.10.  The TBT Committee formally launched the on line TBT notification submission system (TBT 
NSS) at the 30-31 October 2013 TBT Committee meeting.18 In 2014, a total of 779 notifications 
were submitted through the TBT NSS by 23 Members (Chart 13), representing 35% of the annual 
notification volume. Online submission has facilitated the submission and processing of 
notifications, leading to more rapid circulation and increasing the time available to Members to submit comments on notifications of interest. The Secretariat continued to prioritize processing of notifications received through the TBT NSS during 2014. 
                                               
17 This chart covers only those notifications that specify a comment period. The chart does not take into 
account notifications where the comment period was not sp ecified, was stated as non-applicable, or had lapsed 
at the time of circulation ("lapsed" means that the deadli ne for comments stated on the notification was earlier 
than the date of circulation of the notification). 
18 G/TBT/M/61, Section 2.3.3.2, page 49. G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 13: Members submitting noti fications through TBT NSS, 2014 
 
Member Total TBT notifications 
submitted through 
TBT NSS 
United States 176 
Brazil 120 
European Union 87 
Canada 61 
Israel 50 
Kenya 37 
Korea 35 
Indonesia 32 
Rwanda 30 
South Africa 29 
Japan 26 
Uganda 19 
Chile 17 
Turkey 17 
United Arab Emirates 15 
Malaysia 10 
Czech Republic 5 
Georgia 5 
Ireland 2 
Sweden 2 
Ukraine 2 
Germany 1 
United Kingdom 1 
Total 779 
 2.1.6  Stated objectiv es of notifications 
2.11.  Chart 14 shows that amongst the 1,535 new notifications received in 2014, the objective of 
protection of human health or safety was pr edominately cited by Members, followed by: 
prevention of deceptive practices and consumer protection; protection of the environment; and 
quality requirements. These main objectives are consistent with the overall trend since 1995 
(Chart 15).  G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 14: Notifications by objective, 201419 
 
Chart 15: Notifications by objective, 1995-201419 
 
 
 
2.1.7  Other TBT Notifications 
2.1.7.1  Notifications under Article 10.7 
2.12.  In 2014, one agreement was notified under  Article 10.7 between the Slovak Republic and 
Ukraine. Since the entry into force of the TBT Agreement, Members have submitted 140 notifications under Article 10.7 along with 6 corrigenda.  
                                               
19 The objectives as indicated by Members in Item  7 of the new notification template. Note that 
notifications may cite to multiple objectives. 
G/TBT/36 
 
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  2.1.7.2  Notifications under Article 15.2  
2.13.  In 2014, five notifications were made under  Article 15.2 of the TBT Agreement of changes in 
measures to ensure the implementation and ad ministration of the TBT Agreement. Mali and 
Tajikistan notified for the first time under Article 15.2, while Canada, Switzerland and Ukraine 
submitted revised statements.20 
2.1.7.3  Notifications under the Code of Good  Practice for the preparation, adoption and 
application of standards ("Code of Good Practice") 
2.14.  In 2014, The Gambia notified acceptance of the Code of Good Practice, and no standardizing 
body withdrew. Since the entry into force of the Agreement and through December 2014, 164 
standardizing bodies from 125 Members have no tified acceptance of the Code of Good 
Practice.21 Document G/TBT/CS/2/Rev.21 contains a list, by Member, of standardizing bodies that 
have accepted the Code of Good Practice since 1 January 1995 through December 2014.22 
2.2  Specific Trade Concerns (STCs) 2.15.  Since its first meeting, Members have used the TBT Committee as a forum to discuss trade 
issues related to technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures and standards 
maintained by other Members. These discussions are referred to as "specific trade concerns" (STCs) and relate either to proposed measures, or to measures currently in force. TBT Committee 
meetings afford Members the opportunity to review STCs in a multilateral setting, to seek further 
clarification on the measures in question, and to work towards mutually acceptable solutions. 
2.2.1  Trends in STCs 2.16.  In 2014 a record of 47 new STCs were raised, the most in any given year since 1995 (Chart 
16).
23 In addition, 38 previously raised STCs were  discussed during the year. (Annex B contains a 
full list, Annex C provides details on new STCs raised in 2014). 
                                               
20 The full list of statements of Members having submitted a statement on implementation and 
administration of the TBT Agreement under Article 15.2 (since January 1995) is contained in document G/TBT/GEN/1/Rev.13. The new statements were rece ived from Tajikistan (G/TBT/2/Add.112) and Mali 
(G/TBT/2/Add.113). Ukraine (G/TBT/2/Add.100/Rev.3), Switzerland (G/TBT/2/Add.7/Rev.2) and Canada (G/TBT/2/Add.6/Rev.3) submitted a revision to their statements. 
21 Notifications of acceptance of the Code by standardizing bodies of Members are contained in  
documents G/TBT/CS/N/1-183.  
22 The ISO/IEC Information Centre prepares the WT O TBT Standards Code Dire ctory which lists all  
standardizing bodies that have notified  their acceptance of the Code. See: 
http://www.standardsinfo.net/info/inttrade.html  
23 More detail on specific trade concerns raised in  the TBT Committee is available through the TBT IMS 
(http://tbtims.wto.org ). G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 16: STCs raised, 1995-201424 
 
2.17.  Chart 17 illustrates, in a different way, the number of STCs discussed at each Committee 
meeting over the past ten years. The figures in Chart 17 are greater than those in Chart 16, since 
the latter only counts a "previously raised" STC once even though it may have been raised at all 
three regular meetings of any given year.25 This shows that the total number of STCs discussed 
annually has grown significantly between 2005 and 2014 (from 33 to 148). This upward trend has 
meant that the Committee has used an increased amount of meeting time discussing STCs (only around 11 STCs were discussed per meeting in 2005 while that figure was 49 in 2014).  
                                               
24 New STCs are those which are raised  for the first time in a given ye ar. Previous STCs are those which 
were first raised in any past year, and we re re-raised in the year in question.  
25 In other words, in Chart 16 if the same STC is rais ed at multiple Committee meetings during the year, 
it is counted as only one STC. In Chart 17, an STC is counted each time it is rais ed at a Committee meeting – 
this figure thus more accurate ly reflects the time used by the Committee to discuss STCs. 
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  Chart 17: STCs discussed per committee meeting, 2005-2014 
 
2.2.2  Members' engagement in STCs 
2.18.  The Members that most frequently raised STCs in 2014 were the EU, the US and Canada, 
following the general trend since 1995 (Charts 18 and 19). Ukraine was particularly active in 2014, 
raising six specific trade concerns in just one year, whereas it had only raised five STCs before 
2014. 
Charts 18: Members most frequently raising STCs, 201426 
 
                                               
26 This chart indicates the number of new STCs in respect of which a Member has expressed concern 
(e.g. the EU expressed concern with respect to 16 different new STCs in 2014). This chart includes only those Members that have raised concern with respect to three or more new STCs during the year. 
G/TBT/36 
 
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Charts 19: Members most frequently raising STCs, 1995-201327 
 
2.19.  Between the years 1995-2013, measures of  the EU, China and the USA have been most 
frequently subject to concerns raised by other Members. In 2014, Ecuador and the Russian 
Federation were subject to a significant number of STCs, marking a break in the trend since 1995 
(Charts 20 and 21). In six of the eleven new STCs raised against Ecuador, transparency-related issues were cited as a concern. The majority (five of six) of the STCs with measures maintained by 
the Russian Federation were raised by Ukraine.  
                                               
27 This chart indicates the number of STCs in resp ect of which a Member has expressed concern (e.g. 
the US expressed concern with respect to 172 different STCs from 1995-2013). This chart includes only those Members that have raised concern with respect to thir ty-two or more STCs during  the period in question. 
G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 20: Members most frequently subject to STCs, 201428 
 
Chart 21: Members most frequently subject to STCs, 1995-201329 
 
2.2.3  STCs by region and development status 
2.20.  Members that have raised or been subjec t to STCs in the TBT Committee grouped by region 
and development status are presented in Charts 22 to 25. Members from the Asia, Europe and the 
North American regions raise most STCs, and are also most often subject to STCs (Chart 22 and 
23). Members from South and Central America and the Caribbean region are also subject to, and 
have raised, a notable number of STCs since 1995. In 2014, Members in South and Central 
                                               
28 This chart indicates the number of times that a Me mber was subject to a STC raised by one or more 
Member(s). This chart includes only those Members subject to two STCs or more during 2014.  
29 This chart indicates the number of times that a Me mber was subject to a STC raised by one or more 
Member(s). This chart includes only those Member s subject to ten STCs or more between 1995-2013.  
G/TBT/36 
 
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  America, and the Caribbean region were subject to  15 STCs, the most of any regional group (Chart 
22). Members from Africa, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Middle East regions are less frequently subject to and active in raising STCs. 
Chart 22: STCs by region, 2014
30 
 
 
                                               
30 "Subject to STCs" indicates that a measure of a Member in a given region has been subject to a STC 
raised by one or more Member(s). Note that this category totals to 47, reflecting the breakdown of the 47 new 
STCs raised in 2014, by region of the Member that was subject to the STC. "STCs Raised" indicates the number 
of times that a Member in a given region raised concern with respect to a STC in 2014. A given STC may be raised by several Members. 
G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 23: STCs by region, 1995-201331 
 
2.21.  Since 1995, developed Members have raised the majority of STCs. However, in 2014, 
developing countries raised more concerns than developed Members (Chart 24). Since 1995, as well as in 2014, developing Members were more frequently subject to STCs (Chart 25). No 
measures of LDC Members have been subject to STCs (Chart 25). 
Chart 24: STCs raised, by development status, 1995-2014
32 
 
 
                                               
31 "Subject to STCs" indicates that a measure of a Member in a given region has been subject to a STC 
raised by one or more Member(s). Note that this category totals to 47, reflecting the breakdown of the 47 new STCs raised in 2014, by region of the Member that was subject to the STC. "STCs Raised" indicates the number 
of times that a Member in a given region raised concern with respect to a STC in 2014. A given STC may be 
raised by several Members. 
32 "STCs Raised" indicates the number of times that a Member of a given development status raised a 
concern with respect to a STC. A given ST C may be raised by several Members.  
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  Chart 25: Subject to STCs, by development status, 1995–201433 
 
2.2.4  Types of concerns raised in STCs  
2.22.  In 2014 the most frequently invoked concerns were those relating to the avoidance of 
unnecessary barriers to trade, slightly different from the long term trend (Chart 26). Issues relating to further information or clarification about the measure at issue and to transparency (or lack thereof) were also frequent, as were concerns about the rationale for measures or the use of 
relevant international standards.   
                                               
33 "Subject to STCs" indicates that  a measure of a Member of a gi ven development status has been 
subject to a STC raised by one or more  Member(s). Note that this category  totals 47, reflecting the breakdown 
of the 47 new STCs raised in 2014 by development status of the Member subject to the STC. 
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  Chart 26: Types of concerns raised, 1995-2013, and 201434 
 
 
2.2.5  Stated objectives of measures subject to STCs 
2.23.  Information about the stated objective of measures subject to STCs may be derived from 
the notification itself, or through the discussion of the particular measure in the Committee. Since 1995, the most commonly stated objectives of measures raised as STCs relate to the protection of human health and safety. This was also valid for 2014 (see Chart 27). Protection of the 
environment, an objective cited in many measures raising concern since 1995, was cited less 
frequently in 2014. The category 'other' (in Chart 27) covers a wide range of stated objectives including trade facilitation, enhancing the effectiveness of conformity assessment, or avoiding 
entry of illegal products. For some STCs, the objective is not readily apparent from discussions and 
there is no notification; these stated objectives have been classified as "not specified".  
                                               
34 For each specific trade concern covered there may be more than one type of concern raised. 
G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 27: Stated objectives for the measures raised as STCs, 1995-2013, and 201435 
 
2.2.6  Frequency – the number of times a given STC is raised in the Committee 
2.24.  Most STCs (61%) have been raised at one or two Committee meetings. Some (25%) have 
been raised between three and five times in Committee meetings, while a small number (14%) 
have been raised at 6 or more meetings (Chart 28), and have been the agenda of the Committee 
for several years.  
Chart 28: Frequency of STCs (num ber of meetings raised), 1995-2014 
 
 
                                               
35 For each specific trade concern there may be more than one stated objective. 
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  2.2.7  Relationship between notifications and STCs 
2.25.  Chart 30 illustrates the relationship between the number of new notifications and new STCs 
raised each year. In 2014, 62% of STCs discussed relate to notified measures, slightly lower than the overall share since 1995 of 66%.
36 
Chart 30: Trends in notifications and STCs 
 
2.26.  Of those STCs that relate to notified measures, measures notified as technical regulations 
(Article 2.9.2) have been most frequently discussed (Chart 31). 
Chart 31: Measures raised in STCs, 1995-2014, by frequency37 
 
 
 
 
                                               
36 Eight specific trade concerns discussed in the TBT Committee were also notified to the SPS Committee. 
37 Some measures have been notified both as technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, and 
some concerns have been raised against multiple notifi ed measures. Chart 31 counts each time an Article cited 
in a notified measures is raised as an STC. 
G/TBT/36 
 
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  3  DISPUTES INVOLVING PROVISIONS OF THE TBT AGREEMENT  
3.1.  Since 1995, 50 disputes have cited the TBT Agreement in their respective requests for 
consultations, the first formal step to initiate a WTO case. In 2014, one such request was lodged concerning certain Indonesian measures affecting exports of chicken meat and products.  Other 
developments during the year included: the circulat ion of the appellate body report in two disputes 
involving EU measures regulating seal products; the circulation of a compliance panel ruling with respect to the original dispute over US country of origin labelling regulations for meats (still under 
appeal); the establishment of a panel to decide about the compliance with ruling on US measures 
on canned tuna labelling; the settlement ending compliance panel proceedings with respect to a ruling on a US tobacco control measure banning flavoured cigarettes; and the establishment of a single panel to decide on five disputes launched in 2013 against Australia's tobacco control 
measures ("plain packaging").
38 
4  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  4.1.  The Secretariat significantly increased its TBT-related technical assistance activities in 2014. 
A total of 14 workshops were organized specifical ly on the TBT Agreement. Four of these were 
Regional
39 Workshops (beneficiaries appear in green in Chart 32) and ten were national40 events 
(red) of which one was related to an accession process and three of which were joint TBT-SPS 
events. The programme of these events was design ed to assist participating economies from the 
region – or individual economies (for the nati onal events) – to consolidate knowledge of the 
principles and disciplines of the TBT Agreement,  discuss implementation-related challenges and 
better engage in the work of the TBT Committee. In  the national workshops, emphasis was put on 
transparency and national coordination. In total, participants from 80 developing country Members 
or Observers benefited from TBT-specific technical assistance activities in 2014. 
                                               
38 More detailed information on disputes is available on:  
https://www.wto.org/en glish/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_a greements_index_e.htm?id=A22  
39 These regional workshops were held in: Brazil (for  the Latin American Region), Namibia (for English-
speaking African Region), Austria (for the Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia  and the Caucasus Region) 
and UAE (for the Arab and Middle East Region).  
40 These national workshops were held  in: Brazil, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, El Salvador (joint TBT 
and SPS), Lao (PDR), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (joint TBT and SPS), Seychelles (accession related), Tanzania (joint TBT and SPS) and Uruguay. G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 32: TBT-specific Technical Assistance in 201441 
 
 
 
 
4.2.  In addition to the TBT-specific activities illustrated above (Chart 32), the Secretariat provided 
training on the TBT Agreement at three Geneva-based Advanced Trade Policy Courses as well as at 
seven regional trade policy courses. This is illustrated in Chart 33 (host countries in dark blue and beneficiaries in light blue). In total, participants from 112 developing country Members or Observer benefited from these activities in 2014. 
 
                                               
41 The colours, boundaries and names shown and the de signations used on these maps do not imply and 
judgment, official endorsement or acce ptance by the World Trade Organization as to the legal status or frontier 
of any territory. This map intends to  make information on WTO Members mo re accessible by organizing such 
information visually. The map does not intend to show WTO Members' non-metropolitan/overseas territories or 
the status of such territories in  regard to the WTO Agreement. A full disclaimer is available at: 
http://www.wto.org/english/info_e/disclaimer_e.htm . G/TBT/36 
 
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  Chart 33: Regional and Advance Trade Policy Courses with a TBT Component in 201442 
 
 
 
4.3.  Also, in 2014, three distance learning courses specifically on the TBT Agreement were held. A 
total of 222 participants successfully completed these courses (95 participants in English, 86 
participants in French, and 41 participants in Spanish).43 
 
 
                                               
42 The colours, boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these maps do not imply any 
judgment, official endorsement or acce ptance by the World Trade Organization as to the legal status or frontier 
of any territory. This map intends to  make information on WTO Members mo re accessible by organizing such 
information visually. The map does not intend to show WTO Members' non-metropolitan/overseas territories or 
the status of such territories in  regard to the WTO Agreement. A full disclaimer is available here: 
http://www.wto.org/english/info_e/disclaimer_e.htm . 
43 The TBT-online course is addressed to governme nt officials from Members and Observers and covers 
all aspects of the TBT Agreement. The TBT online cour se is available throughout the year in all three 
languages. While the WTO E-Learning material is freely available in the WTO E-Learning website, participants 
have to register and submit a nomination form in orde r to participate in a monito red course, access the exam 
module and obtain a WTO certificate.  More inform ation can be obtained at http://ecampus.wto.org/. 
 G/TBT/36 
 
- 27 - 
 
   
ANNEXES 
A. Notifications by Member, 1995-2014 
Member New 
Notifications 
2014 Addenda and 
Corrigenda 
2014 Revisions 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
1995 - 2014 
Albania 0 0 0 0 66 
Angola 0 0 0 0 0 
Antigua and 
Barbuda 0 0 0 0 0 
Argentina 1 4 0 5 543 
Armenia 0 0 0 0 78 
Australia 4 1 0 5 208 
Austria 0 0 0 0 4 
Bahrain, Kingdom 
of 53 0 0 53 387 
Bangladesh      
Barbados 0 0 0 0 10 
Belgium 0 0 0 0 210 
Belize 0 0 0 0 5 
Benin 0 0 0 0 2 
Bolivia, 
Plurinational 
State of 2 0 0 2 24 
Botswana 0 0 0 0 38 
Brazil 51 66 11 130 1210 
Brunei 
Darussalam 0 0 0 0 2 
Bulgaria 0 0 0 0 0 
Burkina Faso 0 0 0 0 0 
Burundi 0 0 0 0 1 
Cabo Verde 0 0 0 0 0 
Cambodia 0 0 0 0 3 
Cameroon 0 0 0 0 8 G/TBT/36 
 
- 28 - 
 
  Member New 
Notifications 
2014 Addenda and 
Corrigenda 
2014 Revisions 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
1995 - 2014 
Canada 29 35 2 66 854 
Central African 
Republic 0 0 0 0 10 
Chad 0 0 0 0 0 
Chile 44 13 0 57 451 
China 47 2 0 49 1131 
Colombia 10 15 0 25 561 
Congo 0 0 0 0 3 
Costa Rica 6 3 0 9 204 
Côte d'Ivoire 0 0 0 0 0 
Croatia 1 0 0 1 39 
Cuba 7 1 0 8 20 
Cyprus 0 0 0 0 1 
Czech Republic 12 1 0 13 325 
Democratic 
Republic of the 
Congo 0 0 0 0 0 
Denmark 3 0 0 3 251 
Djibouti 0 0 0 0 0 
Dominica 0 0 0 0 11 
Dominican 
Republic 0 0 0 0 266 
Ecuador 154 266 0 420 723 
Egypt 21 7 0 28 83 
El Salvador 7 1 0 8 262 
Estonia 0 0 0 0 11 
European Union 81 6 1 88 1174 
Fiji 0 0 0 0 1 
Finland 0 0 0 0 74 
France 6 0 0 6 225 G/TBT/36 
 
- 29 - 
 
  Member New 
Notifications 
2014 Addenda and 
Corrigenda 
2014 Revisions 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
1995 - 2014 
Gabon 0 0 0 0 0 
Georgia 13 0 0 13 88 
Germany 0 0 1 1 23 
Ghana 1 0 2 3 12 
Greece 0 0 0 0 0 
Grenada 1 0 0 1 17 
Guatemala 3 0 0 3 108 
Guinea 1 0 0 1 1 
Guinea-Buissau 0 0 0 0 0 
Guyana 0 0 0 0 20 
Haiti 1 0 0 1 1 
Honduras 4 0 0 4 95 
Hong Kong, 
China 2 0 0 2 89 
Hungary 3 0 0 3 31 
Iceland 0 0 0 0 2 
India 0 0 0 0 106 
Indonesia 9 23 0 32 181 
Ireland 1 1 0 2 2 
Israel 81 16 0 97 978 
Italy 0 0 0 0 26 
Jamaica 7 0 0 7 77 
Japan 26 2 0 28 750 
Jordan 0 0 0 0 48 
Kenya 42 1 0 43 453 
Korea, Republic 
of 84 0 1 85 685 
Kuwait, the State 
of 60 1 1 62 267 
Kyrgyz Republic 0 0 0 0 33 G/TBT/36 
 
- 30 - 
 
  Member New 
Notifications 
2014 Addenda and 
Corrigenda 
2014 Revisions 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
1995 - 2014 
Lao People's 
Democratic 
Republic 1 0 0 1 1 
Latvia 1 0 0 1 32 
Lesotho 0 0 0 0 0 
Liechtenstein 0 0 0 0 0 
Lithuania 3 1 0 4 28 
Luxembourg 0 0 0 0 0 
Macao, China 0 0 0 0 6 
Madagascar 0 0 0 0 0 
Malawi 0 0 0 0 0 
Malaysia 17 2 1 20 218 
Maldives      
Mali 0 0 0 0 2 
Malta 0 0 0 0 0 
Mauritania 0 0 0 0 0 
Mauritius 1 0 0 1 4 
Mexico 12 27 0 39 763 
Moldova, 
Republic of 4 0 0 4 25 
Mongolia 0 0 0 0 6 
Montenegro 0 0 0 0 0 
Morocco 0 0 0 0 26 
Mozambique 1 0 0 1 9 
Myanmar 1 0 0 1 1 
Namibia 0 0 0 0 0 
Nepal 0 0 0 0 4 
Netherlands 0 0 0 0 632 
New Zealand 3 3 0 6 130 
Nicaragua 11 0 0 11 169 G/TBT/36 
 
- 31 - 
 
  Member New 
Notifications 
2014 Addenda and 
Corrigenda 
2014 Revisions 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
1995 - 2014 
Niger 0 0 0 0 0 
Nigeria 0 0 0 0 1 
Norway 2 0 0 2 87 
Oman 49 1 0 50 203 
Pakistan 0 0 0 0 57 
Panama 44 1 0 45 86 
Papua New 
Guinea 0 0 0 0 1 
Paraguay 8 7 0 15 95 
Peru 11 1 0 12 77 
Philippines 11 2 0 13 252 
Poland 0 0 0 0 8 
Portugal 0 0 0 0 1 
Qatar 52 0 2 54 406 
Romania 0 0 0 0 94 
Russian 
Federation 13 0 0 13 41 
Rwanda 29 4 0 33 41 
Saint Kitts and 
Nevis 0 0 0 0 0 
Saint Lucia 0 0 0 0 51 
Saint Vincent and 
the Grenadines 0 0 0 0 13 
Samoa 0 0 0 0 0 
Saudi Arabia, 
Kingdom of 114 1 2 117 833 
Senegal 0 0 0 0 12 
Sierra Leone 0 0 0 0 0 
Singapore 3 3 0 6 42 
Slovak Republic 0 0 0 0 54 
Slovenia 0 0 0 0 103 G/TBT/36 
 
- 32 - 
 
  Member New 
Notifications 
2014 Addenda and 
Corrigenda 
2014 Revisions 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
1995 - 2014 
Solomon Islands 0 0 0 0 0 
South Africa 12 17 4 33 279 
Spain 0 0 0 0 69 
Sri Lanka 1 0 0 1 47 
Suriname 0 0 0 0 0 
Swaziland 0 0 0 0 1 
Sweden 2 0 0 2 226 
Switzerland 11 0 0 11 269 
Chinese Taipei 39 23 0 62 247 
Tajikistan 0 0 0 0 0 
Tanzania 0 0 0 0 45 
Thailand 10 1 0 11 597 
The former 
Yugoslav 
Republic of 
Macedonia 0 0 0 0 8 
The Gambia 2 0 0 2 2 
Togo 0 0 0 0 2 
Tonga 0 0 0 0 0 
Trinidad and 
Tobago 2 0 0 2 127 
Tunisia 0 0 0 0 27 
Turkey 15 1 1 17 72 
Uganda 19 0 0 19 440 
Ukraine 5 0 0 5 145 
United Arab 
Emirates 63 2 0 65 247 
United Kingdom 1 0 0 1 47 
United States of 
America 69 112 0 181 2176 
Uruguay 0 0 0 0 7 G/TBT/36 
 
- 33 - 
 
  Member New 
Notifications 
2014 Addenda and 
Corrigenda 
2014 Revisions 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
2014 Total 
Notifications 
1995 - 2014 
Vanuatu 0 0 0 0 0 
Venezuela, 
Bolivarian 
Republic of 0 0 0 0 35 
Viet Nam 15 1 0 16 56 
Yemen 0 0 0 0 0 
Zambia 0 0 0 0 44 
Zimbabwe 0 0 0 0 0 
TOTAL 1535 675 29 2239 23401 
 G/TBT/36 
 
- 34 - 
 
   
B. Summary of STCs Raised in 2014 
The following table lists the 85 specific trade concerns raised in the TBT Committee during 2014. 
The second column contains the name of specific  trade concern, and in parentheses, its unique 
identification number in the online TBT IMS (IMS ID).1 
The specific trade concerns are sorted according to the following criteria, in descending order (first 
by date, then frequency, then Members):  
a. Date: date of meeting when the specific trade concern was last raised (in reverse 
chronological order);  
b. Frequency : number of meetings at which the specific trade concern has been raised; 
and  
c. Members : number of Members that have expressed concern about the measure since it 
was first raised.  
 
 STC title (a) Date (b) Frequency (c) Members 
1 India - Pneumatic tyres and tubes for 
automotive vehicles (ID 133)  5 November 2014 25 4 
2 India - Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 
2007 (ID 167) 5 November 2014 18 3 
3 China - Provisions for the 
Administration of Cosmetics Application Acceptance (ID 296) 5 November 2014 13 5 
4 India - New Telecommunications 
related Rules (Department of 
Telecommunications, No. 842-
725/2005-VAS/Vol.III (3 December 
2009); No. 10-15/2009-AS-III/193 
(18 March 2010); and Nos. 10-
15/2009-AS.III/Vol.II/(Pt.)/(25-29) 
(28 July 2010); Department of 
Telecommunications, No. 10-
15/2009-AS.III/Vol.II/(Pt.)/(30) (28 
July 2010) and accompanying 
template, "Security and Business 
Continuity Agreement") (ID 274) 5 November 2014 13 4 
5 China - Requirements for information 
security products, including, inter 
alia, the Office of State Commercial Cryptography Administration 
(OSCCA) 1999 Regulation on 
commercial encryption products and its on-going revision and the Multi-Level Protection Scheme (MLPS) (ID 
294) 5 November 2014 12 5 
6 Russian Federation - Draft on 
Technical Regulation of Alcohol 
Drinks Safety (published on  24 
October 2011) (ID 332) 5 November 2014 9 7 
7 Korea - Regulation on Registration 
and Evaluation of Chemical Material 
(ID 305) 5 November 2014 9 5 
                                               
1 To access additional information related to an ST C enter the IMS ID number into the 'item number' 
field of the TBT IMS 'specific trade concern' search ( http://tbtims.wto.org/web/pa ges/search/stc/Search.aspx ). G/TBT/36 
 
- 35 - 
 
   STC title (a) Date (b) Frequency (c) Members 
8 Indonesia - Technical Guidelines for 
the Implementation of the Adoption 
and Supervision of Indonesian 
National Standards for Obligatory 
Toy Safety (ID 328) 5 November 2014 9 3 
9 India - Food Safety and Standards 
Regulation - Food labelling requirements (ID 298) 5 November 2014 7 6 
10 European Union - Draft 
Implementing Regulations amending 
Regulation (EC) No. 607/2009 laying 
down detailed rules for the 
application of Council Regulation 
(EC) No 479/2008 as regards 
protected designations of origin and 
geographical indications, traditional 
terms, labelling and presentation of 
certain wine sector products (ID 
345) 5 November 2014 7 6 
11 Chile - Proposed amendment to the 
Food Health Regulations, Supreme Decree No. 977/96 (ID 370) 5 November 2014 6 12 
12 India - Electronics and Information 
Technology Goods (Requirements for 
Compulsory Registration) Order, 
2012 (ID 367) 5 November 2014 6 7 
13 Australia - Tobacco Plain Packaging 
Bill 2011 (ID 304) 5 November 2014 5 22 
14 Peru - Act to Promote Healthy Eating 
Among Children and Adolescents (ID 
383) 5 November 2014 5 8 
15 Indonesia - Ministry of Health 
Regulation 30/2013 on the inclusion 
of sugar, salt and fat content information, as well as health 
messages on the label of processed 
foods (ID 389) 5 November 2014 5 6 
16 European Union - Revised Proposal 
for the Categorization of Compounds 
as Endocrine Disruptors of 19 
February 2013 by DG Environment 
(ID 393) 5 November 2014 5 3 
17 Ireland - Proposal to introduce 
standardised / plain packaging of tobacco products in Ireland (ID 380) 5 November 2014 4 10 
18 Ecuador - Resolution establishing the 
"General conformity assessment 
framework for Ecuador" and the 
"Handbook of procedures to be 
observed prior to all stages of the 
customs clearance, marketing and 
market surveillance of manufactured, 
imported and marketed goods 
subject to Ecuadorian technical 
regulations (ID 398) 5 November 2014 4 8 
19 Russian Federation - Measure 
affecting import of Ukrainian confectionary products (ID 399) 5 November 2014 4 1 G/TBT/36 
 
- 36 - 
 
   STC title (a) Date (b) Frequency (c) Members 
20 Ecuador - Resolution No. 116 of the 
Foreign Trade Committee of Ecuador 
of 19 November 2013 and Technical 
Regulation of the Ecuadorian 
Standardization Institute RTE INEN 
022 on the labelling of processed 
and packaged food products (ID 
411) 5 November 2014 3 11 
21 France - Recycling Triman Mark: 
"Draft Decree on a common set of symbols informing the consumer about recyclable products subject to 
a system of extended producer 
responsibility associated with waste sorting instructions" (ID 420) 5 November 2014 3 4 
22 Russian Federation - Safety of 
products for children and adolescents 
(ID 418) 5 November 2014 3 3 
23 India - Labelling Regulations for 
Canola Oil (ID 413) 5 November 2014 3 2 
24 Egypt - Bottled water (ID 421) 5 November 2014 3 1 
25 United Kingdom - Proposal to 
introduce plain packaging of tobacco 
products (ID 424)  5 November 2014 2 9 
26 Thailand - Draft Notification of the 
Alcoholic Beverages Control, Re: 
Rules, Procedure and condition for 
Labels of Alcoholic Beverages, issued 
under B.E. (ID 427) 5 November 2014 2 8 
27 Indonesia - Regulation of Minister of 
Trade No. 10/M-DAG/PER/1/2014 concerning Amendment of 
Regulation of Minister of Trade No. 
67/M-DAG/PER/11/2013 concerning Affixed Mandatory Label in 
Indonesian Language for Goods (ID 
436) 5 November 2014 2 4 
28  China - Regulations for the 
Supervision and Administration of 
Medical Devices (Order No. 650 of 
the State Council) (ID 428) 5 November 2014 2 3 
29 Ecuador - Draft Technical Regulation 
of the Ecuadorian Standardization 
Institute (PRTE INEN) No. 189: "Labelling of alcoholic beverages" (ID 
433) 5 November 2014 2 3 
30 China - Safety Requirement for 
Lithium Ion Cells and Batteries used 
in Portable Electronic Equipment (ID 
425) 5 November 2014 2 2 
31 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Certificate 
of Conformity (not notified) and GSO 
marking requirements for toys (ID 
435) 5 November 2014 2 2 
32 Russian Federation - Measure 
affecting import of Ukrainian dairy 
products (ID 426) (ID 426) 5 November 2014 2 1 G/TBT/36 
 
- 37 - 
 
   STC title (a) Date (b) Frequency (c) Members 
33 European Union - Proposal for a 
Directive of the European Parliament 
and of the Council amending 
Directive 96/53/EC of 25 July 1996 laying down for certain road vehicles 
circulating within the Community the 
maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and 
the maximum authorised weights in 
international traffic (COM(2013) 195 final) (ID 434) 5 November 2014 2 1 
34 France - Proposal to introduce plain 
packaging of tobacco products (ID 
441) 5 November 2014 1 9 
35 Mexico - Draft Mexican Official 
Standard PROY NOM 142 SSA1/SCFI 
2013: Alcoholic beverages. Health specifications. Health and 
commercial labelling (ID 445) 5 November 2014 1 3 
36 South Africa - Labelling and 
advertising of pre-packaged foodstuff 
(ID 446) 5 November 2014 1 2 
37 Russia - Draft of the Eurasian 
Economic Commission Collegium decision on amendments to Common 
sanitary-epidemiological and 
hygienic requirements for products, subjected to sanitary-epidemiological 
supervision (control) (ID 452) 5 November 2014 1 2 
38 Ecuador - Equivalence Agreement N° 
14.241 with the European Union 
regulations (ID 453) 5 November 2014 1 2 
39 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Decree of 
the Saudi Arabian Ministerial Council on the sale and marketing of energy 
drinks of 4 March 2014 (ID 442) 5 November 2014 1 2 
40 Brazil - Draft Technical Resolution nº 
69, 9 September 2014, Regarding 
the Requirement of Describing the 
Chemical Composition, in 
Portuguese, in the Label of Personal 
Hygiene Products, Cosmetics and 
Perfumes (ID 443) 5 November 2014 1 1 
41 China - National Standard of the 
P.R.C., Safety Technical 
Specifications for Children's Footwear 
(ID 444) 5 November 2014 1 1 
42 United States - Tire Identification 
and Recordkeeping (ID 438) 5 November 2014 1 1 
43 Russian Federation - Measure 
affecting imports of Ukrainian juice products (ID 439) 5 November 2014 1 1 
44 Russian Federation - Measure 
affecting imports of Ukrainian beer 
products (ID 440) 5 November 2014 1 1 
45 Ecuador - Draft Technical Regulation 
of the Ecuadorian Standardization Institute (RTE INEN) No. 047:  
"Metal cable tray, electrical conduit 
and trunking systems") (ID 453) 5 November 2014 1 1 G/TBT/36 
 
- 38 - 
 
   STC title (a) Date (b) Frequency (c) Members 
46 Ecuador - (PRTE INEN) No. 111: 
Energy efficiency. Clothes dryers. 
Labellin g (ID 455) 5 November 2014 1 1 
47 Israel - Resistance to ignition of 
mattresses, mattress pads, divans 
and bed bases (ID 447) 5 November 2014 1 1 
48 European Union - Common Criteria 
for Information Technology Security 
Evaluation (Common Criteria) 
certification in the EU (448) 5 November 2014 1 1 
49 European Union - Limits for 
hexavalent chromium in toys 
(2009/48/EC) (ID 449) 5 November 2014 1 1 
50 European Union - Standard on safety 
of household and similar electrical 
appliances (EN60335-1:2012) (ID 
450) 5 November 2014 1 1 
51 European Union - Regulation (EU) No 
1169/2011 of the European 
Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers, amending Regulations 
(EC) No 1924/2006 and (EC) No 
1925/2006, and repealing Commission Directive 87/250/EEC, 
Council Directive 90/496/EEC, 
Commission Directive 1999/10/EC. 2002/67/EC and 2008/5/EC and 
Commission Regulation (EC) No 
608/2004 (ID 451) 5 November 2014 1 1 
52 European Communities - Regulation  
on the Registration, Evaluation and 
Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) 
(ID 88) 18 June 2014 35 34 
53 China - China Food and Drug 
Administration (CFDA) EMC 
Enforcement Notice for medical devices of 19 December 2012 (ID 
387) 18 June 2014 4 2 
54 Peru - Implementing Regulations of 
14 November 2012 for Moratorium 
on Planting Genetically Engineered 
Crops (ID 392)  18 June 2014 4 1 
55 Ecuador - Resolution No. SENAE-
DGN-2013-0300-RE relating to post 
entry control of imported alcoholic 
beverages (ID 394)  18 June 2014 3 4 
56 Italy - Testing requirement on import 
of steel cutlery products (ID 395) 18 June 2014 3 1 
57 Thailand - Draft Thai Industrial 
Standard for Ceramic Tiles (TIS 2508-2555) (ID 401)  18 June 2014 3 1 
58 Ecuador - Ministry of Public Health 
Executive Decree (Agreement) No. 
00004522 amending the Sanitary 
Regulations for the Labelling of 
Processed Foods for Human 
Consumption (ID 416)  18 June 2014 2 4 G/TBT/36 
 
- 39 - 
 
   STC title (a) Date (b) Frequency (c) Members 
59 China - China Food and Drug 
Administration (CFDA) Notice 191 of 
16 December 2013 – Free Sales 
Certificate for Imported Cosmetics (ID 415) 18 June 2014 2 3 
60 Ecuador - Draft Technical Regulation 
of the Ecuadorian Standardization 
Institute (PRTE INEN) No. 103: 
"Sugar confectionery" (ID 423) 18 June 2014 2 1 
61 European Union - Regulation (EU) No 
1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 
October 2011 on the provision of 
food information to consumers establishes the general principles, 
requirements and responsibilities 
governing food information, and in particular food labelling (ID 431) 18 June 2014 1 2 
62 Colombia - Draft Ministry of 
Commerce, Industry and Tourism 
Decree "Restructuring the National 
Quality Subsystem and amending 
Decree No. 2269 of 1993"  (ID 432)  18 June 2014 1 2 
63 Brazil - Higher Risk Medical Devices 
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) 
Certification (ID 429) 18 June 2014 1 1 
64 United States - Formaldehyde; 
Emissions Standards for Composite 
Wood Products; Third-Party 
Certification Framework for the 
Formaldehyde Standards for 
Composite Wood Products (ID 430)  18 June 2014 1 1 
65 Republic of Moldova - Tobacco (IMS 
ID 437) 18 June 2014 1 1 
66 Korea - KS C IEC61646:2007 
Standard for Thin-film Solar Panels 
(IMS ID 271) 19 March 2014 11 2 
67 European Union - Directive 
2009/28/CE, Renewable Energy 
Directive (EU - RED) (ID 307) 19 March 2014 7 4 
68 Kenya - Alcohol Labelling: The 
Alcoholic Drinks Control (Licensing) 
Regulations, 2010: Legal Notice No. 
206: 2010 (ID 311) 19 March 2014 6 3 
69 China - Testing and certification 
requirements for medical devices (ID 
143) 19 March 2014 6 3 
70 Brazil - Draft ANVISA Resolution on 
used, refurbished, rented and lent 
medical devices (ID 362) 19 March 2014 5 2 
71 European Union - Tobacco products, 
nicotine containing products and 
herbal products for smoking. 
Packaging for retail sale of any of the aforementioned products (ID 377)   19 March 2014 4 14 
72 New Zealand - Proposal to introduce 
plain packaging of tobacco products 
in New Zealand (ID 361) (ID 361) 19 March 2014 4 12 G/TBT/36 
 
- 40 - 
 
   STC title (a) Date (b) Frequency (c) Members 
73 Indonesia - Ministry of Trade 
Regulation 82/M-DAG/PER/12/2012 
on imported cell phones, handheld 
and tablet computers (ID 388) 19 March 2014 3 3 
74 European Union - Proposal for a 
Regulation on Fluorinated 
Greenhouse Gases (ID 391) 19 March 2014 3 3 
75 Turkey - Draft Communiqué on 
Warning Messages Placed on 
Containers of Alcoholic Beverages; and, Draft Regulation Amending the Regulation on Procedures and 
Principles Concerning Domestic and 
Foreign Trading of Alcohol and Alcoholic Beverages (ID 407) 19 March 2014 2 4 
76 United States - EPA Palm Oil Biofuels 
Regulatory Program (ID 408) 19 March 2014 2 2 
77 Mexico - Draft Mexican Official 
Standard PROY-NOM-032-ENER-
2013: Maximum electrical power limits for equipment and appliances requiring standby power. Test 
methods and labelling (ID 406) 19 March 2014 2 2 
78 Chile - Safety for Printers and Energy 
Efficiency for Printers (ID 403) (ID 
403) 19 March 2014 2 1 
79 Ecuador - Systematic failure to 
publish notices at an early 
appropriate stage (ID 414) 19 March 2014 1 6 
80 Ecuador - Cosmetic products (ID 
417) 19 March 2014 1 4 
81 Ecuador - Certification of Ceramic 
Tiles II (ID 419) 19 March 2014 1 2 
82 Ecuador - Proposed Motor Vehicle 
Safety Regulatory Requirements 
(RTE INEN 034) (ID 409) 19 March 2014 1 2 
83 United States - Energy Conservation 
Program: Test Procedure for 
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment 
(ID 410) 19 March 2014 1 1 
84 Colombia - Steel (ID 422) 19 March 2014 1 1 
85 Russian Federation - Federal Service 
for Market Regulation (FSR) - New 
Provisions for the Mandatory Notification of Liquor Products (ID 
412) 19 March 2014 1 1 
 G/TBT/36 
 
- 41 - 
 
   
C. Overview of new STCs raised in 2014 
The following table provides additional detail about the new specific trade concerns raised in 2014. 
 
Member 
subject to 
STC2 STC title Stated 
objective Product 
coverage Member(s) 
raising the 
concern 
Brazil Brazil - Higher Risk Medical 
Devices Good Manufacturing 
Practice (GMP) Certification 
(ID 415) Protection of 
Human Health or 
Safety Higher risk 
medical devices India 
Brazil Brazil – Draft Technical 
Resolution nº 69, 9 
September 2014, Regarding 
the Requirement of 
Describing the Chemical 
Composition, in Portuguese, 
in the Label of Personal 
Hygiene Products, 
Cosmetics and Perfumes (ID 
443) Protection of 
human health or 
safety Personal 
hygiene 
products, 
cosmetics and 
perfumes EU, Mexico  
China China – China Food and 
Drug Administration (CFDA) 
Notice 191 of 16 December 
2013 – Free Sales Certificate for Imported Cosmetics (ID 415)  Protection of 
human health or 
safety Cosmetics EU, Canada, 
US 
China China - Safety Requirement 
for Lithium Ion Cells and 
Batteries used in Portable 
Electronic Equipment (ID 
425) Protection of 
human health or 
safety Lithium Ion 
Cells and 
Batteries used 
in Portable 
Electronic 
Equipment Japan, Korea 
China China – Regulations for the 
Supervision and 
Administration of Medical Devices (Order No. 650 of the State Council) (ID 428) Protection of 
human health or 
safety Medical Devices Canada, EU, 
US 
China China - National Standard of 
the P.R.C., Safety Technical 
Specifications for Children's 
Footwear (ID 444) Protection of 
human health or 
safety; 
Protection of the 
environment Children's 
Footwear EU 
Colombia Colombia – Steel (ID 422) Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and consumer 
protection Plain and 
deformed steel 
wire and electrically 
welded mesh Turkey 
                                               
2 Listed in alphabetical order. G/TBT/36 
 
- 42 - 
 
  Member 
subject to 
STC2 STC title Stated 
objective Product 
coverage Member(s) 
raising the 
concern 
Colombia Colombia - Draft Ministry of 
Commerce, Industry and 
Tourism Decree 
"Restructuring the National 
Quality Subsystem and 
amending Decree No. 2269 
of 1993" (ID 432) Protection of 
human health or 
safety; 
Protection of 
animal or plant 
life or health; 
Protection of the 
environment; 
National security 
requirements; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection n/a Japan, Mexico 
Ecuador Ecuador – Proposed Motor 
Vehicle Safety Regulatory 
Requirements (RTE INEN 034) (ID 409) Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and consumer protection; 
Protection of 
human health and safety Motor vehicles Brazil, Japan, 
Mexico 
Ecuador Ecuador – Resolution No. 
116 of the Foreign Trade 
Committee of Ecuador of 19 
November 2013 and 
Technical Regulation of the 
Ecuadorian Standardization 
Institute RTE INEN 022 on 
the labelling of processed 
and packaged food products 
(ID 411) Protection of 
human health or 
safety; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection Processed food 
products for 
human 
consumption Brazil, 
Canada, Chile, 
Costa Rica, 
EU, 
Guatemala, 
Mexico, Peru, 
Switzerland, 
US 
Ecuador Ecuador – Systematic failure 
to publish notices at an 
early appropriate stage (ID 414) n/a n/a Brazil, 
Canada, Chile, 
Costa Rica, EU, US 
Ecuador Ecuador – Ministry of Public 
Health Executive Decree 
(Agreement) No. 00004522 
amending the Sanitary 
Regulations for the Labelling 
of Processed Foods for 
Human Consumption (ID 
416) Protection of 
human health or 
safety; 
Consumer 
information; 
labelling 
 Processed 
Foods for 
Human 
Consumption Brazil, 
Canada, EU, 
US G/TBT/36 
 
- 43 - 
 
  Member 
subject to 
STC2 STC title Stated 
objective Product 
coverage Member(s) 
raising the 
concern 
Ecuador Ecuador – Cosmetic 
products (ID 417) Protection of 
human health or safety; 
Prevention of 
deceptive practices and 
consumer 
protection; 
Protection of the 
environment Cosmetic 
products Brazil, Chile, 
EU, Korea 
Ecuador Ecuador – Certification of 
Ceramic Tiles II (ID 419) Protection of 
human health or 
safety; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection; 
Protection of the 
environment Ceramic tiles Brazil, EU 
Ecuador Ecuador – Draft Technical 
Regulation of the Ecuadorian Standardization Institute 
(PRTE INEN) No. 103: 
"Sugar confectionery" (ID 423) Protection of 
human health or safety; 
Prevention of 
deceptive practices and 
consumer 
protection Sugar 
confectionery Panama 
Ecuador Ecuador - Draft Technical 
Regulation of the Ecuadorian 
Standardization Institute 
(PRTE INEN) No. 189: 
"Labelling of alcoholic 
beverages" (ID 433) Protection of 
human health or 
safety; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection Alcoholic 
beverages Canada, 
Mexico, US 
Ecuador Ecuador - Draft Technical 
Regulation of the Ecuadorian Standardization Institute (RTE INEN) No. 047:  "Metal 
cable tray, electrical conduit 
and trunking systems") (ID 454) Protection of 
human health or safety; 
Protection of 
animal life and 
safety; 
Protection of the 
environment Metal cable 
tray, electrical conduit and trunking 
systems Mexico 
Ecuador Ecuador - Equivalence 
Agreement N° 14 241 with 
the European Union 
regulations (ID 453) n/a n/a Mexico G/TBT/36 
 
- 44 - 
 
  Member 
subject to 
STC2 STC title Stated 
objective Product 
coverage Member(s) 
raising the 
concern 
Ecuador Ecuador - (PRTE INEN) No. 
111: Energy efficiency. Clothes dryers. Labelling (ID 
455) Protection of 
human health or safety; 
Protection of the 
environment; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and consumer protection Clothes dryers Mexico 
Egypt Egypt – Bottled water (ID 
421) Food safety Bottled water Turkey 
European 
Union European Union - Regulation 
(EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 
2011 on the provision of 
food information to consumers establishes the 
general principles, 
requirements and responsibilities governing 
food information, and in 
particular food labelling (ID 431) Consumer 
information; labelling All foods Indonesia, 
Malaysia 
European 
Union European Union – Proposal 
for a Directive of the 
European Parliament and of 
the Council amending 
Directive 96/53/EC of 25 
July 1996 laying down for 
certain road vehicles 
circulating within the 
Community the maximum 
authorised dimensions in 
national and international 
traffic and the maximum 
authorised weights in 
international traffic 
(COM(2013) 195 final) (ID 
434) Protection of the 
environment Heavy goods 
vehicles, long 
distance 
coaches and 
urban buses. US 
European Union European Union – Common 
Criteria for Information 
Technology Security 
Evaluation (Common Criteria) certification in the EU n/a n/a China 
European 
Union European Union – Limits for 
hexavalent chromium in 
toys (2009/48/EC) (ID 449) n/a Toys China G/TBT/36 
 
- 45 - 
 
  Member 
subject to 
STC2 STC title Stated 
objective Product 
coverage Member(s) 
raising the 
concern 
European 
Union European Union – Standard 
on safety of household and similar electrical appliances 
(EN60335-1:2012) (ID 450) n/a Household and 
similar electrical appliances China 
European 
Union European Union – 
Regulation (EU) No 
1169/2011 of the European 
Parliament and of the 
Council on the provision of 
food information to 
consumers, amending 
Regulations (EC) No 
1924/2006 and (EC) No 
1925/2006, and repealing 
Commission Directive 
87/250/EEC, Council 
Directive 90/496/EEC, 
Commission Directive 
1999/10/EC. 2002/67/EC 
and 2008/5/EC and 
Commission Regulation (EC) 
No 608/2004 (ID 451) Consumer 
information; 
labelling Foods 
containing spelt 
and khorasan; 
foods and food 
ingredients with 
added 
phytosterol, 
phytosterol 
esters, 
phytostanols 
and/or 
phytostanol 
esters Indonesia 
France France – Recycling Triman 
Mark: "Draft Decree on a common set of symbols 
informing the consumer 
about recyclable products subject to a system of 
extended producer 
responsibility associated with waste sorting 
instructions" (ID 420) Protection of the 
environment Recyclable 
products Canada, 
Mexico, New Zealand, US 
France France – Proposal to 
introduce plain packaging of 
tobacco products (ID 441)  n/a Tobacco 
products Cuba, Malawi, 
Dominican 
Republic, 
Honduras, 
Indonesia, 
Nigeria, 
Nicaragua, 
Ukraine, 
Zimbabwe 
India India – Labelling Regulations 
for Canola Oil (ID 413) Consumer 
information, 
labelling Canola Oil Canada G/TBT/36 
 
- 46 - 
 
  Member 
subject to 
STC2 STC title Stated 
objective Product 
coverage Member(s) 
raising the 
concern 
Indonesia Indonesia – Regulation of 
Minister of Trade No. 10/M-
DAG/PER/1/2014 concerning 
Amendment of Regulation of 
Minister of Trade No. 67/M-
DAG/PER/11/2013 
concerning Affixed 
Mandatory Label in 
Indonesian Language for 
Goods (ID 436) Consumer 
information; 
labelling n/a EU, Japan, 
Korea, US  
Israel Israel – Resistance to 
ignition of mattresses, mattress pads, divans and 
bed bases (ID 447) Protection of 
human health or safety Mattresses EU 
Mexico Mexico – Draft Mexican 
Official Standard PROY NOM 
142 SSA1/SCFI 2013: 
Alcoholic beverages. Health 
specifications. Health and 
commercial labelling (ID 
445) Protection of 
human health or 
safety Alcoholic 
beverages Chile, EU, US 
Republic of 
Moldova  Republic of Moldova – 
Tobacco (IMS ID 437)  Protection of 
human health 
and safety; 
Consumer 
information; 
labelling Tobacco 
products and 
boxes, cases, covers and any 
other device 
that is intended to fully or 
partially conceal 
or disguise the health warnings.  Ukraine  
Russian 
Federation Russian Federation – 
Federal Service for Market 
Regulation (FSR) - New 
Provisions for the Mandatory 
Notification of Liquor 
Products (ID 412) Simplified 
notification 
requirements Liquor Products 
(alcohol) Canada 
Russian 
Federation Russian Federation – Safety 
of products for children and 
adolescents (ID 418) Protection of 
human health 
and safety; 
Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and consumer 
protection Products for 
children and 
adolescents EU, Norway, 
Ukraine 
Russian 
Federation Russian Federation – 
Measure affecting import of 
Ukrainian dairy products (ID 
426) Prevention of 
deceptive 
practices and 
consumer 
protection Dairy products Ukraine G/TBT/36 
 
- 47 - 
 
  Member 
subject to 
STC2 STC title Stated 
objective Product 
coverage Member(s) 
raising the 
concern 
Russian 
Federation Russian Federation – 
Measure affecting imports of Ukrainian juice products (ID 
439) n/a Juice products Ukraine 
Russian 
Federation Russian Federation – 
Measure affecting imports of 
Ukrainian beer products (ID 
440) n/a Beer products 
(alcohol) Ukraine 
Russian 
Federation Russian Federation – Draft 
of the Eurasian Economic Commission Collegium 
decision on amendments to 
Common sanitary-epidemiological and hygienic 
requirements for products, 
subjected to sanitary-epidemiological supervision (control) (ID 452) Food Safety Meat, palm oil, 
pesticides.  Indonesia, 
Ukraine 
South Africa South Africa – Labelling and 
advertising of pre-packaged 
foodstuff (ID 446) Protection of 
human health or 
safety; 
Consumer 
information; 
labelling Pre-packaged 
foodstuff EU, New 
Zealand 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - 
Certificate of Conformity (not notified) and GSO marking requirements for 
toys (ID 435) Protection of 
human health and safety  Toys EU, US 
Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 
Decree of the Saudi Arabian 
Ministerial Council on the 
sale and marketing of 
energy drinks of 4 March 
2014 (ID 442) Food safety Energy drinks EU, 
Switzerland  
Thailand  Thailand – Draft Notification 
of the Alcoholic Beverages 
Control, Re: Rules, 
Procedure and condition for Labels of Alcoholic 
Beverages, issued under 
B.E. (ID 427)  Consumer 
information, 
labelling; 
Protection of 
human health 
and safety  Alcoholic 
beverages  Canada, EU, 
Mexico, New 
Zealand, US 
United 
Kingdom United Kingdom – Proposal 
to introduce plain packaging 
of tobacco products (ID 
424) Protection of 
human health 
and safety Tobacco 
products Cuba, 
Dominican 
Republic, 
Guatemala, 
Honduras, 
Malawi, 
Nicaragua, 
Nigeria G/TBT/36 
 
- 48 - 
 
  Member 
subject to 
STC2 STC title Stated 
objective Product 
coverage Member(s) 
raising the 
concern 
United 
States United States – Energy 
Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Commercial 
Refrigeration Equipment (ID 
410) Protection of the 
environment Commercial 
refrigeration equipment China 
United 
States United States - 
Formaldehyde; Emissions 
Standards for Composite 
Wood Products; Third-Party 
Certification Framework for 
the Formaldehyde Standards 
for Composite Wood 
Products (ID 430) Protection of the 
environment; 
Protection of 
human health or 
safety Composite 
wood products Indonesia 
United 
States United States – Tire 
Identification and Recordkeeping (ID 438) Prevention of 
deceptive practices and consumer 
protection Motor vehicle 
tires Thailand, 
Korea 
 
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