G/TBT/N/USA/1409  
 
1 November 2018  
(18-6873) 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: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health and 
Human Services (HHS) [1433]  
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 if 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 [   ], 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): Closed -
circuit escape respirators; - Ozone ther apy, oxygen therapy, aerosol therapy, artificial 
respiration or other therapeutic respiration apparatus (HS 901920). Protective equipment 
(ICS 13.340).  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Removal of 
Compliance Deadline for Closed -Circuit Escape Respirators (5 page(s), in English)    
6. Description of content: With this deregulatory action, the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) proposes to revise regulatory language which establishes a 
deadline by which respirator  manufacturers must discontinue the manufacturing, labeling, 
and sale of certain self - contained self -rescuer models. The National Institute for 
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) within the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, HHS, has determin ed that discontinuing the manufacturing, labeling, and sale 
of certain self -contained self -rescuer models is likely to result in a shortage of person -
wearable large capacity escape respirators for underground coal miners who rely on these 
devices.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:   
• 83 Federal Register (FR) 53835, 25 October 2018; Title 42 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Part 84.   Will appe ar in the Federal Register when adopted.  
• G/TBT/N/USA/438  - Approval Tests and Standards for Closed -Circuit Escape 
Respirators and subsequent addenda  
• G/TBT/N/USA/718  - Open -Circuit Self -Contained Breathing Apparatus Remaining 
Service -Life Indicator Performance Requirements and subsequent addenda  G/TBT/N/USA/1409  
 
- 2 - 
 
  • G/TBT/N/USA/1354  - Clarification of Post -Approval Testing Standards for Closed -
Circuit Escape Respirators; Technical Amendments  
9. Proposed date of adoption: To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force: To be determined  
10. Final date for comments: 26 November 2018  
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/2018/TBT/USA/18_57 00_00_e.pdf