RESTRICTED  
  
WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.2  
 
8 September 2014  
(14-5055)  Page: 1/7  
Working Party on the 
Accession of the Republic of Seychelles  Original: English  
  
  ACCESSION OF SEYCHELLES 
CHECKLIST OF TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TR ADE (TBT) ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION 
IN ACCESSIONS 
Revision 
 The following submission, dated 3 September 2014, is being circulated at the request 
of the Delegation of the Republic of Seychelles.  
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  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.2  
 
- 2 - Checklist of Illustrative TBT Issues for Consideration in Accessions 
Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of August 2014) 
1. Standstill:  the introduction of new standards, 
technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures should be fully compatible with the TBT Agreement 1. Generally agreed principle in 
WTO accession negotiations When adopting new standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment 
procedures, the institutions responsible for standardization, metrology and conformity assessment will take into account the requirements of the WTO TBT Agreement, and keep WTO Members informed. 
The Government of Seychelles is committed to complying with the requirements of 
the TBT Agreement.  As a small island state, Seychelles recognizes that it will require financial and technical resources to achieve the required level of compliance. Seychelles would require the support of its trad e cooperation partners. 
2. Submission of Statement on Implementation 2. Article 15.2 and TBT 
Committee Decision (G/TBT/1) The Trade Division in the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment in cooperation 
with the National TBT Coordination Committee will be responsible to implement the provisions of the TBT Agreement. 
3. Establishment and operation of a single 
Contact Point for Information ("inquiry point") 3. Article 10 Seychelles has established and is operating a single contact point for information. 
The details are as follows: 
 Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment 
 Trade Division 
 P.O. Box 313, 
 Victoria,  Mahe,  Seychelles 
 Tel:  (+248) 4382000 
 Fax: (+248) 4225791 
 E-mail:  enquirywto@finance.gov.sc 
 Website: Under construction 
4. Identification of authority responsible for 
notifications, publications and other internal procedures to ensure transparency obligations are met on an ongoing basis: 4. Articles 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15.2, 
Annex 3 and G/TBT/1  
 (a) identification of publication where notices 
of proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures will appear;  (a) Articles 2.9.1, 3.1, 5.6.1, 
7.1, 10.1.5 The Government Official Gazette published by the Attorney General's Office will be 
the publication where notices of proposed technical regulations (final draft) will be featured.  The Seychelles Bure au of Standards (SBS) will also develop a publication, 
which will feature the list of all technical regulations and the local authorities responsible to enforce the technical regulation.  Technical regulations, which are in the form of mandatory standards developed by the SBS, are also advertised in the 
local newspapers: during the 60-day public re view stage, as well as the SBS website, 
at the following address: www.sbs.sc.  
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.2  
 
- 3 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of August 2014) 
 (b) identification of authority responsible for 
making notifications to the WTO;  (b) Article 2.9.2, 2.10.1, 3.2, 
3.3, 5.6.2, 5.7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 10.7, 10.10 The Authority responsible for making notifi cations to the WTO for Seychelles is the 
Trade Division in the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment. 
 (c) guidance/law to ensure regulatory 
authorities afford non-discriminatory consideration of comments in the preparation of a final regulation;  (c) Articles 2.9.4, 2.10.3, 3.15 
3.3, 5.6.4, 5.7.3, 7.1, 7.3 Section 4(n) of the Seyche lles Bureau of Standards Act, 2014 (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/52) provides the framework for this, and will be reflected in future 
implementing regulations, policies, and guidance regarding the establishment of 
technical regulations. 
However, it should be noted that although SBS is the main Agency dealing with 
technical regulations, there are other agencies in Seychelles that have the mandate to establish technical regulations (TRs), for example, the Ministry of Health, the 
Ministry of Environment, and the Depa rtment of Information Communications 
Technology (DICT). Other agencies may also establish TRs in the future, for instance, 
Seychelles Energy Commission, or Fair Trading Commission. 
In consideration of the above, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a guidance 
policy document for th e purpose of national TR framewo rk i.e. "Policy on National 
Framework on Technical Regulation and Co nformity Assessment Procedures" (notified 
in WT/ACC/SYC/54), which will incorporate provisions to afford non-discriminatory 
consideration of comments in the preparation of a final regulation. 
 (d) guidance/law to ensure regulatory 
authorities allow a re asonable period of 
time between the final publication of a technical regulation and conformity 
assessment procedure and its entry into 
force so that suppliers can adapt;  (d) Articles 2.11, 2.12, 3.1, 
5.8, 5.9, 7.1 Seychelles will through its Government notifi cation authority (Trade Division), submit 
a notification of the draft Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures to the WTO for circulation to other WTO Members taking into consideration the agreed notification timeline stipulated by the WTO TBT Committee. 
Section 4 (o) of the Seychelles Bureau of Standards Act, 2014 (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/52), provides a framework prov ision to comply with Code of Good 
Practice as set out in the guides and re commendations of international standard-
setting bodies to which Seychelles is a party to. 
The guidance policy document  for the purpose of national TR framework i.e. "Policy 
on National Framework on Technical Regulation and Conformity Assessment 
Procedures" (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/54), also incorporate provisions to allow a reasonable period of time between the final publication of a technical regulation and conformity assessment procedure and its entr y into force so that suppliers can adapt. 
 (e) publication and notification of work 
programme for standards and non-governmental conformity assessment procedures, including publication of notices of draft standards and an opportunity for public comment.  (e) Article 4, Annex 3 (J, K, L, 
N, 0); Article 8.1 Draft standards are put on public review for 60 days as per the Code of Good Practice 
for review and comments by stakeholders, as provided fo r under Section 14(5) under 
the Seychelles Bureau of Standards Act,  2014 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/52).  The 
framework is provided for under Section 4 (o ) of the Seychelles Bureau of Standards 
Act, 2014.   
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.2  
 
- 4 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of August 2014) 
5. Development and Application of Technical 
Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures:  Existence of legal and/or administrative underpinnings (or reasonable measures" as appropriate) to ensure ongoing compliance with provisions of the agreement concerning, in particular: 5. Articles 2, 3, 5, 6, 7  
 (a) non-discrimination with respect to the 
treatment of products;  (a) Articles 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 
7.1 Section 4(n) of the Seyche lles Bureau of Standards Act, 2014 (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/52) provides the framework for this, and will be reflected in future 
implementing regulations, policies, and guidance regarding the establishment of 
technical regulations. 
However, it should be noted that although SBS is the main Agency dealing with 
technical regulations, there are other agencies in Seychelles that have the mandate to establish technical regulations (TRs), for example, the Ministry of Health, the 
Ministry of Environment, and the Depa rtment of Information Communications 
Technology (DICT). Other agencies may also establish TRs in the future, for instance, 
Seychelles Energy Commission, or Fair Trading Commission. 
In consideration of the above, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a guidance 
policy document for th e purpose of national TR framewo rk i.e. "Policy on National 
Framework on Technical Regulation and Co nformity Assessment Procedures" (notified 
in WT/ACC/SYC/54), which will incorporate provisions for this specific commitment. 
 (b) the prohibition of unnecessary obstacles to 
international trade and the consideration 
of less trade-restrictive alternatives to fulfilling legitimate objectives;  (b) Articles 2.2, 3.1, 5.1, 5.2, 
7.1 Provisions have been made in Section 4(n)  and 4(o) of the Se ychelles Bureau of 
Standards Act, 2014 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/52) in regards to compliance to 
provisions of the WTO TBT Agreement in relation to the prohibition of unnecessary obstacles to international trade and the consideration of less trade-restrictive alternatives to fulfilling legitimate objectives. 
Relevant international standards where they exist will be used as the basis for the 
development of draft technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures in 
order to avoid unnecessary obst acles to international trade. 
 (c) the ongoing review of technical regulations 
to ensure they are appropriate to achieve the desired legitimate objective;  (c) Article 2.3, 3.1, 7.1 Section 4(n) of the Seychell es Bureau of Standards Act,  2014 provides (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/52) the framework for this, and wi ll be reflected in fu ture implementing 
regulations, policies, and guidance re garding the establishment of technical 
regulations.   
However, it should be noted that although SBS is the main Agency dealing with 
technical regulations, there are other agencies in Seychelles that have the mandate to establish technical regulations (TRs), for example, the Ministry of Health, the 
Ministry of Environment, and the Depa rtment of Information Communications 
Technology (DICT). Other agencies may also establish TRs in the future, for instance, 
Seychelles Energy Commission, or Fair Trading Commission. 
In consideration of the above, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a guidance 
policy document for th e purpose of national TR framewo rk i.e. "Policy on National  
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.2  
 
- 5 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of August 2014) 
Framework on Technical Regulation and Co nformity Assessment Procedures" (notified 
in WT/ACC/SYC/54) which will incorporate provisions for this specific commitment. 
 (d) the consideration of appropriate 
international standards, guides and recommendations as a basis for technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures;  (d) Article 2.4, 3.1, 5.4, 7.1 Existing TBT-related legisl ation of Seychelles are based on international standards, 
guides and recommendations. The SBS pursues a policy of following international standards, as provided fo r by: the International Orga nization for Standardization 
(ISO); the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC); the Codex Alimentarius; the International Telecommunication Union (ITU); the International Organization for 
Legal Metrology (OIML); the International Bureau for Weights and Measures (BIPM); 
all of  which Seychelles is party to. 
Seychelles also recognizes international standards developed by the United Nations 
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); the American National Standards 
Institute (ANSI); American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM); National Institute for Standards and Technology (N IST); the Association for the Advancement 
of Medical Instrumentation; the European Committee for Standardization (CEN); as 
well as those that were harmonized at the regional level, for example the SADC, 
COMESA, ARSO and Triparti te (SADC, COMESA, EAC). 
 (e) the consideration of equivalent technical 
regulations of other Members;  (e) Article 2.7, 3.1, 7.1 Section 4(n) of the Seychelles Bureau of Standards Act 2014 (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/52) provides the framework for this, and will be reflected in future 
implementing regulations, policies, and guidance regarding the establishment of 
technical regulations. 
However, it should be noted that although SBS is the main Agency dealing with 
technical regulations, there are other agencies in Seychelles that have the mandate 
to establish technical regulations (TRs), for example, the Ministry of Health, the 
Ministry of Environment, and the Depa rtment of Information Communications 
Technology (DICT). Other agencies may also establish TRs in the future, for instance, 
Seychelles Energy Commission, or Fair Trading Commission. 
In consideration of the above, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a guidance 
policy document for th e purpose of national TR framewo rk i.e. "Policy on National 
Framework on Technical Regulation and Co nformity Assessment Procedures" (notified 
in WT/ACC/SYC/54),which will incorporate provisions for this specific commitment. 
 (f) the acceptance of the results of conformity 
assessment procedures conducted by bodies in an exporting Member country;  (f) Article 6, 7.1 The SBS applies the conf ormity assessment pr ocedures, guides and 
recommendations, as adopted by the ISO Co mmittee on Conformity Assessment (ISO 
CASCO) and, therefore, accepts results ca rried out by conformity assessment service 
providers accredited in accordance with the international standards adopted by ISO 
CASCO.  
The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a guid ance policy document for the purpose of 
national TR framework i.e. "Policy on National Framewor k on Technical Regulation 
and Conformity Assessment Procedures" (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/54),which will 
incorporate provisions for this specific commitment.  
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.2  
 
- 6 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of August 2014) 
 (g) non-discriminatory and cost-based 
fee structure.  (g) Article 5.2, 7.1, 10.4 Section 4(n) of the Seychelles Bureau of Standards Act 2014 (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/52) provides the framework for this, and will be reflected in future 
implementing regulations, policies, and guidance regarding the establishment of 
technical regulations. 
However, it should be noted that although SBS is the main Agency dealing with 
technical regulations, there are other agencies in Seychelles that have the mandate to establish technical regulations (TRs), for example, the Ministry of Health, the 
Ministry of Environment, and the Depa rtment of Information Communications 
Technology (DICT). Other agencies may also establish TRs in the future, for instance, 
Seychelles Energy Commission, or Fair Trading Commission. 
In consideration of the above, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a guidance 
policy document for th e purpose of national TR framewo rk i.e. "Policy on National 
Framework on Technical Regulation and Co nformity Assessment Procedures" (notified 
in WT/ACC/SYC/54), which will incorporate provisions for this specific commitment. 
6. Development and Application of Standards 
and Conformity Assessment Procedures: Existence of legal and/or administrative underpinnings (or "reasonable measures" as appropriate) to ensure ongoing compliance with provisions of the agreement concerning, in particular: 6. Article 4 and Annex 3, Article 8 Section 4(n) of the Seychelles Bureau of Standa rds Act, 2014 (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/52) provides the framework for this, and will be reflected in future 
regulations covering technical regulations.   The Seychelles Bureau of Standards 
(SBS) accepts and complies with the Code of Good Practice and this compliance will 
be guaranteed through Section 4(o) of the Seychelles Bureau of Standards Act, 2014. 
 However, it should be noted that although SBS is the main Agency dealing with technical regulations, there are other agencies in Seychelles that have the mandate to establish technical regulations (TRs), for example, the Ministry of Health, the 
Ministry of Environment, the Department of Information Communications Technology 
(DICT), etc. or will, in the future, be es tablishing TRs such as, Seychelles Energy 
Commission, Fair Trad ing Commission, etc. 
In consideration of the above, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a guidance 
policy document for th e purpose of national TR framewo rk i.e. "Policy on National 
Framework on Technical Regulation and Co nformity Assessment Procedures" (notified 
in WT/ACC/SYC/54),which will incorporate provisions for this specific commitment. 
 (a) non-discrimination with respect to the 
treatment of products;  (a) Annex 3 (D), Article 8.1 Section 4(n) of the Se ychelles Bureau of Standa rds Act, 2014 (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/52) provides the framework for this, and will be reflected in future 
regulations covering technical regulations. 
However, it should be noted that although SBS is the main Agency dealing with 
technical regulations, there are other agencies in Seychelles that have the mandate to establish technical regulations (TRs), for example, the Ministry of Health, the 
Ministry of Environment, the Department of Information Communications Technology 
(DICT), etc. or will, in the future, be es tablishing TRs such as, Seychelles Energy 
Commission, Fair Trad ing Commission, etc. 
In consideration of the above, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a guidance 
policy document for th e purpose of national TR framewo rk i.e. "Policy on National  
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.2  
 
- 7 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WTO Reference Status (as of August 2014) 
Framework on Technical Regulation and Co nformity Assessment Procedures" (notified 
in WT/ACC/SYC/54), which will incorporate provisions for this specific commitment. 
 (b) the prohibition of unnecessary obstacles to 
international trade;  (b) Annex 3 (E), Article 8.1 Provisions have been made in the Seychelles Bureau of Standards Act, 2014 (notified 
in WT/ACC/SYC/52) in regards to compli ance to the WTO TBT Agreements, and 
relevant international standards where they exist will be used as the basis for the development of draft standards and confor mity assessment procedures in order to 
avoid unnecessary obstacles to international trade. 
 (c) the consideration of appropriate 
international standards, guides and recommendations as a basis for standards;  (c) Annex 3 (F), Article 8.1 Existing standards and conf ormity assessment procedures of Seychelles are based on 
international standards, guides and recommendations. The SBS pursues a policy of following or adopting international standards, such of: the International Organization for Standardization (ISO); the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC); the Codex Alimentarius; the International Telecommunication Union (ITU); the International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML); the International Bureau for Weights and Measures (BIPM); all of which Seychelles is party to. 
Seychelles also recognise international standards developed by the United Nations 
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE); the American National Standards 
Institute (ANSI); American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM); National Institute for Standards and Technology (N IST); the Association for the Advancement 
of Medical Instrumentation; the European Committee for Standardization (CEN); as 
well as those that were harmonized at the regional level, for example the SADC, 
COMESA, ARSO and Triparti te (SADC, COMESA, EAC). 
 (d) non-discriminatory and cost-based fee 
structure.  (d) Annex 3 (M), Annex 3(P), 
Articles 8.1, 10.4 Section 4(n) in the Seychelles Bureau of Standards Act 2014 (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/52) provides the framework for this, and will be reflected in future 
regulations covering technical regulations. 
However, it should be noted that although SBS is the main Agency dealing with 
technical regulations, there are other agencies in Seychelles that have the mandate to establish technical regulations (TRs), for example, the Ministry of Health, the 
Ministry of Environment, the Department of Information Communications Technology 
(DICT), etc. or will, in the future, be es tablishing TRs such as, Seychelles Energy 
Commission, Fair Trad ing Commission, etc. 
In consideration of the above, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a guidance 
policy document for th e purpose of national TR framewo rk i.e. "Policy on National 
Framework on Technical Regulation and Co nformity Assessment Procedures" (notified 
in WT/ACC/SYC/54), which will incorporate provisions for this specific commitment. 
 
 
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