PRESS RELEASE  
 
PRESS/783  
8 November 2016  
 
(16-6112) 
TECHNICAL BARRIERS T O TRADE AND SANITARY  AND PHYTOSANITARY ME ASURES  
New global trade alert system launched to boost market access 
for developing countries   
UN, WTO and ITC develop new “ePing” system to promote trade  
 
 
A new online alert system designed to help government agencies and small and medium -sized 
enterprises (SMEs) keep track of the latest information on regulatory requirements for 
international trade w as launched today (8 November) by the United Nations Department of 
Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International 
Trade Centre (ITC).  
 
The system, known as ePing, was launched at a special meeting of the Techn ical Barriers to Trade 
(TBT) Committee at the WTO. This new system allows access to WTO members' notifications of 
TBT and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. It also facilitates dialogue among the public 
and private sector in addressing potential tr ade problems at an early stage. Users of ePing will be 
able to easily keep up -to-date with notifications affecting foreign markets and products of 
particular interest to them.  
 
In recent years, the number of technical regulations and standards adopted by countries has 
grown significantly. Consequently, the need to comply with different foreign technical regulations 
and standards involves significant costs for producers and exporters.  
 
Each year the WTO receives more than 3,500 TBT and SPS notifications pro posing new measures 
that may affect international trade. By improving access to this information, ePing will help avoid 
disruptions caused by these measures.  
 
"Accessing relevant information on product requirements in export markets can be a huge 
challeng e, especially for SMEs,” said Karl Brauner, WTO Deputy Director -General, at the launch.  
“More transparency makes trade more inclusive – making information on regulations and 
standards more accessible for all stakeholders is essential. This is what ePing i s all about.”  
 
New regulatory requirements for international trade are applied by WTO members to ensure food 
safety and animal and plant health. For example, an SPS measure can regulate the treatment of 
imported fruit to prevent pests from spreading. A te chnical regulation may set out requirements 
(for example, labelling, safety, environmental performance) and testing procedures for products. PRESS/783  
Page 2 of 2 
 
 
 WTO members need to ensure that these requirements do not create unnecessary obstacles to 
international trade.  
 
“ePing is about moving from making trade possible to making it happen,” said Arancha Gonzalez, 
Executive Director of the International Trade Centre. “Using information technology we will help 
small and medium businesses comply with product regulations in fore ign markets and thereby 
reduce obstacles to trade.”  
 
“This is an excellent example of how practical and innovative solutions can address key trade -
related obstacles to sustainable development,” said Lenni Montiel, Assistant Secretary -General for 
Economic D evelopment, UN DESA. “Today, this inter -agency collaboration shows the world that by 
using the expertise of different development partners we can address real -life problems, reach 
more people and move from dialogue to action.”  
 
A Memorandum of Understandi ng, signed by the heads of the organizations - UN Under -Secretary -
General for Economic and Social Affairs Wu Hongbo in DESA, WTO Director -General Roberto 
Azevêdo and ITC Executive Director Arancha González - formalizes the cooperation between the 
three org anizations.  
 
For more information about ePing, please visit the website: http://www.epingalert.org/en . 
 
END