G/TBT/W/412  
 
1 June 2015  
(15-2905)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES 
SEVENTH TRIENNIAL REVIEW 
Submission from Japan  
 The following submission dated 1 June 2015, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Japan. 
 
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1  BACKGROUND 
1.1.  Article 6.1 of the TBT Agreement provides that, with respect to their central government 
bodies, Members shall ensure, whenever possible, that results of conformity assessment 
procedures in other Members are accepted, even when those procedures differ from their own.  
1.2.  The importance and necessity of facilita ting the acceptance of results of conformity 
assessment procedures in other Members are well-recognized among Members.1 
1.3.  In this regard, the Committee developed an "Indicative List of Approaches to Facilitate 
Acceptance of the Results of Conformity Assessmen t" at the Second Triennial Review of the TBT 
Agreement.2 Thereafter, Members have been making proposals, and having discussions and 
information exchanges toward the further development of this issue.3 
1.4.  It is, however, of great difficulty to ensure a certain level of reliability for certificates, since 
certification entails the factor of "assessment" of conformity to the technical regulations such as safety requirement based on test results, and also  consists of various elements of a broader range 
such as factory inspections. On the other hand, it is easier to ensure a certain level of reliability for 
test results compared to the case of certificates because "testing" is an action to determine characteristics of a product, according to a proc edure and therefore the results would be unlikely 
to vary comparatively. On this background, theref ore, the acceptance of test results conducted in 
other Members has been introduced in some fields. 
1.5.  It is noted that, in a case where a Member requires test results in the conformity assessment 
procedures with technical regulations for import products, non-acceptance of test results 
conducted in the territories of other Members would bear a heavy burden of costs and time for 
other Members' industries since, even though they have already obtained test results conducted in their own territories, they would be forced to conduct the same test again in the territory of the 
importing Member. 
1.6.  Therefore this proposal focuses on encourag ement of the acceptance of test results but not 
on that of certificates. 
                                               
1 G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 2.1, Recommendations (a), (b), (c) and (d), page 8-10. 
2 G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 2.1, Annex 1 to Part1, pages 45-46. 
3 G/TBT/1/Rev.12, Section 2.1, Recommendations (c) and (d)(iii), pages 9-10.. G/TBT/W/412 
 
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  2  PROPOSALS 
2.1.  From the background as above, with re gard to conformity assessment procedures with 
technical regulations, Japan would like to propose the following: 
a. The Committee encourages Members, in case a Member requires test results in the 
conformity assessment procedures with technical regulations, to accept the test results 
conducted in the territories of other Members on condition that a certain level of reliability is ensured, if required test items are fully covered; and, 
b. in cases where there is any difficulty in a ccepting such test results, to explain the 
reasons, on the request of other Members.  
c. In addition, the Committee invites Members to exchange their experiences relating to 
above acceptance of test results. 
2.2.  Possible schemes to ensure the certain level of reliability of test results would include 
internationally-acknowledged schemes such as the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) in OECD for chemicals
4 and the CB scheme in IECEE for electric and electronic equipment.5 Members may, 
taking those examples into consideration, consid er adopting only possible schemes depending on 
their domestic circumstances. This proposal does not place any obligation for the acceptance of test results. 
2.3.  It should be emphasized that this propos al is encouragement on the acceptance of test 
results in the technical regulations but not that of certificates. 
2.1  Benefit from this proposal 2.4.  Japan believes that this proposal will contribute to the facilitation of conformity assessment 
procedures without decreasing the reliability of the results of the conformity assessment 
procedures. It will also promote trade among Members because it will bring benefits of saved costs and time to their industries. 
 
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4 For reference to the GLP in OECD for chemicals: 
http://www.oecd.org/chemicalsafety/t esting/goodlaboratorypracticeglp.htm  
5 For reference to the CB scheme in IECEE for electric and electronic equipment: 
http://www.cbscheme.org/