RESTRICTED  
  
WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.1  
 
12 September 2013  
(13-4824)  Page: 1/7  
Working Party on the 
Accession of the Republic of Seychelles  Original: English  
  
  ACCESSION OF SEYCHELLES 
CHECKLIST OF TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRAD E (TBT) ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION IN 
ACCESSIONS 
Revision 
 The following submission, dated 12 September 2013, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegation of the Republic of Seychelles.  
_______________ 
  
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.1  
 
- 2 - Checklist of Illustrative TBT Issues for Consideration in Accessions 
Commitments (by the time of accession) WT O Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
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 is land state, Seychelles recogn izes 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: Not Available 
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 national 
newspaper:  "Nation" during the 60-day pu blic review stage, as well as the SBS 
website, at the following address:   www.seychelles.n et/sbsorg.    
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.1  
 
- 3 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WT O Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
 (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) in the Seychelles Bureau of Standards (SBS) Bill 2013 (notified in 
WT/ACC/SYC/42) 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 Minist ry of Health, the Ministry 
of Environment, and the De partment of Information Co mmunications Technology 
(DICT). Other agencies may al so establish TRs in the futu re, for instance, Seychelles 
Energy Commission, or Fair Trading Commission.  These agencies need to make provision for this in their Act or regulations. 
In consideration of the above, Seychelles is  currently in the process of developing a 
guidance policy document for the purpos e of national TR framework, which will 
incorporate provisions to afford non-discri minatory 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 Regulati ons 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 SBS Bill 2013 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/42), provides a framework 
provision to comply with Code of Good Practice as set out in the guides and recommendations of internatio nal standard-setting bodies to which Seychelles is a 
party to. 
The guidance policy document  for the purpose of national TR framework will also 
incorporate provisions to allow a reasonable period of time between the final publication of a technical regulation and co nformity assessment procedure and its entry 
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 SBS Bill (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/42).   The framework is provided for under 
Section 4 (o) of the SBS Bill.     
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.1  
 
- 4 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WT O Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
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) in the SBS Bill 2013 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/42) provides the framework 
for this, and will be reflected in future impl ementing 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 Minist ry of Health, the Ministry 
of Environment, and the De partment of Information Co mmunications Technology 
(DICT). Other agencies may al so establish TRs in the futu re, for instance, Seychelles 
Energy Commission, or Fair Trading Commission.  These agencies need to make provision for this in their Act or regulations. 
In consideration of the above, Seychelles is  currently in the process of developing a 
guidance policy document for the purpos e of national TR framework, 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 new draft SBS Bill 2013 
(notified in WT/ACC/SYC/42) in regards to compliance to provisions of the 
WTO TBT Agreement in relation to the pr ohibition 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 obstac les 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) in the SBS Bill 2013 provides (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/42) the framework 
for this, and will be reflected in future impl ementing 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 Minist ry of Health, the Ministry 
of Environment, and the De partment of Information Co mmunications Technology 
(DICT). Other agencies may al so establish TRs in the futu re, for instance, Seychelles 
Energy Commission, or Fair Trading Commission.  These agencies need to make 
provision for this in their Act or regulations. 
In consideration of the above, Seychelles is  currently in the process of developing a 
guidance policy document for the purpos e of national TR framework, which will 
incorporate provisions for this specific commitment.  
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.1  
 
- 5 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WT O Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
 (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 for by: the International Organizat ion 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 (NIST); the Asso ciation for the Advancement of Medical 
Instrumentation; the European Committee fo r Standardization (CEN); as well as those 
that were harmonized at th e regional level, for example the SADC, COMESA, ARSO and 
Tripartite (SADC, COMESA, EAC).   
 (e) the consideration of equivalent technical 
regulations of other Members;  (e) Article 2.7, 3.1, 7.1 Section 4(n) in the SBS Bill 2013 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/42) provides the framework 
for this, and will be reflected in future impl ementing 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 Minist ry of Health, the Ministry 
of Environment, and the De partment of Information Co mmunications Technology 
(DICT). Other agencies may al so establish TRs in the futu re, for instance, Seychelles 
Energy Commission, or Fair Trading Commission.  These agencies need to make provision for this in their Act or regulations. 
In consideration of the above, Seychelles is  currently in the process of developing a 
guidance policy document for the purpos e of national TR framework, 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 applie s the conformity assessment procedures, guides and recommendations, 
as adopted by the ISO Commi ttee on Conformity Assess ment (ISO CASCO) and, 
therefore, accepts results carried out by  conformity assessment service providers 
accredited in accordance with the intern ational standards adopted by ISO CASCO.  
Seychelles is currently in the process of developing  a guidance policy document for the 
purpose of national TR framework, which will incorporate provisions for this specific 
commitment.  
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.1  
 
- 6 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WT O Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
 (g) non-discriminatory and cost-based fee 
structure.  (g) Article 5.2, 7.1, 10.4 Section 4(n) in SBS Bill 2013 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/42) provides the framework for 
this, and will be reflected in future implem enting regulations, po licies, 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 Minist ry of Health, the Ministry 
of Environment, and the De partment of Information Co mmunications Technology 
(DICT). Other agencies may al so establish TRs in the futu re, for instance, Seychelles 
Energy Commission, or Fair Trading Commission. These agencies need to make 
provision for this in their Act or regulations. 
In consideration of the above, Seychelles is  currently in the process of developing a 
guidance policy document for the purpos e of national TR framework, 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) in the SBS Bill (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/42) 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 SBS Bill 
2013. 
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 Minist ry of Health, the Ministry 
of Environment, the Departme nt of Information Communications Technology (DICT), 
etc. or will, in the future, be establishing TRs such as, Seychelles Energy Commission, 
Fair Trading Commission, etc. These agencies need to make provision for this in their 
Act or regulations. 
In consideration of the above, Seychelles is  currently in the process of developing a 
guidance policy document for the purpos e of national TR framework, 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) in the SBS Bi ll (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/42)  provides the framework for 
this, and will be reflected in future regu lations 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 Minist ry of Health, the Ministry 
of Environment, the Departme nt of Information Communications Technology (DICT), 
etc. or will, in the future, be establishing TRs such as, Seychelles Energy Commission, 
Fair Trading Commission, etc. These agencies need to make provision for this in their 
Act or regulations. 
In consideration of the above, Seychelles is  currently in the process of developing a 
guidance policy document for the purpos e of national TR framework, which will 
incorporate provisions for this specific commitment.  
  WT/ACC/SYC/29/Rev.1  
 
- 7 - Commitments (by the time of accession) WT O Reference Status (as of September 2013) 
 (b) the prohibition of unnecessary obstacles to 
international trade;  (b) Annex 3 (E), Article 8.1 Provisions have been made in the SBS Bill 2013 (notified in WT/ACC/SYC/42) in 
regards to compliance to the WTO TBT Ag reements, and relevant international 
standards where they exist will be used as the basis for the development of draft standards and conformity assessment proc edures 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 (NIST); the Asso ciation for the Advancement of Medical 
Instrumentation; the European Committee fo r Standardization (CEN); as well as those 
that were harmonized at th e regional level, for example the SADC, COMESA, ARSO and 
Tripartite (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  SBS Bill (notified in  WT/ACC/SYC/42) provides the framework for 
this, and will be reflected in future regu lations 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 Minist ry of Health, the Ministry 
of Environment, the Departme nt of Information Communications Technology (DICT), 
etc. or will, in the future, be establishing TRs such as, Seychelles Energy Commission, 
Fair Trading Commission, etc. These agencies need to make provision for this in their 
Act or regulations. 
In consideration of the above, Seychelles is  currently in the process of developing a 
guidance policy document for the purpos e of national TR framework, which will 
incorporate provisions for this specific commitment. 
 
 
__________