WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 G/SG/89 
5 November 2009 
 
(09-5525) 
Committee on Safeguards  
 
 
FORMATS FOR CERTAIN NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE  
AGREEMENT ON SAFEGUARDS 
 
Note from the Secretariat  
 
  At its meeting of 19 October 2009, the Committee on Safeguards approved certain 
amendments to existing notification formats cont ained in document G/SG/1 and document G/SG/N/6, 
and adopted two new formats.
1  Reproduced below are the new formats and the formats as amended.2 
For the convenience of Members, this document compiles all the formats originally included in 
document G/SG/1 and in document G/SG/N/6, in cluding those formats where no amendment was 
made for this time.  All the formats that were c ontained in document G/SG/1 but were not amended 
this time are simple reproducti ons of the original formats.3  The introductory notes that appear in 
formats contained in items A, B, C, E(a), E(c), E(d) were part of the original formats.   
  Members' attention is drawn to the fact th at there are two more currently used formats 
contained in document G/SG/2 (dated July 1996; "Information to be Notified to the Committee Where 
a Safeguard Investigation is Terminated With No Safeguard Measure Imposed") and document 
G/SG/N/1 (dated February 1995; "Notification of  Laws, Regulations and Administrative Procedures 
Relating to Safeguard Measures").  No amendments were made to the formats contained in these two 
documents, and therefore, these two formats are not reproduced here. 
 
_______________ 
  
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
A.
 NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.1( A) ....................................................................................3  
B. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 9, FOOTNOTE 2 ........................................................................4  
C. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.1( B) AND (C).......................................................................5  
D. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.4 .........................................................................................7  
E. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.5 .........................................................................................8  
F. FORMAT FOR INFORMATION TO BE PR OVIDED UPON INITIATION OF A REVIEW 
PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 7.2 REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE ............10  
                                                      
1 See minutes in G/SG/M/36. 
2 The formats amended for this time are: "Notification under Article 12.1 (a)" (originally contained in 
document G/SG/N/6),  "Notification under Article 12.1 (b) and (c)" (originally contained in document G/SG/1), 
and "Notification under Article 12.4" (originally contained in document G/SG/1). The two formats newly 
approved are contained in items F and G.   
3 This includes the underlining that appears in paragraph 4 of the format contained in item B. G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 
G/SG/89 
Page 2  
 
  G.
 FORMAT FOR INFORMATION TO BE PR OVIDED UPON CESSATION OF A SAFEGUARD 
MEASURE ............................................................................................................................... ....11 G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 
G/SG/89 
Page 3 
 
 
  A. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.1( A)  
Notification to the Committee on Safeguards upon Initiation of an Investigation Process 
Relating to Serious Injury or Th reat Thereof and the Reasons for It 
 
Note :  The format is suggested without prejudice to the interpretation of the relevant provisions in 
the Agreement on Safeguards by the competent bod ies.   Members are also reminded of the 
provision in Article 12.11 of the Agreement on Safeguards, which reads as follows:  "The 
provisions on notification in this Agreement shall not require any Member to disclose 
confidential information the disclosure of whic h would impede law enforcement or otherwise 
be contrary to the public interest or would prejudice the legitimate commercial interests of 
particular enterprises, public or private." 
 
1. Specify the date when the investigation was initiated. 
2. Provide the precise description of the product involved. 
Provide the Harmonized System numbers under which the product enters at least at a 
6-digit HS level, and at a sub-national leve l (e.g. 8-digit HS, 9-digit HS or 10-digit 
HS) if practicable.  (The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes only.) 
3. Provide the reasons for the initiation of investigation, for example: 
 
 (i) Was the investigation initiated pursuant to a petition from the domestic industry?   
  (ii) Evidence on the basis of which the investigation was initiated. 
 
 (iii) Evidence, if any, of critical ci rcumstances where delay would cause damage 
which it would be difficult to repair. 
 
4. Provide a point of contact for the inves tigation and identify the preferred means for 
corresponding.  The point of contact would be ava ilable to respond to enquiries relating to the 
procedures applicable to the investigation.  
 
5. Provide the deadlines and procedures for importe rs, exporters and other interested parties to 
present evidence and their views, including (i) deadli nes and procedures for Members and exporters to 
identify themselves as interested parties, if so require d, to participate in the investigation and (ii) the 
date of an intended public heari ng as provided for in Article 3.1. 
4 
                                                      
4 At the time of the initiation, if the authority has not decided whether or not to hold such a hearing, or 
if the date of the hearing is undetermined, Members should indicate under this item how such information would 
be publicized. Members are not obliged to submit another notification simply due to the fact that the proposed 
date has subsequently been changed. G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 
G/SG/89 
Page 4  
 
  B. 
NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 9, FOOTNOTE 2  
Notification to the Committee on Safeguards of Non-application of Safeguard Measure to 
Developing Countries Under Article 9.1 of the Agreement on Safeguards 
 
Note :  In addition to the information received from  the WTO Members regarding the action under 
Article 9.1 of the Agreement on Safeguards, th e document circulated to the Members will also 
include references to the WTO documents through which the corresponding notifications 
under Article 12.1(b) and (c) are circulated to the WTO Members.  The references to the 
corresponding notifications under Article 12.1(b) and (c) will be provided by the Secretariat, 
because these notifications may be released  simultaneously with the notification under 
Article 9, footnote 2, and the notifying Memb er may not have information on references to the 
corresponding WTO documents. 
 1. Specify the measure. 
 2. Specify the product subject to the measure. 
 
3. Specify the developing countries to which the measure is not applied under Article 9.1 of the 
Agreement on Safeguards, and the import shares of these countries individually and collectively. 
 
4. Subsequently, if there is a change
 in the list of developing countries exempted from the 
safeguard measure pursuant to Article 9.1, please notify: 
 
 (i) the reference to the WTO document that  notified the Members about the initial action 
under footnote 2 to Article 9.1; 
  (ii) if applicable, names of the countries which are dropped from the list of developing 
countries to which the safeguard measure does not apply pursuant to Article 9.1, the 
list of the countries remaining on the list, the individual and collective import shares 
of the developing countries remaining on the list, and the date on which the safeguard 
measure applies to the countries dropped from the list; 
  (iii) if applicable, names of the countries which are added to the list of developing 
countries to which the safeguard measure does not apply pursuant to Article 9.1, the 
list of all the countries on the list, the individual and collective import shares of the developing countries on the list, and the da te from which the safeguard measure does 
not apply to the countries which are added to the list. G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 
G/SG/89 
Page 5 
 
 
  C. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.1( B) AND (C)  
Notification to the Committee on Safeguards  upon Making a Finding of Serious Injury  
or Threat Thereof Caused by Increased impo rts;  Notification upon Taking a  
Decision to Apply or Ex tend a Safeguard Measure 
 
Notes:  
 
(1) The notifications under Article 12.1(b) and (c ) have to be made "immediately" upon "making 
a finding" or "taking a decision".  It is possible that the timing of "making a finding" and "taking a decision" differs to an extent that notific ations under Article 12.1(b) might be made 
separately from notifications under Article 12.1(c).  In that situat ion, it is possible that certain 
information requested in th e format may not be available when a notification under 
Article 12.1(b) is made.  If information on any item is not available when a notification under 
Article 12.1(b) is made, please indicate this by  stating "not available" for the relevant items 
in the format suggested below. 
 
(2) If the notifications on Article 12.1(b) an d (c) are made separately, please provide the 
reference to the notification under Article 12.1( b) in the notification under Article 12.1(c). 
 
1. Provide evidence, citing relevant data and the applicable period of investigation  of serious 
injury or threat thereof caused by increased imports. 
2. Provide information on whether there is an abso lute increase in imports or an increase in 
imports relative to domestic production (please see also Article 2.1 for the context). 
3. Provide the precise description of the product involved. 
Provide the Harmonized System numbers under which the product enters at least at a 
6-digit HS level, and at a sub-national leve l (e.g. 8-digit HS, 9-digit HS or 10-digit 
HS) if practicable.  (The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes only.) 
4. If the final measure replaces a provisional measure, or if a final measure is extended, a 
Member is encouraged to provide a written descripti on of any part of the imported product that will 
no longer be subject to the measure and the Harm onized System numbers under which it enters at 
least at a 6-digit level, and at a sub-national le vel (e.g., 8-digit, 9-digit or 10-digit level) if 
practicable.
5 
5. Provide precise description of the proposed measure. 
6. Provide proposed date of  introduction of the measure. 
7. Provide expected duration of the measure. 
8. For a measure with a duration of more than th ree years, provide the proposed date for the 
review (under Article 7.4) to be held not later than the mid-term of the measure, if such a date for the 
review has already been scheduled.  
                                                      
5 The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes only. G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 
G/SG/89 
Page 6  
 
  9. If the expected duration is over one year, provide expected timetable for progressive 
liberalization of the measure. 
10. If the notification relates only to a finding of serious injury or threat thereof, and does not 
relate to a decision to apply or extend a safeguard measure: 
(i) provide the deadlines for interested parties to comment or any other procedures 
relevant to the decision to apply the measures, and   
(ii) provide information regarding procedur es for prior consultation with those Members 
having a substantial interest as expor ters of the product concerned. 
11. If the measure is being extended, also provide: 
 (i) evidence that the industry concerned is  adjusting and that the safeguard measure 
continues to be necessary to prev ent or remedy serious injury; 
  (ii) reference to the WTO document that no tified the initial application of the measure; 
 
 (iii) duration of the measure from initial a pplication till the date at which it will be 
extended; 
 
and,  
 (iv) precise description of the measure in pl ace prior to the date of extension (in this 
context, please note that the last sentence of Article 7.4 states that:  "A measure extended under paragraph 2 shall not be more restrictive than it was at the end of the 
initial period, and should con tinue to be liberalized.") 
 
12. If the notification relates to a decision to apply or extend a safeguard measure, Members are 
encouraged to provide the following information: 
 (i) The major exporting Members of imports of the product involved. 
 
 (ii) If there are any exporting Members to which the measure does not apply for any 
reason other than the application of Article  9.1, the names of such exporting Members 
and reasons for non-application of the measure.  
 13. Members are encouraged to attach, in an el ectronic form, publicly available document(s) 
containing the relevant decision(s) made by the co mpetent authority.  This document may be in the 
original language of the Member, even when the la nguage is not one of the official languages of the 
WTO.  The document will neither be translated nor  circulated to the Committee, but will be made 
available by the Secretariat to Members requesting it. G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 
G/SG/89 
Page 7 
 
 
  D. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.4   
Notification to the Committee on Safeguards before Taking a Provisional  
Safeguard Measure Referred to in Article 6 
 1. Provide the precise description of the product involved. 
 
Provide the Harmonized System  numbers under which the product enters at least at a 
6-digit HS level, and at a sub-national leve l (e.g. 8-digit HS, 9-digit HS or 10-digit 
HS) if practicable. (The HS codes will be provided for refe rence purposes only.) 
2. Specify the proposed provisional safeguard measure. 
 
3. Specify  the proposed date of introduc tion of the provisional safeguard measure. 
4. Specify the expected duration of the provisi onal safeguard measure, if any decision on the 
duration of the measure has been made. 
 5. Provide the basis for: 
 
 (i) making a preliminary determination, as provided for in Article 6, that increased 
imports have caused or are threatening to cause serious injury ;  and, 
 
 (ii) determining that there are critical circumstances where delay would cause damage 
which it would be difficult to repair. 
 
6. Members are encouraged to pr ovide the following information: 
 (i) The major exporting Members of imports of the product involved.
  
  (ii) If there are Members to which the measure does not apply for any reason other than 
the application of Article 9.1, the names of such exporting Members and reasons for 
non-application of the measure.  
 
7. Members are encouraged to attach, in an electronic form, publicly available document(s) 
containing the relevant decision(s) made by the co mpetent authority.  This document may be in the 
original language of the Member, even when the la nguage is not one of the official languages of the 
WTO.  The document will neither be translated nor  circulated to the Committee, but will be made 
available by the Secretariat to Members requesting it. G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 
G/SG/89 
Page 8  
 
  E. 
NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 12.5 
(a) Immediate notification  to the Council for Trade in Goods of the results of the consultations 
referred to in Article 12, namely, prior consu ltations under Article 12.3 or consultations under 
Article 12.4 initiated immediately after the provisional safeguard measure is taken  
Note :  The notification of the results of the consultati ons referred to in Article 12 should, if possible, 
be provided jointly by the Member that takes the safeguard action and the Member that seeks consultations under Articles 12.3 or 12.4.   
 
1. Specify the provision under which consultations were held (i.e. Article 12.3 or Article 12.4). 
 
2. Provide reference to the WTO document that  notified the safeguard action regarding which 
consultations were held under Article 12.3 or 12.4. 
 
3. Specify the Members involved in the consulta tions, and provide the time period during which 
consultations were held.  
4. Describe the results of the consultations. 
 (b) Immediate notification to the Council for Trad e in Goods of the results of the mid-term 
reviews referred to in paragraph 4 of Article 7  
1. Specify the measure and the product subject to  the measure for which the mid-term review 
was conducted, and provide refere nce to the WTO document that notified the safeguard measure 
subject to the review. 
 
2. Provide the dates of initiati on and conclusion of the review. 
 3. Describe the results of the review, providi ng some detail on the basis for reaching those 
results. 
 4. Indicate whether: 
 
 (i) the measure has been, or will be, withdr awn as a result of the review.  If yes, then 
indicate the date of withdrawal;  and, 
 
 (ii) the pace of liberalization has been, or w ill be, increased as a result of the review.  If 
yes, then indicate the revised time-table for progressive liberalization. 
 
(c) Immediate notification  to the Council for Trade in Goods of any form of compensation 
referred to in paragraph 1 of Article 8  
Note :  This notification should, if possible, be s ubmitted jointly by the Member taking the safeguard 
measure and the Member(s) agreeing to accep t trade compensation under Article 8.1. 
 1. Specify the measure and the product subject to the measure regarding which there was an 
agreement on an adequate means of trade compensat ion under Article 8.1, and provide reference to 
the WTO document that notified the safeguard measure. 
 
2. Specify which Member(s) agreed to the trade compensation under Article 8.1. G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 
G/SG/89 
Page 9 
 
 
  3. Describe the trade compensation that w as agreed by each of the Members involved. 
 
4. Provide the date from which the compensation will apply for the Members involved. 
 
(d) Immediate notification to the Council for Tr ade in Goods of proposed suspension of 
concessions and other obligations referre d to in paragraph 2 of Article 8  
Note :  This notification is to be provided by the Member proposing suspension of concessions and 
other obligations referred to in Article 8.2.   
 
1. Which Member is proposing suspension of c oncessions and other obliga tions referred to in 
Article 8.2. 
 2. Specify the measure, the product subject to the measure, the WTO document that notified the 
safeguard measure, and the Member imposing the measure in relation to which the Member is 
proposing suspension of concessions and other obligations referred to in Article 8.2. 
 
3. Describe the proposed suspension of con cessions and other obligations referred to in 
Article 8.2, and the proposed date from which it will come into effect. G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 
G/SG/89 
Page 10  
 
  F. 
FORMAT FOR INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED UP ON INITIATION OF A REVIEW PURSUANT TO 
ARTICLE 7.2 REGARDING THE EXTENSION OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE 6 
 A Member initiating a review pursuant to Article 7.2 to determine whether a safeguard 
measure continues to be necessary to prevent or re medy serious injury and whether there is evidence 
that the industry is adjusting is encouraged to pr ovide immediately the foll owing information in the 
form of a notification to the Committee on Safeguards:7 
 
1. The date when the review was initiated8 
2. Precise description of the product involved 
• Provide the Harmonized System numbers under which the product enters at least at a 6-digit 
level, and at a sub-national leve l (e.g., HS 8-digit, 9-digit or 10-digit level) if practicable.9  
 
• If the review does not involve all the products subject to the existing measure, describe any 
differences. 
 
3. Reference to the WTO document containing the most recent Article 12.1(c) notification.  
4. Reason for the initiation of the review. 
5. Provide the deadline(s) for exporters and ot her interested parties to submit comments in 
writing or in a hearing, if any.  
                                                      
6 This format is without prejudice to the interpreta tion of the relevant provisions of the Agreement on 
Safeguards.  In particular, the Committee has noted that so me Members are of the view that some or all of this 
information is in fact already covered by the exis ting provisions of the Agreement on Safeguards.   
7 Format for the notification of a decision to extend  a safeguard measure is already covered by G/SG/1 
(1 July 1996).  See item C above. 
8 A Member is not precluded from making a notifi cation when the initiation of a review is imminent, 
for example, in a few days.     
9 The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes only. G/SG/1/Rev.1 
G/SG/N/6/Rev.1 
G/SG/89 
Page 11 
 
 
  G. FORMAT FOR INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDE D UPON CESSATION OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE10 
 In order to facilitate review of measures in a dvance of meetings and to allow exporters to be 
aware as soon as possible that measures are no longer in place, upon the cessation of a provisional or 
final safeguard measure, a Member is encouraged to  provide promptly the following information to 
the Committee on Safeguards.11 
 1. The date when the measure ceased to apply. 
2. Precise description of the product involved 
• Provide the Harmonized System numbers under which the product enters at least at a 6-digit 
level, and at a sub-national leve l (e.g., HS 8-digit, 9-digit or 10-digit level) if practicable.
12  
 
• If a measure ceased to apply to some, but not all of the product involved, a Member is 
encouraged to provide a written description of the imported product that will no longer be 
subject to the measure and the Harmonized System numbers under which it enters at least at a 
6-digit level, and at a sub-national level (e.g. 8- digit, 9-digit or 10-digit level) if practicable. 13 
 3. A reference to the WTO document containing th e Article 12.4 or Article 12.1(c) notification 
of the original measure, whichever is applicable.  
 4. Reason why the measure ceased to apply.
14 
 
 
__________ 
 
 
                                                      
10 This format is without prejudice to the interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Agreement on 
Safeguards. This format is not intended to en courage Members to make redundant notifications. 
11 In cases where a measure ceases to apply upon the expiration of the period previously notified – that 
is, notified pursuant to Article 12.1( c) without extension or notified pu rsuant to Article 12.4 without the 
application of a definitive measure – the information can be provided in the form of a simple written notice to 
the Committee on Safeguards.  
12 The HS codes will be provided for reference purposes only. 
13 For provisional measures that are replaced by final measures and for final measures that are 
extended, the information to be provided may be submitted as part of the Article 12.1(c) notification of the final 
or extended measure. 
14 When a provisional measure ceases to apply, th e notification or the simple written notice – as 
provided in footnote 11 above – should state whether or not there was a determination that increased imports 
have caused or threatened to cause se rious injury to a domestic industry.