WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/25 
4 March 2009 
 (09-1109) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  
  
 
FOURTEENTH ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND 
OPERATION OF THE TBT AGREEMENT 
 
Note by the Secretariat
1 
 
 
1. The Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade2 (the Committee) will conduct its Fourteenth 
Annual Review of the Implementation and Operatio n of the TBT Agreement under Article 15.3 at its 
next meeting on 18-19 March 2009.  This document contains information on developments in the 
Committee relating to the implementation and op eration of the TBT Agreement from 1 January 
to 31 December 2008.  
 
I. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ....................................................................................2  
II. TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES.......................................................................................3  
III. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL 
TREATMENT...................................................................................................................... .....7 
IV. DISPUTES INVOLVING PROVISIONS OF THE TBT AGREEMENT...........................9  
V. ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................ .......13  
A. LIST OF WTO  MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS ...............................................................................13  
B. LIST OF TBT  DOCUMENTS ISSUED DURING THE YEAR 2008 ...................................................15  
C. SPECIFIC TRADE CONCERNS RAISED IN 2008 ...........................................................................20  
D. NOTIFICATIONS MADE BY MEMBERS AND BY RELEVANT ARTICLES OF THE TBT  
AGREEMENT IN 2008  AND SINCE THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE AGREEMENT .....................29  
E. OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALES STATED IN TBT  NOTIFICATIONS IN 2008................................33  
F. OBSERVATION OF THE RECOMMENDED COMMENT PERIOD BY MEMBERS IN 2008 .................34  
G. TBT  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNDERTAKEN BY THE WTO  SECRETARIAT IN 2008 ................36  
 
                                                      
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and is without prejudice 
to the position of Members and to their rights and obligations under the WTO . 
2 For general information on membership and documentation in the TBT Committee during the period 
of review, see Annexes A and B . G/TBT/25 
Page 2  
 
  I. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE 
2. The Committee, pursuant to Article 13.1 of  the TBT Agreement and to the Rules of 
Procedure, elected Ms Xueyan GUO (China) as its Chairperson for the year 2008-2009. 
3. Three meetings were held in 2008 (20 March, 1-2 July and 5-6 November 2008).
3  At these 
meetings, the Committee's attention was drawn to new or revised statements on implementation and 
administration of the Agreement, submitted under Article 15.2.  In 2008, two Members submitted new 
statements under Article 15.2, while eight issued revisions or supplements to existing statements.4   
4. Fifty-nine specific trade concerns, thirty-three of which were new con cerns, were brought to 
the attention of the Committee with regard to the potential adverse trade effects of the measures, or 
possible inconsistency with the Agreement.5  
5. During the review period, the Committee conti nued the exchange of experiences on issues 
arising from the Fourth Triennial Review of th e Operation and Implementation of the Agreement 
under Article 15.4 (G/TBT/19), name ly: good regulatory practice, conformity assessment procedures, 
transparency, technical assistance and special and differ ential treatment.  In particular, with a view to 
deepening understanding of the contribution good regu latory practice can make to the implementation 
of the TBT Agreement and advancing its work in this area, the Committee held a workshop on good 
regulatory practice on 18-19 March 2008.  This wo rkshop addressed the following topics: general 
approaches of Members to good regulatory practi ce; internal transparency and consultative 
mechanisms; regulatory impact assessment and re gulatory cooperation initiatives between Members.6   
6. The Committee agreed to hold a workshop on the "Role of International Standards in 
Economic Development" on 16-17 March 2009.7   The Committee also agreed on a timeline for the 
preparation of the Fifth Triennial Review of the Implementation and Operation of the TBT Agreement 
under Article 15.4.8 
7. At its meeting on 20 March 2008, the Committee adopted its report of the Thirteenth Annual 
Review of the Implementation and Operation of the TBT Agreement under Article 15.3 (G/TBT/23).  
At the same meeting, the Committee carried out th e Thirteenth Annual Review of the Code of Good 
Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Applicati on of Standards.  This work was based on the 
following background documents:  a list of standardiz ing bodies that have accepted the Code in the 
period under review (G/TBT/CS/1/Add.12), a list of standardizing bodies that have accepted the Code 
                                                      
3 G/TBT/M/44, G/TBT/M/ 45 and G/TBT/M/46. 
4 The full list of statements of Members having submitted a statement on implementation and 
administration of the TBT Agreement under Article 15.2 (since January 1995) is contained in document G/TBT/GEN/1/Rev.8.  The two new statements we re from Albania (G/TBT/2/Add.99) and Ukraine 
(G/TBT/2/Add.100).  Switzerland (G/TBT/2/Add.7/Rev.1), Indonesia  (G/TBT/2/Add.3/Rev.2), Ghana 
(G/TBT/2/Add.76/Rev.1), Paraguay (G/TBT/2/Add.91/Rev.1) and Peru (G/TBT/2/Add.29/Rev.2) submitted 
revisions to their original statements.  Israel (G/TBT/2/Add.72/Suppl.1), Colombia 
(G/TBT/2/Add.18/Rev.2/Suppl.1 and Suppl.2), Mexico (G/TBT/2/Add.14/Suppl.1) and El Salvador 
(G/TBT/2/Add.78/Suppl.1) su bmitted supplements to their original statements. 
5 A list of the specific trade concerns raised in 2008 is contained in Annex C. A compilation of specific 
trade concerns raised in the TBT Committee since 1995 can be found in document G/TBT/GEN/74/Rev.1. 
6 A summary report of the workshop on good regulatory practice is contained in G/TBT/W/287.  The 
Chairman's Report of the workshop to the TBT Committee is contained in G/TBT/M/44, Annex 1.  
7 The draft programme for the workshop is contained in document Job(08)/107/Rev.2.  
8 The timeline is contained in document G/TBT/M/46, page 69.  The reports of the previous four 
reviews are contained in documents G/TBT/5, G/TBT/9, G/TBT/13 and G/TBT/19. Document G/TBT/1/Rev.9 
contains the ninth revision of the compilation of the TBT Committee's Decisions and Recommendations.  G/TBT/25 
 Page 3 
 
 
  since 1 January 1995 (G/TBT/CS/2/Rev.14) and the Thirteenth Edition of the WTO TBT Standards 
Code Directory prepared by the ISO/IEC Information Centre. 
8. The Committee carried out, at its meeting on 5-6 November 2008, the Seventh Annual 
Transitional Review mandated in the Protocol of Accession of the People's Republic of China 
(G/TBT/24). 
9. During the reporting period, representatives of the Codex, IEC, ISO, ITC, OECD, OIML, 
UNECE and UNIDO updated the Committee on activities relevant to the work of the TBT Committee, including on technical assistance.  
II. TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES
9 
(i) Notifications of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures 
10. In 2008, Members submitted 1251 new notificati ons of technical regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures.10  Since the entry into force of th e Agreement on 1 January 1995, up to 
31 December 2008, 10,026 such notificati ons have been made by 106 Members. 
Figure 1:  Total Number of TBT Notifications since 1995 
365460794
648 669611538581794
63877187510311251
020040060080010001200
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
 
 
                                                      
9 The data for the graphs in this section are drawn from the tables in Annexes D, E and F. 
10 Monthly summaries of TBT notifications for 2008 are contained in documents G/TBT/GEN/N/85-
96. G/TBT/25 
Page 4  
 
  Figure 2:  Notifications in 2008 by Article
11 
1103
17 58151
4 0 1
020040060080010001200
Art. 2.9.2 Art. 2.10.1 Art. 3.2 Art. 5.6.2 Art. 5.7.1 Art. 7.2 No article
mentioned
 
11. Amongst the 1,251 notifications received in 200 8, the following objectives were mentioned 
by Members:  protection of human health or saf ety (in 818 notifications);  prevention of deceptive 
practices (in 283 notifications); protection of th e environment (in 211 notifications);  consumer 
information and labelling (in 60 notifications); qualit y requirements (in 50 notifications); adoption of 
new domestic law (in 109  notifications);  harmonizati on (in 27 notifications);  protection of animal or 
plant life or health (in 59 notifications); lowering or  removal of trade barriers and trade facilitation (in 
46 notifications), and national security requirements (i n 1 notification).  365 not ifications referred to 
more than one objective, 2 notifications referred  to other objectives, and one did not specify any 
objective. 
Figure 3:  Notifications in 2008 by Objective12 
Protection of human 
health and safety
48%Quality requirements
3%Not specified 
0% Others,
0%
Protection of 
environment
13%Adoption of new 
domestic law
7%
Prevention of deceptive 
practices
16%Lowering of trade 
barriers and trade 
facilitation
3%National security,
0%
Harmonization
2%Protection animal and 
plant health
4%
Consumer information, 
labelling
4%
 
                                                      
11 83 notifications indicated  more than one article. 
12 365 notifications referred to two or more objectives.  G/TBT/25 
 Page 5 
 
 
  12. In 1995, the Committee recommended that the normal time-limit for presentation of 
comments on notified technical regulations and c onformity assessment procedures should be 60 days.  
Moreover, it was recommended that any Member able to provide a time limit beyond 60 days, such as 
90 days, was encouraged to do so.13  In 2008, Members allowed an average of 58.1 days for 
comments.  136 notifications either did not specify a comment period, or stated it as non applicable or 
had a comment period which had lapsed.  Figure 4 shows the average time allowed for comments 
since 1995.   
Figure 4: Average Number of Days Allowed for Comments since 1995 
52.346.946.347.2 46.549.653.349.254.8 57.860.560.9 59.9
58.1
010203040506070
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
 
(ii) Notifications under Article 10.7 
13. In 2008, fifty-four new notifications were made under Article 10.7 re garding agreements on 
issues related to technical regulations, standards or conformity assessment procedures.  These are: 
(i) a notification by Mongolia on an agreem ent between the Mongolian National Center For 
Standardization and Metrology an d the Committee of Ukraine for St andardization, Metrology and 
Certification (G/TBT/10.7/N/54); and (ii) fifty-th ree notifications made by Ukraine following its 
accession to the WTO on several agreements betw een the Government of Ukraine and other WTO 
Members (G/TBT/10.7/N/55-106).  
(iii) Notifications under the Code of Good Practice 
14. In 2008, three standardizing bodies from three Members notified their acceptance of the Code 
of Good Practice (Ukraine, Swaziland and Namibia).14  In addition, a notification of acceptance of the 
Code of Good Practice by Viet Nam was made in January 2009.15  Since the entry into force of the 
Agreement and up until February 2009, 159 standardizing bodies fro m 119 Members have adhered to 
the Code.16   Document G/TBT/CS/2/Rev.15 contains the list, by Member, of standardizing bodies 
that have accepted the Code since 1 January 1995 up until January 2009.  The ISO/IEC Information 
                                                      
13 G/TBT/1/Rev.9,  page 18. 
14 G/TBT/CS/N/172-174. 
15 G/TBT/CS/N/175. 
16Notifications of acceptance of the Code by stan dardizing bodies of Members are contained in 
documents G/TBT/CS/N/1-175. Notifications G/TBT/CS/N/118 and 138 have been cancelled.  A list of  
standardizing bodies having accepted the Code of Good Practice in 20 08 is contained in document 
G/TBT/CS/1/Add.13.  In 2008, three standardizing bodies have withdrawn from the Code of Good Practice 
(G/TBT/CS/N/107/Corr.1, G/TBT/CS/N/14/Corr.1, G/TBT/CS /N/121/Corr.1).  In addition, standardizing bodies 
from eight WTO observers - Algeria (2003), Belarus (2001), Bosnia and Herzegovina (1997), Kazakhstan (2006), Lebanon (2008), Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (2009),
 Montenegro (2007), Serbia (2005) and Ukraine 
(1996) - have already notifie d to the ISO/IEC Information Centre their acceptance of the Code of Good Practice. G/TBT/25 
Page 6  
 
  Centre has prepared the Fourteenth Edition of the WTO TBT Standards Code Di rectory which lists all 
standardizing bodies that have notified their accepta nce of the Code together with the addresses of 
these standardizing bodies and information related to the availability of their work programmes. 
(iv) Means of access to additional information relevant to transparency  
15. The following is a list of sources where relevant information can be found: 
(a) Information on publications used to annou nce that work is proceeding on draft 
technical regulations and conformity asse ssment procedures under Articles 2.9.1 and 
5.6.1 of the Agreement, and publications in which the final texts are published under 
Articles 2.11 and 5.8 is contained in document G/TBT/2 and addenda.  A list of 
official publications in relation to technical regulations, conformity assessment 
procedures and standards is contained in document G/TBT/GEN/39/Rev.2.   
(b) The list of WTO TBT Enquiry Points under Articles 10.1 and 10.3 is contained in 
document G/TBT/ENQ/35.  The addresses of Enquiry Points are also available on the TBT Website.
17  
(c) In addition to the usual means of distributio n, TBT notifications are also circulated 
through an automatic mailing list, once a week in the original language.18 
                                                      
17 See http://www.wto.org/e nglish/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_enquiry_points_e.htm. 
18Interested persons can subscribe to the mailing lis t at:  http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/ 
tbt_mailing_list_e.htm.  G/TBT/25 
 Page 7 
 
 
  III. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT19  
(i) Regional Workshops 
16. In 2008, the Secretariat organized three regional workshops in:   
(a) Austria, for Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus20   
(b) Morocco, for French-speaking African countries;21 and  
(c) Barbados, for Caribbean countries.22  
17. The programmes of these workshops were designe d to assist participating economies from the 
different Regions to consolidate knowledge of the principles and disciplines of the TBT Agreement.  
The workshops also introduced pa rticipants to work and discussions in the TBT Committee, with a 
view to promoting a more effective participation of  the various regions in the Committee's work.  The 
workshops also provided a forum for participants to share experiences with respect to technical 
barriers to trade and implementation of the Agreem ent.  Several observer organizations in the TBT 
Committee, such as the Codex Alimentarius Co mmission, the International Electrotechnical 
Commission (IEC), the International Organization fo r Standardization (ISO), and the United Nations 
Industrial Development Organization ( UNIDO) participated the workshops.23   In addition, experts 
from Members were invited to share experiences with  respect to the implementation of the Agreement 
and the work of the Committee.24  Co-operation was also received from regional partners:  for 
instance, UEMOA provided inputs to the workshop for French-speaking African countries held in 
Morocco and the Caribbean Regional Organizati on for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) provided 
inputs to the workshop held in Barbados. 
(ii) First Specialized Course on the Agreem ent on Technical Barriers to Trade 
18. For the first time, a two-week Specialized C ourse on the TBT Agreement was held in Geneva 
on 27 October – 7 November 2008.  The course, wh ich was participatory in nature, aimed at 
promoting a greater understanding of the TBT Agreem ent and at identifying concrete initiatives to 
deal with implementation challenges in a practical manner.  Twenty-five participants from developing 
                                                      
19 A complete list of 2008 TBT-related technical a ssistance activities undertaken by the Secretariat is 
contained in Annex G.  Detailed information, including pr ogrammes of the activities, lists of participants and 
presentations delivered is posted on  http://www.w to.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_act_list_activ_e.htm 
20 Albania, Armenia, Croatia, Georgia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Israel, Kyrgyz 
Republic, Moldova, Turkey (Members), Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, 
Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Russian Fede ration, Serbia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan (O bservers) were 
invited. 
21 Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroun, Cap-Vert, Central African Republic 
Chad, Comores, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinée, Guinée-
Bissau, Guinée équatoriale, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Sao Tomé-et-Principe, Senegal, Togo and Tunisia were invited. 
22 Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, 
Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago 
were invited. 
23 IEC participated in the Vienna, Morocco and Barb ados workshops.  ISO and UNIDO participated in 
the Vienna and Morocco Workshops.  Code x participated in the Morocco workshop. 
24 Experts from the European Communities participated in the Vienna workshop.  Experts from the 
United States and Canada participated in the Barbados workshop. G/TBT/25 
Page 8  
 
  country Members and Observers, as well as least-de veloped countries, participated in the course.
25  
The Course comprised of a series of sessions and practical exercises related to the implementation of the TBT Agreement.  The first week included both general sessions to increase overall understanding 
of the Agreement and focused sessions on such topics as transparency, use of international standards, 
conformity assessment procedures and dispute se ttlement.  The second week covered good regulatory 
practice, technical assistance and focused partic ularly on the operation of the TBT Committee:  
participants also attended the Committee meeti ng on 5-6 November to observe how the Committee 
conducted its work and to familiarize themselves with  its rules and procedures.  Representatives from 
other relevant international or ganizations, from WTO Members as well as from various divisions in 
the WTO Secretariat provided inputs to the Course.
26  As part of the Course, each participant prepared 
an Action Plan to address implementation challenges in their respective countries.  An on-line forum 
was put in place to facilitate follow-up of the Course. 
(iii) National Workshops 
19. In response to requests received from indi vidual Members, national workshops were 
organized in Cuba, Philippines and Mongolia.  Tr aining on the TBT Agreement was also provided on 
SPS/TBT workshops in Rwanda and Belize.  These workshops aimed at promoting a better 
understanding of the rights and obligations unde r the TBT Agreement and at addressing issues of 
specific interest to these Members.   
(iv) E-training 
20. Three e-training courses on the TBT Agreemen t were held in 2008.  These online courses 
were addressed to government officials from de veloping country Members and Observers and 
covered all aspects of the TBT Agreement.27  
(v) Trade Policy Courses 
21. TBT training was provided in the trade policy courses organized by the WTO Secretariat, 
both Geneva-based and regional.  Training sessions on the TBT Agreement were organized in the 
regional trade policy courses held in Jamaica for the Caribbean region, in Singapore for Asia and 
Benin for French-speaking African countries.  Other technical assistance activities include the 
Geneva-based Workshop on Good Regulator y Practice (see paragraph 5, above).28 
                                                      
25 Participants were from: Argentina, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Cambodia, China, Ecuador, 
Egypt, FYROM, India, Jordan, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Sudan, 
Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, Viet Nam and Yemen. 
26 Representatives from ISO, IEC, UNIDO, UN/ECE and the Advisory Centre on WTO Law 
participated in the Course.  Additionally, experts from the United States, Mexico and the European 
Communities also provided inputs to the Course. 
27 In total, 300 participants from 82 WTO Members and Observers successfully completed TBT e-
training courses in 2008. 
28 Participation of one hundred and two officials from developing country Members was sponsored 
through the WTO Global Trust Fund.  G/TBT/25 
 Page 9 
 
 
  IV. DISPUTES INVOLVING PROVISIO NS OF THE TBT AGREEMENT 
22. The state of play during the year 2008 with regard to disputes that have involved provisions 
of the TBT Agreement is summarized below.   
Case 
# Case  
Name Complaint 
By State of Play TBT 
Articles 
Invoked 
1.    Requests for consultations in 2008 
DS386 United States – 
Certain Country 
of Origin 
Labelling 
Requirements Mexico On 22 December 2008, Mexico re quested consultations with 
the United States concerning the mandatory country of origin 
labelling (COOL) provisions in the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 , as amended by the Farm, Security and Rural 
Investment Act of 2002 and the Food, Conservation and 
Energy Act of 2008,  and as implemented through the 
regulations published as 7 CFR Parts 60 and 65 
(WT/DS386/1).  2 
DS384 United States – 
Certain Country 
of Origin 
Labelling 
(COOL) 
Requirements Canada On 4 December 2008, Canada re quested consultations with 
the United States concerning the mandatory country of origin 
labelling (COOL) provisions in the Agricultural Marketing 
Act of 1946 as amended by the 2008 Farm Bill (Food, 
Conservation and Energy Act,  2008) and as implemented 
through the Interim Final Rule of 28 July 2008 
(WT/DS384/1). 2 
DS381 United States – 
Measures 
concerning the 
Importation, 
Marketing and 
Sale of Tuna 
and Tuna 
Products Mexico On 24 October 2008, Mexico re quested consultations with 
the United States in relation to certain measures taken 
concerning the importation, mark eting and sale of tuna and 
tuna products.  The measures include: United States Code , 
Title 16, Section 1385 ("Dol phin Protection Consumer 
Information Act"); Code of Federal Regulations , Title 50, 
Section 216.91 ("Dolphin-safe  labeling standards") and 
Section 216.92 ("Dolphin-safe requirements for tuna 
harvested in the ETP [Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean] by 
large purse seine vessels"); The ruling in Earth Island 
Institute v. Hogarth , 494 F.3d 757 (9th Cir. 2007) 
(WT/DS381/1). 2, 5, 6 and 
8 
2.    Pending Consultations 
DS369 European 
Communities – 
Certain 
Measures 
Prohibiting the 
Importation and 
Marketing of 
Seal Products Canada On 1 October 2007, Canada requested  consultations with the 
European Communities concerning certain measures taken 
by Belgium and the Netherlands regarding the importation, 
transportation, manufacturing, ma rketing, and sale of seal 
products (WT/DS369/1).   2.1 and 
2.2 
DS279 India – Import 
Restrictions 
Maintained 
under the 
Export and 
Import Policy 
2002-2007 European 
Communities On 23 December 2002, the Euro pean Communities requested 
consultations with India co ncerning import restrictions 
maintained by India under its Export and Import Policy 
2002-2007 with respect to particular products of concern to 
the European Communities (WT/DS279/1). 
On 17 January 2003, the United States requested to join the 
consultations (WT/DS279/2) and on 31 January 2003, India 
accepted this requ est (WT/DS279/3). 2 G/TBT/25 
Page 10  
 
   
DS263 European 
Communities – 
Measures 
Affecting 
Imports of Wine Argentina On 4 September 2002, Ar gentina requested consultations 
with the European Communities regarding several EC 
regulations and other mandato ry provisions on oenological 
practices and on trade in wine (WT/DS263/1). 2 and 12 
DS233 Argentina – 
Measures 
Affecting the 
Import of 
Pharmaceutical 
Products India On 25 May 2001, India re quested consultations with 
Argentina concerning Argentina's Law No. 24.766 and 
Decree No. 150/92 (WT/DS233/1). 2 
(especially 
2.2), 5 
(especially 
5.1 and 
5.2) and 
12 
DS203 Mexico – 
Measures 
Affecting Trade 
in Live Swine United States On 10 July 2000, the Un ited States request ed consultations 
with Mexico in respect of Mexico's 20 October 1999 
definitive anti-dumping measure on live swine for slaughter 
(merchandise classified under tariff classification 0103.92.99 
of the General Import Law) exported from the United States, 
independently from the country of origin, and actions by Mexico in the conduct of th e anti-dumping investigation 
resulting in that measure (WT/DS203/1). 2 and 5 
DS144 United States – 
Certain 
Measures 
Affecting the 
Import of 
Cattle, Swine 
and Grain from 
Canada Canada On 25 September 1998, Canada  requested consultations with 
the United States in respect of certain measures, imposed by 
the US state of South Dakota and other states, prohibiting 
entry or transit to Canadian trucks carrying cattle, swine, and 
grain (WT/DS144/1).  2, 3, 5 and 
7 
DS137 European 
Communities – 
Measures 
Affecting 
Imports of 
Wood of 
Conifers from 
Canada Canada On 17 June 1998, Canada re quested consultations with the 
European Communities in respect of certain measures 
concerning the importation into the EC market of wood of 
conifers from Canada. The me asures include, but are not 
limited to, Council Directive 77/93, of 21 December 1976, as 
amended by Commission Directive 92/103/EEC, of 
1 December 1992, and any relevant measures adopted by EC 
Member states affecting impor ts of wood of conifers from 
Canada into the European  Communities (WT/DS137/1). 2 
DS134 European 
Communities – 
Measures 
Affecting 
Import Duties 
on Rice India On 28 May 1998, India requested consultations with the 
European Communities in respect of the restrictions allegedly 
introduced by an EC Regulation establishing a so-called 
cumulative recovery system (CRS), for determining certain 
import duties on rice, with effect from 1 July 1997 
(WT/DS134/1). 2, in 
particular 
2.1  and 
2.2 
DS100 United States – 
Measures 
Affecting 
Imports of 
Poultry 
Products European 
Communities On 18 August 1997, the European Communities requested 
consultations with the United States in respect of a ban on 
imports of poultry and poultry products from the European 
Communities by the US Departme nt of Agriculture's Food 
Safety Inspection Service, and any related measures 
(WT/DS100/1). 2 and 5 
DS61 United States – 
Import 
Prohibition of 
Certain Shrimp 
and Shrimp 
Products Philippines On 25 October 1996, the Philippines requested consultations 
with the United States in respect of a complaint by the 
Philippines regarding a ban on the importation of certain 
shrimp and shrimp products from the Philippines imposed by 
the United States under Section 609 of US Public Law 101-62 
(WT/DS61/1). 2  G/TBT/25 
 Page 11 
 
 
   
DS41 Korea – 
Measures 
Concerning 
Inspection of 
Agricultural 
Products United States On 24 May 1996, the Unit ed States requested consultations 
with Korea concerning testing, inspection and other 
measures required for the importation of agricultural 
products into Korea (WT/DS41/1). 2, 5 and 6 
DS3 Korea – 
Measures 
Concerning the 
Testing and 
Inspection of 
Agricultural 
Products United States On 6 April 1995, the Un ited States requested consultations 
with Korea involving testing and inspection requirements with 
respect to imports of agricu ltural products into Korea 
(WT/DS3/1).  (See WT/DS41). 5 and 6 
3.   Implementation  status of adopted panel reports 
DS291 
DS292 
DS293 
 
 European 
Communities – 
Measures 
Affecting the 
Approval and 
Marketing of 
Biotech 
Products United States, 
(DS291), 
Canada 
(DS292)  and 
Argentina 
(DS293) On 13 May 2003, the United St ates and Canada requested 
consultations with the European Communities concerning 
certain measures taken by the European Communities and its 
member States affecting imports of agricultural and food 
imports from the United States  and Canada (WT/DS291/1, 
WT/DS292/1).  On 14 May 2003, Argentina requested 
consultations with the European Communities on the same 
matter (WT/DS293/1). 
On 7 August 2003, the United States, Canada and Argentina 
each requested the establishment of a panel (WT/DS291/23, 
WT/DS292/17, WT/DS293/17).  At its meeting on 
29 August 2003, the DSB decided to  establish a single panel. 
On 23 February 2004, the United States, Canada and 
Argentina requested the Director-General to compose the 
panel.  On 4 March 2004, the Director-General composed the 
panel.  
Argentina (in respect of the United States' and Canada's 
complaints), Australia, Brazil, Canada (in respect of the 
United States' and Argentina's complaints), Chile, China, 
Colombia, El Salvador, Hondur as, Mexico, New Zealand, 
Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Chin ese Taipei, Th ailand, Uruguay 
and the United States (in respect  of Canada's and Argentina's 
complaints) reserved their third-party rights. 
On 29 September 2006, the panel reports were circulated to 
Members (WT/DS291/R, WT/D S292/R and WT/DS293/R).  
At its meeting on 21 November 2006, the DSB adopted the 
panel reports.  
At the DSB meeting on 19 December 2006, the 
European Communities announced its intention to 
implement the recommendations and rulings of the DSB in a 
manner consistent with its WT O obligations.  However, due 
to the complexity and sensitivity of the issues involved, the 
European Communities would need a reasonable period of 
time for implementation.  Pursua nt to Article 21.3(b) of the 
DSU, the European Communities was ready to discuss an 
appropriate timeframe with Argentina, Canada and the 
United States. 
On 21 June 2007, the United States and the European 
Communities, Canada and the European Communities, and Argentina and the European Communities respectively 
notified the DSB that they had agreed that the reasonable 
period of time for the European Communities to implement United 
States: 
2 and 5 
Canada: 
2.1, 2.2, 
2.8, 5.1 
and 5.2 
Argentina
2, 5 and 
12 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 G/TBT/25 
Page 12  
 
     the recommendations and rulings of the DSB shall be twelve 
months from the date of the adoption of the panel reports. 
Accordingly, the reasonable period of time expired on 21 
November 2007. On 21 November 2007, the partie s 
informed the DSB that they had agreed to modify the 
reasonable period  of time so as to expire on 11 January 2008.  
On 11 January 2008, the European Communities and 
Canada, with respect to dis pute WT/DS292, informed the 
DSB that they had agreed to modify the reasonable period of 
time so as to expire on 11 February 2008. On 11 February 
2008, the European Communities and Canada, informed the 
DSB that they had agreed to modify once more the 
reasonable period of time so as to expire on 30 June 2008. 
On 11 January 2008, the European Communities and 
Argentina, with respect to di spute WT/DS293, informed the 
DSB that they had agreed to modify the reasonable period of 
time so as to expire on 11 June 2008. 
On 14 January 2008, the European Communities and the 
United States informed the DSB that they had reached an agreement on procedures under Articles 21 and 22 of the 
DSU with respect to disput e WT/DS291. On 17 January 
2008, the United States reques ted authorization from the 
DSB to suspend concessions and other obligations with 
respect to dispute WT/DS291.  On 6 February 2008, the 
European Communities objected to the United States' request 
for authorization to suspend concessions and other 
obligations and referred the ma tter to arbitration under 
Article 22.6 of the DSU. At its meeting on 8 February 2008, 
the DSB agreed that the matter had been referred to 
arbitration under Article 22.6 of the DSU. On 15 February 
2008, the European Communities and the United States requested the Arbitrator to suspend its work pursuant to their 
agreed procedures under Articles 21 and 22 of the DSU. In 
accordance with the parties' joint request, the Arbitrator 
suspended the arbitration proceedings from 18 February 
2008 until the United States requ ests their resumption under 
the circumstances agreed betw een the parties on 14 January 
2008.  
 
 
  G/TBT/25 
 Page 13 
 
 
  V. ANNEXES 
A. LIST OF WTO  MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS  
Members29 
 
Albania Ghana Panama 
Angola Greece Papua New Guinea Antigua and Barbuda Grenada Paraguay 
Argentina Guatemala Peru 
Armenia Guinea Philippines Australia Guinea Bissau Poland Austria Guyana Portugal Bahrain Haiti Qatar 
Bangladesh Honduras Romania 
Barbados Hong Kong, China Rwanda Belgium Hungary Saint Kitts and Nevis Belize Iceland Saint Lucia Benin India Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Bolivia  Indonesia Saudi Arabia 
Botswana Ireland Senegal 
Brazil Israel Sierra Leone Brunei Darussalam Italy  Singapore Bulgaria Jamaica Slovak Republic Burkina Faso Japan Slovenia 
Burundi Jordan Solomon Islands 
Cambodia Kenya South Africa Cameroon Korea, Rep. of Spain Canada Kuwait Sri Lanka Cape Verde  Kyrgyz Republic Suriname 
Central African Repub lic Latvia Swaziland 
Chad Lesotho Sweden 
Chile Liechtenstein  Switzerland China, People's Republic of Lithuani a Separate Customs Territory of  
Colombia Luxembourg Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and  
Congo Macao, China Matsu (Chinese Taipei)  
Congo, Democratic Rep. of the Madagascar Tanzania 
Costa Rica Malawi Thailand Côte d'Ivoire Malaysia Togo Croatia Maldives Tonga Cuba Mali Trinidad and Tobago 
Cyprus Malta Tunisia 
Czech Republic Mauritania Turkey Denmark Mauritius Uganda  Djibouti Moldova Ukraine  
Dominica Mexico United Arab Emirates Dominican Republic Mongolia United Kingdom 
Ecuador Morocco United States 
Egypt Mozambique Uruguay El Salvador Myanmar Venezuela (Bolivarian Estonia Namibia Republic of) 
                                                     
 
29 Members on 31 January 2009. G/TBT/25 
Page 14  
 
  European Communities Nepal Zambia 
Fiji Netherlands Zimbabwe Finland New Zealand  Former Yugoslav Rep. of Nicaragua  Macedonia (FYROM) Niger  
France Nigeria  
Gambia Norway  Gabon Oman  Georgia Pakistan  Germany Viet Nam   
 
 
Observer Governments30 
 
Afghanistan Iran Seychelles 
Algeria Iraq Sudan Andorra Kazakhstan Tajikistan 
Azerbaijan Laos, P.D.R. of Uzbekistan 
Bahamas Lebanese Republic Vanuatu Belarus Libya Yemen Bhutan Montenegro  Bosnia and Herzegovina Russian Federation  
Equatorial Guinea  Samoa  
Ethiopia Sao Tomé and Principe  Holy See (Vatican) Serbia  
 
 
Observer Organizations  
 
African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP)31  
Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración (ALADI)30 
European Free Trade Association (EFTA)30 
Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)    International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)  
International Monetary Fund (IMF)  
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)  International Trade Centre (ITC)  Organization for Economic Co-opera tion and Development (OECD)  
Office International des Epizooties (OIE)  International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML)
30 
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development  (UNCTAD)   
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE)  United Nations Industrial Deve lopment Organization (UNIDO)
30 
World Health Organization (WHO)  
WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission  
The World Bank  
                                                      
30 Observers on 31 January 2009. 
31 Observer status on an ad hoc  basis.  G/TBT/25 
 Page 15 
 
 
  B. LIST OF TBT  DOCUMENTS ISSUED DURING THE YEAR 2008 
Document Reference Date of Issue Title  
1. Working Documents (G/TBT/W/ - ) 
G/TBT/W/284 18 March 2008 
 Production And Labelling Of Organic Products 
(Communication from Argentina Concerning 
Regulation (EC) No. 834/07 
Notified as Document G/TBT/N/EEC/101) 
G/TBT/W/285 19 March 2008 Determining the Need to Regulate 
(Communication from the United States) 
G/TBT/W/286 30 April 2008 System for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation
and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (Communication by Argentina) 
G/TBT/W/287 6 June 2008 Summary Report of the  
TBT Workshop on Good Regulatory Practice 
18-19 March 2008 (Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/W/288 23 June 2008 
 Specific Trade Concerns Relating to Access of Ferro-
Nickel to the European Union Market 
(Communication from Colombia) 
G/TBT/W/289 26 June 2008 
 System for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation
and restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (Communication by Argentina) 
G/TBT/W/290 26 June 2008 
 Utilization of Traditional Expressions or Additional 
Quality Terms with Respect to Wines
(EC Regulations Nos. 753/02 and 316/04) (Communication from Argentina)
 
G/TBT/W/291 27 June 2008 
 Production and Labelling of Organic Products 
(Communication from Argentina)  
G/TBT/W/292 21 October 2008 Transitional Review Mechanism pursuant to Section  
18 of the Protocol on the Accession of the People’s 
Republic of China (Questions and Comments from the United States to China) 
G/TBT/W/293 28 October 2008 Transitional Review Mechanism pursuant to Section  
18 of the Protocol on the Accession of the People’s 
Republic of China (Questions and Comments Japan to China) 
G/TBT/W/294 28 October 2008 The Regulators’ Forum:  A New Zealand Example of  
Domestic Regulatory Coordination 
(Submission by New Zealand) 
G/TBT/W/295 30 October 2008 A Menu of Options:  New Zealand’s Approach to 
Mutual Recognition Arrangements (Mras) and Regulatory Cooperation Arrangements 
 (Submission by New Zealand) 
G/TBT/W/296 4 November 2008 Annual Transitional Review Mandated In Paragraph 
18 of the Protocol of Accession of The People's Republic of China: Information Required in Annex 1a 
of WT/L/432 (Submission by The People's Republic of 
China)  
G/TBT/W/297 4 November 2008 
 Specific Trade Concerns Relating to Access of Ferro-
Nickel to the European Union Market 
(Communication from Colombia) G/TBT/25 
Page 16  
 
  Document Reference Date of Issue Title  
G/TBT/W/298 4 November 2008 
 Specific Trade Concerns Relating to Access of Foods 
to the European Union Market (Communication from Colombia) 
G/TBT/W/299 4 November 2008 
 Specific Trade Concerns Relating to Access of 
Pharmaceuticals to the Argentinean Market 
(Communication from Colombia) 
G/TBT/W/300 5 November 2008 China's Transitional Review Mechanism 
(Communication from the European Communities) 
G/TBT/W/301 11 November 2008 Specific Trade Concerns of Cuba Relating to the 31st 
Adaptation to Technical Progress of Directive 
67/548/EEC of the European Communities on the 
Control of Dangerous Chemical Substances (G/TBT/N/EEC/212), Establishing the Classification 
of Nickel Substances 
(Communication from Cuba) 
G/TBT/W/302 26 November 2008 Comments of the Dominica Republic on the Proposed 
EC Classification of Nickel Substances in the 31st ATP 
(Communication from the Dominican Republic)  
G/TBT/W/303 9 December 2008 Technical As sistance Activities in the TBT Field
(European Commission and EU Member States
funded. Active Projects in 2006-2007) (Submission by the European Communities) 
2. Minutes of the Meetings (G/TBT/M/ - ) 
G/TBT/M/44 10 June 2008 Minutes of the Meeting of 20 March 2008 
(Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/M/45 9 September 2008 Minutes of the Meeting of 1-2 July 2008 
(Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/M/46 23 January 2008 Minutes of the Meeting of 5-6 November 2008 
(Note by the Secretariat)  G/TBT/25 
 Page 17 
 
 
   
3. General Documents (G/TBT/GEN/ - ) 
G/TBT/GEN/N/85-96 January 2008 – 
January 2009 Notifications issued from December 2007 to December 
2008 
G/TBT/GEN/1/Rev.7  7 March 2008 Statements on Implementation and Administration of the 
Agreement under Article 15.2 (Note by the Secretariat - 
Revision) 
G/SPS/GEN/491/Add.8 G/TBT/GEN/7/Add.8  14 November 2008 
 Communication from Mexico 
G/TBT/GEN/39/Rev.1 7 March 2008  List of members' publications in relation to technical 
regulations, conformity assessment procedures and 
standards (Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/GEN/67 and Rev.1 11 March 2008 
17 March 2008 Programme of the Workshop on Good Regulatory 
Practice; 18-19 March 2008  
G/TBT/GEN/68  23 April 2008 IEC Report on activities in developing countries  
(November 2007– March 2008) 
G/TBT/GEN/69 
 23 April 2008 Information on activities of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission  
G/TBT/GEN/70  23 April 2008 TBT Technical Assistance Activities in 2008;  
Information from the Secretariat 
G/TBT/GEN/71 
 28 July 2008 Information on activities of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission 
G/TBT/GEN/72  28 July 2008 IEC Statem ent to the TBT Committee 
G/TBT/GEN/73 
 28 July 2008 TBT Technical Assistance Activities in 2008;  
Information from the Secretariat 
G/TBT/GEN/74 
 25 September 2008 Specific Trade C oncerns raised in the TBT Committee 
G/TBT/GEN/75 
 28 November 2008 Information on activities of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission 
G/TBT/GEN/76 
 15 December 2008 IEC Activitie s in Developing Countries 
G/TBT/GEN/77 
 15 December 2008 TBT Technical  Assistance Activities in 2008 
(Information from the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/GEN/78  15 December 2008 Update on ISO and conformity assessment 
G/TBT/GEN/79 
 15 December 2008 Recently complete d and forthcomi ng analytical  
work/events of OECD related to TBT) 
4. Documents Relating to the Code  of Good Practice (G/TBT/CS/ - ) 
G/TBT/CS/1/Add.12 
 20 February 2008 List of Standardiz ing Bodies that have accepted the 
Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, 
Adoption and Application of Standards in 2008  
(Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/CS/2/Rev.14  20 February 2008 List of Standardizing Bodies that have Accepted 
the Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards since 1 January 1995 
(Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/CS/N/107/ Corr.1 21 April 2008 Notification of Withdrawal -  JAPAN/Ships and 
marine technology 
G/TBT/CS/N/172 7 February 2008 Notifica tion of Acceptance - Brunei Darussalam G/TBT/25 
Page 18  
 
  4. Documents Relating to the Code of  Good Practice (G/TBT/CS/ - ) – cont'd 
G/TBT/CS/N/173 5 June 2008 Notification of Acceptance - Ukraine 
G/TBT/CS/N/174 23 October 2008 Notif ication of Acceptance - Swaziland 
5. Statements on the Implementation and Ad ministration of the TBT Agreement (G/TBT/2/ - ) 
G/TBT/2/Add.72/ 
Suppl.1 18 January 2008 Communication from Israel 
G/TBT/2/Add.7/Rev.1 
 14 February 2008 
 Communication from Switzerland 
G/TBT/2/Add.18/ 
Rev.2/Suppl.1  and Suppl.2 13 March 2008 
18 September 2008 Communication from Colombia 
G/TBT/2/Add.3/Rev.2 15 May 2008 Communication from Indonesia 
G/TBT/2/Add.99 15 May 2008 Communication Albania 
G/TBT/2/Add.100 
 30 May 2008 Communication from Ukraine 
 
G/TBT/2/Add.76/ 
Rev.1 2 June 2008 Communication from Ghana 
G/TBT/2/Add.91/ 
Rev.1 1 July 2008 
 Communication from Paraguay 
G/TBT/2/Add.14/ 
Suppl.1 28 October 2008 Communication from Mexico 
G/TBT/2/Add.29/Re v.2 3 December 2008 Communication from Peru 
G/TBT/2/Add.78/ 
Suppl.1  8 December 2008 Communication from El Salvador 
6. Other Documents  
G/TBT/1/Rev.9 8 September 2008 Decisions and Recommendations adopted by the TBT 
Committee since 1 January 1995 
G/TBT/D/32 28 October 2008 United States - Measures concerning the importation, 
marketing and sale of tuna and tuna products (Request 
for Consultations by Mexico)  
G/TBT/D/33 4 December 2008 United States – Certain Co untry of Origin Labelling 
(COOL) Requirements (Request for Consultations by 
Canada) 
G/TBT/D/34 22 December 2008 United States  – Certain Country of Origin Labelling 
(COOL) Requirements (Request for Consultations by Mexico) 
G/TBT/D/35 20 January 2009 
 European Communities – Certain Measures Affecting 
Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat Products from the United 
States (Request for Consultations by the United States) 
G/TBT/23 20 February 2008 Thirteenth Annual Review of the Implementation and 
Operation of the TBT Agreement (Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/24 14 November 2008 Seventh Annual Transitional Review Mandated in 
Paragraph 18 of the Protocol of Accession of the 
People's Republic of China  
G/TBT/ENQ/32 – 34 and 32/Corr.1 7 March, 2 April 
26 June and  
30 October 2008 National Enquiry Points (N ote by the Secretariat)  G/TBT/25 
 Page 19 
 
 
   
7. Job documents (JOB(08)/ - ) 
JOB(08)/16 8 March 2008 11 March 2008 TBT Committee Meeting Annotated 
Draft Agenda 
JOB(08)/54 26 June 2008 1-2 July 2008 TBT Committee Meeting 
Annotated Draft Agenda 
JOB(08)/107 and Rev.1 30 October 2008 
18 December 2008 Workshop the Role of International Standards in 
Economic Development March 2009 Draft Programme  
JOB(08)/108 31 October 2008 5-6 November 2008 TBT Committee Meeting 
Annotated Draft Agenda 
JOB(08)/109 30 October 2008 Report (2008) of the Committee on Technical Barriers 
To Trade 
JOB(08)/114 5 November 2008 Seventh Annual Transitional Review Mandated in 
Paragraph 18 of the Protocol of Accession of The People's Republic of China G/TBT/25 
Page 20  
 
  C. S
PECIFIC TRADE CONCERNS RAISED IN 2008 
I.    New concerns (33) 
1. Brazil – Toys 
Raised by China, European Communities, Malaysia, Thailand 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 210-220); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 121-
126); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 4-9) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/BRA/259 
2. Brazil – Wines 
Raised by European Communities, United States 
Dates raised July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 25-26); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 221-
224) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/BRA/238 and G/TBT/N/BRA/289 
3. Brazil – Regulation on Identification and Quality Standards of Ethyl Alcohol and other Spirits 
Raised by European Communities, Mexico, United States 
Dates raised July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 8-14); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 225-
231) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/BRA/276-278 and Suppl.1 
4. Canada – Mandatory Container Size 
Raised by United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras 27-28) 
Relevant document(s) - 
5. China – Proposed Regulations on Information Security 
Raised by Canada, European Communities, Japan, Korea, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 34-37); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 135-141); 
November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 232-242) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CHN/278-290; G/TBT/W/292 
6. China – Wines 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 38-40); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 170-172); 
November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 242-243) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CHN/197 
7. China – Excessive Packaging 
Raised by European Communities, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 29-33); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 137-
142) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CHN/447 and Suppl.1  G/TBT/25 
 Page 21 
 
 
  8. China – Energy Efficiency and Energy Efficiency Grades for Copy Machines 
Raised by Japan 
Dates raised July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 27-28); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 324-
326) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CHN/331, Rev.1 and Suppl.1 
9. China – Brake linings for automobiles 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 15-16) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CHN/366 and Suppl.1 
10. Chinese Taipei – Green Mark Products 
Raised by Japan 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 32-33) 
Relevant document(s) - 
11. European Communities – Lighters 
Raised by China 
Dates raised March 2008 (G /TBT/M/44, paras. 24-26) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/EEC/178 
12. Colombia – Regulation on Wine labelling 
Raised by Chile 
Dates raised July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 18-19) 
Relevant document(s) - 
13. European Communities – Production  and Labelling of Organic Products 
Raised by Argentina, Ecuador 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 44-49); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 66-68) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/EEC/101 and Ad d.1; G/TBT/W/284 (ARG); G/TBT/W/291 (ARG) 
14. European Communities – Capacity la belling of batteries and accumulators 
Raised by Japan 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 128-130) 
Relevant document(s) - 
15. European Communities – Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on 
Cosmetic Products 
Raised by China 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 11-14) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/EEC/186 and Corr.1 
16. European Communities – Novel foods 
Raised by Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 25-31) 
Relevant documents G/TBT/N/EEC/188; G/TBT/W/298 (COL) G/TBT/25 
Page 22  
 
   
17. European Communities – Toys 
Raised by China, Korea 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 41-43); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 173-175) 
Relevant documents G/TBT/N/EEC/184 
18. European Communities – Dangerous Chemical Sub stances: Draft Commission Directive amending, for 
the 31st time, Council Directive 67/548/EEC 
Raised by Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican 
Republic, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Japa n, Korea, Mauritius, Philippines, South 
Africa, Turkey, United States, Venezuela, Zimbabwe 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 46-127) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/EEC/212; G/TBT/W/ 297 (COL); G/TBT/W/301 (CUB); G/TBT/W/302 
(DOM) 
19. European Communities – Napropamide 
Raised by India 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 21-22) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/EEC/203 and Add.1 
20. Germany – Changes in the Prohibition of Chemicals Ordinance 
Raised by Chile, Israel 
Dates raised July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 15-17) 
Relevant document(s) - 
21. Germany – Ban on Seal Products 
Raised by Canada, Norway 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 19-23); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 127-129); 
November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 289-292) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/DEU/5 and Add.1 
22. Indonesia – Zinc Coated Steel Sheet 
Raised by Korea 
Dates raised July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 20-21) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/IDN/17 
23. Indonesia – Requirements for Rubber Hoses for LPG Gas Stoves 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 22-24) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/IDN/19 
24. Japan – Labelling Guidelines on Wagyu Beef 
Raised by Australia, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G /TBT/M/44, paras. 52-55) 
Relevant document(s) -  G/TBT/25 
 Page 23 
 
 
   
25. Korea – Country of Origin Labelling Requirements for Certain Imported Fruit 
Raised by Mexico, United States 
Dates raised July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 29-31) 
Relevant document(s) - 
26. Korea – Import Review Process for Functional Cosmetics 
Raised by United States 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 42-45) 
Relevant document(s) - 
27. Moldova – Draft Law on Alcoholic Beverages 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, para. 56) 
Relevant document(s) - 
28. South Africa – Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuff 
Raised by United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G /TBT/M/44, paras. 50-51) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/ZAF/66 
29. United States – Chemical Fa cility Anti-Terrorist Regulation 
Raised by Chile, Israel 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 10-18); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 107-113) 
Relevant document(s) - 
30. United States – Detection of contaminants in fuel containers 
Raised by India 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 23-24) 
Relevant document(s) - 
31. United States – Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act 
Raised by China 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 4-10) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/USA/421 
32. United States – Olive Oil 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 17-20) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/USA/395 
33. United States – Requiremen ts to combat illegal logging 
Raised by Argentina, Canada, European Communities, Switzerland 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 34-41) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/USA/424 and Corr.1 G/TBT/25 
Page 24  
 
   
II.   Previously raised concerns (26) 
34. Argentina – Measures affecting market access for pharmaceutical products 
In 2008, raised by Colombia, Chile, Paraguay 
Dates raised July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 142-145); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 
304-306) 
First raised in November 2007  (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 6-8) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/W/280 (COL); G/TBT/W/299 (COL) 
35. Brazil –  Registration requirements for medical devices 
In 2008, raised by Canada, European Communities, Switzerland, United States  
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 212- 218); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 146-150); 
November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 284-288) 
First raised in July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 58-61) 
Relevant document(s) - 
36. Canada – Compositional requirements for cheese 
In 2008, raised by Australia, European Commun ities, New Zealand, Switzerland, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 163-175); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 176-
180); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 293-303) 
First raised in  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 4-13) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CAN/203 
37. China – Administration on the Control of Pollu tion Caused by Electroni c Information Products 
In 2008, raised by European Communities, Japan, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 204-205) 
First raised November 2005 (G/TBT/M/37 paras. 3-4) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CHN/140, Add.1 
38. China – Revision of the list of toxic chemicals severely restricted in the People's Republic of China in the 
regulation for environmental management on the first import of ch emicals and the import and export of 
toxic chemicals 
In 2008, raised by European Communities, Japan 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 193-195); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 183-
185) 
First raised in March 2006 (G/TBT/M/38, paras. 25-31) 
Relevant document(s) -  G/TBT/25 
 Page 25 
 
 
  39. China – Domestic gas cooking appliances  
In 2008, raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 2 21-222); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 164-165) 
First raised in March 2006 (G/TBT/M/38, paras. 38-41) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CHN/237 
40. China – Draft Standards on Lithium Batteries for Mobile Phones  
In 2008, raised by European Communities, Japan, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 212- 218); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 146-150); 
November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 284-288) 
First raised in November 2007  (G/TBT/M/43 paras. 157-180) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/22 
41. China – Compulsory Ce rtification (CCC) System 
In 2008, raised by European Communities 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46 paras. 131-136) 
First raised in October 2002 (G/TBT/M/46) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CHN/399 and Suppl.1; G/TBT/W/182 (EEC) 
42. European Communities – Dangerous Chemical Sub stances: Draft Commission Directive amending, for 
the 30th time, Council Directive 67/548/EEC 
In 2008, raised by Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican 
Republic, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, United 
States, Zimbabwe 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 57-108); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 76-106) 
First raised in July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 29-48) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/EEC/151; G/TBT/W/288 (COL) 
43. European Communities – Regulation  on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals 
(REACH) 
In 2008, raised by Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Cuba, 
Dominican Republic, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, 
Qatar, South Africa, Switzerla nd, Thailand, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 109-149); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 32-68); 
November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 145-202) 
First raised in March 2003 (G/TBT/M/29 paras. 36-44) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/EEC/52 and Adds.1-5;  Add.3/Re v.1; G/TBT/W/208 (EEC); G/TBT/W/286 
(ARG); G/TBT/W/289 (ARG); G/TBT/GEN/46 (SGP) 
44. European Communities – Regulation on Certain Wine Sector Products  
In 2008, raised by Argentina, Canada, Mexico , New Zealand, South Af rica, United States,  
Dates raised July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 69 -75); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 310-
320) 
First raised in October 1999 (G/TBT/M/17 paras. 15-29) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/EEC/15 and Corr.1-2; G/TB T/N/EEC/57; G/TBT/W/119 (USA); 
G/TBT/W/290 (ARG) G/TBT/25 
Page 26  
 
  45. European Communities – Directiv e 2002/95/EC on the Restriction of the Use of certain Hazardous 
Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (R oHS) and Directive 2002/96/ EC on Waste Electrical 
and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) 
In 2008, raised by United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 155-158); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 158-
160); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 275-283) 
First raised in March 1999 (G/TBT/M/15 paras. 25-27) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/Notif.00/310 and Corr.1 
46. India – Drugs and Cosmetics Rules 2007 
In 2008, raised by European Communities, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 200-203); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 130-
134); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 244-250) 
First raised in July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 50-52) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/IND/33 
47. India – Pneumatic tyres and tubes for automotive vehicles 
In 2008, raised by European Communities, Japan, Korea, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 176-179); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 166-
169); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 251-256) 
First raised in March 2006 () 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/IND/11 and 20 
48. Israel – Infant Formula 
In 2008, raised by United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 196-197); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 181-
182); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 321-323) 
First raised in July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 24-25) 
Relevant document(s) - 
49. Korea – Fish Heads 
In 2008, raised by European Communities, New Zealand 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 180-183); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 119-
120) 
First raised in  July 2003 (G/TBT/M/30, paras. 37-39) 
Relevant document(s) G/SPS/N/KOR/243 
50. Moldova – Quality and control measures for bottled , non-alcoholic beverages including mineral, natural 
water and soft drinks 
In 2008, raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, para. 223) 
First raised in  November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 9-11) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/MDA/13  G/TBT/25 
 Page 27 
 
 
   
51. Norway – Restrictions on the use of Deca-bromo diphenylether (deca-BDE) 
In 2008, raised by Israel, Japan, Jordan  
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 188-192); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, para. 157) 
First raised in March 2006 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 70-71) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/NOR/6 and Add.1; Corr.1 
52. Norway – Proposed reg ulation concerning specific hazardous substances in consumer products 
In 2008, raised by Israel, Korea, Japan. Jordan, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 150-154); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 151-
156); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 257-274) 
First raised in November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43 paras. 12-18) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/NOR/17 
53. Peru – Labelling of footwear 
In 2008, raised by European Communities 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 143-144) 
First raised in  November 2004 (G/TBT/M/34, paras. 8-9) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/PER/4 and G/TBT/N/PER/1 and G/TBT/N/PER/19 
54. Saudi Arabia – International Confor mity Certification Programme (ICCP) 
In 2008, raised by Korea, United States 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 329-332) 
First raised in  March 2006 (G/TBT/M/38, paras. 58-59) 
Relevant document(s) WT/ACC/SAU/61, para. 197. 
55. Sweden – Restrictions on the use of Deca-bromo diphenylether (deca-BDE) 
In 2008, raised by Chinese Taipei, Israel, Japan. Jordan, United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 184-187); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 114-
118); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 275-283) 
First raised in March 2006 (G/TBT/M/38, paras. 11-13) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/SWE/59 
56. Thailand – Labelling Requirement for Snack Foods 
In 2008, raised by United States 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 327-328); July 2008 (G/TBT/M/45, paras. 186-
188); November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 275-283) 
First raised in March 2007 (G/TBT/M/38, paras. 11-13) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/THA/215 and Add.1 G/TBT/25 
Page 28  
 
  57. United States – Proposed Rule on Labelling an d Advertising of Wines, Distilled Spirits and Malt 
Beverages 
In 2008, raised by Argentina 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 198-199) 
First raised in  November 2 007 (G/TBT/M/43 paras. 19-20) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/USA/290 and Add.1 
58. United States – Flamma bility of Clothing Textiles 
In 2008, raised by China 
Dates raised March 2008 (G/TBT/M/44, paras. 206-207) 
First raised in  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 17-20) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/USA/242 
59. United States – Count ry of Origin Labelling 
In 2008, raised by Canada, Mexico 
Dates raised November 2008 (G/TBT/M/46, paras. 203-209) 
First raised in  March 2003 (G/TBT/M/29, paras. 34-35) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/US A/25, G/TBT/N/USA/83 and Corr .1, G/TBT/N/USA/281 and Add.1  G/TBT/25 
 Page 29 
 
 
    
D. NOTIFICATIONS MADE BY MEMBERS AND BY RELEVANT ARTICLES OF THE TBT  AGREEMENT 
IN 2008  AND SINCE THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE AGREEMENT  
 
Number of notifications made under  
the relevant Articles in 200832 Members Number of 
notifications 
made in 
2008  2.9 2.10 3.2 5.6 5.7 7.2 Not 
specified Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995 
Albania 8 8 0 0 1 0 0 0 33 
Argentina 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 299 
Armenia 8 7 0 0 1 0 0 0 70 
Australia 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 161 
Austria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
Bahrain 49 48 0 0 3 0 0 0 79 
Barbados 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 208 
Benin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
Bolivia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 
Botswana 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
Brazil 50 36 1 0 15 1 0 0 430 
Brunei  
Darussalam 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
Cameroon 0 0 0  0 0 0 0 0 7 
Canada 33 31 0 0 18 0 0 0 391 
Central 
African 
Republic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 
Chile 16 9 0 0 9 0 0 0 155 
China 185 184 0 0 2 0 0 0 514 
Colombia 19 18 0 0 7 0 0 0 166 
Costa Rica 13 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 97 
Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 38 
Cuba 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
Cyprus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
Czech 
Republic 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 242 
Denmark 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 230 
Dominica 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 11 
Dominican 
Republic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 51 
Ecuador 4 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 37 
Egypt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 
El Salvador 13 13 0 0 6 0 0 0 181 
Estonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
                                                      
32 83 notifications were made under more than one article . G/TBT/25 
Page 30  
 
  Number of notifications made under  
the relevant Articles in 200832 Members Number of 
notifications 
made in 
2008  2.9 2.10 3.2 5.6 5.7 7.2 Not 
specified Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995 
European 
Communities 67 63 0 0 17 0 0 0 423 
Fiji 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
Finland 12 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 56 
France 20 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 156 
Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
Germany 4 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 
Ghana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
Grenada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 
Guatemala 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 68 
Guyana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 
Honduras 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 56 
Hong Kong, 
China 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 59 
Hungary 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 
Iceland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
India 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 82 
Indonesia 4 3 1 0 3 1 0 0 24 
Israel 62 62 0 0 10 0 0 0 308 
Italy 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
Jamaica 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 46 
Japan 52 51 1 0 4 0 0 0 523 
Jordan 4 3 0 0 4 0 0 0 7 
Kenya 14 9 3 0 2 0 0 0 130 
Korea, 
Republic of 33 33 0 0 1 0 0 0 291 
Kuwait 8 7 0 0 2 0 0 0 17 
Kyrgyz 
Republic 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 
Latvia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 
Lithuania 3 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 12 
Macao, China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
Malaysia 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 176 
Mauritius 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
Mexico 33 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 347 
Moldova 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 
Mongolia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 
Morocco 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 
Netherlands 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 613 
New Zealand 9 8 1 0 1 0 0 0 77 
Nicaragua 17 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 105  G/TBT/25 
 Page 31 
 
 
  Number of notifications made under  
the relevant Articles in 200832 Members Number of 
notifications 
made in 
2008  2.9 2.10 3.2 5.6 5.7 7.2 Not 
specified Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995 
Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
Norway 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 75 
Oman 28 28 0 0 2 0 0 0 54 
Pakistan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 
Panama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 
Papua New 
Guinea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
Paraguay 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 
Peru 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 
Philippines 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 156 
Poland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 
Qatar 41 27 3 0 11 0 0 0 75 
Romania 46 46 0 0 0 0 0 0 90 
Rwanda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 
Saint Lucia 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 47 
Saudi Arabia 23 3 0 0 21 0 0 0 23 
Senegal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
Singapore 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 
Slovak 
Republic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 
Slovenia 17 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 91 
South Africa 20 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 140 
Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 71 
Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 
Sweden 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 188 
Switzerland 13 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 179 
Chinese Taipei 12 12 0 0 4 0 0 0 66 
Thailand 31 27 3 0 2 1 0 0 393 
Trinidad and 
Tobago 20 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 57 
Tunisia 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 
Turkey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
Uganda 23 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 
Ukraine 17 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 
United Arab 
Emirates 4 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 14 
United 
Kingdom 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 
United States 106 47 0 58 0 1 0 0 636 
Uruguay 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 
Viet Nam 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 G/TBT/25 
Page 32  
 
  Number of notifications made under  
the relevant Articles in 200832 Members Number of 
notifications 
made in 
2008  2.9 2.10 3.2 5.6 5.7 7.2 Not 
specified Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995 
Zambia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 
TOTAL 1251 1103 17 58 151 4 0 1 10026  G/TBT/25 
 Page 33 
 
 
  E. OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALES STATED IN TBT  NOTIFICATIONS IN 2008 
 
Objectives and Rationales First objective stated in the 
notifications received in 2008 Total number of times that the 
objective was mentioned, as the 
first, second or third objective in 
the notifications circulated in 
200833 
National security requirements 1 1 
Consumer information, labelling 46 60 
Prevention of deceptive practices 
and consumer protection 170 283 
Protection of human health or safety 730 818 
Protection of animal or plant life 
or health 13 59 
Protection of environment 108 211 
Quality requirements 42 50 
Harmonization 18 27 
Adoption of new domestic law 
and technology 107 109 
Lowering or removal of trade 
barriers 11 34 
Trade facilitation 4 12 
Cost saving and increasing 
productivity - - 
Others - 2 
Not specified 1 1 
Total 1251  
 
 
                                                      
33 Among the 1251 notifications circulated in 2008, 365 indicate two or more objectives . G/TBT/25 
Page 34  
 
  F. O
BSERVATION OF THE RECOMMENDED COMMENT PERIOD BY MEMBERS IN 2008 
 
Number of notifications ma de with comment period 
Members Less than 
45 days 45-59 days 60 days 
or more Not specified, 
lapsed or 
stated as non- 
applicable Of which 
notified under 
Articles 2.10 
and 5.7 Total 
Albania 0 0 7 1 0 8 
Argentina 5 7 0 2 0 14 
Armenia 0 2 3 3 0 8 
Australia 0 3 0 0 0 3 
Bahrain 2 1 43 3 0 49 
Botswana 1 0 0 0 0 1 
Brazil 31 4 6 9 0 50 
Canada 6 10 16 1 0 33 
Chile 0 10 6 0 0 16 
China 8 0 175 2 0 185 
Colombia 0 0 19 0 0 19 
Costa Rica 0 0 12 1 0 13 
Czech Republic 0 5 1 0 0 6 
Denmark 0 0 2 0 0 2 
Dominica 1 0 0 0 0 1 
Ecuador 0 0 1 3 3 4 
El Salvador 0 0 13 0 0 13 
European 
Communities 3 0 64 0 0 67 
Finland 0 0 12 0 0 12 
France 1 0 14 5 0 20 
Germany 0 0 3 1 1 4 
Guatemala 0 0 2 0 0 2 
Honduras 0 0 2 0 0 2 
Hungary 0 1 0 0 0 1 
India 1 2 2 0 0 5 
Indonesia 0 0 4 0 0 4 
Israel 2 0 60 0 0 62 
Italy 1 1 0 0 0 2 
Jamaica 0 0 7 0 0 7 
Japan 7 7 37 1 1 52 
Jordan 3 0 0 1 0 4 
Kenya 0 0 11 3 3 14 
Korea, Republic of 6 2 20 5 0 33 
Kuwait 0 1 7 0 0 8 
Kyrgyz Republic 0 0 3 0 0 3 
Lithuania 0 0 3 0 0 3 
Malaysia 0 0 2 0 0 2 
Mexico 13 10 0 10 0 33 
Moldova 0 0 6 0 0 6 
Morocco 4 0 1 0 0 5 
Netherlands 0 2 2 0 0 4 
New Zealand 2 4 2 1 1 9 
Nicaragua 0 0 17 0 0 17  G/TBT/25 
 Page 35 
 
 
  Number of notifications ma de with comment period 
Members Less than 
45 days 45-59 days 60 days 
or more Not specified, 
lapsed or 
stated as non- 
applicable Of which 
notified under 
Articles 2.10 
and 5.7 Total 
Oman 15 0 13 0 0 28 
Paraguay 0 0 3 4 0 7 
Peru 0 0 6 0 0 6 
Philippines 0 5 2 0 0 7 
Qatar 1 0 40 0 0 41 
Romania 16 0 30 0 0 46 
Saint Lucia 0 2 0 0 0 2 
Saudi Arabia 0 0 23 0 0 23 
Singapore 1 2 0 0 0 3 
Slovenia 0 1 15 1 0 17 
South Africa 1 14 3 2 0 20 
Sweden 1 0 4 0 0 5 
Switzerland 1 3 9 0 0 13 
Chinese Taipei 0 0 12 0 0 12 
Thailand 0 0 21 10 2 31 
Trinidad and 
Tobago 9 11 0 0 0 20 
Tunisia 3 1 1 0 0 5 
Uganda 0 0 23 0 0 23 
Ukraine 0 0 0 17 0 17 
United Arab 
Emirates 0 0 4 0 0 4 
United Kingdom 0 0 2 0 0 2 
United States 26 18 13 49 1 106 
Uruguay 2 0 0 0 0 2 
Viet Nam 0 0 3 1 0 4 
TOTAL 173 129 813 136 12 1251 
 G/TBT/25 
Page 36  
 
  G. TBT
 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNDERTAKEN BY THE WTO  SECRETARIAT IN 2008 
1. Geneva-Based Events 
Date Activity Participants Venue Organized by 
18-19 March 
2008 Workshop on Good 
Regulatory Practice All Members Geneva WTO 
27 October – 
7 November 2008 TBT Specialized Course 25 participants from WTO 
Members/Observers Geneva WTO 
 
2. Regional Workshops 
Date Region Venue Organized by Other 
participating 
organizations 
28-30 April 2008 Central and Eastern 
Europe, Central Asia 
and Caucasus  Vienna, 
Austria WTO IEC, ISO, 
UNIDO 
7-9 July 2008 Africa (French) Rabat, 
Morocco WTO Codex, IEC, 
ISO, UEMOA, 
UNIDO 
18-20 November 
2008 Caribbean Bridgetown, 
Barbados WTO IEC, 
CARICOM, 
CROSQ 
 
3. Member Workshops 
Date Venue Organized by Other 
participating 
organizations 
13-15 March 2008 Belize (TBT/SPS) WTO  
8-9 July 2008 Rwanda (TBT/SPS) WTO  
1-2 October 2008 Cuba WTO ISO 
8-10 October 2008 Philippines WTO  
19–20 November 
2008 Mongolia WTO  
  G/TBT/25 
 Page 37 
 
 
  4. Trade Policy Courses covering, inter alia,  the TBT Agreement 
(a) Geneva-Based 
Date Name of course (language) Organized by 
January-April 
2008 43rd Trade Policy Course (English) WTO (ITTC) 
January-April 
2008  44th Trade Policy Course (English) WTO (ITTC) 
April-July  
2008 45th Trade Policy Course (Spanish) WTO (ITTC) 
Sept.-December 
2008 46th Trade Policy Course (French) WTO (ITTC) 
 
(b) Regional  
Date Region Venue Organized by 
February 2008 Caribbean Jamaica WTO (ITTC) 
May 2008 Asia and Pacific Singapore WTO (ITTC) 
Second half of 
2008 Africa (English) Swaziland WTO (ITTC) 
  
5. eTraining: Online Courses 
Date Name of course (language) Organized by 
February - April 
2008 Introduction to Technical Barriers to Trade (English) WTO (ITTC) 
May – June 2008 Introduction to Technical Barriers to Trade (English) WTO (ITTC) 
Autumn 2008 Introduction to Technical Barriers to Trade (French) WTO (ITTC) 
 
__________