WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/23 
20 February 2008 
 (08-0765) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade     
 
 
THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND 
OPERATION OF THE TBT AGREEMENT 
 
Note by the Secretariat1 
  
 
1. The Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
2 (the Committee) will conduct its Thirteenth 
Annual Review of the Implementation and Operatio n of the TBT Agreement under Article 15.3 at its 
next meeting on 20 March 2008.  This document c ontains information on developments in the 
Committee relating to the implementation and op eration of the TBT Agreement from 1 January 
to 31 December 2007.  
 
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...........................8  
V. ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................ .......12  
A. LIST OF WTO  MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS ...............................................................................12  
B. LIST OF TBT  DOCUMENTS ISSUED DURING THE YEAR 2007 ...................................................14  
C. SPECIFIC TRADE CONCERNS RAISED IN 2007 ...........................................................................18  
D. NOTIFICATIONS MADE BY MEMBERS AND BY RELEVANT ARTICLES OF THE TBT 
AGREEMENT IN 2007  AND SINCE THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE AGREEMENT .....................25  
E. OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALES STATED IN TBT  NOTIFICATIONS IN 2007................................28  
F. OBSERVATION OF THE RECOMMENDED COMMENT PERIOD BY MEMBERS IN 2007 .................29  
G. TBT  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNDERTAKEN BY THE WTO  SECRETARIAT IN 2007 ................31  
 
                                                      
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/23 
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 Mr. Raiminder SIDHU (India) as its Chairperson for the year 2007-2008. 
3. Three meetings were held in 2007 (21 March, 5 July and 9 November 2007).
3  A t  t h e s e  
meetings, the Committee's attention was drawn to new or revised statements on implementation and 
administration of the Agreement, submitted under Ar ticle 15.2.  In 2007, six Members submitted new 
statements under Article 15.2, while five issued revisions to existing statements.4   
4. Forty-five specific trade concerns, twenty-eight  of which were new concerns, were brought to 
the attention of the Committee with regard to the potential adverse trade effects of the measures, or 
inconsistency with the Agreement.5 
5. During the review period, the Committee initiated an exchange of experiences on issues under 
Future Work items agreed at the Fourth Triennial Review of the Operation and Implementation of the 
Agreement under Article 15.4 (G/TBT/19), namely: (i) good regulatory practice; (ii) conformity 
assessment procedures; (iii) transparency; (iv) tech nical assistance; and, (v) special and differential 
treatment.  
6. With a view to deepening understanding of the contribution good regulatory practice can 
make to the implementation of the TBT Agreemen t and advancing its work in this area, the 
Committee agreed to hold a workshop on go od regulatory practice on 18-19 March 2008.6  O n  
transparency, the Committee agreed, at its 9 November 2007 meeti ng, on a new facility to attach texts 
of draft regulations to TBT notifications and on a new voluntary mechanism aimed at sharing 
unofficial translations of such texts.7  On technical assistance, th e TBT Committee discussed the 
functioning of the Format for the Voluntary Notif ication of Specific Technical Assistance Needs and 
Responses (G/TBT/16) and initiated an exchange of experiences regarding the delivery and receipt of 
technical assistance. 
7. The Committee held its Fifth Special Mee ting on Procedures for Information Exchange 
on 7-8 November 2007.8  This special meeting addressed issues  relating to:  publication practices;  
notification practices;  use of electronic tools;  and technical cooperation and the work of Enquiry 
Points. 
                                                      
3 G/TBT/M/41 and Corr.1, G/TBT/ M/42 and Corr.1 and G/TBT/M/43. 
4 The full list of Members having submitted a statement on implementation and administration of the 
Agreement  under Article 15.2 (since January 1995) is contained in document G/TBT/GEN/1/Rev.6.  The six 
new statements were from: Malawi (G/TBT/2/Add.93), Tanzania (G/TBT/2/Add.94), Niger (G/TBT/2/Add.95), 
the United Arab Emirates (G/TBT/2/Add.96), Botswana (G/TBT/2/Add.97), and Viet  Nam (G/TBT/2/Add.98).  
Colombia (G/TBT/2/Add.18/Rev.2), Canada (G/TBT/2/Add.6/Rev.2), Singapore (G/TBT/2/Add.25/Rev.1), 
Peru (G/TBT/2/Add.29/Rev.1) and Mongolia (G/TBT/2/Add.44/Rev.1) issued revisions to their original 
statements.  A Workshop on the submission of 15.2 stat ements was organized by the Secretariat in November 
2007 (see paragraph 20). 
5 A list of the specific trade concerns raised  in 2007 is contained in Annex C.   
6 The draft programme for the workshop is contained in document Job(07)/107/Rev.3.  Information is 
also posted on http://www.wto.org/english /tratop_e/tbt_e/wrkshop_march08_e.htm  
7 Detailed information on how to submit attachments to TBT notifications is contained in document 
G/TBT/GEN/65.  Detailed information, including the notif ication format, on the mech anism to share unofficial 
translations is contained in document G/TBT/GEN/66. 
8 The programme for the Fifth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange is contained in 
G/TBT/GEN/59/Rev.1.  The report of the Special Meeting can be found in G/TBT/M/43, Annex I.  Information 
on the Special Meeting, including the pres entations delivered, is also posted on 
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/mee ting_nov07_e/tbt_fifth_meeting7_8nov_07_e.htm  G/TBT/23 
 Page 3 
 
 
  8. At its 21 March meeting, the Committee carried out its Twelfth Annual Review of the 
Implementation and Operation of the Agreemen t under Article 15.3 as well as the Twelfth Annual 
Review of the Code of Good Practice for the Prep aration, Adoption and Application of Standards 
(Annex 3 of the Agreement).9  
9. At its 9 November meeting, the Committee carried out the Sixth Annual Transitional Review 
mandated in Paragraph 18 of the Protocol of  Accession of the People's Republic of China.10   
10. During the regular meetings of the TBT Comm ittee held in 2007, representatives of the 
Codex, IEC, ISO, ITC, OECD, OIML and UNIDO updated the Committee on activities relevant to its work, including on technical assistance.  
11. During the review period, one notification of specific technical assistance needs and 
responses was made pursuant to the Committee's decision contained in G/TBT/16.
11 
II. TRANSPARENCY PROCEDURES12 
(i) Notifications of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures 
12. In 2007, Members submitted 1,030 new notifications  of technical regula tions and conformity 
assessment procedures.13  Since the entry into force of the Agreement on 1 January 1995, up to 
31 December 2007, 8,774 such notifications  have been made by 103 Members.  
Figure 1:  Total Number of TBT Notifications since 1995 
365460794
648 669611
538581794
6387718751030
02004006008001000
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
 
                                                      
9 The Twelfth Annual Review is contained in document G/TBT/21/Rev.1 and Corr.1.  Other relevant 
background documents to this review are:  the list of st andardizing bodies that have accepted the Code in 2006 
(G/TBT/CS/1/Add.11), a list of st andardizing bodies that have accept ed the Code since 1 January 1995 
(G/TBT/CS/2/Rev.13 and Corr.1) and the Twelfth Edition of the WTO TBT Standards Code Directory prepared 
by the ISO/IEC Information Centre. 
10 Sixth Annual Transitional Review mandated in paragraph 18 of the Protocol of Accession of the 
People's Republic of China, Report (G/TBT/22). 
11 G/TBT/TA-4/UGA (Uganda). 
12 The data for the graphs in this section are drawn from the tables in Annexes D, E and F. 
13 Monthly summaries of TBT notifications for 2007 are contained in documents G/TBT/GEN/N/73-
84. G/TBT/23 
Page 4  
 
   
Figure 2:  Notifications in 2007 by Article
14 
930
18 30162
4 0 7
02004006008001000
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
 
13. Amongst the 1,030 notifications received in  2007, the following objectives have been 
mentioned by Members15:  protection of human health or safety (in 678 notifications); prevention of 
deceptive practices (in 184 notifications); protecti on of the environment (i n 173 notifications);  
consumer information a nd labelling (in 75 notifications); qualit y requirements (in 74 notifications); 
adoption of new domestic law (in 68  notifications);   harmonization (in 28 notifications);  protection 
of animal or plant life or health (in 29 notificati ons); lowering or removal of trade barriers and trade 
facilitation (in 8 notifications); national security requ irements (in 2 notifications); and cost saving and 
increasing productivity (in 4 notifications).  263 notif ications referred to more than one objective, 
32 notifications referred to other objectives, a nd two did not specify any legitimate objective. 
                                                      
14 121 notifications indicated more than one article. 
15 As first, second or third objective in the notification.  G/TBT/23 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Figure 3:  Notifications in 2007 by Objective16 
Protection of 
environment
13%Prevention of deceptive 
practices
14%Adoption of new  
domestic law
5%Consumer information 
and labelling
6%Quality requirements
5%Not specified
0%Others
2%Low ering / removal of 
trade barriers
1%
Protection of human 
health or safety
50%Animal plant life or 
health
2%Harmonization
2%National secu rity 
0%Cost saving
0%
 
14. 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.17  In 2007, Members allowed an average of 59.9 days for 
comments.  148 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 46.549.6 53.349.254.8 57.860.560.9 59.9
010203040506070
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
 
                                                      
16 263 notifications indicated more than one objective. 
17 "Decisions and Recommendations adopted by the Committee since 1 January 1995", Note by the 
Secretariat, 23 May 2002, G/TBT/1/Rev.8,  page 17. G/TBT/23 
Page 6  
 
   
(ii) Notifications under Article 10.7 
15. In 2007, three notifications were made under Article 10.7 regarding agreements on issues 
related to technical regulations, standards or c onformity assessment procedures.  These notifications 
pertained to: (i) a mutual  recognition  arrangement on conformity assessment between the Bureau of 
Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) of th e Separate Customs Terr itory of Taiwan, Penghu, 
Kinmen and Matsu (TPKM) and the Standards,  Productivity and Innovation Board (Spring) of 
Singapore (G/TBT/10.7/N/51), notified by Chinese Ta ipei; (ii) an agreement among the Association 
of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) notified by  Singapore (G/TBT/10.7/N/52); and, (iii)  an 
arrangement between the Separate Customs Te rritory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu 
(TPKM) and New Zealand on the Mutual Recognition of  Test Reports and Certificates of Conformity 
for Electrical and Electronic Equipment, notified by Chinese Taipei (G/TBT/10.7/N/53).  
(iii) Notifications under the Code of Good Practice 
16. In 2007, one new notification of acceptance of the Code of Good Practice was submitted by 
the standardizing body of Brunei Darussalam.
18  Since the entry into for ce of the Agreement and up 
until 31 December 2007, 160 standardizing bodies from 116 Members have adhered to the Code.19   
Document G/TBT/CS/2/Rev.14 contains the list, by Member, of standardizing bodies that have accepted the Code since 1 January 1995 up until 31 Ja nuary 2008.  The ISO/IEC Information Centre 
has prepared the Thirteenth Edition of the WTO TBT Standards Code Directory 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  
17. 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.1 (List of 
Members' Publications in Relation to Tec hnical Regulations, Conformity Assessment 
Procedures and Standards).   
(b) The list of WTO TBT Enquiry Points under Articles 10.1 and 10.3 is contained in 
document G/TBT/ENQ/31.  The addresses of Enquiry Points are also available on the 
TBT Website.
20  
(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.21 
                                                      
18 G/TBT/CS/N/172. 
19Notifications of acceptance of the Code by stan dardizing bodies of Members are contained in 
documents G/TBT/CS/N/1-172. Notifications G/TBT/CS/N/118 and 138 have been cancelled.  In addition, 
standardizing bodies from seven WTO observers - Algeria (2003), Belarus (2001), Bosnia and Herzegovina 
(1997), Kazakhstan (2006), Montenegro (2007), Serbia (2005) and Ukraine (1996) - have already notified to the ISO/IEC Information Centre  their acceptance of the Code of Good Practice. 
20 See http://www.wto.org/e nglish/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_enquiry_points_e.htm.  G/TBT/23 
 Page 7 
 
 
  III. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT22  
18. In 2007, the Secretariat organized three regional workshops in:   
(a) Bahrain for Arab and Middle East countries;23   
(b) Botswana, for English-speaking African countries;24 and  
(c) Malaysia, for Asia-Pacific economies.25  
19. 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.  In 
particular, issues arising from the Future Work ag reed at the Fourth Triennial Review of the TBT 
Agreement were explained and discussed in deta il.  The workshops also provided a forum for 
participants to share experiences with respect to t echnical barriers to trade and implementation of the 
Agreement.  Several observer orga nizations in the TBT Committee, such as Codex, the International 
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Internati onal Organization for Standardization (ISO),  
International Organization for Legal Metrolog y (OIML), and the United Nations Industrial 
Development Organization (UNIDO ) participated the workshops.26   In addition, experts from 
Members were invited to share experiences with r espect to the implementation of the Agreement and 
the work of the Committee.27  Co-operation was also received from regional partners: for instance, 
SADC provided inputs to the workshop for English-speaking African countries held in Botswana. 
20. At the Third Triennial Review of the TBT Agreement (November 2003), it was recommended 
that, in order to fulfil the obligation contained in  Article 15.2 of the TBT Agreement, Members should 
seek assistance from other Members that had done so to share their knowledge and experience in this 
regard.  At the Fourth Triennial Review, th e Committee reiterated the importance of Members 
fulfilling their obligation under Article 15.2.  Duri ng 2007 regional and national technical assistance 
activities, particular attention was given to th e process of preparing and submitting statements on 
implementation and administration of the TBT Agre ement under Article 15.2.  The Secretariat also 
organized a workshop in Geneva on this topic in November 2007.28  The workshop offered Members 
                                                                                                                                                                     
21Interested persons can subscribe to the mailing lis t at:  http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/ 
tbt_mailing_list_e.htm. 
22 A complete list of 2007 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 
23 Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, 
Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia,  United Arab Emirates and Yemen were invited. 
24 Botswana, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghan a, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, 
Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seyc helles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, 
Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe were invited. 
25 Asian economies:  Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong China, 
India, Indonesia, Korea (Rep. of), Pe ople's Democratic Republic of La o, Macao China, Malaysia (HOST), 
Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philip pines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, Timor-
Leste, Thailand and Viet Nam were invited.  From th e Pacific area, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon 
Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu were invited. 
26 IEC, ISO, OIML and UNIDO participated in the Bahrain, Botswana and Malaysia workshops.  
Codex participated in the Botswana workshop. 
27 Experts from the European Communities participated in the Bahrain and Malaysia workshops; 
experts from the United States participated in the Malaysia workshop. 
28 The programme of the workshop is contained in document Job(07)/159. See also 
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/ wkshop_nov07_e/tbt_article152_8march07_e.htm G/TBT/23 
Page 8  
 
  an opportunity to present and discuss different approaches utilized in the development of their 15.2 
statements.  
21. In response to requests received from individua l Members, seven national workshops were 
organized in: Niger, Paraguay, Gabon, El Salv ador, Nicaragua, Nigeria and Malaysia.  These 
workshops aimed at promoting a better understandi ng of the rights and obligations under the TBT 
Agreement and at addressing issues of specific in terest to these Members, including good regulatory 
practice and their specific trade concerns.   
22. For the first time, technical assistance activ ities in the year under review included four e-
training courses on the TBT Agreement held in the th ree official languages of the WTO.  These online 
courses were addressed to government officials fro m developing country Members and Observers and 
covered all aspects of the TBT Agreement.
29  
23. The trade policy courses organized by the WTO S ecretariat, both Geneva-based and regional, 
included sessions on the TBT Agreement.  TBT tr aining was provided in the regional trade policy 
courses held in Singapore for the Asian region, in  Namibia for English-speaking African countries, 
and in Chile for Latin America.  Other technical assistance activities included the Geneva-based Fifth 
Special Meeting on Procedures for Informa tion Exchange (see paragraph 6, above).30 
IV. DISPUTES INVOLVING PROVISIO NS OF THE TBT AGREEMENT 
24. The state of play during the year 2007 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 2007 
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 
2.    Pending Consultations 
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 
                                                      
29 In total, 306 participants from 78 countries  participated in TBT online courses in 2007. 
30 Participation of ninety-four officials from developing country Members was sponsored through the 
WTO Global Trust Fund.  G/TBT/23 
 Page 9 
 
 
   
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/23 
Page 10  
 
   
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/23 
 Page 11 
 
 
   
 
 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 January 
2008, the European Communities and Argentina, with 
respect to dispute WT/DS293, informed the DSB that they 
had agreed to modify the reasonable period of time so as to 
expire on 11 June 2008.  
 
 
 G/TBT/23 
Page 12  
 
  V. ANNEXES 
A. L
IST OF WTO  MEMBERS AND OBSERVERS  
Members31 
 
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 Central African Republic Kyrgyz Republic Suriname Chad Latvia Swaziland 
Chile Lesotho Sweden 
China, People's Republic of Liechtenstein  Switzerland Colombia Lithuania Separate Customs Territory of  Congo Luxembourg Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and  
Congo, Democratic Rep. of the Macao, China Matsu (Chinese Taipei)  
Costa Rica Madagascar Tanzania 
Côte d'Ivoire Malawi Thailand Croatia Malaysia Togo Cuba Maldives Tonga Cyprus Mali Trinidad and Tobago 
Czech Republic Malta Tunisia 
Denmark Mauritania Turkey Djibouti Mauritius Uganda Dominica Moldova United Arab Emirates Dominican Republic Mexico United Kingdom Ecuador Mongolia United States 
Egypt Morocco Uruguay 
El Salvador Mozambique Venezuela (Bolivarian Estonia Myanmar Republic of) 
European Communities Namibia Viet Nam  
                                                     
 
31 Members on 31 January 2008.  G/TBT/23 
 Page 13 
 
 
  Fiji Nepal Zambia 
Finland Netherlands Zimbabwe Former Yugoslav Rep. of New Zealand  Macedonia (FYROM) Nicaragua  France Niger  
Gambia Nigeria  
Gabon Norway  Georgia Oman  Germany Pakistan  
 
 
Observer Governments32 
 
Afghanistan Holy See (Vatican) Serbia 
Algeria Iran Seychelles Andorra Iraq Sudan Azerbaijan Kazakhstan Tajikistan 
Bahamas Laos, P.D.R. of Ukraine 
Belarus Lebanese Republic Uzbekistan Bhutan Libya Vanuatu Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro Yemen Cape Verde Russian Federation  
Equatorial Guinea  Samoa  
Ethiopia Sao Tomé and Principe  
 
 
Observer Organizations  
 
African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP)33  
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  
                                                     
 
32 Observers on 31 January 2008. 
33 Observer status on an ad hoc  basis. G/TBT/23 
Page 14  
 
   
B. L
IST OF TBT  DOCUMENTS ISSUED DURING THE YEAR 2007 
Document Reference Date of Issue Title  
1. Working Documents (G/TBT/W/ - ) 
G/TBT/W/275 19 March 2007 The Report on Result of Standards Alignment Work in 
APEC (Submission by Japan) 
G/TBT/W/276 19 March 2007 Report on the Case Study to Clarify Effectiveness of 
MRAs (Submission by Japan) 
G/TBT/W/277 10 July 2007 Japan’s Experience Concerning Cross-border 
Designation Systems (Submission by Japan) 
G/TBT/W/278 18 October 2007 Transitional Review Mechanism in connection with 
Paragraph 18 of the Protocol on the Accession of the 
People’s Republic of China (Questions and Comments from Japan to China) 
G/TBT/W/279 22 October 2007 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/280 30 October 20 07 Specific Trade Concerns  relating to access of 
pharmaceuticals to the Argentine market 
(Communication from Colombia) 
G/TBT/W/281 6 November 2007 China's Transitional Review Mechanism 
(Communication from the European Communities) 
G/TBT/W/282 6 November 2007 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/283 7 November 2007 Canada - Costa Rica Competitiveness Development 
Fund Projects National Quality System of Costa Rica (Submission by Canada and Costa Rica)  
2. Minutes of the Meetings (G/TBT/M/ - ) 
G/TBT/M/41 and Corr.1 12 June and 12 July 
2007 Minutes of the Meeting of 21 March 2007 
(Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/M/42 and Corr.1 6 August and 1 
October 2007 Minutes of the Meeting of 5 July 2007 
(Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/M/43 21 January 2008 Minutes of the Meeting of 9 November 2007 
(Note by the Secretariat)  G/TBT/23 
 Page 15 
 
 
   
3. General Documents (G/TBT/GEN/ - ) 
G/TBT/GEN/N/73-84 January 2007 – 
January 2008 Notifications issued from December 2006 to December 
2007 
G/TBT/GEN/1/Rev.5 
and Rev.6 2 March and 
22 October 2007 Statements on Implementation and Administration of the 
Agreement under Article 15.2 (Note by the Secretariat - 
Revision) 
G/SPS/GEN/491/Add.6 and Add.7 
G/TBT/GEN/7/Add.6 
and Add.7 29 May and 
13 November 2007 
 Communication from Mexico 
G/TBT/GEN/39/Rev.1 22 October 2007 List of members' publications in relation to technical 
regulations, conformity assessment procedures and 
standards (Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/GEN/46  26 January 2007 Statement by ASEAN on REACH  
at the 9 November 2006 Meeting of the TBT Committee 
(Agenda Item 2(B):  Specific Trade Concerns) 
G/TBT/GEN/47  18 April 2007 TBT Technical Assistance Activities in 2007 
(Information from the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/GEN/48 
 23 April 2007 Update on OECD Activities in the Area of  
Good Regulatory Practice and Market Openness  
G/TBT/GEN/49  23 April 2007 Update on relevant on-going work in the OIML 
G/TBT/GEN/50 
 23 April 2007 ISO Actions in support of Developing Countries in 2006 
(Agenda Item 4 – Updating by Observers) 
G/TBT/GEN/51  23 April 2007 Information on activities of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission and related activities of FAO and WHO 
(Agenda Item 4 – Updating by Observers) 
G/TBT/GEN/52  23 April 2007 TBT-related techni cal assistance by the ITC (Agenda 
Item 3 – Technical Cooperation) 
G/TBT/GEN/53 
 12 July 2007 Information on activities of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission and related activities of FAO and WHO (Agenda Item 4 – Updating by Observers) 
G/TBT/GEN/54  12 July 2007 FAO/WHO Capacity Building Activities in Food Safety 
and Quality Covering the period  July 2006 – June 2007 
(Prepared by FAO and WHO) (Agenda Item 4 – 
Updating by Observers) 
G/TBT/GEN/55  12 July 2007 IEC Report to the TBT Committee (Agenda Item 4 – 
Updating by Observers) 
G/TBT/GEN/56 
 12 July 2007 TBT Technical Assistance Activities in 2007 
(Information from the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/GEN/57  12 July 2007 Export   quality   bulletin - Manual of Model Procedures 
and Guidance Notes for the Implementation of the WTO 
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (ITC – Agenda Item 4: Technical Cooperation) 
G/TBT/GEN/58 
 29 August 2007 Availability of unofficial translations (Communication 
by Canada) 
G/TBT/GEN/59 and 
Rev.1  9 October and 2 
November 2007 Fifth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information 
Exchange (7-8 November 2007) – Programme (one and a half days) 
G/TBT/GEN/60  15 November 2007 Information on activities of the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission (Agenda Item 5 – Updating by Observers) 
G/TBT/GEN/61 15 November 2007 TBT Technical Assistance Activities in 2007 
(Information from the Secretariat) G/TBT/23 
Page 16  
 
  3. General Documents (G/TBT/GEN/ - ) cont'd 
G/TBT/GEN/62 21 November 2007 Norwegia n Technical Assistance (Agenda Item 4 – 
Technical Cooperation) 
G/TBT/GEN/63 4 December 2007 UNIDO Trade-Related Technical Assistance and 
Capacity Building Activities related to Technical 
Barriers to Trade: 2001-2007 (Agenda Item 4 – Technical Cooperation) 
G/TBT/GEN/64 29 November 2007 IEC Report to the TBT Committee (Agenda Item 5 – 
Updating by Observers) 
G/TBT/GEN/65 14 December 2007 Attachme nts to TBT Notifications (Note by the 
Secretariat) 
G/TBT/GEN/66 14 December 2007  Unofficial Translations (Note by the Secretariat) 
4. Documents Relating to the Code  of Good Practice (G/TBT/CS/ - ) 
G/TBT/CS/1/Add.11 
 2 March 2007 List of Standardiz ing Bodies that have accepted the 
Code of Good Practice for th e Preparation, Adoption and 
Application of Standards in 2006  (Note by the Secretariat) 
G/TBT/CS/2/Rev.13 and Corr.1 2 March and 8 March 
2007 List of Standardizing Bodi es that have Accepted the 
Code of Good Practice for th e Preparation, Adoption and 
Application of Standards since 1 January 1995 
(Note by the Secretariat) 
5. Statements on the Implementation and Ad ministration of the TBT Agreement (G/TBT/2/ - ) 
G/TBT/2/Add.18/Rev.2 10 May 2007 Communication from Colombia 
G/TBT/2/Add.6/Rev.2 4 July 2007 Communication from Canada 
G/TBT/2/Add.25/Rev.1 27 August 2007 
 Communication from Singapore 
G/TBT/2/Add.29/Rev.1 1 October 2007 Communication from Peru 
G/TBT/2/Add.44/Rev. 1 21 December 2007 Communication from Mongolia 
G/TBT/2/Add.93 2 August 2007 Communication from Malawi 
G/TBT/2/Add.94 31 August 2007 Communication from Tanzania 
G/TBT/2/Add.95 10 September 2007 Communication from Niger 
G/TBT/2/Add.96 11 September 2007 Communication from the United Arab Emirates 
G/TBT/2/Add.97 30 October 2007 Communication from Botswana 
G/TBT/2/Add.98 6 November 2007 Communication from the Socialist Republic of 
Viet Nam 
6. Other Documents  
G/TBT/D/31 1 October 2007 European Communities – Certain Measures affecting the 
importation and marketing of seal products (Request for 
Consultations by Canada) 
G/TBT/21/Rev.1 and Corr.1
 4 April and 11 May 2007 Twelfth Annual Review of the Implementation and 
Operation of the TBT Agreement (Note by the 
Secretariat) 
G/TBT/22  21 November 2007 Sixth Annual Transitional Review Mandated in 
Paragraph 18 of the Protocol of Accession of the People's Republic of China  
G/TBT/ENQ/29-31 12 March,  
22 June and  
29 October 2007 National Enquiry Points (N ote by the Secretariat)  G/TBT/23 
 Page 17 
 
 
  6. Other Documents (cont'd) 
G/TBT/INF4-6/Rev.1 
and G/TBT/INF/7/Rev.1 26 January, 28 June, 
4 September 2007 and 11 January 2008 List of representatives 
7. Job documents (JOB(06)/ - ) 
JOB(07)/29 8 March 2007 21-22 March 2007 TBT Committee Meeting Annotated 
Draft Agenda 
JOB(07)/107, Rev.1 and Rev. 2 26 June 2007 
8 October 2007 (8 January 2008) Workshop on Good Regulatory Practice 
March 2008 Draft Programme (two days) 
JOB(07)/108 and Rev.1  26 June 2007 
19 July 2007 Fifth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information 
Exchange 7-8 November 2007  
Draft Programme (one and a half days) 
JOB(07)/109 26 June 2007 5-6 July 2007 TBT Committee Meeting 
Annotated Draft Agenda 
JOB(07)/139 25 September 2007 Transparency requirements and Procedures 
JOB(07)/163 1 November 2007 Report (2 007) of the Committee on Technical Barriers 
To Trade 
JOB(07)/165 1 November 2007 9 November 2007 TBT Committee Meeting 
Annotated Draft Agenda 
JOB(07)/172 7 November 2007 Sixth Annual Transitional Review Mandated in 
Paragraph 18 of the Protocol of Accession of The People's Republic of China G/TBT/23 
Page 18  
 
  C. S
PECIFIC TRADE CONCERNS RAISED IN 2007 
I.    New concerns (28) 
1. Argentina – Measures affecting mark et access for pharmaceutical products 
Raised by Colombia, Chile  
Dates raised November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 6-8) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/W/280 
2. Brazil – Mandatory certification of batteries 
Raised by United States  
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 58-61); July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 111-115) 
November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 116-117) 
Relevant document(s) - 
3. Brazil – Registration requirements for medical devices 
Raised by European Communities, Switzerland, United States 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 6- 7);  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 111-115);  
November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras 105-110) 
Relevant document(s)  
4. Canada – Compositio nal requirements for cheese 
Raised by New Zealand, United States, Australia, European Communities 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 4-13); November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 56-60) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CAN/203 
5. China – Unified charges for telecom terminals 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41 para. 4) 
Relevant document(s) - 
6. China – Requirements for concentration limits for cert ain hazardous substances in electronic information 
Raised by Japan 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41 paras. 10-11);   
Relevant document(s) - 
7. China – Nature of " recommended standards" 
Raised by Japan 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42 paras. 64-66) 
Relevant document(s) - 
8. European Communities – Dangerous Chemical S ubstances – Draft Commission Directive amending 
Council Directive 67/548/EEC 
Raised by Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; Japan; Malaysia; Turkey; United 
States 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 29-48); November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 83-
102) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/EEC/151  G/TBT/23 
 Page 19 
 
 
  9. Hong Kong, China – Energy Efficiency labelling scheme 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, para. 57) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/HKG/26 and Add.1 
10. India – Electrical products 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2007 (G /TBT/M/41, paras. 19-20) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/IND/30 and Add.1 
11. India – Notification on protective headgear  
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2007 (G /TBT/M/41, paras. 21-22) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/IND/31 and Add.1 
12. India – Drugs and cosmetic rules 2007 
Raised by United States 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 50-52) 
Relevant document(s) - 
13. India – Mandatory certification of ceramic tiles 
Raised by European Communities  
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 62) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/IND/28 
14. Israel – Infant formula 
Raised by United States 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 24-25);  November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 73-
75) 
Relevant document(s) - 
15. Korea – Safety criteria for various products  
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 12-13); November 2006 (G/TBT/M40, paras. 84-
85) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/KOR/127 
16. Moldova - Quality and control measures for bottled,  non-alcoholic beverages in cluding mineral, natural 
water and soft drinks 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 9-11) 
Relevant documents - G/TBT/23 
Page 20  
 
   
17. Norway – proposed re gulation concerning specific hazardou s substances in consumer products 
Raised by United States, Israel, Japan, Jordan 
Dates raised November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 12-18) 
Relevant documents G/TBT/N/NOR/17 
18. Philippines – Ceramic wall and floor tiles 
Raised by European Communities;  
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 8-9);  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, para. 103) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/PHL/77, PHL/63 and PHL/60 
19. Qatar – Motor vehicles tyres 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, para. 49) 
Relevant document(s) (G/TBT/N/QAT/11) 
20. Chinese Taipei – Anti-thef t regulations for vehicles 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 14-16) 
Relevant document(s) (G/TBT/N/TPKM/45) 
21. Chinese Taipei – Plastic trays and packaging 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 26-28) 
Relevant document(s) (G/TBT/N/TPKM/43) 
22. Chinese Taipei – Amended hygien e standards for alcohol products  
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, para. 21) 
Relevant document(s) G/SPS/N/TPKM/64 and Add.1 
23. Thailand - Labelling requirement for snack foods 
Raised by United States, Australia, Canada, European Communities 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras 14-15), July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 77-78); 
November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 76-81) 
Relevant document(s) (G/TBT/THA/215) 
24. Turkey – Product-tracking system for alcoholic beverages and other products 
Raised by United States 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 53-56);  November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 67-
69) 
Relevant document(s) -  G/TBT/23 
 Page 21 
 
 
   
25. United States – Children's jewellery  
Raised by China 
Dates raised March 2007 (G /TBT/M/41, paras. 16-18) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/USA/232 
26. United States – Flammability of clothing textiles 
Raised by China 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras 17-20) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/USA/242 
27. United States – Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions 
Raised by China 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras 21 -23),  November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 118-
120) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/USA/249 
28. United States – Proposed rule on labelling and ad vertising of wines, distilled spirits and malt beverages 
Raised by Argentina 
Dates raised November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 19-20) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/USA/290 and Add.1 G/TBT/23 
Page 22  
 
   
II.   Previously raised concerns (17) 
29. Belgium and Netherlands – Seal products 
In 2007, raised by Canada; Norway 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41 paras. 75-7 7);  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 116-127), 
July 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 44-49) 
First raised in November 2004  (G/TBT/M/34, paras. 10-11) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/ N/BEL/39, G/TBT/N/NLD/68 
30. China - Administration on the Control of Pollu tion Caused by Electroni c Information Products 
In 2007, raised by Japan  
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 75-76) 
First raised in November 2005  (G/TBT/M/37, paras. 3-4) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CHN/140 and Add.1 
31. 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 2007, raised by Japan;  European Communities 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41 paras. 72-74);   
First raised in  March 2006 (G/TBT/M38, paras. 25-31); 
Relevant document(s) - 
32. China - Measures on the Environmental Management of New Chemical Substances 
In 2007, raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras 81-82) 
First raised November 2006 (G/TBT/M40, paras. 27-28) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/CHN/210 
33. China - Domestic Gas Cooking Appliances 
Raised by European Communities 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 134-135) 
First raised in March 2006 (G/TBT/M38, paras. 38-40) 
Relevant document(s)   G/TBT/23 
 Page 23 
 
 
  34. European Communities - Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals 
(REACH)  
In 2007, raised by Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Ca nada; Chile; China; Israel; Korea; Japan; Mexico; 
Chinese Taipei; Thaila nd; United States 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 23-59) ;  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. .84-96 and 
G/TBT/M/42/Corr.1); November 2007 (G/TBT/M43, paras. 23-43) 
First raised in March 2003 (G/TBT/M/29, paras. 36-44) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/W/208; G/TBT/N/EEC/52, Add.1-3 and Add.3/Rev.1 
35. European Communities – Draft Commission Decision regarding the Classification of the reaction to fire 
performance of construction products  
In 2007, raised by Japan; Korea; Philippines; Thailand; United States 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 60-6 2);  July 2007 (G/TBT/M /42, paras. 79-80);  
November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 103-104) 
First raised in March 2006 (G/TBT/M/38 paras. 14-21) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/EEC/92 and Add.1 
36. European Communities - Directive 2005/32 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 
2005 establishing a framework fo r the setting of Ecodesign requirements for energy-using products and 
amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and Directives  96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the European 
Parliament and of the Council 
In 2007, raised by China 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 81-83) 
First raised in November 2005  (G/TBT/M/37, paras. 11-13) 
Relevant document(s)  
37. India - Pneuma tic Tyres and Tubes for Automotive Vehicles  
In 2007, raised by European Communities; United States 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 78-80) ;  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 129-133);  
November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 111-113) 
First raised in November 2006 (G/TBT/M40, paras. 15-18) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/IND/20 
38.   Korea - Import of Fish Heads 
In 2007, raised by New Zealand; Norway; European Communities 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 63-66)  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 107-110); 
November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43/paras. 50-52) 
First raised in July 2003 (G/TBT/M/30, paras. 37-39) 
Relevant document(s)  
39. New Zealand - Ban on the Importation of Trout  
In 2007, raised by Canada 
Dates raised November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 70-72) 
First raised in May 2000 (G /TBT/M/19, paras. 14-16) 
Relevant document(s) - G/TBT/23 
Page 24  
 
  40. Norway – Restrictions on the Use of deca-BDE 
In 2007, raised by Japan; Israel; Jordan 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41 paras. 70-7 1);  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras.97-100); 
November 2007(G/TBT//M/43, paras. 65-66)) 
First raised in March 2006 (G/TBT/M/38, paras. 5-10) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/NOR/6, Corr.1 and Add.1 
41. Saudi Arabia - International Conf ormity Certification Programme (ICCP) 
In 2007, raised by Japan, United States 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 86-87);  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 128) 
First raised in March 2006 (G/TBT/M38, paras. 58-59) 
Relevant document(s)  
42. Sweden – Restrictions on the Use of deca-BDE 
In 2007, raised by Israel; Jordan; Japan; United States 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 67-69);  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42 paras. 101-102); 
November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 61-34) 
First raised in March 2006 (G/TBT/M/38, paras. 11-13) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/SWE/59 
43. Switzerland - Draft Ordinance on measures to  reduce particle emissions from diesel engines 
In 2007, raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, paras. 83 -84);  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 104-106) 
First raised in November 2006 (G/TBT/M40, paras. 4-5) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/ N/CHE/67, G/TBT/N/CHE/39 
44. Uruguay - Decree on the enrichmen t of wheat flour and foods prepa red with wheat flour       
In 2007, raised by European Communities 
Dates raised March 2007 (G/TBT/M/41, para. 85);  July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 136-137) 
First raised in  November 2006 (G/TBT/M40, paras. 24-25) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/URY/2 
45. United States – Country of or igin labelling (COOL)       
In 2007, raised by Mexico; Canada; New Zealand 
Dates raised July 2007 (G/TBT/M/42, paras. 67-74);  November 2007 (G/TBT/M/43, paras. 53-
55) 
First raised in  June 2002 (G/TBT/M/27, paras. 19-20) 
Relevant document(s) G/TBT/N/USA/25; G/TBT/N/USA/83 and Corr.1, G/TBT/N/USA/281 
  G/TBT/23 
 Page 25 
 
 
    
D. NOTIFICATIONS MADE BY MEMBERS AND BY RELEVANT ARTICLES OF THE TBT AGREEMENT 
IN 2007  AND SINCE THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THE AGREEMENT  
 
Number of notifications made under  
the relevant Articles in 200734 Members Number of 
notifications 
made in 
2007  2.9 2.10 3.2 5.6 5.7 7.2 Not 
specified Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995 
Albania 19 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 
Argentina 23 22 0 0 3 0 0 0 284 
Armenia 15 15 0 0 2 0 0 0 62 
Australia 5 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 156 
Austria 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 
Bahrain 21 21 0 0 1 0 0 0 30 
Barbados 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
Belgium 1 1 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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
Brazil 35 24 0 0 17 1 0 0 380 
Brunei  
Darussalam 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
Cameroon 7 6 0  0 5 0 0 0 7 
Canada 34 31 0 0 14 0 0 0 358 
Central 
African 
Republic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 
Chile 10 9 0 0 6 0 0 0 139 
China 90 90 0 0 15 0 0 0 329 
Colombia 22 16 3 0 7 0 0 2 147 
Costa Rica 12 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 84 
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 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 236 
Denmark 11 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 228 
Dominica 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
Dominican 
Republic 9 5 1 0 0 3 0 0 51 
Ecuador 18 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 
Egypt 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 
El Salvador 11 11 0 0 6 0 0 0 168 
Estonia 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
                                                      
34 121 notifications were made under more than one article. G/TBT/23 
Page 26  
 
  Number of notifications made under  
the relevant Articles in 200734 Members Number of 
notifications 
made in 
2007  2.9 2.10 3.2 5.6 5.7 7.2 Not 
specified Total 
number of 
notifications 
made since 
1995 
European 
Communities 35 33 1 0 5 0 0 0 356 
Fiji 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
Finland 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 
France 13 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 136 
Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
Germany 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 
Ghana 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
Grenada 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 
Guatemala 5 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 66 
Guyana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 
Honduras 12 12 0 0 1 0 0 0 54 
Hong Kong, 
China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 58 
Hungary 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 21 
Iceland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
India 10 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 77 
Indonesia 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 
Israel 42 28 0 0 21 0 0 0 246 
Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 
Jamaica 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 
Japan 45 44 1 0 6 0 0 0 471 
Jordan 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 
Kenya 31 29 2 0 0 0 0 0 116 
Korea, 
Republic of 37 37 0 0 5 0 0 0 258 
Kuwait 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 9 
Kyrgyz 
Republic 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 8 
Latvia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 
Lithuania 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 9 
Macao, China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
Malaysia 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 174 
Mauritius 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
Mexico 12 11 0 0 2 0 0 0 314 
Moldova 6 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 
Mongolia 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 
Morocco 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 
Netherlands 7 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 609 
New Zealand 9 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 68 
Nicaragua 5 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 88  G/TBT/23 
 Page 27 
 
 
  Number of notifications made under  
the relevant Articles in 200734 Members Number of 
notifications 
made in 
2007  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 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 75 
Oman 15 14 0 0 2 0 0 0 26 
Pakistan 25 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 
Panama 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 
Papua New 
Guinea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
Paraguay 12 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 
Peru 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 17 
Philippines 18 18 0 0 1 0 0 0 149 
Poland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 
Qatar 20 17 0 0 7 0 0 0 34 
Romania 25 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 
Rwanda 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 
Saint Lucia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 
Senegal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 
Singapore 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 
Slovak 
Republic 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 
Slovenia 12 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 74 
South Africa 12 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 120 
Spain 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 71 
Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 
Sweden 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 183 
Switzerland 15 15 0 0 1 0 0 0 166 
Chinese Taipei 11 11 0 0 1 0 0 0 54 
Thailand 37 34 0 0 27 0 0 0 362 
Trinidad and 
Tobago 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 
Tunisia 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 
Turkey 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 
Uganda 14 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 
United Arab 
Emirates 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 
United 
Kingdom 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 
United States 101 71 0 30 0 0 0 0 530 
Uruguay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 
Zambia 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 44 
TOTAL 1030 930 18 30 162 4 0 7 8774 G/TBT/23 
Page 28  
 
  E. O
BJECTIVES AND RATIONALES STATED IN TBT  NOTIFICATIONS IN 2007 
 
 
Objectives and Rationales  
First objective stated in the 
notifications received in 2007 Number of times that the 
objective was mentioned as the 
first, second or third objective in 
the notifications received in 
200735 
National security requirements 
 1 2 
Consumer information, labelling  49 75 
Prevention of deceptive practices 
and consumer protection  106 184 
Protection of human health or 
safety 
 592 678 
Protection of animal or plant life or health  
10 29 
Protection of environment 
 94 173 
Quality requirements  60 74 
Harmonization 
 19 28 
Adoption of new domestic law and technology 
 67 68 
Lowering or removal of trade barriers 1 3 
Trade facilitation 
 4 5 
Cost saving and increasing productivity 
 4 4 
Others  21 32 
Not specified 
 2 2 
Total  1030 1357 
 
 
                                                      
35 Among the 1030 notifications received,  263 indicate two or more objectives.  G/TBT/23 
 Page 29 
 
 
  F. OBSERVATION OF THE RECOMMENDED COMMENT PERIOD BY MEMBERS IN 2007 
 
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 19 0 0 19 
Argentina 11 4 0 8 0 23 
Armenia 4 2 6 3 0 15 
Australia 2 1 1 1 1 5 
Austria 0 1 1 0 0 2 
Bahrain 2 0 0 19 0 21 
Belgium 0 0 1 0 0 1 
Brazil 16 2 10 7 1 35 
Brunei Darussalam 0 0 0 1 0 1 
Cameroon 0 0 0 7 0 7 
Canada 3 11 19 1 0 34 
Chile 0 6 4 0 0 10 
China 2 1 86 1 0 90 
Colombia 0 1 16 5 3 22 
Costa Rica 0 0 12 0 0 12 
Czech Republic 4 2 0 1 0 7 
Denmark 2 0 4 5 3 11 
Dominican Republic 0 0 0 9 4 9 
Ecuador 0 0 18 0 0 18 
El Salvador 0 0 11 0 0 11 
Estonia 0 0 1 0 0 1 
European 
Communities 2 1 29 3 1 35 
Finland 0 0 4 1 0 5 
France 2 0 7 4 0 13 
Germany 1 0 0 0 0 1 
Ghana 0 0 1 0 0 1 
Grenada 0 0 4 0 0 4 
Guatemala 0 0 5 0 0 5 
Honduras 0 0 11 1 0 12 
Hungary 0 0 1 0 0 1 
India 0 3 7 0 0 10 
Indonesia 0 0 2 0 0 2 
Israel 0 0 42 0 0 42 
Jamaica 1 2 0 0 0 3 
Japan 11 6 28 0 0 45 
Jordan 0 0 1 0 0 1 
Kenya 0 1 28 2 2 31 
Korea, Republic of 10 6 18 3 0 37 
Kuwait 0 0 1 1 0 2 
Kyrgyz Republic 0 0 0 8 0 8 
Lithuania 0 0 2 0 0 2 
Malaysia 0 0 4 3 0 7 
Mexico 2 7 0 3 0 12 G/TBT/23 
Page 30  
 
  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 
Moldova 1 0 1 4 0 6 
Mongolia 0 0 0 2 2 2 
Morocco 0 0 2 0 0 2 
Netherlands 1 1 4 1 1 7 
New Zealand 2 2 4 1 1 9 
Nicaragua 0 0 5 0 0 5 
Norway 0 0 3 1 0 4 
Oman 0 1 14 0 0 15 
Pakistan 0 0 25 0 0 25 
Panama 1 1 0 0 0 2 
Paraguay 0 0 6 6 0 12 
Peru 0 0 0 1 1 1 
Philippines 1 12 3 2 0 18 
Qatar 2 0 18 0 0 20 
Romania 6 4 15 0 0 25 
Rwanda 0 0 0 8 0 8 
Singapore 1 0 0 0 0 1 
Slovak Republic 0 1 1 0 0 2 
Slovenia 0 0 12 0 0 12 
South Africa 2 6 3 1 0 12 
Spain 0 0 1 0 0 1 
Sweden 0 0 14 0 0 14 
Switzerland 0 3 12 0 0 15 
Chinese Taipei 1 0 9 1 0 11 
Thailand 0 0 35 2 0 37 
Trinidad and 
Tobago 1 1 0 0 0 2 
Tunisia 1 0 0 1 0 2 
Turkey 0 0 1 0 0 1 
Uganda 0 0 14 0 0 14 
United Arab 
Emirates 0 0 5 0 0 5 
United Kingdom 0 0 1 0 0 1 
United States 27 19 35 20 0 101 
Zambia 5 0 0 0 0 5 
TOTAL 127 108 647 148 20 1030 
  G/TBT/23 
 Page 31 
 
 
  G. TBT  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE UNDERTAKEN BY THE WTO  SECRETARIAT IN 2007 
1. Geneva-Based Events 
Date Activity Participants Venue Organized by 
7-8 November 
2007 TBT Fifth Special Meeting 
on Procedures for 
Information Exchange All Members Geneva WTO 
 
2. Regional Workshops 
Date Region Venue Organized by Other 
participating 
organizations 
24-26 April 2007 Arab and Middle East 
countries  Bahrain WTO Codex, IEC, 
ISO, OIML, 
UNIDO 
 
19-21 June 2007 Africa (English) Botswana WTO Codex, IEC, 
ISO, OIML, 
SADC, UNIDO, 
Botswana 
Bureau of 
Standards, and 
Standards South 
Africa 
20-22 November 
2007  Asia and Pacific Malaysia WTO IEC, ISO, 
OIML, UNIDO 
 
3. Member Workshops 
Date Venue Organized by Other 
participating 
organizations 
25-26 April 2007 Niger (TBT/SPS) WTO  
10-11 May 2007 Paraguay  WTO Codex, ISO 
21-22 June 2007 Gabon  WTO  
25-26 September 
2007 El Salvador (TBT/SPS) WTO ISO 
18 October 2007 Chile Ministry of Economy in Chile36  
25-26 October 2007 Nigeria WTO   
13-15 November 
2007  Nicaragua (TBT/SPS) WTO  
23 November 2007 Malaysia WTO   
                                                      
36 Private sector briefing organized at the initiative of the Ministry of Economy in Chile (back-to-back 
with the RTPC under 4(b)). G/TBT/23 
Page 32  
 
  4. Trade Policy Courses covering, inter alia,  the TBT Agreement 
(a) Geneva-Based 
Date Name of course (language) Organized by 
January-April 
2007 39th Trade Policy Course (English) WTO (ITTC) 
January-April 
2007  40th Trade Policy Course (English) WTO (ITTC) 
April-July  
2007 41st Trade Policy Course (French) WTO (ITTC) 
Sept.-December 
2007 42nd Trade Policy Course (English) WTO (ITTC) 
 
(b) Regional  
Date Region Venue Organized by 
March-June 2007 Asia and Pacific Singapore WTO (ITTC) 
June-August 2007 Africa (English) Namibia WTO (ITTC) 
Sept.-December 
2007  Latin America Chile WTO (ITTC) 
  
 
5. eTraining: Online Courses 
 
Date Name of course (language) Organized by 
February-March 
2007 Introduction to Technical Barriers to Trade (English) WTO (ITTC) 
April-May 2007 Introduction to Technical Barriers to Trade (Spanish) WTO (ITTC) 
June –July 2007 Introduction to Technical Barriers to Trade (French) WTO (ITTC) 
November –
December 2007 Introduction to Technical Barriers to Trade (English) WTO (ITTC) 
 
 
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