. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/2/Add.104 
20 August 2010 
 (10-4396) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE AGREEMENT  
ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE 
 
Communication from Belize
 
 
Addendum  
   The following communication, under Article 15. 2 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to 
Trade has been received from Belize
. 
 
_______________ 
  
1. Belize as a signatory to the WTO Agreement h as taken the following measures to ensure 
compliance with the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement. 
2. The Belize Bureau of Standards (hereafter referre d to as the Bureau) was established in 1992 
under the Standards Act Chapter 295, Revised Editi on 2000 as at 31 December 2000.  The Bureau is 
also responsible for Metrology as prescribed by the Metrology Act 23 of 2003; 
3. The Bureau is a government department whic h collaborates with partners in establishing 
standards, technical regulations or codes of practic es in a particular field(s), through a coordinated 
mechanism.  Such collaboration includes but is  not limited to departments such as the Belize 
Agriculture Health Authority (BAHA), the Ministry  of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Customs 
Department and the Ministry of Health.  
4. Written Public Notices of draft documents in th e development stage are published in at least 
two local newspapers and at least one media as prescr ibed by the law; thereafter, subject to public 
comment.  Copies of the draft standards or technica l regulations can be requested via softcopy or 
hardcopy from the address provided in the Public Notice or from the WTO/TBT Enquiry Point. 
5. A period of three months from date of notice in local newspapers a nd media channels are 
given for Public Comments on draft documents.  Th e comments are then disposed of at a technical 
sub-committee which amends that draft document if necessary.  The final draft is then sent to the 
Standards Advisory Council for approval.  The final do cument is then sent to the Minister responsible 
for the Bureau for final approval.  Currently, Be lize does not request public comments on conformity 
assessment procedures as there are no certified testi ng facilities in place for verification; however as 
may be necessary the Bure au accepts third party certification fro m an accredited body until such time 
when conformity assessment can be conducted in country. G/TBT/2/Add.104 
Page 2  
 
  6. The Bureau’s main responsibility lies in the preparation, promotion and implementation of 
standards to ensure a better quality of life for all Belizeans.  The Bureau al so serves as the National 
Enquiry Point for Technical Barriers to Trade. 
   Ministry of Works Compound 
   P . O .  B O X  4 3 0      
   Belize C.A. 
   Tel.:  +(501) 822-0446/47    Fax:  +(501) 822-2571    E m a i l :   tbtenquiry-belize@bbs.gov.bz
  
 
7. The Directorate for Foreign Trade under the Mini stry of Foreign Affairs is the Notification 
Point that is responsible for overseeing all trade ma tters and taking lead in the functioning of trade 
agreements along with ot her domestic partners. 
   Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade 
   Directorate for Foreign Trade  
   D i r e c t o r  
   Notification Point    2
nd Floor, Sir Edney Cain Building 
   Belmopan City    Belize C.A.     Tel.:  +(501) 822-2832 or +(501)822-3263 
   Fax:  +(501) 822-2837 
   E m a i l :   foreigntrade@btl.net
 
   
__________