RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/YEM/15/Rev.2 
22 January 2010 
 
 (10-0355) 
Working Party on the  
Accession of Yemen Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF YEMEN 
 
Action Plan on the Implementation of the WTO Agreement  
on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)  
 
Revision  
 
 The following submission, dated 20 January 2010, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the Republic of Yemen. 
 
 
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  WT/ACC/YEM/15/Rev.2 
Page 2 Provisions of the TBT 
Agreement Current Status / Required Actions Time Frame Implementation Requirements 
Articles 2.9.4, 2.10.3, 
3.15, 3.3, 5.6.4, 5.7.3, 7.1, 7.3 Implementation of laws/regulations related to the TBT Agreement: 
 - Law No. 44/1999 "On Standards, Metrology and Quality 
Control"; 
- Decision No. 52/2000 "Establishing the YSMO"; and - By-laws related to TBT. 
 
Review, amend laws and by-laws to become in line with WTO 
requirements.  
  
 
  
 
2007 - 2012 Advice and Technical assist ance to review and amend 
the laws to bring them in line with WTO requirements; this requires workshops, seminars, inviting foreign 
experts, and providing sufficient support thereto. 
Article 10 TBT Enquiry Point: 
 
(a) Legal infrastructure:  
 - Decision No. 5/2009 "On Establishment of TBT Enquiry 
Point"; and 
 - Decision No. 6/2009 "Organizing Work of the Enquiry 
Points of TBT and SPS". 
 
- Completing the preparation of the TBT National Enquiry 
Point. 
- Completing establishment of Sub-Points in the concerned 
bodies. 
- Collecting information on activities related to the TBT 
Agreement from relevant agencies in order to establish the 
database for the Enquiry Point.  
 
  
Done. 
 
Done. 
 
 
2010 - 2011 
 
2010 -2011 
 
2010 - Assistance is required for building the capacity of 
the points, machinery, equipment and systems. 
- Assistance in training and qualifying specialists 
on inquiry point duties.  
- Building databases related to the inquiry point. 
- Facilitation of participation in conferences and 
seminars on TBT abroad. 
Articles 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15.2, Annex 3, G/TBT/1, 5.7.1, 7.2, 
7.3, 10.7, 10.10 (b) Notification: 
 - Special division within the Enquiry Point for notifications. 
- Recruitment of additional staff, training on notification 
preparation and on how to deal with notifications.  
 
Done. 
 
2010 - 2011 Training for the staff on notification preparation and on 
how to deal with notifications.  
   WT/ACC/YEM/15/Rev.2
 Page 3Provisions of the TBT 
Agreement Current Status / Required Actions Time Frame Implementation Requirements 
Articles 2.9.1, 3.1, 
5.6.1, 7.1, 10.1.5, Annex 3, Annex 4 (J, K, 
L, N, O), Article 8.1 
  
 
 Articles 2.11, 2.12, 3.1, 
5.8, 5.9, 7.1 (c) Publication and Receiving Comments: 
 - Website created; 
- Draft technical regulations and standards published on the 
website for receiving comments through e-mail or other means; 
- Technical regulations and standards published in official 
newspapers; 
- Website to be improved in line with requirements of the 
Agreement; 
- Issuing an official bulletin (YSMO Newsletter) concerning the 
publication of drafts, other tec hnical regulations, and receiving 
comments; and 
- YSMO allowing for a period of lapse between the issue of a 
technical regulation and its implementation. 2007 - 2010 
 
Done. 
Done. 
  
Done. 
 
Done. 
 
2010 
 
 
Done. - Technical assistance to develop and activate the 
website. 
- Training on electronic designing. 
Articles 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 
2.3, 3.1, 7.1 Technical regulations: 
 
- Using international standard s, evidence and recommendations 
as a basis for developing technical regulations and conformity 
assessment procedures; 
- Adopting standards of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and 
implementing YSMO-related laws and regulations; 
- Taking measures at customs en try points, in conformity with 
measures stipulated in the provisions of the Agreement; 
- YSMO working on the development and implementation of 
procedures in line with the international agreements; 
- Setting up a national mechanism for coordination between 
relevant agencies; and 
- Separating technical regulations from standards 2007 - 2013 
 
Done. 
 
 
Done. 
 
Done. 
 
2007 - 2013 
(continuous). 
2010 -2011 
 
2010 - 2013 - Technical assistance is required for setting 
frameworks of technical regulations (standards, 
laws, etc.) by means of providing experts and 
financial assistance. 
- Assistance in setting up a national mechanism for 
coordination between relevant agencies.  
  WT/ACC/YEM/15/Rev.2 
Page 4 Provisions of the TBT 
Agreement Current Status / Required Actions Time Frame Implementation Requirements 
Articles 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 
5.2, 7.1, 10.4, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, Annex 3 (D, E), 
Article 8.1 Conformity Assessment: 
 - Registering imported and local products to smooth control 
process.  YSMO physically inspecting imported and local 
products and lab examination, as necessary.  Issuing the release of imported goods based on physical inspection and lab 
examination.  Applying system of "Good Manufacturing 
Practices" (GMP) on local indust rial food enterprises.  No 
discrimination between domestic and foreign products; 
- Reviewing and updating the conformity assessment procedures 
on products according to international guidelines and practices in order to be in line with the Agreement; 
- Reviewing and updating the systems of granting Yemeni 
Quality Mark and conformity cer tificates for local products; 
- Reviewing and updating the control procedures for local 
products; 
- Reviewing and updating the control procedures on imported 
and local products and those for export through the 
implementation of conformity certificate in th e country of 
origin in accordance with the Agreement of PSI; 
- Establishing new YSMO offices and branches in the rest of 
governorates and customs outlets; 
- Applying the system of Good Health Practices (GHP) and 
Hazard Analysis and Critical C ontrol Point (HACCP) on food 
industrial enterprises; 
- Updating the Risk Management Department in line with the 
provisions of the Agreement; 
- Participating in conferences, seminars, regional and 
international workshops on conformity assessment procedures; 
and 
- Improving inspection procedures on imported and local 
products.  
 
Done. 
 
  
 
  
2007 - 2012. 
(continuous). 
 
Done. 
 
2007 - 2012 
 
Done. 
 
 
 
2007 - 2012 
 
2007 - 2012 
(continuous). 
 
2007 - 2012 
 
(continuous). 
 
 
(continuous). - Training courses on conformity assessment 
system and procedures. 
- Training course in the long and short term to 
improve reviewers, evaluators, inspectors and 
officials responsible for issuing certificates. 
- Expert/s to assist in developing and updating the 
technical systems, regulations and procedures in 
line with international requirements for an adequate period. 
- Internal and abroad training on: 
  - Risk Analysis; 
 - Risk Management; and 
 - Risk Assessment.  
- An expert to assist in training of ideal statistical 
methods and necessary conditions to take samples and inspection procedures from goods imported 
commodities. 
- Necessary financial resources for participation in 
regional meetings regarding conformity 
assessment regulations. 
- Providing the necessary financial resources to 
facilitate accession to international and regional 
organizations of conformity assessment. 
- Assistance in initiating modern technical systems 
on conformity assessment procedures and 
improving its control role on local and imported products and enterprises. 
Articles 2.1, 3.1, 5.1, 
5.2, 7.1 Accreditation of laboratories: 
 
- Establishment of an accreditation department to pave the way 
for accreditation council in a few years; 
- Plan to establish a national  accreditation council; 
- Establishing accreditation council; 
- Building lab capacity; and 
- Training for accreditation controllers.  
 
Done. 
 
2007 - 2012 
2010 - 2014 
2007 - 2013 
2010 - 2012 
(continuous). - Inviting foreign experts in the area of establishing 
and operating the accreditation system. 
- Building the necessary capacity of labs in the area 
of accreditation. 
- Qualifying accreditation controllers.  
   WT/ACC/YEM/15/Rev.2
 Page 5Provisions of the TBT 
Agreement Current Status / Required Actions Time Frame Implementation Requirements 
Articles 2.7, 3.1, 6, 7.1 Mutual recognition and conformity  assessment: 
 - Signing some memoranda of understanding; 
- Activating these memoranda of understanding to reach 
agreements on mutual  recognition; and 
- Concluding other agreements on mutual recognition especially 
with States that have business relations with Yemen.  
 
Done. 
2010 - 2012 
 
2010 - 2012 
(continuous). Technical assistance to raise YSMO's ability in 
reaching mutual recognition. 
Full implementation of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade 31 December 2014 . Taking into consid eration the provisi on of the above 
mentioned technical assistance. 
 
 
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