. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/GEN/28 
22 December 2005 
 
 (05-6244) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
 
 
 
REPORT PROVIDED BY THE OECD AT THE TBT COMMITTEE MEETING OF 
2 NOVEMBER 2005 
 
Agenda Item 7:  Updating by Observers  
  
 The following report, dated 2 November 2005, is being circulated at the request of OECD
. 
 
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I. STANDARDS AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT IN TRADE: MINIMISING 
BARRIERS AND MAXIMISING BENEFITS 
 
1. A growing body of theoretical, empirical and policy analysis, including the WTO 2005 World 
Trade Report, recognises that technical regulati ons, standards and procedures for determining 
conformity can have both positive and detrimental effects on competition an d international trade. 
They ensure consumer safety, increase the transp arency of product information and compatibility of 
products and serve other goals.  Yet, business surveys and discussions in the WTO and other trade 
policy fora also indicate that, in both develope d and developing countries, these requirements often 
increase costs and are of greater concern to exporters and governments than any other type of non-
tariff measure. 
2. The OECD Trade Committee organised in March 2000 a Special Meeting on Technical 
Barriers to Trade:  International Standards and Conformity Assessment showcasing its work on the 
use of standards1 and conformity assessment (CA) systems as regulatory tools with implications for 
international trade and policy coordination.  The current Workshop and Policy Dialogue, hosted by 
the German government represented by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and 
Development (BMZ) and the Federal Ministry of  Economics and Labour (BMWA), and convened 
jointly by the OECD and InWEnt gGmbH, Capacity Building International, Germany, explores the 
relevance of more recent work in this field.   
3. Taking place in Berlin on 21 and 22 Novemb er 2005, the Workshop and Policy Dialogue will 
bring together policymakers, regula tors and representatives of standards, accreditation and conformity 
assessment bodies from developing and developed coun tries, as well as representatives of business 
and consumer groups and other stakeholders in an open and constructive atmosphere. Participation is by invitation only. 
4. Participants will have an opportunity to share their experiences with standards and conformity 
requirements and exchange views on orientations for good practice that bolsters open markets.  The 
Workshop and Policy Dialogue will strengthen the factual basis of analytical work and increase 
confidence in the global relevance of any policy conclusions ensuring the measures taken are least 
                                                     
 
1 For the sake of brevity, the term ‘standard’ is used here to refer to technical regulations (which by 
definition are mandatory) and to standards (which are voluntary). G/TBT/GEN/28 
Page 2  
 
trade restrictive.  The results could serve as input into the current 3-year work programme of the 
WTO TBT Committee (resulting from the 3rd Triennia l Review of the Operation and Implementation 
of the TBT Agreement in November 2003) and the preparations now under way for the 4th Triennial 
Review. 
5. The Workshop and Policy Dialogue will a ddress standards and c onformity assessment 
procedures affecting a range of sectors, incl uding food and agriculture. Developing-country 
participants will benefit partic ularly from the opportunity provided in the Workshop and Policy 
Dialogue to strengthen understanding of the nature and extent of market-acc ess problems related to 
standards and conformity assessment, and to explore solutions. 
6. The emphasis of the meeting is on exchange of views and experiences. Each session (the 
plenary meetings as well as the break-out groups) will be launched by 10-20 minute presentations 
from speakers, followed by an open discussion. Similarly, panel discussions will be responsive to 
input and questions from the floor. Sessions will report back to the plenary through their chairpersons 
and a concluding panel will reflect on key issues raised and outcomes of the Workshop and Policy 
Dialogue. 
7. For more information about the Workshop, please contact the OECD Trade Directorate 
(either barbara.fliess@oecd.org or monika.tothova@oecd.org ). The Program can be found at 
www.oecd.org/trade . 
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