WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/TE/W/47 
17 February 2005 
 
 (05-0680) 
Committee on Trade and Environment 
Special Session Original:   English 
 
 
 
MARKET ACCESS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS  
 
Communication from the European Communities  
 
Paragraph 31(iii)  
  
1. In this first submission to the Committee on Trade and Environment Special Session and fifth 
submission to the NAMA negotiating group, the Eu ropean Communities wishes to clarify its 
approach to achieve the objectives Ministers set w ith regard to the negotiations on environmental 
goods under paragraph 31 (iii) of the Ministerial Declaration. 
_______________ 
 
I. OBJECTIVES  
2. Ministers in Doha agreed, inter alia , to negotiations on the reduction, or as appropriate 
elimination, of tariff and non-tariff barriers to environmental goods and services, with a view to 
enhancing the mutual supportiveness of trade and e nvironment.  Their commitment to sustainable 
development was reaffirmed at the Johannes burg World Summit on Sustainable Development 
(WSSD), when protecting the environment, addressing basic human needs (Millennium Development Goals-MDGs) and promoting more sustainabl e modes of production and consumption were 
established as pillars of the Plan of Implementation.
1  
3. In addition to the WSSD, Agenda 21, in ternational agreements addressing global 
environmental problems as well as national envi ronmental policies define the environmental 
objectives worldwide. 
4. Approaches to the liberalization of trade in e nvironmental goods must be considered against 
this political backdrop.  The WTO is also exp ected to bring a meaningf ul contribution to the 
achievement of international envi ronmental objectives, by creating th e conditions for more open trade 
in environmental goods and services, as instructed  by Ministers under paragraph 31 (iii) of the 
Doha Declaration. 
5. Liberalizing trade in environmental goods a nd services can bring economic, environmental 
and developmental benefits.  In all countries, changes in consumption patterns and demand for 
greener products should be encouraged by openi ng up markets to environmental products from both 
developed and developing countries.   Liberalizing trade in environmental goods and services would 
support and reward producers in all countries that inv est in environmentally friendly practices, cleaner 
technologies and equipment with a view to meeti ng environmental objectives,  related responsible 
corporate policies and/or consumers’ demand.  S upporting the development of environmental markets 
                                                      
1 Actions agreed in Johannesburg include the support to cleaner production through the transfer of 
environmentally sound technologies, and the creation of domestic and international markets for environmentally 
friendly goods that maximize environmental and developmental benefits, including through voluntary and non-
discriminatory consumer information to promote sustainable production and consumption. TN/TE/W/47 
Page 2  
 
would also foster technological innovation and job creation in a dynamic industry.  Moreover, for developing countries, it should help  make available cheaper envir onmental technologies and related 
services needed to meet their developmental and environmental objectives, while satisfying basic 
human needs, such as improved access to saf e water, sanitation or clean energy. 
II. GUIDING PRINCIPLES 
6. The European Communities consid ers that the identification of environmental goods should 
be guided by the following principles: 
• Environmental goods should be defined in order to contribute to the fulfilment of 
national and internationally agreed e nvironmental priorities.  Multilateral 
Environmental Agreements
2 and the MDGs, in particular on access to safe water and 
sanitation, provide useful guidance on the e nvironmental objectives that are relevant 
for the identification of environmental goods.  Pollution prevention, resource use 
reduction and waste minimization could also be guiding priorities that are included in both Agenda 21 and the WSSD Plan of Implementation.    
• Any definition should encompass categories of in terest to all Members.  In particular, 
Members should welcome contributions by developing countries defining products of their interest. 
7. Finding a generally acceptable definition of e nvironmental goods, while not always easy, is 
not insuperable.  Pragmatic and innovative appr oaches will certainly enab le Members to develop 
technically workable definitions solutions that en sure the possibility of living up to the commitments 
entered into to the benefit of sustainable developmen t.  In the past, part of  the difficulty has stemmed 
from the relative nature of the concept with some  products defined as “envir onmental(ly –friendly)” 
based on an implicit or explicit comparison with ot her goods using either national or international 
environmental protection criteria or standards.  Work on a definition has also been hampered by 
concerns about the risk of technological lock in.  A corollary to this problem is the difficult choices 
concerning the inclusion of technologies that are rega rded, at a given moment and in a given country, 
as the best available techniques.  However, experi ences of previous sectoral agreements demonstrate 
that such problems can be addressed by careful cons ideration of the scope of the categories identified 
and on the level of (remaining) tariffs.  One solutio n could be to define categories general enough to 
encompass all types of technologies for a given pur pose, for example waste treatment.  We are open 
to making provision for a mechanism to update the environmental goods list in order to encourage 
technological innovation in a field where evolution in technologies is the key to successfully addressing environmental challenges.   
8. The issue of nomenclature h as often been quoted as yet another impediment.  The 
European Communities considers that Members should reach agreement on environmental goods 
identified on the basis of codes as contained in the Harmonized System.  Members’ nomenclatures could be used whenever more specific identification is required.  To that purpose, the products to be 
covered should be clearly identifiable or rec ognizable on the basis of objective and quantifiable 
criteria. 
9. Still on the issue of classification, some Memb ers have expressed concerns about the possible 
dual use of the products identified as environmental.  By way of solution, only products used for a 
particular environmental purpose or medium (e.g . for water, air or waste treatment) should be 
                                                     
 
2 Such as the UN Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, the Basel Convention on the 
Control of Transboundary M ovements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, the Montr eal Protocol on 
Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer, the Stoc kholm Convention, the Rotterdam Convention, the GHS 
classification system and the Convention on Biodiversity  TN/TE/W/47 
 Page 3 
 
 
included in the list of environmental goods.  In addition, since environmental technologies are often 
delivered as packages, specific codes could be creat ed in national nomenclatures for entire systems, 
whenever they are not already explicitly recognized in  the HS.  This could, for example, be the case 
for a wastewater treatment plant, or a system for treating industrial sludge intended to be integrated 
into an industrial plant.  We would, however, sugg est that spare parts and a ccessories be included in 
this initiative only when they are ex plicitly described as solely for the use in the systems identified by 
Members as environmental goods.  Special customs procedures concerning spare parts, such as those used in other sectoral agreements, might appear to be solutions to the issue of dual use, but their 
practicalities remain to be assessed. 
III. DEFINITION 
10. Further to these general considerations, a nd taking into account the OECD/EUROSTAT 
definition of the environmental industry
3, we believe that a comprehensive definition of 
environmental goods must at the very least include the following two categories:   
(a) Goods used in pollution control and resource management; 
(b) goods that have a high environmental perfo rmance or low environmental impacts. 
11. In the same spirit mentioned above, we are proposing these categories as parameters for our 
discussion rather than starting-points for lengthy discussions on a definition.  In other words, 
consensus on a definition should not be a prerequisite  to studying lists of products, but rather work on 
categories and on possible products should proceed toge ther and be mutually reinforcing.  For each 
category described below, an illustrative list of su b-sectors is included, together with one or two 
examples of products and corresponding environmenta l policy objectives.  The lists are not at all 
exhaustive and many products can be added for each sub-sector. 
A. GOODS  USED  IN POLLUTION  CONTROL  AND  RESOURCE  MANAGEMENT 
12. This category includes technologies and goods used in the provision of environmental 
services for pollution control or resource manage ment, and technologies that reduce emissions or 
resource consumption, mainly in the following areas:4  water collection, treatment and distribution 
and wastewater management;  solid/hazardous waste ma nagement including recycling;  protection of 
ambient air and climate;  protection and remediati on/cleanup of soil and water;  noise and vibration 
abatement;  environmental monitoring, analysis and assessment;  and renewable energies.   
                                                      
3 The OECD/EUROSTAT Manual3 defines the environment industry as consisting of " activities which 
produce goods and services to measure, prevent, limit or  correct environmental damage to water, air and soil, 
as well as problems related to waste, noise and eco-systems.  Clean technologies, processes, products and services which reduce environmental risk and minimise pollution and material use are also considered part of 
the environmental industry ".  The environmental goods and services industry, Manual for data collection and 
analysis , OECD/Eurostat 1999. 
4 This list is partly based on the EC proposal for a classification of Environmental Services in the 
context of the GATS.  Some of the categories described here may be covered by other services sectors or may 
be independent from the supply of a service. TN/TE/W/47 
Page 4  
 
 
Examples of Sub-sectors and Products Included in the Pollution Control  
and Resource Management Category 
 
SECTOR /ACTIVITY  
AND 
ENV. POLICY 
OBJECTIVE  SUB-SECTOR /ACTIVITY  P RODUCTS  R EMARKS  
Water analysis, 
measurement and 
monitoring Thermometers, 
pyrometers, 
hydrometers, 
hygrometers, salinometer and parts 
thereof   
  Instruments for 
measuring or checking 
the flow, level, pressure 
or other variables of liquids and parts thereof Flow meters, 
manometers, level 
gauges, etc. for water 
Water collection Rainwater catchment 
system  
Production of drinking 
water, including water treatment systems   Pumps for water, 
whether dry well or submersible, and parts 
thereof For water, wastewater 
and sludge.   
  Filtering or purifying 
machinery and apparatus for water and 
parts thereof Including sludge belt 
filter presses and belt thickeners. 
Water handling equipment Cisterns, vats and 
reservoirs for drinking water, for households or 
industry, including for 
rainwater, made of plastic, concrete or 
metal.  
 Pipes for drinking 
water, wastewater and sea manhole, and 
accessories thereof.  WATER FOR 
HUMAN USE 
(COLLECTION, 
TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION) 
AND WASTEWATER 
MANAGEMENT      
Millennium 
Development Goal:  Halve,  by the year 
2015, the proportion of 
people without 
sustainable access to 
safe drinking water .  
WSSD Plan of Implementation:  
Halve,  by the year 
2015, the proportion of 
people who do not have 
access to basic  
sanitation . Protecting 
and managing the 
natural resource  base 
of economic and social 
development. 
WSSD, para 25:  Intensify water 
pollution prevention to 
reduce health hazards and protect ecosystems 
by introducing 
technologies for affordable sanitation 
and industrial and 
domestic wastewater treatment;  establishing 
national monitoring Wastewater treatment Wastewater treatment 
plant.  Wastewater 
treatment unit, for 
individual use, and parts thereof E.g.  Used by 
households or services 
companies.   A specific 
tariff code could be provided for wastewater 
treatment plants.  TN/TE/W/47 
 Page 5 
 
 
SECTOR /ACTIVITY  
AND 
ENV. POLICY 
OBJECTIVE  SUB-SECTOR /ACTIVITY  P RODUCTS  R EMARKS  
systems.  Support the 
diffusion of water 
conservation 
technologies, and 
programmes for energy-
efficient, sustainable and cost-effective 
desalination of 
seawater, water recycling and water 
harvesting from coastal 
fogs in developing countries.            
  Septic tanks and other 
vats and reservoirs for 
wastewater treatment  
 Irrigation Drip irrigation 
equipments 
 Reduces the use of 
water 
  Sprinkling equipments Reduces the use of 
water 
Waste  collection   Waste containers, 
whether or not 
combined with a 
compactor Containers of any 
material, of any form, 
for liquid or solid waste, 
including for municipal or dangerous waste. 
  Recycling vehicles/ 
Refuse disposal vehicles Including vehicles for 
the collection of industrial waste. 
Waste  treatment and 
disposal, including recycling   Waste sorter devices   SOLID/HAZARDOUS 
WASTE 
MANAGEMENT 
WSSD, para 22 (a):  
Develop waste 
management systems, 
with the highest priority placed on waste 
prevention and 
minimization, reuse and recycling, and 
environmentally sound 
disposal facilities, including technology to 
recapture the energy 
contained in waste, and 
encourage small-scale 
waste-recycling initiatives (...).   Sorting, screening, 
separating and washing 
machines for recycling 
waste (i.e. metals, plastics, glass, paper, 
etc.), and parts thereof  
Air pollution 
measurement and 
monitoring  (gas, 
particles and aerosols in 
the environment and at 
the emission source)  Air quality monitor, 
Dust emissions monitor.  
Parts thereof  PROTECTION OF 
AMBIENT AIR AND 
CLIMATE 
Agenda 21 (chapter 9):  
development of 
pollution control and 
measurement 
technologies for 
stationary and mobile sources of air pollution   Gas, smoke and 
particles analysis 
apparatus, and parts 
thereof  TN/TE/W/47 
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SECTOR /ACTIVITY  
AND 
ENV. POLICY 
OBJECTIVE  SUB-SECTOR /ACTIVITY  P RODUCTS  R EMARKS  
Air purification, 
including odour 
control Filtering or purifying 
machinery and 
apparatus for gas or air Physical, mechanical, 
chemical or electrostatic 
filters and purifiers for 
the removal of COV, 
solid or liquid particles 
in gases, etc. 
  Heat or catalytic 
incinerators (oxidisers) 
and parts thereof COV destruction by 
heating of polluted air 
and oxidation of organic components. 
Air handling Fans and parts thereof Transport or extraction 
of polluted air and 
corrosive gases or dust as well as of alternative environmentally sound 
technologies.                     
  Industrial hoods and 
parts thereof Ex:  for exhaust gases 
Analysis Instruments and 
apparatus for physical 
or chemical analysis  and parts thereof Analysis of 
hydrocarbons and heavy 
metals in the soil 
  Instruments and 
apparatus for measuring 
or detecting ionising radiations and 
radioactivity  
Pollution control Inflatable oil spill 
recovery barges and 
tanks  
  Oil containment booms, 
oil absorbent booms  
Soil 
cleaning/remediation Equipment and 
apparatus for cleaning 
or stabilizing the soil Stripping, oil-water 
separator, catalytic 
oxidisers, ultrafiltration 
apparatus, bio-remediation equipment, 
soil stabilization and 
solidification equipment, etc. 
  Cultures of micro-
organisms and enzymes 
for soil bio-remediation Bio-remediation.  Also 
used for the biological 
treatment of wastewater. 
Soil protection Erosion control matting, 
biodegradable   PROTECTION AND 
REMEDIATION / 
CLEANUP OF SOIL AND WATER 
Protection of soil, in 
particular from pollution, erosion, land 
degradation, 
contamination and desertification.  
Sustainable use of soil.  
 Woven or non-woven 
geotextiles used for the 
separation, filtration, 
draining, reinforcement, watertightness, and anti-
erosion of soil Made of natural 
(i.e.coir, straw, jute) or 
man-made materials.  TN/TE/W/47 
 Page 7 
 
 
SECTOR /ACTIVITY  
AND 
ENV. POLICY 
OBJECTIVE  SUB-SECTOR /ACTIVITY  P RODUCTS  R EMARKS  
  Seeder for direct sowing Conservation tilling.  
Allows to sow without 
ploughing the soil.   
Noise measurement 
and analysis Instruments and 
apparatus for 
measuring, checking or 
analysing noise;  parts 
and accessories thereof  
Vibration 
measurement and analysis Instruments and 
apparatus for measuring, checking or 
analysing vibrations; 
parts and accessories thereof Vibrometers, hand 
vibration meters. 
Noise and vibration 
abatment Soundproof panels and 
screens for outdoor uses  NOISE AND 
VIBRATION 
ABATMENT 
EC policy objective:  
substantial reduction of 
the number of people affected by noise,  in 
particular from traffic 
(reduction of noise emissions from services 
and products;  
mitigation of traffic noise).  
 Panels, boards, tiles, 
blocks and similar articles of  
agglomerated cork  
ENVIRONMENTAL 
MONITORING, ANALYSIS AND 
ASSESSMENT not 
already  included elsewhere 
Improve the data and 
information on the state 
and trends of the 
environment.    WSSD, para 36 (g):  
Improve the systematic 
observation of the Earth's atmosphere, land 
and oceans by 
improving monitoring stations (…).   
  Hydrological, 
oceanographic, meteorological 
instruments and 
appliances, and parts thereof Includes levels, 
limnigraphs, seismic instruments, machinery 
and apparatus for 
measuring the ozone layer, etc. 
Solar energy Solar heating (Solar 
water heater, solar swimming pool heater, 
solar space heating 
system) Solar collector and solar 
system controller: 
   
 Solar Photovoltaics (PV 
generator) PV module RENEWABLE 
ENERGIES 
WSSD  para 8 :  To 
facilitate the 
achievement of the Millennium 
development goals, 
including the goal of 
halving the proportion 
of people in poverty by 2015, by improving Wind energy  Wind generator Wind turbine TN/TE/W/47 
Page 8  
 
SECTOR /ACTIVITY  
AND 
ENV. POLICY 
OBJECTIVE  SUB-SECTOR /ACTIVITY  P RODUCTS  R EMARKS  
Hydropower Small hydro powered 
generating plant: 
 -Hydraulic turbines and 
water wheels of a power 
not exceeding 1000 kW 
and parts thereof. 
   -Generator for use in 
the above hydro-power 
plant   
Marine/ocean power Electricity generators 
powered by ocean currents/tidal streams  
Geothermal power 
generation Heat pumps and parts 
thereof  access to sustainable 
energy services and 
resources, through rural 
electrification and 
decentralised energy 
systems,  increased use 
of renewables (...).  
Para 20 (c):  Develop 
and disseminate alternative energy 
technologies with the 
aim of giving a greater 
share of the energy 
mix to renewable 
energies.                           
Climate change:  
greenhouse gas 
emissions reduction and prevention by 
encouraging the use of 
renewable energy sources.   
 
Bonn International 
Conference for 
Renewable Energies , 
June 2004:  Political 
Declaration:  
substantially increase with a sense of urgency 
the global share of 
renewable energy in the total energy supply.  
Policy 
recommendations:  the WTO rules should 
promote renewables; 
Governments, the WTO (…) should proceed 
rapidly to reduce trade 
barriers for renewable energy technologies as 
well as electricity and 
fuels from renewable 
sources.  Efforts and 
instruments to foster the use of renewable 
energies should include 
safeguards against market distorsions, 
especially export 
subsidies and import duties.  Bio-energy Plants for producing 
bio-electricity and bio-
heat from waste Bio-energy derived 
from organic material 
(vegetable, animals and 
micro-organisms), is 
known as biomass.  In 
order to be sustainable, biomass exploitation 
implies careful 
resource management  
that includes the 
rehabilitation of the 
atmosphere and respect of ecosystems.  
Considering that such a 
condition is not a priori 
granted, for the purpose 
of this list, the 
exploitation of bio-energy focuses on  
waste recovery  
(agricultural and 
forestry residues, 
biodegradable fraction 
of municipal solid 
waste).  TN/TE/W/47 
 Page 9 
 
 
B. GOODS  THAT  HAVE  A HIGH  ENVIRONMENTAL  PERFORMANCE  OR LOW  
ENVIRONMENTAL  IMPACTS 
13. This category encompasses some of the produc ts identified by UNCTAD as products that 
“cause significantly less ‘environmental harm’ than  alternative products that serve the same 
purpose”.5  It includes goods identified on the basis of objective parameters such as composition  (e.g. 
the renewable character of components) and/or environmental performance  (e.g. energy 
consumption, efficiency, recycleability/bio-degradabi lity, low/zero pollution).  This being said, it is 
understood that no product made of renewable material can be regarded as environmental per se , as 
this depends for example of the form and rate of exploitation of the natural resources used to produce 
it.  Whereas the impacts of production should be  taken into account when selecting products as 
environmental goods, it is not our in tention to rely exclusively on these parameters to describe them.   
Examples of Sub-sectors and Products Identified in the Category of Goods that Have a High 
Environmental Performance or  Low Environmental Impacts 
 
SECTOR /ACTIVITY  
AND 
ENV. POLICY 
OBJECTIVE  
 SUB-SECTOR /ACTIVITY  P RODUCTS  R EMARKS  
INSULATION   
Promotion of energy 
efficiency in buildings; 
Sustainable use of raw materials (renewable 
resources).   Panels, boards, tiles, 
blocks and similar 
articles of vegetable 
fibre, of straw or of shavings, chips, 
particles, sawdust and 
other waste of wood, 
agglomerated with 
cement, plaster or other mineral binders, used 
for soundproofing and 
thermal insulation, not containing dangerous 
substances. Includes insulation 
articles made of wood 
waste, coir, true hemp, 
reed, etc. 
VEGETABLE PLAITING 
MATERIALS  Vegetable plaiting 
materials and other 
vegetable products of 
Chapter 14.     
PULPS OF FIBROUS 
CELLULOSIC 
MATERIAL  Pulps of fibres derived 
from recovered fibrous 
cellulosic material, not 
chemically treated. Includes pulps of jute, 
flax, true hemp, sisal, 
etc. 
VEGETABLE 
TEXTILE FIBRES  Vegetable textile fibres 
and articles thereof 
(yarn and woven 
fabrics) of Chapter 53 Better environmental 
performance of these 
materials compared to 
their alternatives. 
OTHER PRODUCTS 
   Vegetable waxes; 
beeswax and other 
insect waxes Products harvested on 
trees without 
deforestation. 
                                                      
5 Cf. Environmentally Preferable Products as a Trade Opportunity for Developing Countries , 
UNCTAD/COM/70, Geneva, December 1995. TN/TE/W/47 
Page 10  
 
SECTOR /ACTIVITY  
AND 
ENV. POLICY 
OBJECTIVE  
 SUB-SECTOR /ACTIVITY  P RODUCTS  R EMARKS  
 Preparations exclusively 
made of a mixture of 
vegetable and/or animal 
waxes.    
 (Wild) Shea butter, 
mechanically extracted, 
neither refined nor 
chemically modified Shea butter is extracted 
from the fruits of the 
wild shea tree, in 
Sahelian Africa, either by mechanical 
extraction or solvent 
extraction.  Here are included naturally-
obtained shea butter, i.e.  
neither solvant extracted nor refined, which is of 
a better quality. 
SUSTAINABLE 
AGRICULTURE OR GARDENING Organic fertilisers  Animal or vegetable 
fertilisers 
  Natural pest control Biological plant 
protection products Includes micro-
organisms that have a 
limited impact on 
biodiversity, for 
example by targeting the pest to be 
controlled. 
ENERGY 
EFFICIENCY 
EC Policy objective:  
Promotion of energy 
efficiency in buildings  Fluorescent tubes Lifetime around 10.000 
hours, up to over 20.000 hours.  
Public transport of 
persons/transport of 
goods:  railway and 
tramway Rail locomotives and 
self-propelled railway 
or tramway 
coaches/vans/trucks    
SUSTAINABLE 
TRANSPORT  
Agenda 21  (chapter 9):  
development and promotion of more 
efficient, less polluting 
and safer transport systems;                            
WSSD  para 21:  
Providing safe, affordable and efficient 
transportation, Other forms of 
sustainable transport Barges and similar 
vessels for the transport 
of persons or goods, on 
inland waterways.            Parts thereof Inland waterways are a 
sustainable alternative 
to road transport 
(energy efficiency, safe, lower air pollution).  TN/TE/W/47 
 Page 11 
 
 
SECTOR /ACTIVITY  
AND 
ENV. POLICY 
OBJECTIVE  
 SUB-SECTOR /ACTIVITY  P RODUCTS  R EMARKS  
increasing energy 
efficiency, reducing 
greenhouse gas 
emissions, congestion, 
adverse health effects and limiting urban 
sprawl by developing 
better vehicle 
technology  and multi-
modal transportation 
systems , including 
public mass 
transportation 
systems .      
 
14. In addition, some of the products falling in th is category may need to be defined through 
standards which require certification.  As ther e may exist no internationally agreed standards 
concerning some specific instances of products’ envi ronmental performance (e.g. energy efficiency), 
we propose to consider using gene ral international environmental standards such as the ISO series on 
voluntary eco-labelling schemes.  Including th ese certified goods amongst those benefiting from 
improved access will sustain work in other intern ational fora and initiatives by civil society to 
improve trading opportunities for “green products”,  from both developed and developing countries.  
Negotiations on these products would thus offer Me mbers the opportunity to reconcile trade and 
environment objectives by creating positive trade incentives for national/regional eco-labelling 
schemes based on international standards.    
15. The EC would, therefore, propose to include in the definition of environmental 
goods products that have a label issued by a schem e included in the existing international network 
Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) as de fining environmental goods (see Annex).6  Indeed, GEN 
labels are ISO type I eco-labelling schemes that m eet the general requirements and principles of ISO 
140247 while originating from various countries, both developed and developing countries.  At the 
same time, WTO Members should be ready to in crease technical assistance to help developing 
countries set up and administer their own ecolabels within these parameters. 
IV. MODALITIES 
 
16. With a view to ensuring that the environmen tal benefits of trade in environmental goods 
accrue to all countries, the European Communitie s proposes that all Memb ers, except the least 
developed, agree to deeper cuts - aiming at elimin ation as final goal - of all tariffs for the products 
described as environmental goods in the preceding paragraphs.  Where appr opriate and depending on 
                                                      
6 GEN’s aims include promotion and development of reliable eco-labelling schemes as well as co-
operation and harmonization among memb ers and other eco-labelling progra mmes.  For more details, see 
http://www.gen.gr.jp .   
7 Including transparency and consultation of stakeh olders, objective and scientifically-based criteria 
that take into account the lif e-cycle of the product, and accessibility to  all potential applican ts that fulfil the 
established criteria.  ISO type I designates voluntary an d life-cycle based schemes with third party certification.  
Standard 14024 in the ISO series covers “voluntary, mu ltiple-criteria based third party programme that awards a 
license which authorises the use of environmental labels on products indicating overall environmental 
preferability of a product within a particular product category base d on life cycle considerations”. TN/TE/W/47 
Page 12  
 
the results of the negotiations, Members should no t be expected to implement the agreed cuts 
according to a single timetable.  Developed a nd developing countries might follow different 
timetables for the implementation of their tariff commitments. 
17. A bold initiative on tariffs will only maximize market openness if non-tariffs barriers for 
these goods are tackled through approaches that a llow also for discussion of specific non-tariff 
measures on a case-by-case basis, where appropriate .  Discussion on NTBs will need to take into 
account the developments in the general discussion on non-tariff barriers in the NAMA Negotiating Group as well as the regulatory-driven nature of e nvironmental markets.  Work on NTBs should 
under no circumstances call into question the righ t of Members to set environment and health 
standards at the level they consider appropriate  in accordance with WTO rules (see para 6 of the 
DDA).   
18. In addition, the technical assistance that will be required by developing countries to 
implement any agreement on environmental goods will need to be considered once a list of 
environmental goods has been agreed. 
19. As regards the more technical aspects of tariff negotiations (base rates, nomenclature, etc.) we 
would like to refer to the second EC submissi on (document TN/MA/W/11) containing all the 
necessary details. 
20. Finally, with a view to maximizing the benefits  of trade liberalization for the development of 
environmental markets, Members shall ensure, where appropriate, a parallel liberalization of trade in 
environmental services, as stipulated in paragra ph 31 (iii) of the Ministerial Declaration.   
_______________ 
 
 
   TN/TE/W/47 
 Page 13 
 
 
 
ANNEX 
 
GEN  ECO-LABELLING SCHEMES  
COUNTRY /JURISDICTION  SINCE 
Germany 1978 
Japan 1989 
Nordic Countries:  Sweden, Norway, Iceland and 
Denmark (as of 2000) 1989 
USA 1989 
Canada 1988 
Japan 1989 
New Zealand 1990 
Sweden - Good Environmental Choice 1990 
Austria 1991 
India 1991 
European Community 1992 
Korea 1992 
Netherlands 1992 
Singapore 1992 
Sweden - TCO Development 1992 
Chinese Taipei 1992 
Brazil 1993 
Croatia 1993 
Israel 1993 
Thailand 1993 
China (PRC) 1994 
Czech Republic 1994 
Hungary  1994 
Hong Kong 2000 
Australia 2001 
 NOTES:  This annex lists GEN members  and is not an exhaustive list of eco-labelling schemes.  There 
may exist other programmes or their creation may be und er way at the moment.  For instance, Colombia and 
Sri Lanka are in the process of esta blishing a programme.  Please note that the United Kin gdom, Spain, Greece 
and Luxembourg are also members of GEN. 
__________