RESTRICTED

GENERAL AGREEMENT TBT/39/Rev.1

30 November 1995

ON TARIFFS AND TRADE Special Distribution

(95-3772)

Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade

 

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION AND

OPERATION OF THE AGREEMENT

Background Document by the Secretariat

The Committee will hold its sixteenth annual review under Article 15.8 of the Agreement at its meeting on 20 October 1995. This document contains information on developments in the implementation and operation of the Agreement during the period from 20 September 1994 to 29 September 1995. Information covered by the previous review was circulated in documents TBT/38, TBT/38/Add.1 and Add.2, TBT/38/Rev.1, and TBT/38/Rev.1/Add.1. Data on review items relating to consultation points, panellists and information exchange have been circulated in separate documents referred to under those headings.

The contents of this document are as follows:

Page

1. Composition of the Committee 3

2. Implementation and administration 4

2.1 General 4

2.2 Consultation points 6

2.3 Panellists 6

3. Notifications 7

3.1 General 7

3.2 Comment period 9

3.2.1 Length of time actually allowed for 9 presentation of comments

4. Technical assistance and special and differential treatment12

5. Dispute settlement 12

 

 

Page

6. Acceptance, accession and reservations 12

7. The use of international standards; 12

participation in regional standardizing bodies

or international and regional certification systems

8. Transparency 12

8.1 Publications 12

8.2 Information exchange 12

8.3 Enquiries and responses 12

9. Testing procedures and acceptance of test results 42

1. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE

Chairpersons: Mr. A. Meloni (Italy) until April 1995

Ambassador Carmen Luz Guarda (Chile) since April 1995

Vice-Chairman: Ms. Ng Bee Kim (Singapore) until April 1995

 

Signatories

Argentina Hong Kong Pakistan

Australia Hungary Philippines

Austria India Portugal

Belgium Indonesia Romania

Brazil Ireland Rwanda

Canada Israel Singapore

Chile Italy Slovak Republic

Czech Republic Japan Slovenia

Denmark Korea, Rep. of Spain

Egypt Luxembourg Sweden

European Economic Malaysia Switzerland

Community Mexico Thailand

Finland Morocco Tunisia

France Netherlands United Kingdom

Germany New Zealand United States Greece Norway Yugoslavia

 

Observers

1. Governments

Bangladesh

Bulgaria Brunei Darussalam

China, People's

Republic

Chinese Taipei

Colombia

Côte d'Ivoire

Cuba

Ecuador

Gabon

Ghana

Malta

Nicaragua

Nigeria

Peru

Poland

Russian Federation

Saudi Arabia,

Kingdom

Senegal

Sri Lanka

Tanzania

Trinidad and

Tobago

Turkey

Zaire

2. International Organizations

IMF, UNCTAD, ITC (UNCTAD/GATT), ISO, IEC, FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, IOE.

 

2. IMPLEMENTATION AND ADMINISTRATION

2.1 GENERAL

The following legislative, regulatory and administrative actions to implement the provisions of the Agreement have been notified by Parties since 20 September 1994.

 

Hong Kong

The Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, Chapter 456 of the Laws of Hong Kong, was enacted on 20 October 1994, thereby increasing the number of Hong Kong Ordinances relevant to the implementation and administration of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade from sixteen to seventeen.

Products registered under the Voluntary Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme for Household Refrigeration Appliances, which was announced on 15 June 1995, can display a specific label to show the energy consumption and efficiency measured in accordance with the ISO 8187.

 

Israel

The Government of Israel has accepted the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade which entered into force on 18 March 1990. In accordance with Article 15.7 of the Agreement, Israel has submitted to the GATT Secretariat details of the measures in respect of the implementation of the Agreement (TBT/1/Add. 41).

 

Malaysia

The Government of Malaysia has accepted the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade in 1993. In accordance with Article 15.7 of the Agreement, Malaysia has submitted to the GATT Secretariat details of the measures in respect of the implementation of the Agreement (TBT/1/Add. 40).

 

Mexico

The Government of Mexico has so far submitted an average of 70 notifications, of which 54 per cent concern decisions (Acuerdos) to amend, prolong and supplement the existing animal and plant health standards, 37 per cent draft standards, and the remaining nine per cent urgent standards.

Mexico has taken the following legislative, regulatory and administrative actions since the previous review of the Agreement:

29/12/1994: Decree establishing the 1995 Rates of the General Import Tax for goods from Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, United States of America, Bolivia and Chile.

29/12/1994: Decision waiving the requirement of prior authorization by the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development for imports of various goods and revising or repealing the decision establishing the prior authorization requirement for the import and export of various goods.

2/12/1995: Decision establishing equivalence between the tariff items of the Tariff of the General Import Tax Law as created, amended or repealed and the current Tariff Items.

3/1/1995: Decision amending the Decision of 21 November 1994 listing exotic diseases and pests for Mexico.

26/1/1995: List of National Measurement Standards.

17/2/1995: First Resolution reforming and establishing the general rules relating to distortions in the NAFTA customs sphere.

3/4/1995: Annexes to the Resolution establishing general fiscal rules relating to foreign trade for 1995.

13/4/1995: Decision empowering the National Ecological Institute to issue authorizations ecological licences for the import of used tyres and worn tyre cases into the State of Baja California.

19/4/1995: National Standardization Plan for 1995.

11/5/1995: Decrees amending and supplementing the decree establishing the temporary import programme for the production of export goods.

11/5/1995: Decree amending the decree for the development and operation of highly export-oriented enterprises.

11/5/1994: Decree amending the decree for the development and operation of highly export-oriented enterprises.

1/6/1995: Internal regulations, Department of Energy.

2/6/1995: Internal regulations, Department of Energy errata list.

2/6/1995: Decision amending and supplementing the Decision establishing the classification and coding of goods the import and export of which are subject to sanitary regulation by the SIS.

23/11/1995: Regulations of the Mexican Industrial Property Institute.

14/6/1995: Clarification to the regulations of the Mexican Industrial Property Institute.

19/6/1995: Decisions declaring the States of Baja California, Baja California Sur and Neuvo León free of Newcastle disease.

21/6/1995: Internal regulations of the Department of Communications and Transport.

30/6/1995: Decision amending and supplementing the decision establishing the classification and coding of goods imports of which are subject to ecological regulations.

7/7/1995: Decision amending and supplementing the decision establishing the classification and coding of goods imports of which are subject to regulation by the agencies of the Inter-Ministerial Commission for the Control of the Processing and Use of Pesticides SICOPLAFEST.

21/7/1995: Internal regulations of the Department of Agrarian Reform.

24/6/1995: Decision establishing the requirement of prior import licensing for rim-mounted used tyres.

24/6/1995: Decision declaring the territories of Nuevo León, Tamaulipas and Coahuila, except for Lagunera region, free of classic swine fever.

 

 

2.2 CONSULTATION POINTS

Up-to-date information is contained in document TBT/W/62/Rev.1 and Corrs.1-3.

 

 

2.3 PANELLISTS

Up-to-date information is contained in document TBT/W/25/Rev.12.

 

 

3. NOTIFICATIONS

3.1 GENERAL

From 1 January 1980 to 29 September 1995, 4,464 notifications have been made by 37 Parties. The table on page 5 of TBT/38 and TBT/38/Rev.1 contains the total number of notifications made by each Party from 1980 to 1994 (up to 20 September). The relevant data for 1994 and 1995 (up to 29 September) are given below.

Parties

Year of entry into force

1995

(to 29.9)

1994

Total

(1980-1995)

Argentina1

-

-

-

-

Australia

1992

23

54

Austria

1980

-

-

103

Belgium

1981

-

16

97

Brazil

1980

-

-

3

Canada

1980

1

46

396

Chile

1981

-

-

1

Czech Republic

1993

-

7

13

Czech and Slovak

Fed. Rep.

(1982-1992)

-

-

97

Denmark

1980

-

23

144

EEC

1980

10

17

226

Egypt

1983

-

-

-

Finland

1980

-

3

303

France

1980

-

3

57

Germany

1980

-

2

55

Greece

1987

-

-

-

Hong Kong

1986

-

3

29

Hungary

1986

-

1

16

India

1983

-

-

76

Indonesia

1993

-

-

-

Ireland

1980

-

-

18

Israel

1990

-

2

2

Italy

1980

-

-

4

Japan

1980

-

26

548

Korea, Rep. of

1980

-

25

78

Luxembourg

1980

-

-

-

Malaysia

1993

-

6

9

Mexico

1988

-

89

167

Morocco

1993

-

-

Netherlands

1981

-

40

133

New Zealand

1980

-

1

109

Norway

1980

-

2

174

Pakistan

1981

-

-

-

Philippines

1981

-

9

109

Portugal

1985

-

-

-

Romania

1980

-

-

63

Rwanda1

-

-

-

-

Singapore

1980

-

1

19

Slovenia

1994

-

-

-

Slovak Republic

1993

-

23

26

Spain

1981

-

-

56

Sweden

1980

-

33

434

Switzerland

1980

15

40

192

Thailand

1993

-

-

-

Tunisia

1981

-

-

1

United Kingdom

1980

-

-

70

United States

1980

1

67

500

Yugoslavia

1982

-

-

82

TOTAL

27

508

4,464

The distribution of notifications under the relevant Articles of the Agreement in 1994 and 1995 (up to 29 September) is as follows:

1995

1994

Article 2.5.2

27

458

Article 2.6.1

-

32

Article 7.3.2

-

8

Article 7.4.1

-

1

Not specified

-

3

Sixteen notifications in 1994 indicated that the proposed technical regulations were based on relevant international standards. No notifications in 1995 indicated that they were based on

relevant international standards.

3.2 COMMENT PERIOD

 

Statements by Parties on the length of time that they expect to allow for other Parties to present their comments in writing on technical regulations, standards or rules of certification systems (Article 2.5.2, 2.5.5, 2.6.3, 7.3.4 and 7.4.3) are included in TBT/10, pages 58-62; TBT/10/Suppl.1, page 3; TBT/17, page 9; TBT/17/Suppl.1, page 5; and TBT/31, page 6.

 

 

3.2.1 LENGTH OF TIME ACTUALLY ALLOWED FOR

PRESENTATION OF COMMENTS

 

The Committee has recommended 60 days as a minimum length of time to be allowed for the presentation of comments from other Parties. The table on the following pages gives the relevant data on the observation of the recommended comment period by each Party in 1994 and 1995 (up to 29 September).

In 1994, Parties allowed an average of 57.8 calendar days for comments, the comment period had lapsed for five notifications, and the number of notifications that did not specify a comment period was 37. The respective figures for 1995 (up to 29 September) were 56.3 days; no notifications lapsed and all specified a comment period.

 

OBSERVATION OF THE RECOMMENDED COMMENT PERIOD BY PARTIES

Party

1995

(up to 29 September)

1994

Total

Less than 45 days

45-59 days

60 days or more

Not specified

or lapsed

Total

Less than 45 days

45-59 days

60 days or more

Not

specified or lapsed

Australia

23

11

9

3

Belgium

16

16

Canada

1

1

46

24

16

6

Czech Republic

7

1

2

2

2

Denmark

23

12

1

6

4

EEC

10

10

17

3

5

9

Finland

3

1

1

1

France

3

2

1

Germany

2

1

1

Hong Kong

3

1

1

1

Hungary

1

1

Israel

2

2

Japan

26

9

17

Korea, Rep. of

25

11

6

8

Malaysia

         

6

 

6

   

Mexico

         

89

9

8

50

22

Netherlands

         

40

2

22

14

2

New Zealand

         

1

1

     

Norway

2

2

 

OBSERVATION OF THE RECOMMENDED COMMENT PERIOD BY PARTIES (cont'd)

1995

(up to 29 September)

1994

Party

   
 

Total

Less than 45 days

45-59 days

60 days or more

Not specified

or lapsed

Total

Less than 45 days

45-59 days

60 days or more

Not

specified

or lapsed

Philippines

         

9

   

8

1

Singapore

         

1

     

1

Slovak Rep.

         

23

5

4

8

6

Sweden

         

33

 

5

28

 

Switzerland

15

14

1

   

40

6

34

   

United States

1

 

1

   

67

25

22

20

 

TOTAL

27

15

2

10

 

508

112

154

199

43

4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND

SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT

No developments have been reported under this item during the period under review.

 

5. DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

No developments have been reported under this item during the period under review.

 

6. ACCEPTANCE, ACCESSION AND RESERVATIONS

The Agreement was accepted by Slovenia on 7 November 1994.

 

7. USE OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS; PARTICIPATION

IN REGIONAL STANDARDIZING BODIES OR INTERNATIONAL

AND REGIONAL CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS

No developments have been reported under this item during the period under review.

 

8. TRANSPARENCY

8.1 PUBLICATIONS

Names of the publications used to announce that work is proceeding on draft technical regulations or standards and rules of certification systems, and those in which the texts of technical regulations and standards or rules of certification systems are published, are included in TBT/10, pages 80-89; TBT/10/Suppl.1, page 6; TBT/17, page 16; TBT/17/Suppl.1, page 6; TBT/18, pages 12-13 and TBT/31, pages 8-9. Further information supplied by individual Parties is contained below.

Canada

A brochure describing the Agreement and the services of the Canadian Enquiry Point was produced in 1995. Individuals requesting general information are given a copy of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, the WTO/NAFTA Enquiry Point brochure and any other pertinent documentation.

 

8.2 INFORMATION EXCHANGE

The current list of names, addresses, telex and telephone numbers of the enquiry points is contained in document TBT/W/31/Rev.11 and Corrs.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

 

8.3 ENQUIRIES AND RESPONSES

Information on the number of enquiries received and of requests answered by enquiry points, in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement relating to information and documentation, was included in TBT/29, pages 11-12; TBT/29/Suppl.1, pages 2-3; TBT/31, page 10; TBT/32, pages 9-12; TBT/33, pages 9-13; TBT/34, pages 11-22; TBT 37/Rev.1 pages 13-29; TBT/38, pages 12-30; and TBT/38/Rev.1, pages 12-32. Further information supplied by individual Parties is contained below.

Austria

During the period under review (17 September 1994 - 13 September 1995), Austria received five enquiries from abroad, of which only two concerned matters covered by the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade; the rest had been sent erroneously to the Austrian enquiry point and had to be forwarded to the competent authorities. 20 domestic requests were made for further information in respect of 25 foreign notifications. Austria made one comment regarding a Swiss notification.

 

France

In 1994, France received 508 enquiries and answered 61 requests coming from 18 Parties. France addressed enquiries to 36 Parties.

 

Ireland

Ireland received no enquiries during the period under review.

 

Spain

Spain received 80 requests for Spanish legal texts, made 22 requests for information and received 21 replies from other Parties to the Agreement. Spain made one comment on a notification.

 

Sweden

Sweden made 33 notifications in 1994 (compared to 18 in 1993). Requests for texts of notified proposed Swedish regulations totalled 162 (compared to 99 in 1993).

In 1994, most requests came from Canada, EC Member States, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and the United States.

In 1994, Sweden made no comments regarding notifications from other Parties (two comments in 1993) and received one comment regarding a Swedish notification (one comment in 1992).

In addition to requests for notification information Sweden received and answered 66 enquiries concerning rules and regulations in 1994. Of these enquiries 21 were addressed to the enquiry point for technical regulations and 45 to the enquiry point for technical standards. (The corresponding figures for 1993 were 71 - 19/52). Most enquiries concerning regulations came from Canada (7), EC Member States (5) and Israel (4). With respect to standards most enquiries emanated from EC Member States (31) and the United States (8).

 

 

CANADA

TABLE 1

Requests received from Other Parties

(1 January 1994 - 31 December 1994)

Requests

originating

in

Requests for

Documents Cited in

Canadian

Notifications

Requests for Extension of Comment

Period on

Canadian Notifications

Request for Consideration

of Comment on Proposal Cited in Canadian Notifications

Requests for Information on Canadian Regulations, Standards or Certification Systems

Australia

7

-

-

2

Austria

4

-

-

2

Belgium

-

-

-

7

Czech and Slovak Rep.

8

-

-

3

Czech Republic

2

-

-

-

Denmark

5

-

-

3

EC

16

10

7

2

Finland

2

-

-

2

France

41

8

-

13

Germany

1

-

-

-

Hong Kong

28

-

-

12

Hungary

3

-

-

-

India

7

-

-

2

Ireland

2

-

-

3

Israel

-

-

-

3

Japan

34

1

-

7

Malaysia

24

-

-

6

Mexico

48

-

-

7

Netherlands

12

-

-

7

New Zealand

2

-

-

2

Philippines

10

-

-

1

Rep. of Korea

8

-

-

-

Singapore

8

-

-

3

Slovak Republic

1

-

-

-

Spain

-

-

-

-

Sweden

12

-

-

4

Switzerland

2

-

-

3

Thailand

-

-

-

-

Turkey

-

-

-

-

United Kingdom

45

-

-

14

United States

48

-

-

3

TOTAL

380

19

7

111

CANADA

TABLE 2

Requests received from other Parties

(1 January 1995 - 15 September 1995)

Requests

originating

in

Requests for Documents Cited in

Canadian notifications

Requests for Extension of Comment Period

on Canadian Notifications

Request for Consideration of Comment on Proposal Cited in

Canadian Notifications

Requests for Information on Canadian Regulations, Standards or Certification Systems

Australia

5

-

-

5

Austria

1

-

-

2

Belgium

-

-

-

-

Czech and Slovak Rep.

-

-

-

-

Czech Republic

-

-

-

-

Denmark

2

-

-

4

EC

12

5

3

4

Finland

1

-

-

1

France

17

9

1

16

Germany

-

-

-

1

Hong Kong

10

-

-

13

Hungary

-

-

-

1

India

3

-

-

2

Ireland

-

-

-

-

Israel

-

-

-

-

Japan

4

-

-

6

Malaysia

15

-

-

8

Mexico

21

-

-

2

Netherlands

9

1

-

8

New Zealand

-

-

-

1

Philippines

-

-

-

-

Rep. of Korea

2

-

-

2

Singapore

2

-

-

1

Slovak Republic

-

-

-

1

Spain

2

-

-

2

Sweden

5

-

-

4

Switzerland

1

-

-

3

Thailand

9

-

-

7

Turkey

3

-

-

3

United Kingdom

15

-

-

12

United States

21

-

-

2

TOTAL

160

15

4

111

CANADA

TABLE 3

Enquiries received from GATT Enquiry Points

(1 January 1994 - 31 December 1994)

(All enquiries were answered)

Enquiries

originating

in

Regarding proposed rules

Regarding

existing rules

Total

Australia

7

2

9

Austria

4

2

6

Belgium

-

7

7

Czech & Slovak Rep.

8

3

11

Czech Republic

2

-

2

Denmark

5

3

8

EC

16

2

18

Finland

2

2

4

France

41

13

54

Germany

1

-

1

Hong Kong

28

12

40

Hungary

3

-

3

India

7

2

9

Ireland

2

3

5

Israel

-

3

3

Japan

34

7

41

Malaysia

24

6

30

Mexico

48

7

55

Netherlands

12

7

19

New Zealand

2

2

4

Philippines

10

1

11

Rep. of Korea

8

-

8

Singapore

8

3

11

Slovak Republic

1

-

1

Spain

-

-

-

Sweden

12

4

16

Switzerland

2

3

5

Thailand

-

-

-

Turkey

-

-

-

United Kingdom

45

14

59

United States

48

3

51

TOTAL

380

111

491

CANADA

TABLE 4

Enquiries received from GATT Enquiry Points

(1 January 1995 - 15 September 1995)

(all enquiries were answered)

Enquiries

originating

in

Regarding

proposed rules

Regarding

existing rules

Total

Australia

5

5

10

Austria

1

2

3

Belgium

-

-

-

Czech & Slovak Rep.

-

-

-

Czech Republic

-

-

-

Denmark

2

4

6

EC

12

4

16

Finland

1

1

2

France

17

16

33

Germany

-

1

1

Hong Kong

10

13

23

Hungary

-

1

1

India

3

2

5

Ireland

-

-

-

Israel

-

-

-

Japan

4

6

10

Malaysia

15

8

23

Mexico

21

2

23

Netherlands

9

8

17

New Zealand

-

1

1

Philippines

-

-

-

Rep. of Korea

2

2

4

Singapore

2

1

3

Slovak Republic

-

1

1

Spain

2

2

4

Sweden

5

4

9

Switzerland

1

3

4

Thailand

9

7

16

Turkey

3

3

6

United Kingdom

15

12

27

United States

21

2

23

TOTAL

160

111

271

CZECH REPUBLIC

TABLE 1

Requests received from other Parties

(1 January 1994 - 31 December 1994)

Request

originating

in

Requests for Documents Cited in

Czech Notifications

Requests for Extension of Comment Period on Czech Notifications

Requests for Consideration of Comment on Proposals Cited in Czech Notifications

Requests for Information on Czech Regulations, Standards or Certification Systems

United Kingdom

6

-

-

-

Hong Kong

4

-

-

-

Japan

4

-

-

-

Malaysia

1

-

-

-

France

7

-

-

1

EC

7

-

-

-

United States

6

-

-

2

Netherlands

4

-

-

2

Switzerland

1

-

-

2

Austria

2

-

-

2

Canada

1

-

-

-

Spain

1

-

-

-

Finland

-

-

-

1

Mexico

-

-

-

1

Denmark

-

-

-

1

TOTAL

44

-

-

12

 

 

 

CZECH REPUBLIC

TABLE 2

Requests received from other Parties (1 January 1995 - 25 September 1995)

Request

originating

in

Requests for Documents Cited in

Czech Notifications

Requests for Extension of Comment Period on Czech Notifications

Requests for Consideration of Comment on Proposals Cited in Czech Notifications

Requests for Information on Czech Regulations, Standards or Certification Systems

United Kingdom

11

-

-

-

Hong Kong

5

-

-

-

Japan

5

-

-

-

Malaysia

11

-

-

-

France

11

6

-

2

EC

10

6

-

-

United States

12

-

-

5

Netherlands

6

-

-

-

Austria

2

-

-

-

Canada

4

-

-

1

Spain

1

-

-

1

Finland

4

-

-

-

Mexico

2

-

-

-

Denmark

-

-

-

3

Australia

1

-

-

-

Thailand

5

-

-

-

Germany

-

-

-

1

Belgium

-

-

-

1

Sweden

3

-

-

1

Turkey

1

-

-

-

New Zealand

2

-

-

-

Korea

1

-

-

-

TOTAL

98

12

-

15

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Enquiries and Responses under Article 10.1

EC GATT Enquiry Point

Enquiries

originating

in

Number of enquiries

(originating in respective Enquiry Points)

Total of enquiries received and replied under Article 10.1

 

Regarding proposed

rules and regulations

Regarding existing

rules and regulations

 
 

Received

Answered

Received

Answered

 

Australia

2

2

-

-

2

Canada

7

7

3

3

10

Finland

2

2

-

-

2

Hong Kong

5

5

-

-

5

Korea

1

1

2

2

3

Malaysia

2

2

-

-

2

Mexico

2

2

1

1

3

New Zealand

1

1

1

1

2

Norway

1

1

-

-

1

Philippines

1

1

-

-

1

Singapore

3

3

-

-

3

Sweden

1

1

1

1

2

Switzerland

2

2

1

1

3

United States

5

5

6

6

11

TOTAL

35

35

15

15

50

 

FINLAND

Enquiries to Finnish GATT Enquiry Point under Article 10.1 and 10.2

Enquiries

originating

in

Number of Enquiries received (of which from respective Enquiry Points)

 

1992

1993

1994

Argentina

-

-

-

Australia

1

-

2

Austria

1

4 (1)

1

Belgium

2 (1)

4

-

Botswana

-

-

-

Brazil

1 (1)

-

-

Canada

3 (2)

2 (1)

3 (1)

Chile

1

1

1

China (Taiwan)

2

2

-

Denmark

11 (9)

2 (1)

5

Egypt

-

-

-

EC

-

-

-

France

6 (2)

13 (2)

3

Germany

1

5

4

Greece

-

1

-

Hong Kong

1

-

-

Hungary

-

-

1

India

-

1

3

Ireland

-

1

1

Israel

-

-

1

Italy

2

4 (3)

2 (1)

Japan

-

-

2

Korea, Rep.

1

-

-

Luxembourg

-

-

-

Malta

-

1

-

Mexico

-

-

2 (1)

Netherlands

2

3

5

New Zealand

-

-

1

Norway

1 (1)

3

3

Pakistan

-

-

-

Philippines

-

-

-

Romania

-

-

-

Rwanda

-

-

-

Singapore

-

2

-

Slovakia

-

1

-

Spain

4 (1)

-

2

Sri Lanka

-

-

1

Sweden

5 (2)

9 (2)

4

Switzerland

2

2

2

Thailand

-

1

-

Tunisia

-

-

-

Turkey

1

2

-

United Kingdom

14 (2)

9

12

United States

14 (1)

11

4

Total,

GATT Signatories

76 (22)

84 (10)

64 (3)

Total,

Non GATT Signatories

 

12

 

6

 

3

TOTAL

88

90

67

HONG KONG

Enquiries and Responses

(Enquiries handled)

Enquiries

originating

in

No. of Enquiries Received

No. of Enquiries Originated from National Enquiry Point

 

1994

1995

(Jan-Aug)

1994

1995

(Jan-Aug)

Australia

1

4

-

1

Canada

3

1

3

1

Denmark

-

2

-

1

EC

5

3

5

3

Finland

1

1

-

-

France

6

4

4

2

Germany

-

2

-

-

India

1

-

-

-

Indonesia

1

-

-

-

Israel

1

1

1

1

Japan

1

3

1

1

Korea

7

3

1

1

Malaysia

2

-

-

-

Mexico

1

3

-

3

Netherlands

2

1

1

-

New Zealand

1

-

-

-

Singapore

3

-

3

-

South Africa

1

2

-

-

Spain

-

1

-

1

Switzerland

2

-

-

-

Thailand

1

1

-

-

UK

6

6

1

-

United States

3

6

-

-

TOTAL

49

44

20

15

JAPAN

Number of Enquiries in 1994

Enquiries

originating

in

Total

Regarding proposed

rules and regulations

Regarding existing rules and regulations

 

Received

Answered

Received

Answered

Received

Answered

Australia

5

5

5

5

-

-

Austria

4

4

-

-

4

4

Belgium

2

2

1

1

1

1

Brazil

1

1

-

-

1

1

Canada

40

40

23

23

17

17

Chile

2

2

-

-

2

2

Colombia

1

1

-

-

1

1

Costa Rica

1

1

-

-

1

1

Denmark

2

2

-

-

2

2

EC

29

29

28

28

1

1

Finland

6

6

1

1

5

5

France

39

39

32

32

7

7

Germany

11

11

1

1

10

10

Hong Kong

38

38

30

30

8

8

Hungary

1

1

-

-

1

1

India

2

2

-

-

2

2

Iran

2

2

-

-

2

2

Ireland

3

3

2

2

1

1

Israel

6

6

-

-

6

6

Italy

4

4

-

-

4

4

Lesotho

1

1

-

-

1

1

Malaysia

18

18

17

17

1

1

Netherlands

13

13

12

12

1

1

New Zealand

4

4

1

1

3

3

Norway

1

1

1

1

-

-

Philippines

7

7

5

5

2

2

Rep. of Korea

12

12

10

10

2

2

Singapore

5

5

4

4

1

1

Spain

5

5

3

3

2

2

Sweden

8

8

3

3

5

5

Switzerland

5

5

1

1

4

4

Thailand

3

3

-

-

3

3

United Kingdom

32

32

30

30

2

2

United States

79

79

38

38

41

41

Zimbabwe

1

1

1

1

-

-

TOTAL

393

393

249

249

144

144

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Number of enquiries and responses

(20 September 1994 - 20 September 1995)

Enquiries

originating

in

Total (of which from respective Enquiry Points)

Regarding proposed rules and regulations

Regarding existing rules and regulations

 

Received

Answered

Received

Answered

Received

Answered

Australia

3

3

2

2

1

1

Austria

4

4

4

4

-

-

Belgium

4

4

4

4

-

-

Canada

11

11

11

11

-

-

EC

15

15

15

15

-

-

Finland

3

3

3

3

-

-

France

16

16

13

13

3

3

Germany

9

9

7

7

2

2

Hong Kong

15

15

13

13

2

2

India

5

5

5

5

-

-

Ireland

1

1

1

1

-

-

Israel

1

1

-

-

1

1

Italy

4

4

4

4

-

-

Japan

7

7

6

6

1

1

Malaysia

3

3

3

3

-

-

Mexico

2

2

2

2

-

-

Netherlands

6

6

6

6

-

-

New Zealand

5

5

5

5

-

-

Norway

3

3

3

3

-

-

Philippines

7

7

6

6

1

1

Russia

1

1

-

-

1

1

Saudi Arabia

1

1

-

-

1

1

Scotland

1

1

-

-

1

1

Singapore

8

8

6

6

2

2

Sri Lanka

1

1

-

-

1

1

Sweden

1

1

-

-

1

1

Thailand

2

2

2

2

-

-

Turkey

1

1

-

-

1

1

U.K.

16

16

13

13

3

3

U.S.A.

28

28

13

13

15

15

Uganda

1

1

-

-

1

1

Vietnam

1

1

-

-

1

1

TOTAL

186

186

147

147

39

39

 

THE NETHERLANDS

Enquiries received and answered

(1 September 1994 - 1 September 1995)

Enquiries

originating

in

Total (of

which from Respective Enquiry Points)

Regarding proposed rules and regulations

Regarding existing rules and regulations

Australia

8(8)

8

-

Austria

1(1)

1

-

Belgium

2(-)

1

1

Canada

26(26)

25

1

Czech Rep.

2(2)

2

-

Denmark

3(1)

2

1

Finland

3(3)

3

-

France

1(1)

1

-

Germany

2(-)

2

-

Hong Kong

10(9)

9

1

Hungary

1(1)

1

-

India

1(1)

1

-

Israel

3(3)

-

3

Italy

1(1)

-

1

Japan

7(3)

7

-

Korea, Rep.

1(-)

1

-

Malaysia

13(13)

13

-

Mexico

2(2)

1

1

New Zealand

2(2)

2

-

Norway

1(1)

1

-

Singapore

4(4)

4

-

Spain

2(2)

2

-

Sweden

4(3)

2

2

Switzerland

4(2)

3

1

Thailand

7(7)

7

-

Turkey

1(1)

1

-

United Kingdom

1(-)

-

1

United States

28(10)

24

4

TOTAL

141(107)

124

17

 

 

NEW ZEALAND

TABLE 1

Requests received from other Parties

(1 July 1994 - 31 December 1994)

Request

originating

in

Requests for documents cited in

New Zealand notifications

Requests for extension of comment period on New Zealand notifications

Requests for consideration of comment on proposals cited in New Zealand notifications

Requests for information on New Zealand regulations, standards or certification systems

European Union

1

1

-

2

France

1

1

-

-

Malaysia

1

-

-

-

United Kingdom

1

-

-

4

United States

-

-

-

5

TOTAL

4

2

-

11

 

TABLE 2

Requests received from other Parties

(1 January 1995 - 30 June 1995)

Request

originating

in

Requests for documents cited in

New Zealand notifications

Requests for extension of comment period on New Zealand notifications

Requests for consideration of comment on proposals cited in New Zealand notifications

Requests for information on New Zealand regulations, standards or certification systems

TOTAL

-

- 1

- 1

10

PHILIPPINES

Enquiries and responses received

(16 September 1994 - 15 September 1995)

Enquiries

originating

in

No. of Enquiries

received from

Non-GATT/TBT

Enquiry Points

No. of Enquiries

originating from

GATT/TBT Enquiry

Points

Australia

6

1

Bahrain

2

-

Bangladesh

1

-

Belgium

-

8

Canada

5

-

Finland

2

8

France

2

-

Germany

1

-

Hong Kong

-

3

India

2

2

Indonesia

1

-

Iran

1

-

Israel

2

-

Italy

1

-

Japan

2

-

Korea

1

-

Malaysia

2

4

Mexico

-

2

New Zealand

2

-

Norway

-

3

Saudi Arabia

2

-

Singapore

1

-

South Africa

1

-

Spain

-

1

Sweden

-

1

Thailand

1

1

Trinidad and Tobago

2

-

United Kingdom

6

1

United States

15

6

Vietnam

1

-

TOTAL

62

40

SINGAPORE

Overseas Enquiries received by Singapore's Enquiry Points

(21 September 1994 - 20 September 1995)

Enquiries

originating

in

Regarding

proposed rules and regulations

Regarding

existing rules and regulations

Total

Belgium

-

3

3

Canada

-

3

3

France

-

1

1

Hong Kong

-

5

5

Japan

-

5

5

Malaysia

-

3

3

The Philippines

-

1

1

Thailand

-

4

4

United Kingdom

1

1

2

United States

1

1

2

TOTAL

2

27

29

All received requests were answered.

 

 

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Number of Information given to other Enquiry Points, Eventually other Requesters in 1994:

Requests

originating

in

Requests for

 

Information on Slovak regulations, standards or certification systems

Slovak

documents

Total

Austria

-

3

3

Belgium

-

1

1

Czech Republic

-

3

3

EC

-

17

17

France

-

21

21

Hong Kong

-

6

6

Ireland

1

1

2

Japan

-

6

6

Korea

-

4

4

Malaysia

-

12

12

Mexico

1

1

2

Netherlands

-

5

5

Romania

1

-

1

Sweden

-

3

3

Switzerland

-

1

1

United Kingdom

-

20

20

United States

-

12

12

TOTAL

3

116

119

All received requests were answered.

 

SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Number of Information given to other Enquiry Points, eventually other requesters

(1 January 1995 - 15 September 1995)

Requests

originating

in

Requests (Received/Answered)

 

For information on Slovak regulations, standards or certification systems

For Slovak

documents

Total

Austria

 

3/3

3/3

Belgium

 

3/3

3/3

Czech Republic

 

4/4

4/4

EC

 

11/11

11/11

France

 

1/1

1/1

Hong Kong

 

11/11

11/11

Ireland

1/1

2/2

3/3

Japan

 

7/7

7/7

Korea

 

4/4

4/4

Malaysia

 

4/4

4/4

Mexico

 

9/9

9/9

Netherlands

 

1/1

1/1

Romania

1

1/1

1/1

Sweden

 

3/3

4/3*

Switzerland

 

4/4

4/4

United Kingdom

 

11/11

11/11

United States

 

7/7

8/8

TOTAL

3/2*

83/83

86/85*

*A request from the Swedish party is under process

SWITZERLAND

TABLE 1

Requests received (1994)

N: Orders of texts of notifications; R: Researches.

Request

originating

in

Requests for existing regulations (E)

Requests for projects (P)

Total (E) + (P)

Total

N

Total R

N

R

Total

N

R

Total

Australia

-

-

-

1

-

1

1

1

-

Austria

-

3

3

1

-

1

4

1

3

Belgium

-

1

1

-

-

-

1

-

1

Canada

-

3

3

12

1

13

16

12

4

Czech Republic

-

-

-

5

1

6

6

5

1

Finland

-

-

-

4

-

4

4

4

-

France

-

3

3

4

2

6

9

4

5

Germany

-

2

2

-

-

-

2

-

2

Hong Kong

-

-

-

5

-

5

5

5

-

India

-

-

-

5

-

5

5

5

-

Iran

-

2

2

-

-

-

2

-

2

Israel

-

6

6

-

-

-

6

-

6

Japan

-

-

-

6

-

6

6

6

-

Korea

-

1

1

1

-

1

2

1

1

Malaysia

-

-

-

6

1

7

7

6

1

Mexico

-

-

-

1

-

1

1

1

-

Netherlands

-

-

-

2

-

2

2

2

-

New Zealand

-

-

-

1

-

1

1

1

-

Norway

-

-

-

3

-

3

3

3

-

Singapore

-

-

-

2

-

2

2

2

-

Slovak Republic

-

1

1

-

-

-

1

-

1

Spain

-

-

-

-

1

1

1

-

1

Sweden

-

-

-

1

-

1

1

1

-

Taiwan

-

1

1

-

-

-

1

-

1

Thailand

-

1

1

-

-

-

1

-

1

United Kingdom

-

1

1

-

-

-

1

-

2

United States

-

-

-

11

2

13

13

11

-

Zimbabwe

-

-

-

1

-

1

1

1

-

TOTAL

-

25

25

72

8

80

105

72

33

THAILAND

Number of overseas Enquiries received by the Thailand TBT Enquiry Point

(1 January 1995 - 31 August 1995)

Enquiries

originating

in

Request for

full texts

Request for extension of comment period on Thai notifications

Request for information on Thai regulations, standards or certification systems

Total

Australia

-

-

1

1

Denmark

1

-

1

2

EC

-

-

1

2

France

2

-

-

3

Hong Kong

1

-

-

1

India

-

-

1

1

Japan

1

-

-

1

Malaysia

1

-

-

1

United Kingdom

1

-

-

1

United States

1

-

-

1

TOTAL

8

2

4

14

All Enquiries were answered

 

 

9. TESTING PROCEDURES AND ACCEPTANCE OF TEST RESULTS

No developments have been reported under this item during the period under review.