Energy efficiency
WTO members discussed their regulations for energy efficient products, which are imposed to save energy and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These standards — covering products such as household appliances, TVs and cars — set out minimum energy performance standards, provide ways of testing for energy efficiency performance, and regulate energy management systems.
Members heard presentations from the private sector, including Schneider Electric, Consumer Technology Association and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, and from international and regional organizations (such as the International Energy Agency, the International Electrotechnical Commission, the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation/International Accreditation Forum and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe). Also, regulators shared their experiences concerning national schemes, including Japan’s “Top-Runner” Programme and the United States’ Energy Star Program.
One key point emphasized by WTO members was the need to harmonize national requirements with international standards whenever possible, as companies may find it difficult to export their products if required to comply with multiple standards to achieve an “energy efficient” label. They underlined that aligning standards and regulations helps lower the cost of energy efficient products, making them more attractive for consumers and saving energy. There is also scope, it was pointed out, to make energy labelling schemes less confusing.
This “thematic session” was the Committee’s first on a particular industrial sector. The aim of these sessions is to increase cooperation among regulators globally and to raise awareness about new or emerging regulatory issues.
Read the Chairperson’s reports on the thematic session on regulatory cooperation here and on standards here.
Specific trade concerns
WTO members aired specific trade concerns (STCs) regarding ten new trade measures introduced by members. They also discussed 46 previously raised issues. Regulations on food and drinks topped the meeting’s agenda, accounting for one-third of the STCs. Other STCs concerned regulations on IT equipment, medical devices, cosmetics, toys, motor vehicles, tyres, endocrine disruptors, canola oil, detergents and soaps, steel and wood products, chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Some detail on five of the new STCs is provided below. The full list of STCs is here.
According to the WTO’s Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement, members can regulate their products to protect consumer safety, health and the environment, but they need to do it in a way that does not unnecessarily restrict trade in these products and without discriminating against other WTO members. Discussions in the Committee can help to avoid trade frictions escalating into disputes brought to the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body.
New trade concerns
Ukraine’s exports to Russia
Ukraine claimed that while Russia allows imports of certain products, including dairy, beer, juice, confectionary and wallpaper, from other WTO members, it bans these imports from Ukraine. According to Ukraine, Russia applies the ban in a non-transparent, unjustified and discriminatory manner, and is therefore not in compliance with WTO rules. Russia said the objective of this temporary suspension is to prevent “deceptive” trade practices and to protect consumer health and safety as imports of some Ukrainian producers fail to comply with Russia’s technical regulations.
Egypt’s factory registration system
Eleven WTO members (Australia, Canada, Chile, China, the European Union, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States) raised concerns about Egypt’s new requirements for compulsory registration of factories. Under this regulation, products can be imported into Egypt only if they are produced by manufacturing plants registered with Egypt’s General Organization for Export and Import (or imported from companies owning registered trademarks).
Members highlighted the absence of a period for comment before the regulation entered into force. They also drew attention to the lack of a sufficient transition period for compliance (normally six months), and the burdensome and unclear registration process. Members asked if the registration requirements also apply to domestic producers (in line with the national treatment principle) and whether Egypt had taken a risk-based approach in identifying the wide scope of products covered by the measure. Egypt said that the registration procedure was designed to safeguard consumer health and safety against imports of substandard and illegal products and that several steps had been taken to ensure registration did not impose excessive burdens on trade procedures.
East African Community alcoholic beverage standards
Chile, the EU, South Africa and the US supported the efforts of Kenya and the East African Community (EAC) to address health problems of certain alcoholic beverages but said that international standards would address this health objective in a less trade-restrictive manner than the EAC standards. They asked EAC members to notify regulations implementing these standards to the TBT Committee. Kenya reported ongoing work to harmonize standards at the EAC level, including those relating to alcoholic beverages.
Chemicals in furniture and soap
The EU questioned the consistency of China’s testing methods for safety of wood-based furniture with relevant International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards. China said that while its testing methods are largely based on ISO standards, differences were introduced to take account of use of these products.
Mexico said that Colombia’s requirement that testing of phosphorus and the biodegradability of surfactants in detergents and soaps be carried out only by Colombian laboratories is overly restrictive and costly. Colombia said it would accept a supplier’s declaration of conformity consistent with ISO/IEC 17050 and that mutual recognition could be possible under bilateral agreements or through the ILAC Mutual Recognition Agreement and the IAF Multilateral Recognition Agreement.
International developments in regulations and standards
The Committee granted ad hoc observer status to the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ). The Committee also heard recent developments from observer organizations working with the TBT Committee.The full list of observer organizations is here.
The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) reported that several international standards addressing tariff barriers will soon be put for adoption before the Organization’s Council. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) reported progress in developing and harmonizing electrotechnical standards across Africa.
The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of countries presented its work on improving effective participation in the TBT Committee through enhanced coordination. The Bureau international des Poids et des Mesures (BIPM) announced Qatar’s recent membership and reported progress in redefining the numerical value of measurement units.
The International Organization of Legal Metrology described its cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on weighing of shipping containers in the context of the IMO Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, and announced Thailand’s recent membership of the OIML. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe reported on governments’ ongoing work on harmonization of technical regulations for vehicles and regulatory cooperation in general.
Next meeting
8-11 November: TBT Committee regular and informal meetings
Specific trade concerns: full list
Note: Only those members that signalled their intention to raise an STC in advance of the TBT Committee meeting are listed in the column “Member(s) raising”. Other members can join an STC by taking the floor during the meeting.
New concerns Show details
|
Specific Trade Concern |
Notification symbol/brief description of measure |
Member(s) raising |
|
Russian Federation — Measure affecting import of Ukrainian products |
|
Ukraine |
|
Egypt — Manufacturer Registration System (Decree 43/2016 and Decree 992/2015) |
G/TBT/N/EGY/114
G/TBT/N/EGY/115 |
Turkey
Switzerland
European Union
United States |
|
Colombia — Draft Resolution of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development "adopting the Technical Regulation establishing the maximum levels of phosphorus and the biodegradability of surfactants in detergents and soaps, and introducing other provisions" |
G/TBT/N/COL/214
G/TBT/N/COL/214/Add.1 |
Mexico |
|
China — Draft Standardization Law |
|
Republic of Korea |
|
China — Chinese Standards of Exhaust Emissions (China 6, BEIJING VI) |
|
Republic of Korea |
|
China — National Standard of the People's Republic of China: Limit of Volatile Organic Compounds and Migration of Heavy Metal of Wood Based Furniture, and two more standards for furniture |
G/TBT/N/CHN/1094
G/TBT/N/CHN/1095
G/TBT/N/CHN/1096 |
European Union |
|
Kenya — East African East African Community (EAC) alcoholic beverage standards |
|
European Union |
|
Chinese Taipei — Draft of the Organic Agriculture Act |
G/TBT/N/TPKM/225
G/TBT/N/TPKM/225/Add.1 and Add.2 |
European Union |
|
European Union — Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs. |
G/TBT/EU/139 |
United States
Uruguay |
|
European Union –DIRECTIVE 2014/40/EU on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products and repealing Directive 2001/37/EC |
|
Indonesia |
Hide details
Concerns previously raised Show details
(IMS ID numbers are “specific trade concerns” numbers in the TBT Information Management System database. Notifications and other documents can also be found in WTO docs online)
|
Specific Trade Concern |
Notification symbol/brief description of measure |
Member(s) raising |
IMS item number |
|
India - Pneumatic tyres and tubes for automotive vehicles |
G/TBT/N/IND/20
G/TBT/N/IND/20/Add.1
G/TBT/N/IND/40
G/TBT/N/IND/40/Rev.1 |
Japan
European Union |
133 |
|
China - Provisions for the Administration of Cosmetics Application Acceptance |
G/TBT/N/CHN/821
G/TBT/N/CHN/937 |
Japan
European Union |
296 |
|
India – New Telecommunications related Rules (Department of Telecommunications, No. 842-725/2005-VAS/Vol.III (3 December 2009); No. 10-15/2009-AS-III/193 (18 March 2010); and Nos. 10-15/2009-AS.III/Vol.II/(Pt.)/(25-29) (28 July 2010); Department of Telecommunications, No. 10-15/2009-AS.III/Vol.II/(Pt.)/(30) (28 July 2010) and accompanying template, "Security and Business Continuity Agreement |
|
European Union
United States
Canada |
274 |
|
China – Requirements for information security products, including, inter alia, the Office of State Commercial Cryptography Administration (OSCCA) 1999 Regulation on commercial encryption products and its on-going revision and the Multi-Level Protection Scheme (MLPS) |
|
European Union |
294 |
|
Russia – Draft Technical Regulation on Alcoholic Drinks Safety |
G/TBT/N/RUS/2 |
European Union |
332 |
|
Korea – Regulation on Registration and Evaluation of Chemical Material |
G/TBT/N/KOR/305 |
United States |
305 |
|
Indonesia - Technical Guidelines for the Implementation of the Adoption and Supervision of Indonesian National Standards for Obligatory Toy Safety |
G/TBT/N/IDN/64
G/TBT/N/IDN/64/Add.1 and Add.2 |
European Union
United States
Canada |
328 |
|
India – Food Safety and Standards Regulation – Food Labelling Requirements |
G/TBT/N/IND/34
G/TBT/N/IND/43
G/TBT/N/IND/46 |
Switzerland
United States |
298 |
|
European Union – Draft Implementing Regulations amending Regulation (EC) No. 607/2009 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as regards protected designations of origin and geographical indications, traditional terms, labelling and presentation of certain wine sector products |
G/TBT/N/EU/246
G/TBT/N/EU/246/Add.1 |
Argentina
United States |
345 |
|
Chile - Proposed amendment to the Food Health Regulations, Supreme Decree No. 977/96 |
G/TBT/N/CHL/219 G/TBT/N/CHL/219/Add.1
G/TBT/N/CHL/221 G/TBT/N/CHL/282 |
Mexico
United States
Canada |
370 |
|
India - Electronics and Information Technology Goods (Requirements for Compulsory Registration) Order, 2012 |
G/TBT/N/IND/44
G/TBT/N/IND/44/Add.1-5
G/TBT/N/IND/47 G/TBT/N/IND/47/Add.1
G/TBT/N/IND/47/Add.1/Corr.1 |
Republic of Korea
European Union
United States
Canada |
367 |
|
Peru — Act to Promote Healthy Eating Among Children and Adolescents |
|
Canada |
383 |
|
European Union — Revised Proposal for the Categorization of Compounds as Endocrine Disruptors of 19 February 2013 by DG Environment |
|
Argentina
Canada |
393 |
|
Indonesia – Ministry of Health Regulation 30/2013 on the inclusion of sugar, salt and fat content information, as well as health messages on the label of processed foods |
G/TBT/N/IDN/84 |
European Union
Canada |
389 |
|
Ecuador – Resolution No. 116 of the Foreign Trade Committee of Ecuador of 19 November 2013 and Technical Regulation of the Ecuadorian Standardization Institute RTE INEN 022 on the labelling of processed and packaged food products |
G/TBT/N/ECU/19, G/TBT/N/ECU/19/Add.1– Add.10 |
Mexico
Canada |
411 |
|
Russia - Safety of products for children and adolescents |
G/TBT/N/RUS/29 |
European Union |
418 |
|
India – Labelling Regulations for Canola Oil |
|
Canada |
413 |
|
Thailand – Draft Notification of the Alcoholic Beverages Control, Re: Rules, Procedure and condition for Labels of Alcoholic Beverages, issued under B.E. |
G/TBT/N/THA/437
G/TBT/N/THA/437/Add.1
G/SPS/N/THA/221/Add.1 |
European Union
United States
Canada |
427 |
|
Ecuador – Draft Technical Regulation of the Ecuadorian Standardization Institute (PRTE INEN) No. 189: "Labelling of Alcoholic Beverages" |
G/TBT/N/ECU/243 |
European Union
United States
Canada |
433 |
|
China – Regulations for the Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices (Order No. 650 of the State Council) |
G/TBT/N/CHN/1022
G/TBT/N/CHN/1023
G/TBT/N/CHN/1024
G/TBT/N/CHN/1025
G/TBT/N/CHN/1026
G/TBT/N/CHN/1029 |
Republic of Korea
European Union
Canada |
428 |
|
Ecuador – Proposed Motor Vehicle Safety Regulatory Requirements (RTE INEN 034) |
G/TBT/N/ECU/32
G/TBT/N/ECU/32/Add.1-6 |
Mexico
United States |
409 |
|
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Decree of the Saudi Arabian Ministerial Council on the sale and marketing of energy drinks of 4 March 2014 |
GCC notifications:
G/TBT/N/ARE/262, G/TBT/N/QAT/389, G/TBT/N/SAU/669, G/TBT/N/SAU/789, G/TBT/N/ARE/299, G/TBT/N/BHR/426, G/TBT/N/KWT/309, G/TBT/N/OMN/238 G/TBT/N/QAT/423, G/TBT/N/SAU/910, G/TBT/N/YEM/29, G/TBT/N/ARE/301, G/TBT/N/BHR/428, G/TBT/N/KWT/311, G/TBT/N/OMN/240, G/TBT/N/QAT/425, G/TBT/N/SAU/912, G/TBT/N/YEM/31. |
United States |
442 |
|
Brazil – Draft Technical Resolution nº 69, 9 September 2014, Regarding the Requirement of Describing the Chemical Composition, in Portuguese, in the Label of Personal Hygiene Products, Cosmetics and Perfumes |
G/TBT/N/BRA/608 |
Mexico |
443 |
|
European Union – Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation (Common Criteria) certification in the EU |
|
China |
448 |
|
China - Administrative Measure on Cosmetics Labelling (AMCL) |
G/TBT/N/CHN/1064 |
Japan
European Union |
456 |
|
China - Banking IT Equipment Security Regulation |
|
Japan
European Union
United States
Canada |
457 |
|
Indonesia - Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture No. 139/Permentan/PD.4, 10 December 2014, concerning Importation of Carcass, Meat and/or Processed Meat Products into the Territory of the Republic of Indonesia, and Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture No. 02/Permentan/PD.4, 10 January 2015, concerning the Amendment of the Regulation of the Minister for Agriculture No. 139/Permentan/PD.4, 10 December 2014 |
|
Australia |
461 |
|
Indonesia - MOI 69/2014 Article 3: LCR Requirements for LTE Devices - Requirement that Domestic Component Level (TKDN) of LTE TDD & FDD broadband services equipment |
|
Canada |
472 |
|
Chinese Taipei - GMO Labelling |
G/TBT/N/TPKM/168
G/TBT/N/TPKM/168/Add.1
G/TBT/N/TPKM/168/Rev.1 |
Canada |
467 |
|
China - Registration Fees for Drugs and Medical Device Products |
|
Republic of Korea
Canada |
466 |
|
Turkey - Toy Communique 01/2015 |
|
United States |
473 |
|
Brazil - Draft Ordinance Act Nº. 374, 27 November 2014 (Portaria SDA/MAPA 374/2014) |
G/TBT/N/BRA/613 |
European Union |
470 |
|
China - Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) Information and Communication Technology Regulation |
|
European Union
United States
Canada |
489 |
|
Brazil - Toy Certification; Ordinance No. 89, No. 310 and draft administrative rule No. 321 |
G/TBT/N/BRA/612 |
European Union
United States
Canada |
478 |
|
Colombia - Testing Requirements to be met by Toys and their Components and Accessories |
G/TBT/N/COL/109
G/TBT/N/COL/109/Add.1 |
Canada |
479 |
|
Korea - Standards and Specifications for Wood Products |
G/TBT/N/KOR/563 |
United States |
491 |
|
China - Interim Measures for Quality Management of Commercial Coal |
|
Australia |
477 |
|
European Union - Restriction on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Tyres as specified in Annex XVII of REACH |
|
China |
480 |
|
India - The Stainless Steel Products (Quality Control) Order, 2015 |
G/TBT/N/IND/50 |
European Union |
486 |
|
India - Draft Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages Standards) Regulations, 2015 |
G/TBT/N/IND/51 |
European Union
United States
Canada |
494 |
|
Indonesia - Halal Product Assurance Law No. 33 of 2014 |
|
United States |
502 |
|
China - Formula Registration Regulation for Infant and Follow-up Formula |
G/TBT/N/CHN/1165 |
Republic of Korea
European Union |
493 |
|
Russia - Rules of cement certification |
G/TBT/N/RUS/48
G/TBT/N/RUS/49 |
European Union |
497 |
|
Thailand - Milk Code - Draft Act on Controlling to the Marketing Promotion on Food for Infant and Young Children and Other Related Products BE |
G/TBT/N/THA/471 |
United States |
503 |
|
United Arab Emirates - Control scheme to restrict the use of hazardous materials in electronic and electrical devices |
G/TBT/N/ARE/265 |
European Union |
496 |
|
European Communities – Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH) |
|
Canada |
88 |
|
European Union — Quality Schemes for Agricultural Products and Foodstuffs. |
G/TBT/EU/139 |
United States
Uruguay |
|
|
European Union –DIRECTIVE 2014/40/EU on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products and repealing Directive 2001/37/EC |
|
Indonesia |
|
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