implementation and administration of the
agreement on
technical barriers to trade
COMMUNICATION FROM TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Revision
The following updated statement
under Article 15.2 of the Agreement is being forwarded on behalf of the delegation
of Trinidad and Tobago.
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1.1. The Ministry with responsibility for Trade is the Focal Point for
the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has overall responsibility for ensuring
that obligations under multilateral, plurilateral and bilateral trade agreements
are honoured.
1.2. The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) is a body
corporate established by the Standards Act No. 18 of 1997 under the aegis of
the Ministry with responsibility for trade and industry. TTBS is responsible in
accordance with Article 10.10 thereof, for the implementation and
administration of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) which
covers Technical Regulations, Standards and Conformity Assessment Procedures.
TTBS is a member of the Caribbean Regional Organization for Standards and
Quality (CROSQ), and participates in regional standardization. TTBS’ activities
are supported by the following legislation:
·
Standards Act No.
18 of 1997
·
Standards
Regulations 2007
·
Metrology Act No.
18 of 2004
·
Metrology
Regulations, 2015
·
Metrology
(Quantities of Goods) Regulations, 2015
·
CROSQ Act 2005
1.3. TTBS is the national Standards Body and has accepted the Code of
Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards, in
Annex 3 to the Agreement. The institution develops, adapts and adopts voluntary
and compulsory standards based on International Standards. Disciplines under
TTBS’ purview include:
·
Standardization
·
Certifications of Management Systems and Products
·
Testing
·
Inspection
·
Metrology and
·
Accreditation
The Standards Body, Testing, Metrology and Accreditation Services can
be
contacted at http://www.ttbs.org.tt; Lab.Services@ttbs.org.tt; Metrology@ttbs.org.tt; and Lab.Accreditation@ttbs.org.tt
respectively.
1.4. Notices of all proposed national draft standards, compulsory
standards and conformity assessment procedures including those developed regionally
are published in the daily newspapers. In addition, Trinidad and Tobago's WTO
Notifications under Articles 2.9.4 and 5.6.4 of the Agreement, for compulsory
standards and conformity assessment procedures respectively, are notified to
the TBT secretariat. A period of no less than 60 (sixty) days is allowed for
all comments except in cases of emergency as provided for under Articles 2.10
and 5.7.
1.5. Notices of the intention to declare compulsory standards and enforce
conformity assessment procedures and the date from which they shall come into
effect are published in the national Gazette and daily newspapers.
1.6. In accordance with Article 10 of the Agreement, the Government of
the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, has designated the Trinidad and Tobago
Bureau of Standards as the national Enquiry Point for WTO/TBT Notifications. Trinidad
and Tobago’s Enquiry Point can be contacted at:
Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of
Standards (TTBS)
Post Office Box 467
Port-of-Spain
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Telephone: +868/662.8827; +868/662.4481/2
Telefax: +868/663.4335
E-mail Enquiry Point: enquirypoint@ttbs.org.tt
1.7. The Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division of the Ministry of Health has
statutory responsibility for goods and services covered under the Food and
Drugs Act Chap: 30:01 and the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Act No. 11 of
19.8.6. The Division maintains the secretariats for the Food and Advisory
Committee, the Drug Advisory Committee and the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals
Control Board. These bodies are responsible for drafting regulations for food,
drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, pesticides and toxic chemicals. The
Division’s address is:
Chemistry Food and Drugs
Division
Ministry of Health
92 Frederick Street
Port-of-Spain
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Telephone: +868/623-5242
Telefax: +868/623-2477
E-mail: cfdd@health.gov.tt or http://www.health.gov.tt/sitepages/default.aspx?id=93
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