coherent use of notification formats
recommendation
Adopted
at the meeting of 18-19 June 2014
_______________
The Committee
on Technical Barriers to Trade makes the following recommendation to enhance
the coherent use of the notification formats:
|
Type
|
Description
|
|
New
Notification
|
Members
should use a new notification[1]
to notify the draft text of a proposed technical regulation or conformity
assessment procedure (hereafter referred to as the "notified measure").
If the notified measure is associated with a previously notified measure
(e.g. amending or supplementing an adopted measure, or replacing a withdrawn
or revoked measure)[2],
the symbol(s) of the associated notified measure(s) should be indicated in
Box 8 of the new notification.
|
|
Addenda[3]
|
Members should
use an addendum to notify additional information related to a notification or
the text of a notified measure, including if:
|
|
·
The comment
period has been changed (e.g. extended or re-opened);
|
|
·
The notified
measure is adopted, published, or enters into force, especially in cases
where relevant dates have not been provided in the original notification or
have been changed. Members are encouraged to indicate how the final text of
the measure can be obtained, including website address;
|
|
·
The notified
measure is withdrawn or revoked. If replaced with a new measure, where
possible, the symbol of the corresponding new notification should be
indicated;
|
|
·
The content or
scope of a notified measure is partially changed or amended. In this case,
Members should consider opening a new comment period;
|
|
·
Interpretive
guidance is issued; and
|
|
·
Any other
useful and relevant additional information directly related to a notification
or notified measure has been made available that does not qualify as a
corrigenda, revision or supplement.
|
|
Corrigenda
|
Members
should use a corrigendum to correct minor administrative or clerical errors
(which do not entail any changes to the meaning of the content) in:
|
|
·
a notification
or subsequent related addendum or revision; and
|
|
·
the text of the
notified measure.
|
|
Revision
|
Members
should use a revision to indicate that the notified measure has been substantially
re-drafted prior to adoption or entry into force. A revision replaces the
original notification. A revision should normally open a new comment period.
|
|
Supplement
|
Members
should use a supplement to notify the availability of unofficial translations
of notified measures.[4]
|
__________
[1] A "notification" refers to the official WTO document
which is part of document series "G/TBT/N/[three digit country code]/#".
[2] Note: The WTO Secretariat is exploring the feasibility of an IT
solution whereby searches on relevant WTO databases (e.g. TBT IMS, I-TIP) would
automatically retrieve associated notifications (so as not to lose the thread
through the life-cycle of the measure).
[3] Note: The option of a new addenda format with a list of tick boxes
could be annexed to this recommendation.
[4] In 2007 the TBT Committee agreed (G/TBT/M/43, Section II.C.3, 21
January 2008) that Members should use the formats for unofficial translations
contained in G/TBT/1/Rev.11, Annex 5 – Unofficial Translations. Further
information is contained in G/TBT/GEN/66.