REPORT (2017) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL
BARRIERS TO TRADE
1. The Committee held its 71st, 72nd and 73rd
regular meetings on 29-30 March, 14-15 June and 8-9 November 2017,
respectively. The 71st meeting was chaired by Ms Esther Peh
(Singapore), and the 72nd and 73rd were chaired by Mr
José Manuel Campos (Chile). During these meetings[1], the Committee:
a.
heard statements
from Members regarding measures taken to ensure the implementation and
administration of the TBT Agreement under Article 15.2. In total, since 1995, 139
Members have submitted at least one such statement;
b.
with respect to
specific trade concerns (STCs):
i.
discussed 27 new specific trade concerns;
ii.
discussed 145 previously raised specific trade concerns;
c.
took note of the
22nd Annual Review of the Implementation and Operation of the TBT
Agreement under Article 15.3[2];
d.
held thematic
sessions on conformity assessment procedures, good regulatory practice and risk
assessment[3];
and,
e.
agreed on a
timeline for the Committee's Eighth Triennial Review under Article 15.4.[4]
2. At the meetings held in 2017, representatives of ARSO, BIPM, the Codex
Alimentarius Commission, IEC, ISO, OIML, UNECE, UNIDO and WHO updated the
Committee on their activities relevant to the work of the TBT Committee,
including on technical assistance.
[1] The minutes of the meetings are contained in G/TBT/M/71, G/TBT/M/72
and G/TBT/M/73.
[2] The Annual Review is contained in G/TBT/39/Rev.1 and includes a list
of standardizing bodies that have accepted the Code of Good Practice since 1995.
[3] Summary reports are contained in G/TBT/GEN/213, G/TBT/GEN/214 and
G/TBT/GEN/226.
[4] The timeline is contained in G/TBT/W/450.