REPORT (2019) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE

1.  The Committee held its 77^th, 78^th and 79^th regular meetings on 6-7 March, 20-21 June and 13‑15 November 2019, respectively. The 77^th meeting was chaired by the interim Chairperson Mr José Manuel Campos (Chile), and the 78^th and 79^th were chaired by Mr Sung-Hwa Jang (Korea). 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, 142 Members have submitted at least one such statement^[2];

b.    with respect to specific trade concerns (STCs):

i.     discussed 35 new specific trade concerns;

ii.    discussed 150 previously raised specific trade concerns;

c.    took note of the 24^th Annual Review of the Implementation and Operation of the TBT Agreement under Article 15.3^[3];

d.    held thematic sessions in March on good regulatory practice^[4] and conformity assessment procedures^[5]; in June on transparency^[6]; and in November on standards and conformity assessment procedures^[7];

2.  At the meetings held in 2019, representatives of BIPM, the Codex Alimentarius Commission, IEC, ISO, OIML, UNECE and UNIDO updated the Committee on their activities relevant to the work of the TBT Committee, including on technical assistance.