The Ninth
Triennial Review is being carried out in 2021 in accordance with the mandate
under Article 15.4 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT
Agreement).[1]
It was concluded on 12 November 2021.[2]
The Committee's previous eight triennial reviews were completed in 1997, 2000,
2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018.[3]
During the review period (November 2018 – November 2021), the Committee has
undertaken work to follow up on specific decisions and recommendations agreed
in previous reviews.[4]
Members
recognize that the full implementation of the Committee's existing decisions
and recommendations is a process that may span over several reviews. In this
regard, Members reiterate the importance of following up on previously agreed
decisions and recommendations as contained in _G/TBT/1/Rev.14.
[1] Article 15.4 of the TBT
Agreement states: "Not later than the end of the third year from the date
of entry into force of the WTO Agreement and at the end of each three-year
period thereafter, the Committee shall review the operation and implementation
of this Agreement, including the provisions relating to transparency, with a
view to recommending an adjustment of the rights and obligations of this
Agreement where necessary to ensure mutual economic advantage and balance of
rights and obligations, without prejudice to the provisions of Article 12.
Having regard, inter alia, to the experience
gained in the implementation of the Agreement, the Committee shall, where
appropriate, submit proposals for amendments to the text of this Agreement to
the Council for Trade in Goods".
[2] A list of submissions
circulated in the TBT Committee relevant to the topics under review is
contained in the Annex to this document (p. 26).
[3] Reports of these triennial
reviews are contained in: _G/TBT/5; _G/TBT/9; _G/TBT/13; _G/TBT/19; _G/TBT/26; _G/TBT/32; _G/TBT/37; and _G/TBT/41.
[4] A compilation of the TBT
Committee's Decisions and Recommendations adopted since January 1995 is
contained in document _G/TBT/1/Rev.14. This document also contains the
Committee's Rules of Procedure, including Guidelines for Observer Status for
Governments and International Intergovernmental Organizations.