Current issues Good regulatory practice Transparency procedures Horizontal

Current issues

Good regulatory practice Transparency procedures Horizontal (general) issues Conformity assessment Technical assistance S&D Treatment

Horizontal (general) issues “TBT Triennial Reviews” (Article 15. 4)

TBT Triennial Reviews: - Every three years - Review the operation and implementation - Recommend adjustment of the rights and obligations - Submit proposals for amendments

June 2006 1 st Triennial Review 1995 1998 Second 2001 Work Programme Third 2004 Fourth 2007 Fourth: To be adopted in November 2006

Five “elements” Good Regulatory Practice Conformity Assessment Procedures Transparency procedures Technical Assistance Special and Differential Treatment

Good Regulatory Practice Background: Job(05)107, Job(06)24 (Section I), Job(06)142 Proposals from: EC, US, Canada and Chinese Taipei, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Chile and Costa Rica.

Conformity Assessment Background: Job(05)30 and 261; Job(06)24; Job(06)/142 Proposals from: Chinese Taipei, Japan, Canada and Costa Rica

TBT Webpage

Transparency Secretariat background: G/TBT/W/250, Job(06)24; Job(06)142 Proposals from: Canada, China, EC, Chinese Taipei, Chile

Technical Assistance Secretariat background: Job(05)20, Job(06)24; Job(06)142; G/TBT/16 Proposal from: China

“Prioritize – specify – notify!”

Special and Differential Treatment (S&D) Secretariat background: Job(06)269, Job(06)24; Job(06)142 Proposal from: China, Costa Rica

Where do we stand today?

Dates / Time Frame Proposed Action Identification phase mid-February 2005 Preliminary identification of topics for review by delegations First meeting in 2005 Listing of topics and organization of discussion Discussion phase end-April 2005 Circulation of Secretariat note on topics to be discussed at the next meeting mid-May 2005 Submissions by delegations on topics to be discussed at the next meeting Second meeting in 2005 Discussion on topics identified mid-September 2005 Circulation of Secretariat note on topics to be discussed at the next meeting mid-October 2005 Submissions by delegations on topics to be discussed at the next meeting Third meeting in 2005 Discussion on topics identified end-January 2006 Submission by delegations of proposals for recommendations end-February 2006 Circulation by the Secretariat of draft of factual elements of the review First meeting in 2006 Stocktaking: Discussion of draft of factual elements of the review as well as any proposed recommendations. Drafting phase “Drafting phase” mid-June 2006 Circulation of first draft text of the Fourth Triennial Review, including both the factual part and any recommendations on which there is general agreement Second meeting in 2006 Discussion of draft text of the Fourth Triennial Review mid-September 2006 Circulation of the draft final text of the Fourth Triennial Review Third meeting in 2006 Adoption of the final text of the Fourth Triennial Review

Next steps First reading completed (7 -9 June); Good basis, but further consultations needed; Circulation of revised text (after summer); Geneva-based consultations; Drafting session on 3 -4 October; and Adoption at 8 -10 November meeting.