The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement has a transparency obligation that requires WTO member countries to publish and notify the WTO, which in turn notifies its member countries, of any draft technical regulations at least 60 days in advance of adoption.
In South Africa the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) serves as the notification point – the South African TBT Enquiry Point – providing a weekly "Early Warning System for WTO/TBT Notifications" email, which contains the notifications on all proposed technical regulations for a specific week. The notification urges recipients to read the notifications relating to their specific area of trade and to provide comment on the draft technical regulations five working days from the receipt of the alert.
The WTO notification contains the following information, (1) Notification Member; (2) Agency responsible; (3) Notified under Article; (4) Products covered (Harmonised System (HS) or Customs Commodity Code Number (CCCN)) where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. International Classification for Standards (ICS) numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable; (5) Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document; (6) Description of content; (7) Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable; (8) Relevant documents; (9) Proposed date of adoption and proposed date of entry into force; (10) Final date for comments; and (11) Text available from – National enquiry point.
The notifications on all draft technical regulations are for the week 19 to 25 January 2015. Comment can be submitted to ronel.greyvenstein@sabs.co.za.
15-0494, Drugs and pharmaceutical services, Albania, 2015/01/23.
15-0495, Toluene diisocyanates (TDI), United States of America, 2015/01/23.
15-0496, Corded window coverings, United States of America, 2015/01/23.
15-0497, Electric-powered vehicles United States, 2015/01/23
15-0498, Organic products, United States of America, 2015/01/23
15-0443, Biocidal products, European Union, 2015/01/22
15-0388, Biocidal products, European Union, 2015/01/21
15-0389, Biocidal products, European Union, 2015/01/21
15-0390, Milk and milk products, United Arab Emirates, 2015/01/21
15-0391, Polyvinyl chloride pipes, The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, 2015/01/21
15-0392, Standards, Myanmar , 2015/01/21
15-0393, Wafer biscuits, 2015/01/21
15-0413, Mattresses – Addendum, Ecuador, 2015/01/21
15-0414, Tapered roller, Ecuador, 2015/01/21
15-0415, Plywood panels , Ecuador, 2015/01/21
15-0416, Pressure-reducing valves and check (nonreturn) valves, 2015/01/21
15-0417, Centrifugal pumps – Addendum, Ecuador, 2015/01/21
15-0436, Biocidal products Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - European Union - Biocidal products 2015/01/21
15-0437, Biocidal products, European Union , 2015/01/21
15-0438, Biocidal products, European Union, 2015/01/21
15-0439, Toilet tissue paper products Viet Nam, 2015/01/21
15-0440, Napkin paper products , Viet Nam, 2015/01/2
15-0356, Pesticides, Sweden, 2015/01/20
15-0357, Fertilisers, liming, inoculants, agricultural bio-fertilizers or secondary materials – Addendum, 2015/01/20
15-0362, AC watt hour meters, Pakistan, 2015/01/20
15-0363, Methods for measuring the performance of electric kettles, jugs for households and similar purposes, Pakistan, 2015/01/20
15-0364, Methods for measuring the performance of electric toasters for household and similar purposes, Pakistan, 2015/01/20
15-0365, Insulated cables, Pakistan, 2015/01/20
15-0384, Tungsten filaments lamps, Pakistan, 2015/01/20
15-0385, Induction motors, Pakistan , 2015/01/20
15-0386, Cotton seed oil cake expeller type, 2015/01/20
15-0338, Prepackaged products, 2015/01/19
15-0339, Concentrate feed mixture for cattle Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Pakistan - Concentrate feed mixture for cattle 2015/01/19
15-0340, Lead-acid batteries for motorcycle, .2015/01/19
15-0341, Lead-acid batteries, Pakistan, 2015/01/19.