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 areas of trade and to provide comment on the draft technical regulations within five working days of 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.
Should you be interested in receiving the weekly "Early Warning System for WTO/TBT Notifications" you need simply to contact Ronel Greyvenstein, WTO/TBT Enquiry Officer at the SABS - ronel.greyvenstein@sabs.co.za.
The draft technical regulations for the week 27 October to 2 November 2014 are summarised below by Notification; Subject; Title (including Country); and Date:
14-6317 Quasi-drugs - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Republic of Korea - Quasi-drugs, 2014/10/31.
14-6318 IPTV equipment - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Republic of Korea - IPTV equipment, 2014/10/31.
14-6306 Raw milk - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Panama - Raw milk, 2014/10/30.
14-6307 Water - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Panama – Water, 2014/10/30.
14-6308 Drinking water - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Panama - Drinking water, 2014/10/30.
14-6213 Silvered flat glass mirrors - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Ecuador - Silvered flat glass mirrors, 2014/10/29 .
14-6274 Fluorescent lamp ballasts - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - United States - Fluorescent lamp ballasts, 2014/10/29.
14-6277 Pre-packaged products - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Panama - Pre-packaged products, 2014/10/29.
14-6278 Unrefined white sugar - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Panama - Unrefined white sugar, 2014/10/29.
14-6279 Sausages - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Panama – Sausages, 2014/10/29.
14-6280 Refined sugar - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Panama - Refined sugar, 2014/10/29.
14-6281 White sugar - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Panama - White sugar, 2014/10/29.
14-6282 Yoghurt - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Panama – Yoghurt, 2014/10/29.
14-6284 Flavoured milk - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Panama - Flavoured milk, 2014/10/29.
14-6291 Lamps – Addendum - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - United States - Lamps – Addendum, 2014/10/29.
14-6156 Bovine carcasses - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Canada - Bovine carcasses, 2014/10/28.
14-6247 New chemical substances - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu - New chemical substances, 2014/10/28.
14-6248 On-road heavy-duty vehicles and engines - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Canada - On-road heavy-duty vehicles and engines, 2014/10/28.
14-6249 Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles – Addendum - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Brazil - Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles – Addendum, 2014/10/28
14-6250 Centres of pharmaceutical equivalence - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Brazil - Centres of pharmaceutical equivalence, 2014/10/28.
14-6210 Non-corrective contact lenses - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Canada - Non-corrective contact lenses, 2014/10/27.
14-6211 Seasonal and decorative lighting products - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - United States - Seasonal and decorative lighting products, 2014/10/27.
14-6212 Ceiling fans - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - United States - Ceiling fans, 2014/10/27.
14-6214 Alambre esmaltado o magneto (Enamelled or magnet wire) - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Ëcuador - Alambre esmaltado o magneto, 2014/10/27.
14-6215 Extensiones eléctricas (Electrical extension cords) - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Ecuador - Extensiones eléctricas, 2014/10/27.
14-6217 Etiquetado de plaguicidas para uso doméstico (Labelling of pesticides for household use) - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Ecuador - Etiquetado de plaguicidas para uso doméstico, 2014/10/27.
14-6218 Andadores (Childcare articles. Baby walkers) - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - Ecuador – Andadores, 2014/10/27.