WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/L/278
25 November 1998
(98-4720)
REPORT (1998) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE
1. The Committee held its twelfth, thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth meetings on 27 March,
1 July, 15 September and 19-20 November (G/TBT/M/11-14) respectively, and Mr. Otto Th. Genee
(Netherlands) was Chairman. At those meetings, the Committee heard statements on theimplementation and administration of the Agreement.  A number of Members informed the
Committee of measures taken to ensure the implementation and administration of the Agreement.
Several measures were brought to the attention of the Committee by Members who raised concerns
about the potential adverse trade effects or inconsistency with the Agreement of those measures.
2. At its twelfth meeting, the Committee carried out its Third Annual Review of the
Implementation and Operation of the Agreement under Article 15.3 based on background
documentation contained in G/TBT/6, and its Third Annual Review of the Code of Good Practice for
the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards in Annex 3 based on background
documentation contained in WTO TBT Standards Code Directory, G/TBT/CS/1/Add.2 andG/TBT/CS/2/Rev.4.  The Committee also started its programme of work arising from the First
Triennial Review of the Operation and Implementation of the Agreement under Article 15.4
(G/TBT/5), and heard statements on technical assistance.
3. At its thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth meetings, the Committee continued its work
programme arising from the First Triennial Review.  Submissions were contributed by Members to
enrich the discussions.
4. On 14 September, a Workshop and a Special Meeting on Procedures for Information
Exchange were held at which participants, including those from capitals responsible for enquiry
points and notifications, exchanged experience concerning the transparency provisions of the
Agreement, the activities and problems relating to information exchange.  A number of proposalswere made for the consideration of the Committee.
5. At its fifteenth meeting, an Information Sessi on with bodies involved with the preparation of
international standards was organized.  Ten organizations were invited to provide information with
respect to their activities and practices.
6. Representatives of the ACP, ALADI, EFTA, FAO, IEC, IMF, ISO, ITC, OECD, OIE, OIML,
UNCTAD, UN/ECE, WHO, WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission and the World Bank
attended meetings of the Committee in an observer capacity.
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