WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.00/163
29 March 2000
(00-1290)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   UNITED STATES
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Department of Energy (9)
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:           
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   Fluorescent Lamp
Ballasts (HS Chapter 8539)
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Energy Conservation
Program for Consumer Products:  Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts Energy Conservation Standards
(34 pages, English)
6. Description of content:   The Department  conducted several analyses regarding the energy
savings, benefits and burdens of amended en ergy conservation standards for florescent lamp
ballasts and has shared the results of these analyses with all stakeholders.  Based on these
analyses, several of the major stakeholders , including manufacturers and energy efficiency
advocates, submitted to the Department a joint proposal for the highest standard level which
they believe to be technically feasible and economically justified.  The Department proposes
to amend the energy conservation standard for fluorescent lamp ballasts for commercial and
industrial applications as recommended in the joint proposal and announce a public hearing.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
To achieve improvement in energy efficiency.
8. Relevant documents:   65 FR 14128, 15 March 2000; 10 CFR Pa rt 430.   Will appear in the
Federal Register when adopted.
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined.
Proposed date of entry into force:
10. Final date for comments:   29 May 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:   The text is also available on the Internet at:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html