./.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/W/147
3 October 2000
(00-4041)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
ISSUES CONCERNING CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
Communication from Japan
I. BACKGROUND
1. “Guides and recommendations (hereinafter referred to as “GRs”) issued by international
standardizing bodies (hereinafter referred to as “ISBs”)” have a very important role (i.e. a basis for
conformity assessment procedures) in the TBT Agreement.  However, the definition of “GRs issuedby ISBs” is not clear.  Some international or regional systems for conformity assessment, for example,
develop reference documents (hereinafter referred to as “RDs”) for their own use, and some of these
RDs have normative nature to some degree.  Due to a lack of clear definition of GRs, central
government bodies might be confused whether they should use such RDs.
2. Japan believes that there should be a clear understanding among Members regarding the
characteristics of “GRs issued by ISBs” in order to ensure Members’ proper implementation of the
conformity assessment under the TBT Agreement.  We believe that “GRs” should exclusively be
developed by ISBs in the same process as “international standards” by ISBs, i.e. transparent, open and
impartial processes.
3. In addition, Japan would like to reiterate, as it has repeatedly emphasized in the past, the
importance of having a decision by the TBT Committee regarding the RD-developing process by
international or regional systems for conformity assessment.  Some conformity assessment bodies in
Members’ territory might wish to use RDs developed by international or regional systems for
conformity assessment as references for implementation.  Especially, when such conformity
assessment bodies assess conformance of products to technical regulations, RDs developed by
international or regional systems might have effects on the results of the conformity assessment.
Therefore, we believe there should be a consensus among Members that RD-developing process byinternational or regional systems should be transparent, open and impartial.  We believe this
consensus is in line with the principl e of Article 9 of the TBT Agreement.
II. THE PROPOSED DRAFT DECISION ON THE CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
ISSUES
4. The Committee noted the importance of the clarification of “guides and recommendations
issued by international standardizing bodies” referred to in Paragraph 4 of Article 5 of the
TBT Agreement.  Concerns had been expressed on the possibility of confusion as to the status of
documents developed by international or regional systems for conformity assessment in the context of
the TBT Agreement.  Also, in terms of ensuring proper implementation of Article 9 of the
TBT Agreement, the Committee emphasized the importance of establishing and maintainingappropriate document-developing processes in international or regional systems for conformity
assessment.  Therefore, the Committee agreed on the following:G/TBT/W/147
Page 2
- “Guides and recommendations” referred to in the TBT Agreement shall
exclusively be developed by international standardizing bodies through
transparent, open and impartial processes.
- Members shall take reasonable and available measures to ensure that
international and regional systems for conformity assessment in whichrelevant bodies within their territories are members or participants develop
their documents through transparent, open and impartial processes.
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