 
. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  S/C/N/298 
27 February 2004 
 
 (04-0860) 
Council for Trade in Services Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE VII:4 OF THE 
GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN SERVICES  
 
 
 The following notification, dated 23 February  2004, from the delegation of Japan is being 
circulated to the Members of th e Council for Trade in Services. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
 
1. Member notifying: 
 Japan 
 
2. Notification under: 
 Article VII, paragraph 4 of the Ge neral Agreement on Trade in Services
1 
 
3. Date of entry into force: 
 1 October 2003 
 
 Duration: 
  Indefinite 
 
4. Agency responsible for implementation  and enforcement of the measure: 
 Ministry of Education, Cultur e, sports, Science and Technology 
 5. Description of the measures: 
 
 The MRA, entitled “A Bilateral Framework to facilitate mobility for Mutual Recognition of 
 Registered/Licensed Engineer s”, was initiated under Japan’s Trade and Economic Framework 
 with Australia and signed on 1 October 2003 by four signatories: The Institution of 
 Professional Engineers, Japan (IPEJ), Japan’s Mi nistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science 
 and Technology (MEXT), the Institution of Engi neers, Australia (Engineers Australia), and 
 the National Engineering Registration Board in  Australia. The MRA is intended to permit the 
 registration/licensing in each country of regi stered/licensed engineers who are also APEC 
 Engineers from the other country. The MRA sets out standards, criteria, procedures and 
 measures which: 
                                                     
 
1 This notification is done without prejudice to the rights and obligations of Japan under the same and 
other articles of the GATS. S/C/N/298 
Page 2  
 
  
(a) are based on objective and transparent criteria, such as competence and the ability to 
provide a service; 
(b) are not more burdensome than necessary to ensure the quality of a service; and  
(c) do not constitute a disguised restriction on the cross border provision of a service. 
6. Members specifically affected: 
 None 
 
7. Texts available from: 
 Office of Director-General for International Affairs, 
 Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 
 Tel: +(81 3) 5253 4111  extension 2602  Fax: +(81 3) 6734 3679  
__________ 
 