WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONS/L/84
18 April 2000
(00-1568)
Council for Trade in Services
PROCEDURES FOR THE CERTIFICATION OF RECTIFICATIONS OR
IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHEDULES OF SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS
Adopted by the Council for Trade in Services on 14 April 2000
1. Modifications in the authentic texts of Schedules annexed to the GATS not resulting from
action under the procedures for the implementa tion of Article XXI of the GATS (modification of
schedules) adopted by the Council for Trade in Services on 19 July 1999, which consist of new
commitments, improvements to existing ones, or rectifications or changes of a purely technical
character that do not alter the scope or the substan ce of the existing commitments, shall take effect by
means of certification.  A Member intending to modify its schedule in accordance with this paragraphshall submit to the Secretariat for circulation to all Members a draft schedule clearly indicating the
details  of the modifications.  The draft schedule containing the modifications shall enter into force
upon the conclusion of a period of 45 days from the date of its circulation by the Secretariat,  or on a
later date specified or to be specified by the modifying Member, provided no objection has been
raised by any other Member.  At the end of the 45-day period, if no objection has been raised, theSecretariat shall issue a communication to all Members to the effect that the certification procedure
has been concluded, indicating the date of entry into force of the modifications.
2. Any Member wishing to object to the certification shall submit a notification to that effect to
the Secretariat for circulation to all Members.  A Member making an objection should to the extent
possible identify the specific elements of the modifications which gave rise to that objection.  The
objecting Member(s) and the modifying Member shall enter into consultation as soon as possible andshall endeavour to reach a satisfactory solution of the matter within 45 days after the expiry of the
period in which objections may be made.  When an objection has been notified, the certification
procedure shall be deemed concluded upon the withdrawal of the objection by the objecting Member
or the expiry of the period in which objections may be made, whichever comes later.  Such a
withdrawal shall be communicated to the Secretariat.  When more than one objection has been raised,the certification procedure shall be deemed concluded upon the withdrawal of the objections by all
objecting Members or the expiry of the period in which objections may be made, whichever comes
later.  The Secretariat shall issue a communication informing all Members of the withdrawal of the
objection(s) and the conclusion of the certification procedure, indicating the date of entry into force of
the modifications.
3. If as a result of the consultations mentioned in paragraph 2 of the present decision, the draft
schedule originally submitted for certification were to be modified, the modifying Member shall
initiate again the procedure described in paragraph 1 of the present decision.
4. If any of the objections raised under paragraph 2 are not withdrawn, these procedures shall
cease to apply and the modifying Member may withdraw its proposed modifications or initiate the
procedures for the implementation of Article XXI of the GATS (modification of schedules), adopted
by the Council for Trade in Services on 19 July 1999, by submitting a notification to that effect.
5. Following the lapse of three years from the date  of entry into force of these procedures, the
Council for Trade in Services shall, at the reque st of any Member, review the operation of these
procedures.  In such a review, the Council for Tr ade in Services may agree to amend this decision.
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