RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/4
27April 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-1074)
Council forTrade-Related Aspects ofIntellectual Property Rights
ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING NOTIFICATION OFLAWS AND REGULATIONS UNDER
AGREEMENTS ANNEXED TOTHE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Note bytheSecretariat
1. Atitsmeeting of9March 1995, theCouncil forTRIPS discussed thequestion ofthepractical
arrangements tobemade togiveeffect totherequirement inArticle 63.2oftheTRIPS Agreement
regarding thenotification oflawsandregulations referred toinArticle 63.1. Inorder tofacilitate
further deliberations onthismatter, theCouncil requested theSecretariat toprepare afactual background
noteontheimplementation ofrequirements regarding thenotification oflawsandregulations contained
inother Agreements thatarepartoftheAgreement Establishing theWorld Trade Organization.
2. Inresponse tothisrequest, thisNoteidentifies those provisions which require thenotification
oflawsandregulations and,where applicable, describes thearrangements made bytheWTO Body
inquestion regarding thesubmission, distribution andtranslation ofsuchnotifications. With regard
toAgreements under which nosuchdecisions haveyetbeentaken, theNote, where applicable, identifies
arrangements previously made inthecontext ofthecorresponding Tokyo Round Agreements.
3. Provisions which require thenotification oflawsandregulations appear intheAgreement on
Implementation ofArticle VIoftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994, theAgreement
onImplementation ofArticle VIIoftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994, theAgreement
onPreshipment Inspection, theAgreement onImport Licensing Procedures, theAgreement onSubsidies
andCountervailing Measures, theAgreement onSafeguards andtheAgreement onGovernment
Procurement. ThisNote firstliststheAgreements under which specific decisions havebeentaken
bytherelevant Committee onarrangements fortheimplementation ofthenotification requirement
(Sections I-III).
I. AGREEMENT ONIMPLEMENTATION OFARTICLE VIOFTHE GENERAL
AGREEMENT ONTARIFFS AND TRADE 1994
(a) Relevant provisions
4. Articles 18.4and18.5oftheAgreement onImplementation ofArticle VIoftheGeneral
Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994 provide:
"Each Member shalltakeallnecessary steps, ofageneral orparticular character, toensure,
notlaterthanthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement forit,theconformity ofits
laws, regulations andadministrative procedures withtheprovisions ofthisAgreement asthey
mayapply fortheMember inquestion.
"Each Member shallinform theCommittee ofanychanges initslawsandregulations relevant
tothisAgreement andintheadministration ofsuchlawsandregulations."IP/C/W/4
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(b) Arrangements forimplementing thenotification requirement
5. IntheInformal Contact Group onAnti-Dumping, Subsidies andSafeguards, itwasagreed that
thefirstnotification byaWTO Member oflawsandregulations pursuant toArticle 18.5ofthe
Agreement would cover "thefulltextofrelevant lawsandregulations".1
6. Document G/ADP/N/1 of30January 1995 invites Members tomake notifications under
Article 18.5:
"1. Under Article 18.5oftheAgreement onImplementation ofArticle VIoftheGeneral
Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994, Members shallinform theCommittee ofany
changesintheirlawsandregulationsrelevanttotheAgreementandintheadministration
ofsuchlawsandregulations.
"2. ThePreparatory Committee fortheWorld Trade Organization approved (PC/R,
paragraph 45)theagreement reached bytheInformal Contact Group onAnti-Dumping,
Subsidies andSafeguards thatthefirstnotification byaWTO Member ofanti-dumping
legislation would cover thefulltextofrelevant lawsandregulations (PC/IPL/11,
Annex 6.)
"3. Members aretherefore invited tosubmit, inaworking language oftheWTO, thefull
textoflawsandregulations relevant toanti-dumping. Members which havenosuch
lawsorregulations areinvited tonotify theCommittee accordingly.
"4. Thelawsandregulations received inresponse totheabove request willbecirculated
asaddenda tothisdocument."
7. Atitsfirstmeeting, heldon21February 1995, theCommittee onAnti-Dumping Practices
tookthefollowing decisions withrespect totheimplementation ofthenotification requirement in
Article 18.5:
"The Committee decided initsspecial meeting of21February 1995 thatallMembers which
haveavailable legislation and/or regulations regarding anti-dumping dutyinvestigations or
reviews covered bytheAgreement shall notify thefullandintegrated textoftherelevant
legislation and/or regulations totheCommittee by15March 1995.Ifsuchlegislation and/or
regulations donotexistorarenotyetavailable, theMember willinform theCommittee of
thisfact,andwillexplain thereasons therefor. Asfurther agreed bytheCommittee, these
notifications willbetreated asunrestricted documents."
"The Committee alsoadopted thefollowing decision regarding observer governments:
"Anobserver government shall provide theCommittee withanyinformation theobserver
government considers relevant tomatters within thepurview oftheAgreement, including the
textofitslawsandregulations regarding anti-dumping duties, andinformation regarding any
anti-dumping measures taken bytheobserver government. Attherequest ofanyparty orthe
observer government itself, anymatter contained insuchinformation could bebrought tothe
attention oftheCommittee aftergovernments havebeenallowed sufficient timetoexamine
theinformation.
1PC/IPL/11, Annex 6IP/C/W/4
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"Laws andregulations submitted byobserver governments inresponse tothisinvitation will
becirculated asaddenda toG/ADP/N/1."2
II. AGREEMENT ONSUBSIDIES AND COUNTERVAILING MEASURES
(a) Relevant provisions
8. Articles 32.5and32.6oftheAgreement onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures provide:
"Each Member shalltakeallnecessary steps, ofageneral orparticular character, toensure,
notlaterthanthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement forit,theconformity ofits
laws, regulations andadministrative procedures withtheprovisions ofthisAgreement asthey
mayapply totheMember inquestion.
"Each Member shallinform theCommittee ofanychanges initslawsandregulations relevant
tothisAgreement andintheadministration ofsuchlawsandregulations."
(b) Arrangements forimplementing thenotification requirement
9. TheInformal Contact Group onAnti-Dumping, Subsidies andSafeguards agreed thatthefirst
notification byaWTO Member oflawsandregulations pursuant toArticle 32.6oftheAgreement
would cover "thefulltextofrelevant lawsandregulations".3
10. Document G/SCM/N/1 of30January 1995 invites Members tomake notifications under
Article 32.6:
"1. Under Article 32.6oftheAgreement onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures,
Members shallinform theCommittee ofanychanges intheirlawsandregulations
relevant totheAgreement andintheadministration ofsuchlawsandregulations.
"2. ThePreparatory Committee fortheWorld Trade Organization approved (PC/R,
paragraph 45)theagreement reached bytheInformal Contact Group onAnti-Dumping,
Subsidies andSafeguards thatthefirstnotification byaWTO Member ofcountervailing
dutylegislation would cover thefulltextofrelevant lawsandregulations (PC/IPL/11,
Annex 6).
"3. Members aretherefore invited tosubmit, inaworking language oftheWTO, thefull
textoflawsandregulations relevant tocountervailing duties. Members which have
nosuchlawsorregulations areinvited tonotify theCommittee accordingly.
"4. Thelawsandregulations received inresponse totheabove request willbecirculated
asaddenda tothisdocument."
11. Atitsfirstmeeting, heldon22February 1995, theCommittee onSubsidies andCountervailing
Measures tookthefollowing decisions withrespect totheimplementation ofthenotification requirement
inArticle 32.6:
2G/ADP/N/1/Suppl.1
3PC/IPL/11, Annex 6.IP/C/W/4
Page4
"The Committee decided initsspecial meeting of22February 1995 thatallMembers which
have neworexisting legislation and/or regulations which apply inwhole orinpartto
countervailing dutyinvestigations orreviews covered bytheAgreement shallnotify thefull
andintegrated textofthatlegislation and/or regulations totheCommittee by15March 1995.
Ifsuchlegislation and/or regulations donotexistorarenotyetavailable, theMember will
inform theCommittee ofthisfact,willexplain thereasons therefor, andwillprovide an
indicative datebywhich timeanotification isexpected. Asfurther agreed bytheCommittee,
these notifications willbetreated asunrestricted documents."
"The Committee alsoadopted thefollowing decision regarding observer governments:
"Anobserver government shall provide theCommittee withanyinformation theobserver
government considers relevant tomatters within thepurview oftheAgreement, including the
textofitslawsandregulations regarding countervailing duties, andinformation regarding any
countervailing measures taken bytheobserver government. Attherequest ofanyMember
ortheobserver government itself, anymatter contained insuchinformation maybebrought
totheattentionoftheCommitteeaftergovernmentshavebeenallowedsufficienttimetoexamine
theinformation.
"Laws andregulations submitted byobserver governments inresponse tothisinvitation will
becirculated asaddenda toG/SCM/N/1."4
III. AGREEMENT ONSAFEGUARDS
(a) Relevant provisions
12. Article 12.6oftheAgreement onSafeguards provides:
"Members shallnotify promptly theCommittee onSafeguards oftheirlaws, regulations and
administrative procedures relating tosafeguard measures aswellasanymodifications made
tothem."
(b) Arrangements forimplementing thenotification requirement
13. Document G/SG/N/1, 2February 1995, andentitled "Notification oflaws, regulations and
administrative procedures relating tosafeguard measures", contains aninvitation toMembers tosubmit
notifications pursuant toArticle 12.6oftheAgreement onSafeguards, aswellasasuggested format
forsuchnotifications:
"1. Under Article 12.6oftheAgreement onSafeguards, Members shallnotify promptly
theCommittee onSafeguards oftheirlaws, regulations andadministrative procedures
relating tosafeguard measures aswellasanymodifications made tothem.
"2. Members aretherefore invited tosubmit, inaworking language oftheWTO, their
laws, regulations andadministrative procedures relating tosafeguard measures.
Members which havenosuchlawsorregulations areinvited tonotify theCommittee
accordingly.
4G/SCM/N/1/Suppl.1IP/C/W/4
Page5
"3. Thelawsandregulations received inresponse totheabove request willbecirculated
inaddenda tothisdocument.
"4. Aformat issuggested below forthesenotifications under Article 12.6oftheAgreement
onSafeguards inorder toassist Members tofocus onthetypeofinformation tobe
submitted inthenotifications andtoobtain similar responses fromdifferent Members.
"Suggested format fornotifications under Article 12.6oftheAgreement onSafeguards
"Prompt notification totheCommittee onsafeguards oflaws, regulations andadministrative
procedures relating tosafeguard measures aswellasanymodifications made tothem
"Note: Theformat issuggested without prejudice totheinterpretation oftherelevant provisions
intheAgreement onSafeguards bythecompetent bodies. Members arealsoreminded
oftheprovision inArticle 12.11 oftheAgreement onSafeguards, which reads as
follows: "The provisions onnotification inthisAgreement shall notrequire any
Member todisclose confidential information thedisclosure ofwhich would impede
lawenforcement orotherwise becontrary tothepublic interest orwould prejudice
thelegitimate commercial interests ofparticular enterprises, public orprivate."
"1. Inthefirstnotification under Article 12.6, please provide thefulltextsofthelaws
andregulations relating tosafeguard measures, andnotify theadministrative procedures
relating tosafeguard measures.
"2. Specify theauthorities competent toinitiate andconduct investigations.
"3. Provide thetextofanymodifications made tothelawsandregulations relating to
safeguard measures, andnotify anymodifications toadministrative procedures relating
tosafeguard measures."
14. Document G/SG/N/1/Suppl.1 records several decisions regarding theimplementation ofthe
notification requirement inArticle 12.6which weretaken bytheCommittee onSafeguards atitsfirst
meeting, heldon24February 1995:
"The Committee decided initsspecial meeting of24February 1995 thatallMembers which
haveavailable relevant legislation and/or regulations which apply tosafeguard measures covered
bytheAgreement shallnotify thefullandintegrated textofthatlegislation and/or regulations
totheCommittee by15March 1995.Ifsuchlegislation and/or regulations donotexistor
arenotyetavailable, theMember willinform theCommittee ofthisfact,willexplain thereasons
therefor, andwillprovide anindicative datebywhich timeanotification isexpected. Asfurther
agreed bytheCommittee, these notifications willbetreated asunrestricted documents."
"The Committee alsoadopted thefollowing decision regarding observer governments:
"Anobserver government shallprovide theCommittee withanyinformation theobserver
government considers relevant tomatters within thepurview oftheAgreement, including the
textofitslawsandregulations regarding safeguard measures, andinformation regarding any
safeguard measures taken bytheobserver government. Attherequest ofanyMember orthe
observer government, anymatter contained insuchinformation could bebrought totheattentionIP/C/W/4
Page6
oftheCommittee after governments have been allowed sufficient time toexamine the
information.
"Laws andregulations submitted byobserver governments inresponse tothisinvitation will
becirculated asaddenda toG/SG/N/1."
IV. AGREEMENT ONIMPLEMENTATION OFARTICLE VIIOFTHE GENERAL
AGREEMENT ONTARIFFS AND TRADE 1994
(a) Relevant provisions
15. Article 22oftheAgreement onImplementation ofArticle VIIoftheGeneral Agreement on
Tariffs andTrade 1994 provides:
"1. Each Member shallensure, notlaterthanthedateofapplication oftheprovisions of
thisAgreement forit,theconformity ofitslaws, regulations andadministrative
procedures withtheprovisions ofthisAgreement.
"2. Each Member shallinform theCommittee ofanychanges initslawsandregulations
relevant tothisAgreement andintheadministration ofsuchlawsandregulations."
(b) Arrangements made fortheimplementation ofthenotification requirement
16. TheCommittee onCustoms Valuation hasnotyetdecided thepractical arrangements forthe
implementation ofthenotification requirement inArticle 22oftheAgreement. InFebruary 1981,
theCommittee onCustoms Valuation established under theTokyo Round Agreement onImplementation
ofArticle VIIoftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade tookthefollowing decision5withrespect
totheidentical notification requirement contained inArticle 25ofthatAgreement:
"(i) Parties willsubmit thecomplete textsoftheirnational legislation (laws, regulations,
etc.)oncustoms valuation inoneofthethree official GATT languages assoonas
possible tothesecretariat which willcirculate them asCommittee documents tothe
other Parties inthelanguage submitted. Ifageneral interest isexpressed inthe
Committee thatthetextofaparticular Party beavailable alsoinother official GATT
languages, thistextwillbetranslated andcirculated asaCommittee document. In
those cases where thenational legislation isnotinanofficial GATT language, the
original textsshallalsobesubmitted tothesecretariat where theywillbeopen for
inspection.
"(ii) Itisunderstood thatthetextsofthenational legislation ofdeveloping countries availing
themselves oftheprovisions ofArticle 21,paragraphs 1and2oftheAgreement will
besupplied totheCommittee before thedeveloping countries begin theapplication
oftheprovisions oftheAgreement andtheProtocol."6
5VAL/M/1, paragraph 37
6TheCommittee alsodecided toestablish achecklist ofissues related tonational legislation asabasis fortheexamination
ofnational legislation ofParties (VAL/M/1, paragraph 44).IP/C/W/4
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V. AGREEMENT ONPRESHIPMENT INSPECTION
(a) Relevant provisions
17. Article 5oftheAgreement onPreshipment Inspection provides:
"Members shallsubmit totheSecretariat copies ofthelawsandregulations bywhich
theyputthisAgreement intoforce, aswellascopies ofanyother lawsandregulations
relating topreshipment inspection, when theWTO Agreement enters intoforce with
respect totheMember concerned. Nochanges inthelawsandregulations relating
topreshipment inspection shallbeenforced before suchchanges havebeenofficially
published. Theyshallbenotified totheSecretariat immediately aftertheirpublication.
TheSecretariat shallinform theMembers oftheavailability ofthisinformation."
(b) Arrangements forimplementing thenotification requirement
18. WTO/AIR/17 (13February 1995) contains areminder ofthenotifications required under
Article 6inrespect of:
"laws andregulations bywhich theMembers puttheAgreement intoforce, aswellascopies
ofanyotherlawsandregulations relating topreshipment inspection, when theWTO Agreement
enters intoforce withrespect totheMember concerned; anychanges inlawsandregulations
relating topreshipment inspection immediately aftertheirpublication."
VI. AGREEMENT ONIMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
(a) Relevant provisions
19. Article 8.2oftheAgreement onImport Licensing Procedures provides:
"(a) Each Member shallensure, notlaterthanthedateofentry intoforce oftheWTO
Agreement forit,theconformity ofitslaws, regulations andadministrative procedures
withtheprovisions ofthisAgreement.
"(b) Each Member shallinform theCommittee ofanychanges initslawsandregulations
relevant tothisAgreement andintheadministration ofsuchlawsandregulations."
(b) Arrangements forimplementing thenotification requirement
20. WTO/AIR/16,dated13February1995,containsareminderofvariousnotificationrequirements
under theAgreement onImport Licensing Procedures, including therequirement ofArticle 8.2(b) to
notify changes inlawsandregulations relevant totheAgreement andintheadministration thereof.
21. TheCommittee onImport Licensing hasnotyetmade further arrangements forthe
implementation ofthenotification requirement ofArticle 8.2(b).Inrespect ofanidentical notification
requirement inArticle 5.4oftheTokyo Round Agreement onImport Licensing Procedures, anote
bytheSecretariat dated 31March 1980 (LIC/W/1) notes thefollowing:
"Thewording ofthisArticle issimilar tothatofother MTN Agreements (e.g.theAgreement
onArticle VI,Article 16:6; theAgreement onInterpretation andApplication ofArticles VI,
XVIandXXIII, Article 19:5) andwastaken overfrom Article 15oftheoldGATT Anti-IP/C/W/4
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Dumping Code. TheCommittee onAnti-Dumping Practices agreed inthelightofexperience
thatallParties totheCode should make theirlegaltextsavailable infullforcirculation and
asimilar approach isbeing adopted forother MTN Agreements.
"Parties aretherefore invited toprovide theSecretariat withcopies oflawsandregulations
nowineffect iftheyhavenotalready donesounder existing GATT procedures. Achecklist
ofnotificationscirculatedundertheseprovisionsisannexed.Itisrequestedthatsuchinformation
besupplied inoneoftheofficial languages oftheAgreement. TheSecretariat willtranslate
itintotheother official languages andcirculate ittothemembers oftheCommittee assoon
aspossible asaddenda toLIC/1."
VII. AGREEMENT ONGOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT7
(a) Relevant provisions
22. Article XXIV:5 oftheAgreement onGovernment Procurement provides:
"(a) Eachgovernment accepting oracceding tothisAgreement shallensure, notlaterthan
thedateofentry intoforce ofthisAgreement forit,theconformity ofitslaws,
regulations andadministrative procedures, andtherules, procedures andpractices
applied bytheentities contained initslistsannexed hereto, withtheprovisions ofthis
Agreement.
"(b) Each party shall inform theCommittee ofanychanges initslawsandregulations
relevant tothisAgreement andintheadministration ofsuchlawsandregulations."
(b) Arrangements made forimplementing thenotification requirement
23. Inrespect ofArticle IX:4(b) oftheTokyo Round Agreement onGovernment Procurement,
which provision isidentical toArticle XXIV:5(b) ofthenewAgreement onGovernment Procurement,
thefollowing decision wastaken inMarch 1981 bytheCommittee onGovernment Procurement:
"Parties willsubmit thecomplete textsoftheirnational laws, regulations andprocedures on
government procurement assoonaspossible totheSecretariat where thetextswillbeopen
forinspection. Inaddition, thebasicdocuments relating totheimplementation oftheAgreement
shallbesubmitted forinformation inaGATT language andwillbecirculated totheCommittee.
Initially, eachParty willdescribe themainelements ofitslegislation inanotetobeprepared
onthebasis ofachecklist ofissues established bytheSecretariat which willbecirculated to
theCommittee."8
7ThisAgreement, oneofthePlurilateral Trade Agreements inAnnex 4totheAgreement Establishing theWorld Trade
Organization, willenter intoforce on1January 1996.
8GPR/M/1, paragraph 16