ORGANISATION MONDIALE ORGANIZACI ÓNMUNDIAL
DUCOMMERCE DEL COMERCIO
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Centre William Rappard Téléphone: (4122)7395111
RuedeLausanne 154 Ligne directe: (4122)7395482
Case postale Téléfax: (4122)7395620
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Télégramme: OMC/WTO, GENÈVE
Référence: 23February 1996
COMMITTEE ONTRADE AND ENVIRONMENT
Communication from theUnited Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO)
Inorder toprovide abetter basis toconsider therequest forobserver status in
theCommittee onTrade andEnvironment bytheUnited Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO), theCommittee decided atitsmeeting on14December 1995 to
askUNIDO foradditional information onitsspecific interest intheCommittee 'swork
andonthecontribution UNIDO could make inthatcontext.
Inaletter dated 25January 1996 inresponse tothisrequest, UNIDO expressed
thatitsinterest infollowing theCommittee 'swork stems from:
"- theimplications oftrade measures used forenvironmental purposes -including
those pursuant tomultilateral environmental agreements -onindustrial policies
andstrategies ofdeveloping countries, especially LDCs, aswellasonthe
competitiveness andperformance ofspecific industrial subsectors andtheir
enterprises;
- therelationship between theprovisions ofthemultilateral trading system and
requirements forenvironmental purposes relating toproducts; and
- theeffect ofenvironmental measures onmarket access (ISO14000 and
eco-labelling)."
UNIDO believes itcould contribute totheCommittee 'swork "byproviding
information andadvice onenvironmental-related aspects ofmanufacturing, including
cleaner production, waste minimization andconservation ofnatural resources and
energy, especially intheapplication ofinternational environmental conventions to
appropriate industrial policies andstrategies atthenational level."
UNIDO requested theattached resolution GC.6/Res.6 from thesixth session of
itsGeneral Conference, heldinVienna from 4-8December 1995, onEnvironmentally
Sustainable Industrial Development bebrought formally totheCommittee 'sattention.
Herein UNIDO Member States emphasized theimportance ofcloser interaction and
cooperation between UNIDO andWTO intheareaofeco-labelling.
UNIDO hassubmitted its1994 Annual Report; theUNIDO Services Handbook;
andtheTask Manager 'sReport onChapter 16ofAgenda 21:Environmentally Sound
Management ofBiotechnology, which provide adescription ofitsrelevant programmes
andservices. These documents andtheoriginal letter canbeconsulted inoffice 3025,
Centre William Rappard.
./.
96-0688 WT/CTE/COM/2ORGANISATION MONDIALE DUCOMMERCE ORGANIZACI ÓNMUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Page 2
GC.6/Res.6
ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
TheGeneral Conference ,
Recalling itsresolution GC.5/Res.6 andtaking noteofthereport oftheDirector-
General ascontained indocument GC.6/28, particularly Chapter IVrelating toindustrial
andinternational environmental norms andstandards,
Being aware thatduetofinancial andtechnical limitations indeveloping
countries, theapplication ofvarious eco-labelling schemes inseveral countries within
international markets maypose non-tariff barriers ormarketing barriers toenterprises in
developing countries,
Bearing inmind thevarious positive effects ofeco-labelling such asenlightening
andeducational effects forenvironmental programmes ofconsumers, promotional
effects forenvironmentally sustainable products, providing producers withincentives
andenvironmental considerations aswellasencouraging sustainable management of
resources, while atthesame timetaking intoaccount thecost-benefit analysis,
1. Endorses Board decision IDB.13/Dec.7;
2. Further endorses thepriorities setoutindocument GC.6/28 andencourages
Member States, inparticular thedonor countries, toincrease funding ofthepriority
programmes andprojects identified inthesame document;
3. Requests theDirector-General todevelop asuitable technical cooperation
programme forthe1996-1997 biennium aiming toprovide technical support to
technical service institutions andstandards bodies indeveloping countries sothatthey
could effectively apply relevant ISOstandards, including ISO9000 andISO14000
series ofstandards;
4. Takes noteoftheserious concerns ofdeveloping countries thattheintroduction
ofenvironmental labelling intheinternational trade regime could have anegative impact
oneconomic growth andindustrial development andcould shiftanadditional economic
burden ondeveloping countries thatwould bedetrimental totheircompetitiveness and
comparative advantage intrade;
5. Requests theDirector-General, subject tofuture international agreement oneco-
labelling requirements, andinclose cooperation withthecompetent international
bodies, inparticular theWorld Trade Organization, toprovide assistance todeveloping
countries toenable them tosupport thenecessary adjustment ofnational industrial
production andrelated services totheinternationally agreed requirements;
6. Further requests theDirector-General toreport ontheimplementation ofthe
present resolution totheGeneral Conference atitsseventh session through the
Industrial Development Board.
9thplenary meeting
8December 1995