Technical
assistance activities related to the Agreement on TBT have focused
mainly on implementation issues and the domestic legal and institutional
requirements. Given that participation in the preceding Tokyo Round
Agreement had been limited to 46 contracting parties, particular attention
was given to difficulties and adjustment problems facing new Members.
Technical
cooperation under the Agreement will be intensified and refocussed
in light of the results of the TBT Triennial Review in late 1997.
The following main themes have been proposed for the Review:
-
promoting increased use of international standards;
-
facilitating acceptance of foreign technical regulations as equivalent,
and
-
encouraging mutual recognition of conformity assessment procedures.
The
Secretariat will assist developing countries in participating in the
preparation of international standards and in introducing them.
