SQCA: WTO

The TBT National Enquiry Point

How can Technical Barriers to Trade be removed?

Technical Barriers to Trade can be avoided by implementing the provisions of the TBT Agreement, particularly the following:

Technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures not to be more trade restrictive than necessary to fulfill legitimate objectives such as human and plant health or life, national security, environment etc.
Technical regulations to be based on international standards, where ever possible;
National Standards to be in line with the Code of Good Practice for Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards (TBT Annex 3);
Conformity assessment procedures to be based on guides and recommendations issued by international standardizing bodies;
Technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment requirements to be applied to domestic and foreign products in a non-discriminatory manner;
Mutual recognition of conformity assessment procedures, and recognition of equivalent technical regulations.