early warning system for wto/ tbt chief directorate: technical infrastructure mr amos v mbele, msc...

EARLY WARNINGEARLY WARNINGSYSTEM FOR WTO/ TBTSYSTEM FOR WTO/ TBT

Chief Directorate: Technical InfrastructureMr Amos V Mbele, MSc (Nuclear Medicine, Fort Hare), PhD UP (student)

Abstract/ Key Words

Key words:

•Comments directly forwarded to WTO are only for noting no action may be taken,•Comments need to be forwarded to SABS Secretariat, to be sent to the dti,•Country Position can only be formulated from comments through the dti (interacting with affected Sectors) to WTO,•As a Country (Nation), may we kindly try to address the issue of they (government) and us (industry) but collectively act as a unity, (we or us) in the best interest of the country,•Asian Tigers are where they are today because they do market scan/ or surveillance and Early Warning System is the First stop/ point where to start, can’t we do likewise.•Asian Tigers through market scan, better understand our economic policies far better mostly than us to gain an added advantage when it comes to Trade, can't we do likewise.

EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert SystemEARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System

PRESENTATION LAYOUT1 Where an Early Warning System comes from

2 What it hope to achieve in SA

3 What is a Technical Regulation

4 WTO requirements on TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

5 What SABS does with WTO Notifications

6 Why is it so Important

7 What will happen with your comments

8 What will happen with your comments - Cont…

9 Concern and Plea

10 Vote of Thanks and Discussion


1. WHERE AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM COMES FROM

It is the way World Trade Organization (WTO)/ Technical

Barriers to Trade (TBT) Notification Alert System ensures

transparency on all new developed Technical

Regulations to member state countries.


a. Target the South African exporters/ importers

b. Inform exporters/ importers about draft technical regulations being developed by other countries

c. Give exporters/ importers the opportunity to comment on draft technical regulations and conformity assessment requirements before they come into effect

2. WHAT IT HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN SA



3. WHAT IS A TECHNICAL REGULATION

a.Technical Regulation are technical requirements passed by Parliament/ Governments in the form of an Acts to determine compulsory requirements/ specification for product or services.

b.On Technical Regulations, technical requirements compliance and conformity is mandatory with regard to public safety and the protection to environment.

a. The WTO/TBT Agreement requires countries to publish and notify the WTO of all draft technical regulations 60 days in advance of adoption to allow for comments and their considerations.

b. At least 6 months should be allowed for trading partners to become acquainted with new regulations before they become affective.


4 WHAT IS A TECHNICAL REGULATION – Cont…4. WTO REQUIMENTS ON TECHNICAL REGULATION

a. A weekly alert e-mail is always sent out by SABS to most stakeholders with a list of notifications submitted to the WTO.

b. On request to SABS a filter system can be implemented using the ICS (International Classification for Standards) to customise the list of notifications received to meet the needs of various sectors and industries.


5. WHAT SABS DOES WITH WTO NOTICTIONS

a. It allows our exporters/ importers time to comment on any potential barriers to trade.

b. It assist our exporters/ importers to change their assembly line in time before the TR becomes effective.

c. South Africa must make the most of this opportunity to influence the world.


6. WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT

7. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH YOUR COMMENTS

a. Your intent to comment must be submitted to the TBT Enquiry Point (SABS) within 5 working days after receiving the Early Warning notifications.

b. Your comments must be submitted to the TBT Enquiry Point 3 weeks prior to the closing date of the notifications.

c. The Enquiry Point (SABS) will collate the comments and send it to the dti (ITED - Market Access).


8. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH YOUR COMMENTS – Cont…

d. If it is in the national interest, the dti will submit comments as a Country Position to the notifying country.

e. This may result in bilateral talks.

f. If the bilateral talks do not resolve the problem, it may be registered as a specific trade concern in the WTO TBT Committee meetings.

g. If the matter cannot be resolved, the WTO dispute settlement mechanism may be engaged.


9. CONCERN AND PLEA


Volume of incoming comments are a concern.

VOTE OF THANKS

DISCUSSIONS


CONTACTS: [email protected] 394 1498 T012 394 2498 F084 389 5277 C

Ronel Greyvenstein| WTO/TBT ENQUIRY OFFICERECONOMIC impact & IPT: +27 12 428 6561 | F: +27 12 428 6928 | [email protected] or [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

tel:+27124286561

tel:+27124286928



ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1. SABS Ronel Greyvenstein’ Presentation on WTO/ TBT.

2. the dti for affording me an opportunity to work on this project.

3. Technical Infrastructure Unit and IDPD for identifying the need.

4. Colleagues within Technical Infrastructure for their support.

5. CHIETA for the invitation for the Presentation.


early warning system for wto/ tbt chief directorate: technical infrastructure mr amos v mbele, msc...

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