Geneva, 20 June 2001

The growing liberalization of international trade and globalization of business operations make increasingly apparent the problem of technical obstacles to trade. As business operators claim, differences in standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures constitute one of the major obstacles to trade.

These and related issues have always been the centre of focus of the UNECE Working Party on Technical Harmonization and Standardization Policies (Working Party 6), which for over 30 years has been providing a unique forum for clarifying regulatory policies and promoting means to overcome trade barriers. In this Working Party, Governments, international, regional and national organizations and the private sector participate in the discussions on an equal footing.

Among recent initiatives launched by the Working Party is a proposal that the UNECE member States which participate in the elaboration of standards and recommendations in UNECE subsidiary bodies (groups of experts), and vote for them, should take on the obligation of informing the secretariat about the implementation and use of these standards and recommendations in their countries.

Such a measure will increase transparency and allow for a more efficient monitoring of UNECE agreed measures and recommendations and provide such information to business operators, thus helping to facilitate trade in the region.

Another proposal was prepared by the ad hoc team of specialists on STandardization And Regulatory Techniques ("START" Team), which was established in 1999 to explore how national (mandatory) technical regulations could make wider use of international standards and promote, where feasible, greater regulatory convergence. The "START" Team prepared the project, "International Model for Technical Harmonization", which comprises a set of voluntary mechanisms and principles for good regulatory practices which might be used by countries wishing to align their regulatory regimes in specific sectors or product areas.

The basic principle of this "International Model" is that the technical content of regulations should be drafted in terms of broad objectives (addressing safety, environmental and other legitimate concerns of Governments) and refer to international standards for more detailed performance-based technical requirements. This will allow companies that are manufacturing regulated products according to relevant international standards to obtain conformity to technical regulations and thus contribute to establishing a level playing field for the benefit of all market players (industry, trade, consumers, etc.).

The Working Party suggested that other UNECE subsidiary bodies (groups of experts working under the auspices of the UNECE engaged in standardization-related activities) explore the possibility of using the principles suggested in the "International Model" in their areas of competence. This will permit the identification of potential pilot projects and the subsequent exploration of possibilities for the practical implementation of the proposed voluntary mechanisms in areas of responsibilities under the auspices of the UNECE.

Both proposals were presented to and endorsed by the UNECE Committee for Trade, Industry and Enterprise Development at its sixth session (Geneva, 13-15 June 2001). It was noted during discussions that the implementation of these proposals should contribute to the creation of standard-receptive regulatory environment and thereby contributing to facilitation of trade and increased consumer welfare in the UNECE region.

On this occasion, Mr. Christer Arvius, Chairman of the Working Party, said, "these are small steps, but in the right direction, showing the commitment of Governments to facilitating international trade through the promotion of international regulatory cooperation".

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Serguei Kouzmine
Secretary to Working Party 6
Trade Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Palais des Nations, office 433-1
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Tel: (41 22) 917 27 71
Fax: (41 22) 917 04 79/917 00 37

E-mail: [email protected]