EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR WTO/ TBT

1. EARLY WARNINGSYSTEM FOR WTO/ TBT Chief Directorate: Technical Infrastructure Mr Amos V Mbele, MSc (Nuclear Medicine, Fort Hare), PhD UP (student)

2. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System 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.

3. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System PRESENTATION LAYOUT 1 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

4. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System 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.

5. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System 2. WHAT IT HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN SA • Target the South African exporters/ importers • Inform exporters/ importers about draft technical regulations being developed by other countries • Give exporters/ importers the opportunity to comment on draft technical regulations and conformity assessment requirements before they come into effect

6. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System 3. WHAT IS A TECHNICAL REGULATION Technical Regulation are technical requirements passed by Parliament/ Governments in the form of an Acts to determine compulsory requirements/ specification for product or services. On Technical Regulations, technical requirements compliance and conformity is mandatory with regard to public safety and the protection to environment.

7. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System 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

8. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System 5. WHAT SABS DOES WITH WTO NOTICTIONS 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.

9. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System 6. WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT It allows our exporters/ importers time to comment on any potential barriers to trade. It assist our exporters/ importers to change their assembly line in time before the TR becomes effective. South Africa must make the most of this opportunity to influence the world.

10. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System 7. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH YOUR COMMENTS Your intent to comment must be submitted to the TBT Enquiry Point (SABS) within 5 working days after receiving the Early Warning notifications. Your comments must be submitted to the TBT Enquiry Point 3 weeks prior to the closing date of the notifications. The Enquiry Point (SABS) will collate the comments and send it to the dti(ITED - Market Access).

11. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System 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.

12. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System 9. CONCERN AND PLEA Volume of incoming comments are a concern.

13. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System VOTE OF THANKSDISCUSSIONS CONTACTS: AMbele@thedti.gov.za 012 394 1498 T 012 394 2498 F 084 389 5277 C Ronel Greyvenstein| WTO/TBT ENQUIRY OFFICERECONOMIC impact & IPT: +27 12 428 6561 | F: +27 12 428 6928 | wto@sabs.co.za or ronel.greyvenstein@sabs.co.za

14. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM - Notification Alert System ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. SABS RonelGreyvenstein’ Presentation on WTO/ TBT. 2. the dtifor 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.