Ukraine’s exports to Russia
Ukraine claimed that while Russia allows imports of certain products, including dairy, beer, juice, confectionary and wallpaper, from other WTO members, it bans these imports from Ukraine. According to Ukraine, Russia applies the ban in a non-transparent, unjustified and discriminatory manner, and is therefore not in compliance with WTO rules. Russia said the objective of this temporary suspension is to prevent “deceptive” trade practices and to protect consumer health and safety as imports of some Ukrainian producers fail to comply with Russia’s technical regulations.
Egypt’s factory registration system
Eleven WTO members (Australia, Canada, Chile, China, the European Union, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States) raised concerns about Egypt’s new requirements for compulsory registration of factories. Under this regulation, products can be imported into Egypt only if they are produced by manufacturing plants registered with Egypt’s General Organization for Export and Import (or imported from companies owning registered trademarks).
Members highlighted the absence of a period for comment before the regulation entered into force. They also drew attention to the lack of a sufficient transition period for compliance (normally six months), and the burdensome and unclear registration process. Members asked if the registration requirements also apply to domestic producers (in line with the national treatment principle) and whether Egypt had taken a risk-based approach in identifying the wide scope of products covered by the measure. Egypt said that the registration procedure was designed to safeguard consumer health and safety against imports of substandard and illegal products and that several steps had been taken to ensure registration did not impose excessive burdens on trade procedures.
East African Community alcoholic beverage standards
Chile, the EU, South Africa and the US supported the efforts of Kenya and the East African Community (EAC) to address health problems of certain alcoholic beverages but said that international standards would address this health objective in a less trade-restrictive manner than the EAC standards. They asked EAC members to notify regulations implementing these standards to the TBT Committee. Kenya reported ongoing work to harmonize standards at the EAC level, including those relating to alcoholic beverages.
Chemicals in furniture and soap
The EU questioned the consistency of China’s testing methods for safety of wood-based furniture with relevant International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards. China said that while its testing methods are largely based on ISO standards, differences were introduced to take account of use of these products.
Mexico said that Colombia’s requirement that testing of phosphorus and the biodegradability of surfactants in detergents and soaps be carried out only by Colombian laboratories is overly restrictive and costly. Colombia said it would accept a supplier’s declaration of conformity consistent with ISO/IEC 17050 and that mutual recognition could be possible under bilateral agreements or through the ILAC Mutual Recognition Agreement and the IAF Multilateral Recognition Agreement.