Agreement reached by a member with another country or countries on issues related to technical regulations, standards or conformity assessment procedures

World Trade Organization
G/TBT/10.7/N/44 29 January 2003
	(03-0596)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade	Original: English

agreement reached by a member with another country or countries

on issues related to technical regulations, standards

or conformity assessment procedures

Notification

Under Article 10.7 of the Agreement "Whenever a Member has reached an agreement with any other country or countries on issues related to technical regulations, standards or conformity assessment procedures which may have a significant effect on trade, at least one Member party to the agreement shall notify other Members through the Secretariat of the products to be covered by the agreement and include a brief description of the agreement." The following notification under Article  10.7 has been received.

1. Member notifying: THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND SWITZERLAND

2. Title of the bilateral or plurilateral Agreement: "Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Mutual Recognition in Relation to Conformity Assessment".

3. Parties to the Agreement: European Community and Switzerland

4. Date of entry into force of the Agreement: 1 June 2002

5. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading): This Agreement applies to products traded between the European Community and Switzerland as well as to procedures which are subject to specified legislative, regulatory and administrative provisions pertaining to conformity assessment and technical regulations, as specified in Annex 1 to the Agreement, in the areas of: machinery1, personal protective equipment1, toys3, medical devices1, gas appliances1 and boilers3, pressure equipment3, telecommunications terminal equipment1, equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres1, electrical safety & electromagnetic compatibility1, construction plant and equipment3, measuring instruments2 and prepackages3, motor vehicles1, agricultural and forestry tractors1, Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) 1, medicinal products Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspection and batch certification for medicinal products for human and veterinary use1. 1 In these product sectors, the legislation of the European Community and Switzerland, as specified in Annex 1 to the Agreement, is deemed equivalent. 2 In theses product sectors, the legislation of the European Community and Switzerland, as specified in Annex 1 to the Agreement, is deemed equivalent with regard to certain products only. 3 In these product sectors, the legislation of the European Community and Switzerland, as specified in Annex 1 to the Agreement, is not equivalent.

6. Subject matter covered by the Agreement (technical regulations, standards or conformity assessment procedures): Conformity assessment procedures.

7. Brief description of the Agreement: The parties to the Agreement grant mutual recognition of results of conformity assessment on two levels: In product sectors covered by legislation that is deemed equivalent according to Annex 1, the parties mutually accept results of conformity assessment procedures carried out by recognized Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) according to the requirements of the exporting party. In product sectors where legislation is not equivalent according to Annex 1, the parties mutually accept results of conformity assessment carried out by recognized CABs attesting compliance with the requirements of the importing party.

8. Further information available from: European Commission Leonor Palacio DG Trade F2 Rue de la Loi 200 B-1049 Brussels - Belgium ( +3 Fax: +3 E-mail: Leonor. *****@***eu. int State Secretariat for Economic Affairs Manuel Keller Non-tariff measures division Effingerstrasse 1 CH-3003 Berne – Switzerland ( +41 Fax: +41 E-mail: Manuel. *****@***admin. ch