WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.99/122
25 March 1999
(99-1219)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  MEXICO
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Health
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall beindicated if different from above:  Contact point
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [ X ], 2.10.1 [    ], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], other:           
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Scalpel blades
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Draft Mexican Official
Standard NOM-163-SSA1-1998 Laying Down the Sanitary Specifications for Carbon Steel
Scalpel Blades (7 pages, Spanish)
6. Description of content:  The purpose of this Mexican Official Standard is to establish the
minimum quality specifications to be met by scalpel blades of carbon steel and to indicate
the testing methods to be used for checking them in connection with the purchase, inclusion,
reception inspection, sampling and supply of the product.
The Standard will be mandatory throughout the territory of Mexico for all industries
and establishments manufacturing, importing, and distributing carbon steel scalpel blades.
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  Safety
8. Relevant documents:  Diario Oficial de la Federación (Official Journal) of 4 March 1999
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: } To be determined
10. Final date for comments:  3 May 1999
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ X ] or address, e-mail and telefax number of
the other body:           