. /.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/VUT/10
16 March 2001
(01-1294)
Working Party on the
Accession of VanuatuOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF VANUATU
Draft Notification
Implementation and Administration of the Ag reement on Technical Barriers to Trade
The following Statement under Article 15.2 of the Agreement has been received by the
Government of the Republic of Vanuatu.
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1. In accordance with Article 15.2 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade and the
Decision taken by the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (G/TBT/1/Rev.7), we
hereby submit to the Committee this statement summarizing the measures in existence and
taken to ensure the implementation and administration of the Agreement in Vanuatu.
2. Vanuatu does not have any laws, regulations or administrative procedures relating to technical
regulations, standards or conformity assessment systems that would be subject to the
provisions of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.  Vanuatu is a Least DevelopedCountry which is in the early stages of examin ing whether and, if so, how it might acquire the
institutional capacity that will be needed to develop and apply technical regulations, standards
or conformity assessment systems in conformity with the Agreement.
3. In the event of the acquisition of institutional capacity that may lead to the development and
application of technical regulations, standards or conformity assessment systems subject to
the provisions of the Agreement, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment will have
overall responsibility for national implementation of the Agreement.  All laws, regulations
and administrative procedures will be notified as required under the Agreement, including by
updating existing notifications where this is needed.  Representations concerning Vanuatu’simplementation of the Agreement and requests for consultations should be directed to the
Office of the Director of Trade in the Department of Trade.  The Office of the Director of
Trade maintains the Enquiry Point for Vanuatu:
The Office of the Director of Trade
Department of Trade, Industry and InvestmentMinistry of Trade and Business DevelopmentPrivate Mail Bag 030Port VilaVanuatu
Telephone: +678 22770
Fax: +678 25640Email: trade@vanuatu.com.vuWT/ACC/VUT/10
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3. The Office of the Director of Trade is responsible for identifying and providing notifications
to the WTO Secretariat under the TBT Agreement.  For technical regulations and conformity
assessment procedures proposed by central gove rnment bodies, the Office of the Director of
Trade relies upon the information published in the Official Gazette in order to identify
proposals subject to the notification procedures under this Agreement.  Final texts of central
government technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures are also published in
the Official Gazette.  For technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures
prepared by regional provincial governments, the Office of the Director of Trade relies uponpublications by those governments.  On questions concerning standards and technical
regulations for agricultural products, including sanitary and phytosanitary measures, the
Office of the Director of Trade is assisted by the Office of the Director, Vanuatu Quarantineand Inspection Services:
Office of the Director, Vanuatu Quarantine and Inspection Services
Vanuatu Quarantine and Inspection Services
Private Mail Bag 095Port Vila
Telephone: +678 23130/23519Fax: +678 23185/24653email: vqisvila@vanuatu.com.vu
Both offices circulate notifications received under the Agreement to interested parties for
comment.
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