WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/W/187
10 October 2002
(02-5459)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:  English
TRANSITION REVIEW MECHANISM IN CONNECTION WITH
PARAGRAPH 18 OF THE PROTOCOL ON THE ACCESSION
OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Submission by the Separate Customs Territ ory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu
1. Chinese Taipei welcomes the efforts made by  China to bring its technical regulations,
standards and conformity assessment procedures into compliance with the Agreement on Technical
Barriers to Trade.  China’s statement in accordance with Article 15.2 (G/TBT/2/Add.65) provides
useful information regarding the measures taken to ensure the implementation of the TBT Agreement.
However, Chinese Taipei not only wishes to associate itself with the same concerns as expressed by
Japan and the European Communities, but in addition we also have the following specific questionsfor China in the areas of standards and conformity assessment.
I. STANDARDS
2. In paragraph 180 of the report of the Working Party, China has committed itself to speed up
the process of revising its current voluntary national, local and sectoral standards in order toharmonize them with international standards.  Wh at progress has China made in this respect and
exactly what revisions have been made to date.
II. CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
3. Paragraph 13, 4(b) of China’s Accession Protoc ol stated, “No later than 18 months after
accession, China shall assign the respective responsibilities of its conformity assessment bodies solely
on the basis of the scope of work and type of prod uct without any consideration of the origin of a
product.  The respective responsibilities that will be assigned to China’s conformity assessmentbodies will be notified to the TBT Committee 12 months after accession.”  Chinese Taipei would like
to know what progress China has made to date on the assignment of these responsibilities.
4. Chinese Taipei would appreciate knowing what measures have been taken by China to ensure
compliance by its local government bodies with the provision of Article 7.1 of the TBT Agreement.
5. While China has committed itself to apply the same conformity assessment procedures to
both imported and domestic products, Chinese Taipei would like to know whether results of the
conformity assessments or certificates are mutually recognized by provincial conformity assessment
bodies or authorities. Can China give assurances that products will not be required to be tested again
on their movement within China from one province to another?
6. In paragraph 16 of China’s statement on Implementation and Administration of the
TBT Agreement, both the State General Administration of the People’s Republic of China for Quality
Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ ) and the China National Regulatory Commission
for Certification and Accreditation (CNCA) are the authorities to adopt and promulgate conformity
assessment procedures.  Chinese Taipei would like to know what are the respective responsibilities of
the AQSIQ and CNCA and what are the procedures required for local and foreign certification bodiesto participate in the conformity assessment process.
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