WORLD TRADE WT/DSB/9
16January 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-0135)
RULES OFPROCEDURE FOR MEETINGS OF
THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY
1. When theGeneral Council convenes astheDispute Settlement Body (DSB), itshallfollow
therulesofprocedure formeetings oftheGeneral Council, except asprovided otherwise intheDispute
Settlement Understanding (DSU) orbelow.
Chapter IV-Observers
2. Observership atmeetings oftheDSBshallbegoverned byparagraphs 9to11ofAnnex 2and
paragraph 3,including footnote 5ofAnnex 3tothese Rules.1
Chapter V-Officers
3. TheDSBshallelectitsownChairperson*from among therepresentatives ofMembers. The
election shalltakeplace atthefirstmeeting oftheyearandshalltakeeffect attheendofthemeeting.
TheChairperson shallholdoffice untiltheendofthefirstmeeting ofthefollowing year.
4. IftheChairperson isabsent fromanymeeting orpartthereof, theChairperson oftheGeneral
Council orinthelatter'sabsence, theChairperson oftheTrade Policy Review Body, shallperform
thefunctions oftheChairperson. IftheChairpersons oftheGeneral Council andoftheTrade Policy
Review Body arealsonotpresent, theDSBshallelectaninterim Chairperson forthatmeeting orthat
partofthemeeting.
5. IftheChairperson cannolonger perform thefunctions oftheoffice, theDSBshalldesignate
aChairperson inaccordance withparagraph 4toperform those functions pending theelection ofa
newChairperson.
1WT/L/161.
*TheDisputeSettlementBodyshallapplytherelevantguidelinescontainedinthe"GuidelinesforAppointment
ofOfficers toWTO Bodies" (WT/L/31).