WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/TBT/Notif.00/292
20 June 2000
(00-2462)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade
NOTIFICATION
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6.
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2):           
2. Agency responsible:   Department of Health
Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification shall be
indicated if different from above:   National Enquiry 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):   Semen for assisted
conception
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:   Proposed Amendment
to the Processing and Distribution of Semen for Assisted Conception Regulations
(1218-Alternative Tests)  (pages 1867-1870; English and French)
6. Description of content:   This proposed regulatory amendment would permit processors of
semen to use alternative tests that are equivalent or superior at detecting disease agents or
disease markers to those set out in the Cana dian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS)
2000 Guidelines for Therapeutic Donor Inseminatio n, hereafter referred to as the
Guidelines.
Currently, the Semen Regulations do not allow for any deviation to the tests specified in the
Guidelines. This proposal would confer some flexibility in testing requirements to recognize
new improved tests or the use of equivalent tests which may, for one reason or another, be
preferred by semen processors. Processors will need to support by scientific evidence the
equivalency or superiority of alternative testing methods.
7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:
Protection of human health
8. Relevant documents:   Canada Gazette, Part I, 10 June 2000
9. Proposed date of adoption:
Proposed date of entry into force: }Not stated
10. Final date for comments:   10 July 2000
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, e-mail and telefax
number of the other body:           