Notification requirements back to top
The
importance attached by negotiators to this issue explains the very elaborate system of
notifications and cross-notifications put in place under the terms of most Agreements.
Notifications are a necessary burden, particularly for the administrations and governments
of developing countries.
During
the first WTO Ministerial Conference that took place in Singapore from 9 to 13 December
1996, Ministers took note that compliance with notification requirements had not been
fully satisfactory and urged Members to renew their efforts.
Central Registry of Notifications (CRN) back to top
The Uruguay Round Ministerial Decision on Notification Procedures has established under the responsibility of the Secretariat a Central Registry of Notifications (CRN). With the exception of the notification requirements related to the Integrated Data Base (IDB), contained in WT/L/225, which have to be fulfilled by preparing machine-readable submissions, Members fulfil their notification obligations by presenting a notification on paper. As indicated in document WT/INF/124, these notifications may also be sent by fax or as electronic attachments to e-mails, but in any case, regardless of their subject content or the requirement under which they are being submitted, all paper-based notifications should be sent to the Administrator of the CRN and not to WTO bodies and/or Secretariat staff.
Technical
assistance back to top
It
is evident that many developing country Members face particular problems with the expanded
notification obligations of the WTO Agreements.
In order to assist Members to better understand WTO notification prescriptions, the Secretariat has been organizing specific technical assistance activities on this issue upon request from Members.
Technical
Cooperation Handbook on Notification Requirements back to top
At
the request of the Working Group on Notification Obligations and Procedures, the
Secretariat has prepared a Technical Cooperation Handbook on Notification Requirements.
Focal points on
notification matter back to top
A list of contact persons for notification
matters is available online with built-in electronic mail facilities. If you have
questions on a specific notification requirement, you can send an e-mail directly to the
Secretariat's focal point.
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