11月15日，东盟10国和中国、日本、韩国、澳大利亚、新西兰等15国领导人达成协议，正式签署区域全面经济伙伴关系协定（RCEP）。日前，中国自由贸易区服务网发布了RCEP文本。协定文本共20章，其中第六章为“标准、技术法规和合格评定程序”。第六章全文如下：
第六章 标准、技术法规和合格评定程序
第一条 定义
就本章而言，《技术性贸易壁垒协定》附件一中规定的术语及其定义应当适用。
第二条 目标
本章的目标是通过以下方式便利缔约方之间的货物贸易：
（一）保证标准、技术法规和合格评定程序不对贸易造成不必要的障碍；
（二）加强《技术性贸易壁垒协定》的实施；
（三）促进对每一缔约方标准、技术法规和合格评定程序的相互谅解；
（四）加强缔约方在标准、技术法规和合格评定程序领域包括在相关国际机构的工作中的信息交流与合作，。
（五）解决本章项下可能出现的问题；以及
（六）提供实现这些目标的框架。
第三条 范围
一、本章应当适用于可能影响缔约方之间货物贸易的中央政府机构的标准、技术法规和合格评定程序。本章不得适用于：
（一）任何第五章（卫生与植物卫生措施）所涵盖的任何卫生或植物卫生措施；以及
（二）政府机构为其生产或消费要求所制定的采购规格。
二、每一缔约方应当采取其所能采取的合理措施，保证其领土内的负责标准、技术法规和合格评定程序的制定、采取和实施的地方政府机构和非政府机构在本章的执行过程中的合规性。
三、本章的任何规定不得阻止一缔约方以与《技术性贸易壁垒协定》和本章相一致的方式，制定、采取、实施或维持标准、技术法规和合格评定程序。
第四条 《技术性贸易壁垒协定》的确认和并入
一、每一缔约方确认其在《技术性贸易壁垒协定》项下的权利和义务，《技术性贸易壁垒协定》的下列条款经必要修改后并入本协定，成为本协定的一部分：
（一）第二条，除第四款、第七款、第八款和第十二款外；
（二）第四条第二款；
（三）第五条，除第四款外；
（四）第六条第三款；
（五）第九条第一款；以及
（六）附件三，除第一款外。
二、如根据第一款并入的《技术性贸易壁垒协定》的任何规定与本章的其他规定不一致，应当以后者为准。
三、任何缔约方不得仅就指控违反并入本条第一款的《技术性贸易壁垒协定》条款的任何争端，诉诸第十九章（争端解决）项下的争端解决。
第五条 国际标准、指南和建议
一、缔约方认识到国际标准、指南和建议在协调技术法规、合格评定程序和国家标准，以及减少不必要的贸易壁垒方面可以发挥重要作用。
二、在决定《技术性贸易壁垒协定》第二条、第五条和附件三意义上的国际标准、指南或建议是否存在时，每一缔约方考虑 WTO技术性贸易壁垒委员会(下称“WTO TBT 委员会”）发布的《委员会关于制定与第二条、第五条和附件三有关的国际标准、指南和建议的原则的决定》（G/TBT/9，2000年 11 月 13 日，附件四）以及随后与此相关的决定和建议中列出的原则。
三、缔约方应当在适当的情况下，加强互相之间在例如WTO TBT 委员会等其他国际层面的活动中讨论国际标准和相关问题时的协调和沟通。
第六条 标准
一、对于标准的制定、采取和实施，每一缔约方应当保证其制定、采取和实施国家标准的一个或多个标准化机构接受并遵守《技术性贸易壁垒协定》附件三的规定。
二、如制定一缔约方的国家标准需要对相关国际标准内容或结构进行修改，应另一缔约方请求，该缔约方应当鼓励其标准化机构提供标准内容和结构方面的差异，以及差异的原因。除实际递送费用外，此项服务的任何收费对国内外各人员应当相同。
三、除第二款外，每一缔约方应当保证其一个或多个标准化机构保证不制定、不采用或不实施在目的或效果上对国际贸易造成不必要障碍的，对国际标准内容和结构的修改。
四、每一缔约方应当鼓励其领土内相关的一个或多个标准化机构与其他缔约方的一个或多个标准化机构之间在如下领域进行合作：
（一）交换标准的信息；
（二）交换与标准制定程序相关的信息；以及
（三）在有共同利益的领域进行国际标准化活动。
第七条 技术法规
一、每一缔约方应当在《技术性贸易壁垒协定》第二条第四款的范围内，使用相关国际标准或其中相关的部分，作为其技术法规的基础。如一缔约方未将此类国际标准或其相关的部分作为其技术法规的基础，应另一缔约方请求，该缔约方应当解释其原因。
二、在实施《技术性贸易壁垒协定》第二条第二款时，每一缔约方应当考虑可供选择的替代方案，以保证拟议采取的技术法规对贸易的限制不超过为实现合法目标所必需的限度。
三、即使其他缔约方的技术法规不同于自己的法规，每一缔约方应当积极考虑将其他缔约方的技术法规作为等效法规加以接受，只要该缔约方确信这些法规足以实现与其法规相同的目标。
四、如果一缔约方不能接受另一缔约方的技术法规作为其自己的等效法规，应另一缔约方请求，该缔约方应当解释其作出决定的原因。
五、在实施《技术性贸易壁垒协定》第二条第八款时，如一缔约方不是按照产品的性能而是按照其设计或描述特征来制定技术法规，应另一缔约方请求，该缔约方应当解释其原因。
六、除发生安全、健康、环境保护或者国家安全的紧急问题或面临发生此类问题的威胁外，缔约方应当允许在技术法规的公布和生效之间留出合理时间间隔，以为出口缔约方的生产商提供充足的时间使其产品和生产方法适应进口缔约方的要求。就本款而言，“合理时间间隔”通常应当被理解为不少于六个月的期限，除非该期限导致无法实现技术法规所追求的合法目标。
七、应有兴趣制定与另一缔约方技术法规相似的技术法规的一缔约方的请求，被请求缔约方应当在可行的范围内提供相关信息，包括其在制定过程中所依据的研究或文件，机密信息除外。
八、每一缔约方应当将其中央政府机构制定和采取的技术法规无差别且一致地适用于其全部领土。为进一步明确，本款不得被解释为阻止地方政府机构以与《技术性贸易壁垒协定》相一致的方式，制定、采取和实施额外的技术法规。
第八条 合格评定程序
一、除《技术性贸易壁垒协定》第五条第四款规定外，每一缔约方应当保证中央政府机构使用相关国际标准或其相关的部分，作为其合格评定程序的基础，除非应请求作出适当说明，指出此类国际标准或其相关的部分由于下列原因尤其不适用于相关缔约方：国家安全要求；防止欺诈行为；保护人类、动物或植物的生命或健康，或保护环境；基本气候因素或其他地理因素；基本技术问题或基础设施问题。
二、为提高效率，避免重复，以及保证合格评定的成本效益，每一缔约方认识到接受另一缔约方作出的合格评定程序结果的重要性。
三、每一缔约方应当尽可能保证接受另一缔约方的合格评定程序结果，即使另一缔约方的合格评定程序与自己的程序不同，除非这些程序不能确保符合与自己程序等效的技术法规或标准。
四、应另一缔约方请求，一缔约方应当解释不接受该另一缔约方合格评定程序结果的原因。
五、每一缔约方认识到，根据该缔约方的情况以及所涉及的具体部门，存在一系列广泛的机制以便利接受另一缔约方实施的合格评定程序结果。此类机制可以包括：
（一）对有关缔约方各机构作出的合格评定程序结果的互认协定；
（二）缔约方认可机构之间或有关缔约方合格评定机构之间的（自愿）合作安排；
（三）对合格评定机构进行认可，包括通过相关多边协定或安排，认定合格评定机构具备资质，以承认其他缔约方所给予的认可；
（四）指定另一缔约方的合格评定机构；
（五）一缔约方单方承认另一缔约方作出的合格评定程序结果；以及
（六）制造商或供应商的自我合格声明。
六、应合理请求，有关缔约方应当就第五款所提及的机制，包括其制定和实施，进行信息交流或经验共享，以便利接受合格评定程序结果。
七、缔约方认识到包括区域性组织在内的相关国际组织，在合格评定领域的合作中可以发挥的重要作用。在这方面，每一缔约方在便利这项合作时，应当考虑该缔约方相关机构在此类组织中的参与状况或成员资格。
八、缔约方同意鼓励相关合格评定机构开展更密切的合作，以便利缔约方接受合格评定结果。
九、每一缔约方应当在可能的范围内，在不低于给予该缔约方合格评定机构的条件下，允许另一缔约方的合格评定机构参与其合格评定程序。
十、如果一缔约方允许其合格评定机构参与而不允许另一缔约方的合格评定机构参与其合格评定程序，应该另一缔约方的请求，该缔约方应当解释其拒绝的原因。
第九条 合作
一、缔约方应当在与本章目标相一致地基础上，加强在标准、技术法规和合格评定程序领域的合作。
二、应另一缔约方请求，一缔约方应当积极考虑就与标准、技术法规和合格评定程序相关的共同利益事项提出的合作建议。
三、此类合作应当基于共同确定的条款和条件，可以包括：
（一）与标准、技术法规和合格评定程序的制定和实施相关的建议、技术援助或能力建设；
（二）缔约方政府和非政府合格评定机构之间就共同利益事项的合作；
（三）在有关区域和国际组织制定和实施标准和合格评定程序的工作中，就共同感兴趣的领域开展合作，如增强参与有关区域和国际组织制定的相互承认框架；
（四）增强在制定和改善标准、技术法规和合格评定程序方面的合作；以及（五）加强在 WTO TBT 委员会和其他相关国际或地区层面活动中的沟通与协调。
四、应另一缔约方请求，每一缔约方应当考虑部门具体建议，以进行本章项下有共同利益的合作。
第十条 技术讨论
一、如一缔约方认为有需要解决与贸易和本章项下的条款相关的问题，其可以作出书面请求进行技术讨论。被请求缔约方应当尽快对该请求作出答复。
二、除有关缔约方另行约定外，被请求缔约方应当在 60天内与请求缔约方进行技术讨论以达成共同满意的解决办案。技术讨论可以通过有关缔约方同意的任何方式作出。
第十一条 透明度
一、缔约方认识到《技术性贸易壁垒协定》中有关透明度规定的重要性。在这方面，缔约方应当考虑由 WTO TBT委员会发布的《WTO 技术性贸易壁垒委员会自 1995 年 1 月 1 日以来通过的决定和建议》（G/TBT/1/Rev.13）中相关的决定和建议，以及其可能的修订。
二、应书面请求，如已有通报的技术法规和合格评定程序的英文全文或摘要，一缔约方应当向提出请求的缔约方提供。如没有通报的技术法规和合格评定程序的英文全文或摘要，该缔约方应当在有关缔约方同意的合理期限内，在可能的情况下，在收到书面请求后 30 天内，以英文向请求缔约方提供一份摘要，说明所通报的技术法规和合格评定程序的要求。在实施前句要求时，摘要的内容应当由被请求缔约方确定。
三、应另一缔约方请求，每一缔约方应当提供与被请求缔约方已经实施或拟实施的技术法规或合格评定程序的目标和理由相关的信息。
四、除发生安全、健康、环境保护或者国家安全的紧急问题或面临发生此类问题的威胁外，每一缔约方通常应当依照《技术性贸易壁垒协定》第二条第九款和第五条第六款向6-8WTO 通报之日起 60 天内，允许其他缔约方提供书面意见。每一缔约方应当考虑另一缔约方的意见，并且应当应请求努力提供对这些意见的答复。
五、每一缔约方应当允许另一缔约方的相关人员，在遵循其法律和法规的情况下，按照不低于其给予本国人的条件，参与缔约方为制定技术法规、国家标准和合格评定程序而向公众提供的磋商程序。
六、如一缔约方因技术法规或合格评定程序不符合要求而在入境点扣留进口货物时，其应当尽快将扣留的原因通报进口商或其代表。
七、除本章另有规定外，一缔约方根据本章请求提供的任何信息或解释，应当由被请求缔约方在有关缔约方同意的合理期限内以书面或电子形式提供，并且在可能的情况下，在 60 天内提供。应请求，被请求缔约方应当以有关缔约方同意的一种或多种语言提供此类信息或解释，或者在可能的情况下以英文提供。
第十二条 联络点
一、每一缔约方应当在本协定对该缔约方生效之日起 30天内指定一个或多个联络点负责协调本章的实施，并且将该联络点中相关官员的联系方式通报其他缔约方，包括电话号码、传真号码、电子邮件地址，以及任何其他相关详细信息。每一缔约方应当将此类联系方式的任何变更及时通报其他缔约方。
二、每一缔约方应当保证其一个或多个联络点便利缔约方之间就标准、技术法规和合格评定程序交换信息，以答复另一缔约方对此类信息的所有合理请求。
第十三条 实施安排
缔约方可以制定双边或多边安排，列出为实施本章共同感兴趣的合作领域。鼓励在本章项下通过此类安排的缔约方在共同同意的情况下，向货物委员会报告此类安排。
第十四条 争端解决
第十九章（争端解决）不适用于本协定生效时在本章项下产生的任何事项，缔约方应当在本协定生效之日起的两年内对该不适用进行审查。在审查过程中，缔约方应当积极考虑将第十九章（争端解决）的规定适用于本章的全部或部分内容。此类审查应当在本协定生效之日起的三年内完成。
英文版本
6-1CHAPTER
6STANDARDS, TECHNICAL REGULATIONS, AND ConFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
Article 6.1: Definitions
For the purposes of this Chapter, the terms and their definitions provided in Annex 1 of the TBT Agreement shall apply.
Article 6.2: Objectives
The objectives of this Chapter are to facilitate trade in goods among the Parties by:
(a) ensuring that standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade;
(b) enhancing the implementation of the TBT Agreement;
(c) promoting mutual understanding of each Party’s standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures;
(d) strengthening information exchange and cooperation among the Parties in the field of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures including in the work of relevant international bodies;
(e) addressing the issues that may arise under this Chapter;and
(f) providing a framework to realise these objectives.
Article 6.3: Scope
1. This Chapter shall apply to the standards, technical regulations,and conformity assessment procedures of central government bodies that may affect trade in goods among the Parties. ThisChapter shall not apply to:
(a) any sanitary or phytosanitary measure, which is covered by Chapter 5 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures); and
(b) purchasing specifications prepared by governmental bodies for production or consumption requirements of governmental bodies.
2. Each Party shall take such reasonable measures as may be available to it to ensure compliance, in the implementation of this Chapter, by local government bodies and non-governmental bodies within its territory which are responsible for the preparation, adoption, and application of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures.
3. Nothing in this Chapter shall prevent a Party from preparing, adopting, applying, or maintaining standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures in a manner consistent with the TBT Agreement and this Chapter.
Article 6.4: Affirmation and Incorporation of the TBT Agreement
1. Each Party affirms its rights and obligations under the TBT Agreement and the following provisions of the TBT Agreement are incorporated into and made part of this Agreement, mutatis mutandis:
(a) Article 2, except paragraphs 4, 7, 8, and 12;
(b) paragraph 2 of Article 4;
(c) Article 5, except paragraph 4;
(d) paragraph 3 of Article 6;
(e) paragraph 1 of Article 9; and
(f) Annex 3, except paragraph A.
2. In the event of any inconsistency between any provision of the TBT Agreement incorporated under paragraph 1 and other provisions of this Chapter, the latter shall prevail.
3. No Party shall have recourse to dispute settlement under Chapter 19 (Dispute Settlement) for any dispute that exclusively alleges a 6-3violation of the provisions of the TBT Agreement incorporated under paragraph 1.
Article 6.5: International Standards, Guides, and Recommendations
1. The Parties recognise the important role that international standards, guides, and recommendations can play in the harmonisation of technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures, and national standards, and in reducing unnecessary barriers to trade.
2. In determining whether an international standard, guide, or recommendation within the meaning of Articles 2 and 5 and Annex 3 of the TBT Agreement exists, each Party takes into account the principles set out in the Decision of the Committee on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations with relation to Articles 2, 5 and Annex 3 of the Agreement (G/TBT/9, 13 November 2000, Annex 4), and subsequent relevant decisions and recommendations in this regard, adopted by the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (hereinafter referred to as “WTO TBT Committee” in this Chapter).
3. The Parties shall, where appropriate, strengthen coordination and communication with each other in the context of discussions on international standards and related issues in other international fora, such as the WTO TBT Committee.
Article 6.6: Standards
1. With respect to the preparation, adoption, and application of standards, each Party shall ensure that its standardising body or bodies that prepare, adopt, and apply national standards accept and comply with Annex 3 of the TBT Agreement.
2. Where modifications to the contents or structure of the relevant international standards were necessary in developing a Party’s national standards, that Party shall, on request of another Party, encourage its standardising body or bodies to provide what the differences in the contents and structure are, and the reason for those differences. Any fees charged for this service shall, apart from the real cost of delivery, be the same for foreign and domestic persons.
3. Further to paragraph 2, each Party shall ensure that its standardising body or bodies ensure that the modifications of the contents and structure of international standards are not prepared, adopted, or applied with a view to, or with the effect of, creating unnecessary obstacles to international trade.
4. Each Party shall encourage cooperation between the relevant standardising body or bodies in its territory and the standardising body or bodies of other Parties, in areas such as:
(a) exchange of information on standards;
(b) exchange of information relating to standard setting procedures; and
(c) international standardising activities in areas of mutual interest.
Article 6.7: Technical Regulations
1. Each Party shall use relevant international standards or the relevant parts of them, to the extent provided in paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the TBT Agreement, as a basis for its technical regulations. Where a Party does not use such international standards, or their relevant parts, as a basis for its technical regulations, it shall, on request of another Party, explain the reasons therefor.
2. In implementing paragraph 2 of Article 2 of the TBT Agreement, each Party shall consider available alternatives in order to ensure that the proposed technical regulations to be adopted are not more trade-restrictive than necessary to fulfil a legitimate objective.
3. Each Party shall give positive consideration to accepting as equivalent, technical regulations of another Party, even if those regulations differ from its own, provided it is satisfied that those regulations adequately fulfil the objectives of its own regulations.
4. Where a Party does not accept a technical regulation of another Party as equivalent to its own, it shall, on request of the other Party, explain the reasons for its decision.
5. In implementing paragraph 8 of Article 2 of the TBT Agreement, when a Party does not specify technical regulations based on product requirements in terms of performance rather than design or descriptive characteristics, the Party shall, on request of another Party, provide its reason therefor.
6. Except where urgent problems of safety, health, environmental protection, or national security arise or threaten to arise, Parties shall allow a reasonable interval between the publication of technical regulations and their entry into force in order to provide sufficient time for producers in exporting Parties to adapt their products or methods of production to the requirements of importing Parties. For the purposes of this paragraph, “reasonable interval” shall be understood to mean normally a period of not less than six months, except when this would be ineffective in fulfilling the legitimate objectives pursued by the technical regulation.
7. On request of a Party that has an interest in developing a technical regulation similar to a technical regulation of another Party, the requested Party shall provide, to the extent practicable, relevant information, including studies or documents, except for confidential information, on which it has relied in its development.
8. Each Party shall uniformly and consistently apply its technical regulations that are prepared and adopted by its central government bodies to its whole territory. For greater certainty, nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent local government bodies from preparing, adopting, and applying additional technical regulations in a manner consistent with the provisions of the TBT Agreement.
Article 6.8: Conformity Assessment Procedures
1. Further to paragraph 4 of Article 5 of the TBT Agreement, each Party shall ensure that central government bodies use relevant international standards or their relevant parts as a basis for their conformity assessment procedures, except where, as duly explained upon request, such international standards or relevant parts are inappropriate for the Party concerned, for, inter alia, such reasons as: national security requirements; the prevention of deceptive practices; protection of human health or safety, animal or plant life or health, or the environment; fundamental climatic or other geographical factors; fundamental technological or infrastructural problems.
2. Each Party recognises the importance of accepting the results of conformity assessment procedures conducted in another Party with a view to increasing efficiency, avoiding duplication, and ensuring cost effectiveness of conformity assessments.
3. Each Party shall ensure, whenever possible, that results of conformity assessment procedures in another Party are accepted, even when those procedures differ from its own, unless those procedures do not offer an assurance of conformity with applicable technical regulations or standards equivalent to its own procedures.
4. A Party shall, on request of another Party, explain its reasons for not accepting the results of a conformity assessment procedure conducted in the other Party.
5. Each Party recognises that, depending on the situation of the Party and the specific sectors involved, a broad range of mechanisms exists to facilitate the acceptance of the results of conformity assessment procedures conducted in another Party. Such mechanisms may include:
(a) mutual recognition agreements for the results of conformity assessment procedures conducted by bodies in the Parties concerned;
(b) cooperative (voluntary) arrangements between accreditation bodies or those between conformity assessment bodies in the Parties concerned;
(c) the use of accreditation to qualify conformity assessment bodies, including through relevant multilateral agreements or arrangements, to recognise the accreditation granted by other Parties;
(d) the designation of conformity assessment bodies in another Party;
(e) unilateral recognition by a Party of results of conformity assessment procedures conducted in another Party; and
(f) manufacturer's or supplier's declaration of conformity.
6. Upon reasonable request, the Parties concerned shall exchange information or share experiences on the mechanisms referred to 6-7in paragraph 5, including their development and application, with a view to facilitating the acceptance of the results of conformity assessment procedures.
7. The Parties recognise the important role that relevant international, including regional, organisations can play in cooperation in the area of conformity assessment. In this regard, each Party shall take into consideration the participation status or membership in such organisations of relevant bodies in the Parties in facilitating this cooperation.
8. The Parties agree to encourage cooperation between their relevant conformity assessment bodies in working closer with a view to facilitating the acceptance of conformity assessment results between Parties.
9. Each Party shall, whenever possible, permit the participation of conformity assessment bodies in another Party in its conformity assessment procedures under conditions no less favourable than those accorded to conformity assessment bodies in the Party.
10. Where a Party permits participation of its conformity assessment bodies and does not permit participation of conformity assessment bodies in another Party in its conformity assessment procedures, it shall, on request of that other Party, explain the reason for its refusal decision.
Article 6.9: Cooperation
1. The Parties shall strengthen their cooperation in the field of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures, consistent with the objectives of this Chapter.
2. Each Party shall, on request of another Party, give positive consideration to proposals for cooperation on matters of mutual interest on standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures.
3. Such cooperation, which shall be on mutually determined terms and conditions, may include:
(a) advice, technical assistance or capacity building relating to the development and application of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures;
(b) cooperation between conformity assessment bodies, both governmental and non-governmental, in the Parties, on matters of mutual interest;
(c) cooperation in areas of mutual interest in the work of relevant regional and international bodies relating to the development and application of standards and conformity assessment procedures, such as enhancing participation in the frameworks for mutual recognition developed by relevant regional and international bodies;
(d) enhancing cooperation in the development and improvement of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures; and
(e) strengthening communication and coordination in the WTO TBT Committee and other relevant international or regional fora.
4. Each Party shall, on request of another Party, give consideration to sector specific proposals for mutual benefit for cooperation under this Chapter.Article
6.10: Technical Discussions
1. When a Party considers the need to resolve an issue related to trade and provisions under this Chapter, it may make a written request for technical discussions. The requested Party shall respond as early as possible to such a request.
2. The requested Party shall enter into technical discussions with the requesting Party within 60 days, unless otherwise mutually determined by the Parties concerned, with a view to reaching a mutually satisfactory solution. Technical discussions may be conducted via any means agreed by the Parties concerned.
Article 6.11: Transparency
1. The Parties recognise the importance of the provisions relating to transparency in the TBT Agreement. In this respect, the Parties shall take into account relevant decisions and recommendations in the Decisions and Recommendations adopted by the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade since 1 January 19956-9(G/TBT/1/Rev.13), as may be revised, issued by the WTO TBT Committee.
2. Upon written request, a Party shall provide to the requesting Party, if already available, the full text or summary of its notified technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures in the English language. If unavailable, the Party shall provide to the requesting Party a summary stating the requirements of the notified technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures in the English language, within a reasonable period of time agreed by the Parties concerned and, if possible, within 30 days after receiving the written request. In implementing the preceding sentence, the contents of the summary shall be determined by the requested Party.
3. Each Party shall, on request of another Party, provide information regarding the objectives of, and rationale for, a technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure that the requested Party has adopted or is proposing to adopt.
4. Each Party shall normally allow 60 days from the date of notification to the WTO in accordance with paragraph 9 of Article 2 and paragraph 6 of Article 5 of the TBT Agreement for the other Parties to provide comments in writing, except where urgent problems of safety, health, environmental protection, or national security arise or threaten to arise. Each Party shall take the comments of another Party into account and shall endeavour to provide responses to those comments upon request.
5. Each Party shall allow persons of another Party to participate in consultation procedures that are available to the general public for the development of technical regulations, national standards and conformity assessment procedures by the Party, subject to its laws and regulations, on terms no less favourable than those accorded to its own persons.
6. When a Party detains an imported consignment, at the point of entry due to non-compliance with a technical regulation or a conformity assessment procedure, it shall notify the importer or its representative, as soon as possible, the reasons for the detention.
7. Unless otherwise provided in this Chapter, any information or explanation requested by a Party pursuant to this Chapter shall be provided by the requested Party, in print or electronically, within a reasonable period of time agreed by the Parties concerned and, if possible, within 60 days. Upon request, the requested Party shall provide such information or explanation in the language or languages agreed by the Parties concerned or, whenever possible, in the English language.
Article 6.12: Contact Points
1. Each Party shall, within 30 days of the date of entry into force of this Agreement for that Party, designate one or more contact points responsible for coordinating the implementation of this Chapter, and notify the other Parties of the contact details of the relevant official or officials in that contact point, including the telephone number, facsimile number, email address, and any other relevant details. Each Party shall promptly notify the other Parties of any change to those contact details.
2. Each Party shall ensure that its contact point or contact points facilitate the exchange of information between the Parties on standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures, in response to all reasonable requests for such information from another Party.
Article 6.13: Implementing Arrangements
The Parties may develop bilateral or plurilateral arrangements to set out areas of cooperation of mutual interest for applying this Chapter. The Parties that have adopted such arrangements under this Chapter are encouraged, where mutually agreed, to report such arrangements to the Committee on Goods.
Article 6.14: Dispute Settlement
Chapter 19 (Dispute Settlement) shall not apply to any matter arising under this Chapter at the entry into force of this Agreement, and this nonapplication shall be subject to a review by the Parties two years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement. In the course of the review, Parties shall give positive consideration to the application of Chapter 19 (Dispute Settlement) to either the whole or parts of this Chapter. Such review shall be completed within three years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
