The document summarizes procedures for information exchange regarding regulations in the United States. It discusses how regulations are proposed and finalized through a "Notice and Comment" process, where agencies issue a notice of proposed regulation, accept public comments, and then issue a final rule addressing the comments. It also outlines some electronic tools for finding information on U.S. regulations, such as searching the Federal Register database or using the RegAlert notification service. The presentation was given by Anne Meininger from the U.S. WTO TBT Enquiry Point on procedures for exchanging information on technical regulations.

1. Special Meeting on
Procedures for Information
Exchange
November 2, 2004
Geneva
Anne Meininger
United States
WTO TBT Enquiry Point

2. U.S.
WTO TBT Enquiry Point
 National Center for Standards and
Certification Information (NCSCI)
 National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST)
 U.S. Department of Commerce
(DOC)
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3. Prior to Notification
in the U.S.
 U.S. Regulations
 U.S. Federal Register
 Electronic Tools
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4. U.S. Regulations
 Federal regulatory agencies
 Interested parties
 Administrative Procedures Act
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5. “Notice and Comment”
 Notice
 Comment
 Regulation (Final Rule)
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6. “Notice and Comment”
1. A notice is issued.
 Definitions
 Cost to benefit analysis
 Risk assessment
 Impact statements
 Contacts
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7. “Notice and Comment”
2. Comments are accepted.
 No restrictions
 Domestic and foreign
 Equal consideration
 Full consideration to substantive
comments.
 Impact the final regulation
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8. “Notice and Comment”
3. A Final Rule is issued.
 Comments are addressed
 Basis and purpose
 Justification
 Time
 Codification into law
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9. U.S. Federal Register
 One source for “Notice and
Comment”
 Legal text
 Newspaper format
 Published every business day
 Paper, microfiche, electronic
formats 9

10. 10

11. 11

12. 12

13. 13

14. Electronic Tools
 RegAlert
 Regulations in 50 U.S.
states
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15. Thank you.
U.S. WTO TBT Enquiry Point
National Center for Standards and
Certification Information (NCSCI)
100 Bureau Drive
Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2160
E-mail: ncsci@nist.gov
Telephone: 301-975-4040
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