The document summarizes procedures for information exchange in the United States, including: 1) The U.S. WTO TBT Enquiry Point is located within the National Center for Standards and Certification Information at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 2) Regulations in the U.S. are notified through the U.S. Federal Register and follow a "Notice and Comment" process where a notice is issued, comments are accepted, and then a final rule is issued addressing the comments. 3) The U.S. Federal Register is a key source for the "Notice and Comment" process, publishing legal texts in a newspaper format every business day in paper, microfiche and electronic

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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