CEFTA 2006 Sub-committees

In accordance with Article 41.5 to the Agreement, the Joint Committee can establish sub-committees and other bodies to support the implementation of the agreement.  To date, three sub-committees have been established:

• Sub-committee on Agriculture including Sanitary and Phytosanitary Issues.  It objective is to facilitate trade in agricultural products within the region and ensure that protection of plant health, animal health and food safety and other measures applied in agricultural trade do not unjustifiably restrict trade;
• Sub-committee on Customs and Rules of Origin.  Its objective is to simplify and facilitate customs procedures, stimulate rapid implementation of the common rules of origin in all the Parties in line with Article 14 of the Agreement;
• Sub-committee on Technical Barriers to Trade and Non-Tariff Barriers.  Its objective is to identify, review and propose measures for elimination of technical barriers to trade and non-tariff barriers among the Parties.

Terms of reference for each sub-committee were agreed at the Ohrid meeting of the Joint Committee in September 2007.  Members of the sub-committees are officials from the relevant ministries and agencies and are formally appointed by governments.

In general, the sub-committees meet at least once per year and can also meet on an ad hoc basis if deemed necessary. The Chair of each sub-committee rotates among the Parties alphabetically on a yearly basis.  The Party currently acting as Chair in Office chairs the Sub-committee on Agriculture including Sanitary and Phytosanitary Issues.  The Chair of the Sub-committee on Customs and Rules of Origin is a representative of the first party in alphabetical order after the Chair in Office.  The Chair of the Sub-committee on Technical Barriers to Trade and Non-Tariff Barriers is a representative of the second party in alphabetical order after the Chair in Office.
Information on the terms of reference and meetings of each sub-committee can be found by clicking on the appropriate sub-committee on the left hand side menu.