Export Alert! Service helps industry - News Briefs - National Institute of Standards and Technology to provide online warning of trade-related technical regulations - National Institute of Standards and Technology - Brief Article

Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, May-June, 2002

The free Export Alert! web-based system operated by NIST automatically provides early warning of changes in trade-related technical regulations proposed by members of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The OSS National Center for Standards and Certification Information (NCSCI) is the U.S. inquiry point for the WTO and is responsible for distributing notifications to U.S. industry of proposed foreign technical regulations for review and comment as appropriate. The WTO requires its members to give notice of proposed regulations that might significantly affect trade. Using Export Alert! improves U.S. companies' awareness of proposals that might affect their business.

Subscribers can select specific industry sectors and/or countries in order to receive relevant e-mail messages. NCSCI can provide full-text copies of proposed regulations and will transmit comments to appropriate foreign ministries. When necessary, an extension of the comment period will be requested. Information on Export Alert! can be found at http://ts.nist.gov/ncsci.> Since its inception, over 1000 U.S. private and public organizations have registered for the service, and more than 1000 requests for copies of the full text of proposed regulations have been received by NCSCI staff. Many companies request two or more proposed regulations.

CONTACT: Ellen Trager, (301) 975-4038; ellen.trager@nist.gov.