In-Depth Standards Resources
This section includes links to publications, articles, and/or external websites that provide greater depth and understanding of standards issues for this country.
Proposed Regulations Impacting Trade and Exports
NIST is the home of the U.S. Inquiry Point to the World Trade Organization's Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement. The Inquiry Point monitors TBT activity globally; its Notify U.S. database reports on proposed technical regulations and standards in advance of adoption and implementation. 
| Country |
Notification |
Topic |
Date issued |
Comment Deadline |
| France |
FRA/147 |
Artificial tanning devices and establishments using such devices
France
Artificial tanning devices and establishments using such devices
The purpose of the notified draft Decree is to strengthen the provisions of Decree No. 97-617 of 30 May 1997 on the sale and public use of certain tanning devices using ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which establishes requirements governing the sale and public use of such devices (technical characteristics of tanning booths, public information, training for professionals, and equipment checks). The draft text seeks to regulate more effectively the services offered to the public by tanning booth professionals by making changes to the training system and establishing an accreditation regime for the bodies that are responsible for checking these devices. It also aims to ensure that tanning booth users are provided with updated and more detailed information on the health risks associated with UV tanning, in particular those relating to cancer. This draft regulatory text, which seeks to protect the health and safety of the population, contains a number of provisions relating to technical standards:
- Article 9 provides that the surface of UV emitters shall be marked with a code that is defined in Standard EN 60335-2-27. This Standard is consistent with the recommendations of the European Union's Scientific Committee and the European Commission's mandate to CENELEC (M397EN, 2006);
- Articles 10 and 11 provide for the updating of the content of the health warnings displayed on tanning appliances and included in advertising materials. The requirement to display such warnings was introduced in 1997;
- Article 12 establishes the principle of declaring the withdrawal from use and destruction of tanning devices, with a view to ensuring the traceability of such devices throughout their life cycle. The requirement to declare the purchase of these devices was introduced in 1997;
- Article 13 introduces an initial check for tanning devices before their first use. Since 1997, tanning devices have been required to undergo a check every two years. |
3/11/2013 |
6/2/2013 |
| France |
FRA/148 |
Electric fence energizers
France
Electric fence energizers
The notified Order establishes modalities for manufacturer verification of the level of safety of new electric fence energizers of a type that received conformity certification before 20 February 2009. Manufacturers must verify (internally) that the maximum energy per pulse of any new device sold is less than 5 joules with resistance of 50 to 500 ohms, or that the device meets equivalent technical specifications. Manufacturers must identify the devices that may continue to be marketed in their existing state and, where necessary, make technical modifications to other devices and carry out new conformity assessments. They must also update manufacturing records. |
4/15/2013 |
6/15/2013 |
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