1.  SPS standards in Slovakia are primarily the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture. The main legislation governing sanitary and phytosanitary measures are: the Act on Veterinary Care (No. 337/1998) implemented by the State Veterinary Administration, and t

184.84.  Under the Food Code of Slovakia (Act No. 152/1995 On Foodstuffs) and the Act on Protection of Peoples Human Health (No. 272/1994), many agricultural products and their processing points are subject to hygiene and health testing procedures to ensure that the foodstuffs are fit for human consumption. This legislation sets maximum residue limits for contaminants, including maximum aflatoxin levels. According to the authorities, these requirements apply uniformly to imported and domestic foodstuffs. These are set and implemented jointly by the Ministries of Agriculture and Health in line with the regulations contained in the Codex Alimentarius of the Slovak Republic. The Preventive and Clinical Medicine Institute assesses the toxicological properties of plant products to protect human health

77.75.  Slovakia is harmonizing its standards and technical regulations with those of the EU as part of its EU accession process. To meet these requirements, several new laws and regulations have been introduced during the period under review. Legislation, effective 1 January 2000, on Technical Requirements for Products and on Conformity Assessment (Act No. 264/1999), contained many principles of EU legislation, and introduced many elements of the EUs Slovakias recent New and Global Approach into Slovakia's legislation. These changes have generally simplified Slovakias testing and certification requirements. The new legislation reaffirmed the Office ofor Standardsisation, Metrology and Testing as the central state body in the area of technical standardization and conformity assessment.testing. The Office accepted the Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards from September 1995.[35] The Slovak Institute for Standardization (SUTN) took over this acceptance in May 2001

77.76.  The Office is responsible for formulating government policypolicies and plans on standardization and for supervising the transposition ofportation of EN, ISO and IEC standards, which support the EU legislationprogramming implementation. According to Act No. 264/1999 Coll. t TThe Office designated, as from 17 January 2000, the SUTNlovak Institute for Standardization as the - National sStandardization oOrganization (NSO) - legal body responsible for the development, approval and issuance of Slovak standards (Act No. 264/1999 Coll.). It writes, publishes,, and maintains both a register and database of Slovak and European standards.[36] The Institute establishes Technical Standardization Committees to set and review particular standards., for approval by the Commission for Standards Approval (a consultative council of the Institutes Director since August 1999).[37] The Slovak Institute for Standardization (SUTN) is It is also responsible for developing cooperative links and servicing executing Slovakias membership of international and European standardization organizations. Slovakia SUTN is a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), as well as an affiliate member, without voting rights, of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC). Based Oon the bases of a contract with the Office, SUTN fulfils the activities of The Institute is Slovakias enquiry point with the WTO under the TBT Agreement and, with upon the agreement ofwith the Ministry of Agriculture, also the activities of contact point for the SPS Agreements. In July 2000, SUTN concluded an agreement with the Czech Standards Institute on mutual cooperation in EN transposition whereby it acquired over 4,000 Czech EN transposed standards

78.77.  Slovakia inherited many national standards from the former Czechoslovakia, and began introducing its own standards (STNs), mainly as temporary measures, pending EU alignment. This process has accelerated recently. The Governments main policy objectives on standards and technical requirements are to protect public safety interest and to achieve full compatibility with the EU. A Legislative Council Working Group was established in January 2000 (Government Resolution No. 17/2000) to review technical regulations, including their compliance with EU requirements. The number of national standards continues to increase, in part due to the adoption of EU standards. At end-March 1999, Slovakia had 19,500 standards, of which three quarters (75%), or 14,625, represented national standards; 14% (2,769), European standards; and 11% (2,145), adopted from international standards.[38] At end-May 2001, the number of standards had increased to 20,75123,199; national standards represented about 70% 62,4% (14,477510), European standards about 127% (3,4716,423), and the remaining 13 9,610% (2,236770) were international standardsnorms, mainly ISO and IEC standards. [Please confirm figures.] The Slovak Institute for Standardization (SUTN) Government plans to have transposed reviewed about 80% of Slovak European standards to the Slovak set of standards, including cancelilationng of conflicting Slovak standards, by end-2001. It intends to apply EU standards or relevant international normsstandards, where they exist, and would adopt European standards over international ones if then differed

79.78.  In line with its objective of harmonizing standards, certification and testing procedures with the EU, Slovakias standards became voluntary from 1 January 2001. This represented a major change from using mandatory standards accredited by Slovak testing agencies. The new legislation makes conformity with Slovak standards voluntary, unless required under other technical regulations. Slovak standards remain mandatory only if they are directly included in a technical regulation. Mandatory certification is also specified under this legislation for so-called "determined products".[39] The conformity assessment of products is carried out in accordance with Act 264/1999 Coll on Technical Requirements for Products and on Conformity Assessment and the relevant Governmental Ordinances. The Act is compatible with the relevant EC legislation and the Governmental Ordinances transpose the relevant New Approach Directives. The Act and Governmental Ordinances use the term determined products,[Please explain these provisions and what these products are.] Determined products, once certified, shall can carry the Slovak conformity mark. Foreign, including EC, marks are recognized under the conditions stipulated in 33 of Act 264/1999 Coll

80.79.  Mandatory technical regulations, voluntary harmonized standards standards, and standards suitable for conformity assessment, used ingby accredited Slovak testing agencies, manufacturers, and importers, apply to a large number of products that are considered a threat to safety, health, and the environment, such as foodstuffs, kitchen appliances, medicines, electrical equipment, engineering products, agricultural machinery, plastics, paints, polishes, cosmetics. Obligatory technical standards were introduced for example, on outdoor shoes in September 1997 [please confirm -confirmed] (and removed in 2001), but subsequentlyand removed on many other products, such as outdoor shoes[40], ceramic tiles[41], textiles and clothing[42], and mineral waters. At present, fFrom 1 February 1, 2001, foodstuffs haveare not been certified but the manufacturer or importer must issues a declaration of conformity on the basis of tests performedcarried out by an authorized or accredited body.[43] This activity is subject to Decree No. 27/2001 Coll. of the Ministry of Agriculture (Amendment to Decree No.36/1997 Coll. of the Ministry of Agriculture) on the notification of the production of foodstuffs, tobacco products and cosmetics and on the conditions for putting them in circulation. The nNew foodstuffs are also subject to the approval byof the Chief Hygienist. The other products mentioned (eEngineering products and, agricultural machinery) are assessed according to Governmental Ordinance No. 391/1999 Coll. andin the wording of Governmental Ordinance No. 475/2000 Coll. on technical requirements for machinery. As from 1 st February, 2001, cosmetics were excluded from Governmental Ordinance No. 400/1999 Coll. so their sale placing on the market is not restricted by certification. Paints and polishes are subject to conformity assessmentin accordance with Act 90/1998 Coll. on construction products, which is within the competence of the Ministry of Construction and Regional Development (Act 90/1998 Coll. on construction products). Plastics are subject to conformity assessment only as products thatwhich come into contact with foodstuffs

81.80.  Certification and conformity assessment is performed by authorized state testing agencies. These must be accredited by the Slovak National Accreditation Service, the independent national accreditation body since January 2000 (Act No. 264/1999 Coll. On Technical Requirements for pProducts and on Conformity Assessment). The Service, established in 1993, has been a member of the European Accreditation Agency since 1998. ISO rules on accreditation are applied. As at end-May 2000, 38 testing entities had been accredited. , the main body being the National Testing Center. All national authorized testing centers are accredited

82.81.  Slovakia recognizes foreign documents or foreign marks as proof of conformity assessment for certification, under reciprocal mutual recognition agreements. In July 2000, Slovakia concluded an agreement with the Czech Republic on mutual cooperation in standardization, metrology and testing. whereby it recognizes over 4,000 Czech standards. Both countries generally accept each others technical standards, quality certificates, and safety and testing procedures on a reciprocal basis. Slovakia also has similar bilateral agreements with other neighbouring countries, including Poland, Russia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Slovenia, the Ukraine, and Romania. CEFTA members took additional steps during the review period to mutually recognize each others certification and testing procedures. Slovakia has also concluded been negotiating a protocol on conformity assessment with the EU (PECA) covering both acceptance of test results and recognition of certificates, which is due to become operational in 20012002. It iswas also expected to become a member of the multilateral agreement for mutual recognition of certificates and reports issued by accredited bodies (MLAMRA). [Please confirm that this happened and if so when? This did not happen yet.]

83.82.  According to the authorities, standards, certification, and conformity assessment apply uniformly to imports, and no longer represent a significant impediment to trade.[44] One substantial improvement was the introduction of "self-declaration" certification by the manufacturer or importer prior to sale on the market for many products. (see 80). AsAccording to Act No. 264/1999 Coll. and Governmental Ordinances to it, which are the implementation of relevant EC directives, gradually becomeing incorporated into the Slovak legal system, its procedures for conformity assessment will be increasinglyare governed by the same principles as those in EC Member States,; i.e. in the majority of cases, the manufacturer or importer issues the declaration of conformity and places the product for sale on the Slovak market. [Please confirm and if so provide details.] Nevertheless, certification procedures may still involve substantial delays and cost. Certification is sometimes applied on the basis of an importer rather than a product[please confirm if this is still the case], and are it is is for a limited duration, requiring re-certification. ButHowever, for products assessed according to Governmental Ordinances from January 2001, certificationit is issued for the same period as in the EU Member States, and according to the conformity assessment module chosen by the manufacturer. [Please confirm.]

84.83.  Effective September 1997, quality certificates have applied to certain products, including imports. It is estimated that these apply to about 9% of imports.[45] ISO 9000 series of standards are being used increasingly as evidence of product quality. [Please confirm]yes

85.  the Act on Plant Health cCare (No. 285/1995). to which oOne of the regulations is the of the 1995 Act Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture of the SR No. 2785/1998-100 as of January 27, 1999 concernsing phytosanitary conditions tothat shall be met for the import, export, and transit of plants and plant products, and other objects that may transmit harmful organisms

87.86.  Slovakia imposes import restrictions bans as part of its quarantine regulations. Goods prohibited from imported outright include [please provide the list of products.] subject to import or transit through Slovakia due to veterinary diseases, are: all categories of bovine animals and their products as well as embryos, meat and bone powder, because of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE); and ruminants and swine, semen and embryos, meat and meat products, treatment of which does not guarantee clearance of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus, due to FMD. In addition, some foodstuffs cannot be imported from specified countries, for example, pigs, pork meat, and feed concentrates and unheated products from the Czech Republic, since June 1997 following the outbreak of swine fever Hog cholera. - besides products mentioned also products not heated. [please provide a full list of these restrictions, including products and countries covered]. Other cCountries affected by the ban due to hog cholera: besides the Czech Republic arelso Germany, Spain, Greece, Austria, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands and Belgium. Slovakia has also banned, since 15 January 2001, the importation of cattle and certain beef products, originating from regions or countries likely to be affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.[46] It also introduced a ban, from 9 April 2001, on imports of live domestic and wild bi-ungulates, their products and by-products from France, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and other countries with foot and mouth diseaseFMD.[47] SlovakiaIt also bans imports of GMO food and of meat treated with growth-promoting hormones

88.87.  Some plant commodities prohibited from import orand transit through the territory of Slovakia is prohibited are subject to Annex No. 11 to the Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture of the SR No. 2785/1998, (which containsing a exact list of suchrespective plants. In 1998, the SlovakiaR notified to the WTO a phytosanitary measure on imports of potatoes for human consumption to the WTO concerning the treatment of potatoes with the "neo-stop" agent against germination. Following the consultations with the delegation of the European Communities, the SlovakiaR agreed to allowenabled treatment of potatoes to be treated also with other agents containing the chemical chloropropham substance. This action was also notified to the WTO, as well. other products from certain countries have to fulfil special quarantine requirements to be imported aimed at ensuring disease free status. Imports of certain plants and fruits, for example, require a phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporting country. [Please provide list of products covered] Slovakia also maintains a rigorous surveillance system on imports of potatoes and fruit, including apples, pears, and quinces.[48] According to the Government, these measures are based on a pest risk assessment conducted in accordance with EPPO recommendations, and exist to preserve the countrys disease-free status.[49]

89.88.  Slovakia regularly submits notifications on its quarantine measures to the WTO, for comment, prior to their entry into force. The Slovak Institute for Standardization is the national enquiry point, and the Ministry of Agriculture is the national notification authority to the WTO

90.89.  Slovakia maintains regulations regarding labelling of food products and a range of other products. Food labelling requirements These are not yet fully harmonized with EU requirements on food labelling based on its respective regulations. or the General Codex Standard on Food Labelling. [Please confirm.] Differences include the requirement to show both date of production (over the EU standard) and expiry date for consumption on all food items. This difference will be removedexcluded whenin the amendment of the Act on Foodstuffs and the respective chapter of the Codex Alimentarius of Slovakia are amended, the SR, which is expected to come into force form be from 1 January 1, 2002. Contents, ingredients, country of origin, name of producer, and instructions for use, where applicable, must also be given, in the Slovak language since January 1996. Name brands are not affected and may include foreign words. Packaging requirements are covered also by a particular chapter of the Codex Alimentarius of the SlovakiaR. apply. [Please provide details.]