Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/341/REV.1 |
S-III§76 |
Tunisia |
2016 |
Measures |
Other measures |
Not specified |
Relevant information
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Tunisia has signed the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. It is also one of the seven pilot countries of the Marrakesh Process Task Force on sustainable procurement, aimed at accelerating the transition to sustainable forms of consumption and production.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/341/REV.1 |
S-III§84 |
Tunisia |
2016 |
Measures |
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Not specified |
Relevant information
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The strategy among enterprises is now to take as a basis standards on: (...) environmental management (ISO 14001 and the EU's Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)); (...) ecodesign (ISO/TR 14062), as well as the ISO 26000 standard, which is a tool for regulating social responsibility. Since 2004 "environmental assessment" has become mandatory and must be included when evaluating a business. The introduction of an environmental management system, quality certification or ISO 14001 certification is eligible for a subsidy of up to 70% of the cost of the intangible investment. An environmental upgrading programme targeted at firms in the private sector was also launched in 2001. The main beneficiaries are SMEs, and 100 of these joined the project between 2003 and 2006.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/341/REV.1 |
S-III§86 |
Tunisia |
2016 |
Measures |
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Not specified |
Relevant information
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TUNAC (National Accreditation Council) has signed mutual recognition agreements with European Accreditation (EA) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) on the accreditation of laboratories, and with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) on the accreditation of management system and environmental quality certification. These agreements have enabled TUNAC to extend its services to the international sphere. Indeed, 12 analytical laboratories have been accredited in line with ISO/IEC standard 17025 in five African countries and five testing laboratories in line with ISO/IEC standard 17025 have been accredited in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/341/REV.1 |
S-III§108 |
Tunisia |
2016 |
Measures |
Import licences |
Other |
Relevant information
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(...) Import restrictions may be imposed pursuant to other conventions signed by Tunisia (for example, CITES).
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/341/REV.1 |
S-III§118 |
Tunisia |
2016 |
Measures |
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Other |
Relevant information
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The main legislative texts relating to environmental protection and conservation of natural resources are: Decree No. 91 362 of 13 March 1991 on the prior preparation of environmental impact studies for new projects; Law No. 94 122 of 28 November 1994 enacting the Regional and Urban Development Code; Law No. 95 75 of 7 August 1995 authorizing the accession of the Tunisian Republic to the Berne Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats; and Law No. 96 41 of 10 June 1996 on solid wastes. A draft environmental code is being prepared. In practice, Tunisia has only 30 inspectors on its entire territory.
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Keywords
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Environment
Conservation
Natural resources
Wildlife
Waste
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/341/REV.1 |
S-III§119 |
Tunisia |
2016 |
Measures |
Ban/Prohibition, Import licences, Other measures |
Chemicals, Other |
Relevant information
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On 11 October 1995, Tunisia acceded to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. In 1992, Tunisia ratified the Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa of Hazardous Wastes and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa. The importation of hazardous wastes, within the meaning of the national legislation, is strictly prohibited. The Notice published in the Official Journal of 28 September 2010 sets out, in Annexes 1 and 2, the list of hazardous chemicals and acids subject to prior import authorization. [90]
[90] Notice of the Ministers of the Interior and Local Development, Trade and Crafts, Industry and Technology, Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, and Public Health, on optimization of the management of certain hazardous chemicals and acids. Viewed at: http://www.cnudst.rnrt.tn/jortsrc/2010/2010f/jo0782010.pdf.
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Keywords
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Hazardous
Waste
MEAs
Water
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/341/REV.1 |
S-III§120 |
Tunisia |
2016 |
Measures |
Ban/Prohibition, Other measures |
Chemicals |
Relevant information
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Tunisia has also ratified the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants of 17 June 2004. Under the provisions of that Convention (Article 3), Parties prohibit the production, use, import and export of chemicals covered by the Convention. In October 2015, Tunisia ratified the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade. Tunisia has ratified the London Convention (1973) and Barcelona Convention (1976) to combat pollution. However, it appears that there continue to be problems in relation to phosphate mining (Section 4.2).
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/341/REV.1 |
S-III§121 |
Tunisia |
2016 |
Measures |
Import licences |
Chemicals, Other |
Relevant information
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Tunisia has ratified the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The importation of species of fauna and flora listed in CITES Appendix I requires an import permit issued by the Ministry responsible for agriculture. According to the Forestry Code, all species are subject to an import permit. The Ministry responsible for forests (MARHP) examines applications to import animal or plant species and may grant or deny authorization for their importation. Products covered by the Montreal Protocol on CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) are subject to an import licence issued by the National Environmental Protection Agency.
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Keywords
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Endangered
Environment
MEAs
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/341/REV.1 |
S-III§122 |
Tunisia |
2016 |
Measures |
Technical regulation or specifications |
Agriculture |
Relevant information
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In 2015, there were still no laws or regulations on the non human applications of genetic engineering or on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food production, although draft legislation is under study. The use of GMOs in food products is not subject to authorization and there are no special requirements concerning the labelling of food obtained from GMOs. However, Tunisia, as a contracting party to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on the prevention of biotechnological risks, is in the process of finalizing a national legal framework that will make it possible to regulate genetically modified species. A Commission has been set up and draft legislation is being prepared, including components such as thresholds and labelling that are close to those provided for by the relevant EU legislation.
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Keywords
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Secretariat TPR |
WT/TPR/S/341/REV.1 |
S-III§123 |
Tunisia |
2016 |
Measures |
Internal taxes |
Chemicals, Manufacturing, Other |
Relevant information
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A 5% tax, established by the 2003 Finance Law, is levied on sales, including imports, of a range of generally imported products, namely, petroleum oils, polymers, centrifuges, and cells, batteries and accumulators, and chemicals. This tax goes towards two special treasury funds: 70% to the Pollution Cleanup Fund (FODEP) and 30% to the Fund for the Protection of Environmental Aesthetics (FPEE). [91]
[91] The role of FODEP is to encourage manufacturers to prevent pollution by establishing waste collection and recycling units. In practice, FODEP also provides assistance for the prevention of waste pollution and the development of clean technology. The FPEE is responsible for funding operations relating to environmental cleanliness and aesthetics, the construction and maintenance of sidewalks, and action to combat urban plastic pollution.
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Keywords
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Pollution
Clean
Environment
Waste
Recycle
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