40.  Aside from fulfilling its obligations under the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, Slovenia aims to harmonize its legislation and practices with those of the EU in the area of standards, regulation, and conformity assessment. In this context, three new laws were introduced in 1999, the Standardization Act, the Act on Accreditation, and the Act on Technical Requirements for Products and Conformity Assessment, in order to complete the segregation of the accreditation, certification, and standardization functions that were previously performed by a single body, the Standards and Metrology Institute of Slovenia (SMIS). These functions are now performed by two newly created, non-governmental agencies: the Slovenian Accreditation, and the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST).[35] The SMIS (now called Metrology Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (MIRS)) retains an important coordinating role among these institutions, and a technical role concerning legal metrology and pre-packaging. The Ministry of Economy keeps overall responsibility for regulation, international cooperation, and implementation of the TBT Agreement.[36]

41.  The 1999 Standardization Act and supporting regulations confirmed ongoing efforts to simplify the standardization processes. Use of standards is not, in principle, mandatory in Slovenia, unless it is so stipulated by a particular legal act. Products for which safety is an issue (food, electrical equipment, construction material, medical devices, etc.) are generally subject to technical regulations, and therefore can be subject to testing, certification or prior approval procedures. Spot-checks to ensure compliance of goods with these requirements are conducted by relevant market surveillance authorities as stated in the particular act. Procedures for the development and publication of standards and the framework for setting mandatory technical requirements in specific sectors are specified in the Standardization Act

42.  Steady progress is being achieved by Slovenia in harmonizing national standards and technical regulations with international and EU standards and relevant legal Acts.[37] Slovenia is a full member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and of the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC), and an associate member of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Electrotechnical Committee for Standardization (CENELEC). It is also a full member of the European Telecommunication Standard Institute (ETSI). By September 2001, Slovenia had adopted some 11,400 standards, of which 2,400 are ISO and IEC standards, 8,800 are EU standards (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI), and 200 are foreign standards (DIN, BS). There are only 16 purely national standards in force. Slovenias standardization organizations also cooperate on a bilateral basis with several countries' national standardization organizations. In July 2000, Slovenia adopted a Decree transposing the EU Directive on the notification procedures for standards and technical regulations. The relevant Slovenian law on the notification procedures concerning the TBT Agreement of the WTO has been in force since 1995

43.  While most products are subject to self-assessment procedures (i.e. performed by producers or importers), the most dangerous products can only be marketed after conformity assessment is performed by a third party designated by the competent Ministry.[38] Products subject to mandatory conformity assessment include, inter alia, construction products, some personnel protective equipment, medical devices, lifts, pressure equipment, and radio and telecommunications terminal equipment. Slovenia may recognize foreign documents or foreign marks as a proof of conformity assessment, on the basis of reciprocity, and/or if the legislation of the country concerned is based on the same principles as that of Slovenia. Slovenia plans to conclude a mutual recognition agreement (MRA) for the results of conformity assessment with the European Union, covering in particular the acceptance of test results and the recognition of certificates

44.  A series of sector-specific legislative acts and decrees have recently been adopted in alignment with EU legislation, to establish the requirements for products that are subject to hygiene and health testing procedures. In early 2000, regulations were issued on the criteria for authorization of testing organizations in foodstuffs, on additives, on erucidic acid, mineral and spring water, and on labeling of pre-packed foodstuffs. Other legislation was adopted to cover restrictions on marketing or use of certain dangerous substances and preparations, classification, packaging and labeling of dangerous preparations of chemical products. Regulations have also been adopted concerning pharmaceutical product and cosmetics (testing, authorization requirements, etc.). As provided by the Health Inspectorate Act of November 1999, the Health Inspectorate is responsible for surveillance and enforcement activities in these areas

45.  The main laws governing sanitary and phytosanitary measures are the Plant Product Protection Act, the Agriculture Act, the Veterinary Service Act, the Act Regulating the Sanitary Suitability of Foodstuff, and Products and Materials Coming in Contact with Food. These regulations, which the Slovenian authorities consider to be in accordance with international conventions, are based on the recommendations of the European Plant Organization and the UN/FAO regional plant protection organization. These regulations do not discriminate against imported products. According to Slovenian law, Slovenia's veterinary authorities may impose sanitary and phytosanitary measures in the form of import bans.[39] Import bans apply to plants and plant products on which listed quarantine pests occur (insects, bacteria, viruses, and parasitic plants). Certain goods must fulfil special quarantine requirements to be allowed entry. Phytosanitary certificates are required for the importation of certain plant products, fruits, vegetables and seeds (section (1)(iv)(a)). A veterinary certificate is required for the importation of certain animals, foodstuffs, and raw materials of animal origin