Technical barriers to trade

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) are among the most important barriers to cross-border trade in goods. TBT refers to different national product regulations and the non-recognition of foreign certificates of conformity. The elimination of technical barriers to trade is a key achievement of the EU single market. The TBT-free internal market is ensured by a dual regulatory regime. In principle, the liberal approach applies, according to which different regulations of the individual EU or EEA states are to be recognized as equivalent ("Cassis de Dijon" principle). Goods lawfully marketed in a Community country must therefore also be approved in the partner states. However, for reasons of environmental, consumer and health protection, there are many products and product groups, such as motor vehicles or electrical apparatus, which must meet specific safety requirements and for which technical regulations have therefore been and are being harmonized at EU level. Thus, such a product can only circulate in the internal market (and EEA) if it is manufactured in accordance with the regulations and has been inspected in a single member state.