tralac has been involved in a unique capacity building exercise this year. We have been asked to assist the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (Germany’s National Metrology Institute) with their training programme for African officials working in standards related areas within their countries. This involves training in the application of the TBT Agreement of the WTO. This project includes an e-learning component and has been going on for some time already.

The implications of regional integration arrangements for implementing national legislation and Protocols on TBT issues have been recognised as an important new component of this training programme. tralac has been asked to develop the necessary additional materials to account for the regional integration aspect. Gerhard Erasmus and Abrie du Plessis have designed the materials and have also been involved in the interactive part of the implementation of the programme.