To complete the notification requirement, each WTO member must set up a national investigative body. It is a point of contact where other WTO members can request and obtain information and documents on a member`s technical rules, standards and testing procedures, whether in place or adopted, as well as participation in bilateral or multilateral standard agreements, regional standards bodies and compliance assessment systems (Article 10). Information services are generally public bodies, but the corresponding functions can also be assigned to private agencies. The requirement to set up investigative centres is particularly important for developing countries. On the one hand, this is the first step by a member of a developing country to implement the OBT agreement. On the other hand, developing countries can obtain information from other MEPs` investigative services on foreign rules and standards concerning products of which they have a commercial interest. 10.7 When a member has reached an agreement with another country or country on issues related to technical regulations, standards or compliance assessment procedures that could have a significant impact on trade, at least one member of the agreement informs the other members, through the secretariat, of the food products covered by the agreement and a brief description of the agreement. Concerned members are invited to consult with other members on request to conclude similar agreements or to organize their participation in these agreements. 15.5 The annexes to this agreement are an integral part of this agreement. 3. Citizens of the parties to the dispute cannot be heard by a group of technical experts without the common agreement of the parties to the dispute, unless the panel considers that the need for scientific expertise cannot be met by other means. Government officials of the parties to the dispute are not allowed to sit in a panel of technical experts.
Members of technical expert groups perform their individual duties and are not representatives of the government or representatives of an organization. Governments or organizations therefore do not instruct them on the issues in front of a group of technical experts.