Statement from the International Chamber of Commerce " The ICC fully recognizes that governments are entitled to intervene in the distribution of articles for consumption or of certain types of equipment in order to protect consumers and users. It finds however, that in a considerable number of cases, the application of such regulations seriously hampers international trade and directly or indirectly, constitutes an effective protection of the local producer. Often the protectionist intention is obvious or is ill-concealed. It may also happen that application of standards, especially when they call for a control in the country of consumption, in practice prohibits all importation of the product concerned, producing the same effect as well as would an administrative prohibition. In other cases, importation remains possible but the costs occasioned by the control requirements increase the cost of the imported item as would a customs duty."