WB PWG Secretariat’s Information Paper The Fifth Meeting of the ACCSQ PWG on Wood-based Products
11 –12 July 2007, Brunei Darussalam
HIGHLIGHT OF THE FOURTH MEETING OF ACCSQ PWG ON WOOD-BASED PRODUCTS
The Fourth Meeting of ACCSQ Product Working Group on Wood-based Products (WB-PWG) was held on 22-23 August 2006, in Ho Chi Minh-Viet Nam. The meeting was attended the delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam, and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat. To follow up the results of the meeting, secretariat of WB-PWG has circulated the matrix of follow up actions from the fourth meeting of WB-PWG.
Chairman of WB-PWG has also reported the outcomes of the fourth WBPWG meeting to the 29th ACCSQ meeting held in Yangoon, Myanmar on 20-22 March 2007. Some important issues was reported to ACCSQ Leaders for their consideration and follow up actions. Important issues raised are on the following items :
Due to lack of participation in discussion of WBPWG, indicating by few of member countries attending the WBPWG meeting and taking into consideration of the quorum aspect, WBPWG would like to seek guidance and support from ACCSQ Leaders to improve the actively participation of member countries
ACCSQ Leader responded this issues which is reflected in the report of the 29th ACCSQ meeting, para 72 as follows:
72. The Meeting further agreed to encourage Member Countries to actively participate in the activities of WBPWG and requested the ACCSQ Leaders to follow up internally in their respective countries.
With regard to the result of the Fourth Meeting of ACCSQ WB PWG, some issues which has been discussed, are as follows:
1. The Meeting took note of the status of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures for wood-based products from Malaysia, Indonesia and Viet Nam. The purpose of this exercise is to help identify the differences and the similarities amongst Member Countries in this field so that harmonization initiatives can be undertaken.
2. The Meeting took note on the updated status of the compilation of the response received from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Viet Nam, on the questionnaire on the transparency of wood-based products standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, presented by Indonesia. Based on the response received, the initial findings as follows:
(a) There were several differences on the product grouping among member countries; (b) Reference Standards used varied widely among member countries;
(d) There were no requirements for approval procedures for export and import by member countries, except in the case of Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam where specific requirements for several wood-based products are imposed.
3. The Meeting noted that Member Countries are still in the process of translating the mandatory requirements (technical regulations) into English. Member Countries are requested to update their status on translating in the next Meeting.
4. The Meeting took note the URL of the relevant institution from Indonesia, Malaysia and Viet Nam to be hyperlinked with the ASEAN website. Taking into account that ASEAN Secretariat had developed an electronic platform, known as the ASEAN Application Portal (ASAP) and is available for PWGs to be used as a communication tool to facilitate the work of PWGs electronically, therefore the websites proposed by Member Countries could be linked to the WBPWG page in the ASAP. The Meeting noted ASAP as a possible information network platform for the WBPWG.
5. The Meeting noted the responses from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam, on Comparative study of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures among Member Countries. The Meeting requested Malaysia to present the compilation of the comparative study as well as to make a comprehensive analysis of the feedback received from Member Countries and to come up with recommendations to be discussed at the next Meeting.
6. With regard to status of selecting and prioritizing standards from the list of specific standards of (i) Panel products, (ii) sawn timber, and (iii) flooring products for harmonization, the Meeting agreed to add three more columns i.e ‘Corresponding National Standards’, ‘Degree of Equivalence with the International Standards’, and ‘Proposed Level of Priority’. Member Countries are requested to submit their inputs based on the new said format.
7. The Meeting noted the presentation from Indonesia on the AADCP Project Summary titled “Towards a Regional Approach for Addressing Standards for Wood-Based Products in an ASEAN/Australia/New Zealand Free Trade Agreement”, in which the objectives of the project are for capacity building of ASEAN officials to develop a regional approach for ensuring provisions for standards for wood-based products negotiated in the ASEAN-CER FTA, resulting in best practice outcomes that are based on sound policy principles and are supportive of economic welfare and regional integration. The Meeting agreed that Member Countries should consult their relevant authorities and submit their views and comments on this proposal.
9. As suggested by the ACCSQ that the WBPWG should focus on identification and harmonization of standards which have strong impact on extra ASEAN trade and to look into ways to enhance market access for ASEAN wood-based products to international markets, the Meeting considered and agreed with the inclusion of relevant new strategies and activities within its Work Program. The Meeting also discussed, agreed and adopted the revised TOR of WBPWG. The revised TOR will reflect the new activity requested by the ACCSQ to enhance trade with dialogue partners and the on-going negotiations on FTAs carried out with dialogue partner.
