Inf or mat i on Paper The Four t h Meet i ng of t he ACCSQ PWG on Woodbased Pr oduct s
22 –23 August 2006, Ho Chi Mi nh-Vi et Nam
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 27TH AND 28TH MEETING OF THE ACCSQ AND RELEVANT DECISIONS DEALING WITH WOOD-BASED SECTOR
The 27th and 28th Meetings of the ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and
Quality (ACCSQ) were held on 20-22 March 2006, in Penang, Malaysia and 10-12 August 2006 in Jakarta, Indonesia, respectively. Some important issues were agreed by ACCSQ Leaders for further follow up actions by the relevant WGs/PWGs. Important issues raised are on the following items :
1. ASEAN Policy Guideline.
- The ASEAN Policy Guideline on Standards and Conformance was endorsed by
the ASEAN Economic Ministers during the 37th AEM on 28 September 2005
- ACCSQ tasked WG1 and WG2 to develop a mechanism to monitor the
implementation of the roadmaps for priority sectors and the ASEAN Policy Guideline on Standards and Conformance. The draft mechanism has been
developed and submitted to the 28th ACCSQ. ACCSQ discussed and requested
WG1 to follow up with Member Countries and PWGs on their comments and inputs. The amended draft will be submitted for consideration and discussed at the Special ACCSQ Meeting that will be held prior to the 29th ACCSQ Meeting. - ACCSQ also tasked WG1 to take the lead in drafting a GRP Guide to promote
Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) to Regulators. ACCSQ noted that the draft GRP Guide has been circulated to Member Countries for their consultation with domestic regulators and all relevant PWGs for their comments, that should be submitted to WG1 not later than 15 October 2006. The final draft GRP Guide will be submitted to the 29th ACCSQ Meeting for their consideration.
- ACCSQ agreed that the ASEAN Secretariat will be responsible for monitoring the
implementation of roadmaps for integration of 11 priority sectors based on the mechanism, which will be agreed upon.
2. ASEAN Conformity Mark
- The Taskforce on ASEAN Conformity Mark, lead by Indonesia, has prepared the Draft Guide on Basic Rules for ASEAN Conformity Mark. ACCSQ agreed that the ASEAN Conformity Mark would be applicable for sectors that may allow for third party conformity assessment. The third Draft has been finalized at the Taskforce
Meeting held prior to the 28th ACCSQ Meeting held in Jakarta. Since the ASEAN
Conformity Mark will have significant impact both to the regional and national level, ACCSQ discussed and agreed that all Member Countries to have consultation at their national level and submit their comments to the Draft, if any, to Indonesia through the ASEAN Secretariat not later than 30 January 2007. The Taskforce will discuss and finalize the Draft at their next Meeting planned to be
held back-to-back with the 29th ACCSQ to be submitted for possible adoption at
the 29th ACCSQ Meeting.
3. Review of the Current TOR of the ACCSQ
Inf or mat i on Paper The Four t h Meet i ng of t he ACCSQ PWG on Woodbased Pr oduct s
22 –23 August 2006, Ho Chi Mi nh-Vi et Nam
4. Proposed Roadmap Phase 2
- ACCSQ discussed the draft of horizontal measures as well as comments given by the PWGs and agreed to submit the inputs to SEOM.
- With regard to the specific measures of the proposed Roadmap Phase 2, ACCSQ
requested the relevant PWGs to consult with their members and submit their
comments to ACCSQ through the ASEAN Secretariat not later than 20
September 2006.
5. Progress of the WB-PWG
- The ACCSQ Meeting took note of the following initial observations made by the WBPWG:
i). No technical regulations were imposed on trade in the wood-based sector
in some Member Countries.
ii). National standards in the specific category products in some Member Countries are not equivalent (NEQ) with the relevant international standards.
iii). Potential markets for wood-based products for most of Member Countries at this moment are the US, Australia and the EU. Hence, attention towards compliance with the requirements imposed by these countries is a priority for industries in some ASEAN Member Countries. However, it also observed that products produced in ASEAN Member Countries are facing difficulties in exporting due to different quarantine, testing and certification requirements imposed by foreign countries outside ASEAN.
- The ACCSQ Meeting further observed that under the roadmap for wood-based integration, no specific measures on standards and conformance were identified. - In view of the above, the ACCSQ Meeting suggested that the WBPWG would
focus on identification and harmonization of standards which have strong impact on extra ASEAN trade and at the same time to look into ways to enhance the faster market access for ASEAN wood based products to international markets. The Meeting also agreed that any outcome on harmonization of standards conducted by the WBPWG would be submitted to the WG1 for its consideration and adoption at the national level.
- The ACCSQ Meeting requested the WBPWG to revise the TOR taking into consideration issues discussed above and resubmit its revised TOR for consideration and endorsement by the ACCSQ at its next Meeting.
- The ACCSQ Meeting endorsed the Report of the 2nd Meeting of the WBPWG,
except the TOR and Work Programme which are subject to further revision.
6. Coordination with PWGs regarding the sectoral MRAs
Inf or mat i on Paper The Four t h Meet i ng of t he ACCSQ PWG on Woodbased Pr oduct s
22 –23 August 2006, Ho Chi Mi nh-Vi et Nam
criteria of the ASEAN framework agreement on MRAs and the internationally accepted testing and certification practices.
