Experiences of the ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ)

Ho Chi BaoDeputy DirectorPolicy & Promotion Division SPRING Singapore

TBT Workshop , 8-9 November 2011

2

Outline

• ASEAN Community – Single Market

• Harmonising Standards & Reducing Technical Barriers to Trade • Key Achievements of ASEAN Regulatory Cooperation

- Sectoral Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) - Harmonised Regulatory Regimes

• Lessons learnt

• Benefits of MRAs

ASEANAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations

• Grouping of 10 Member States with population of more than 560 million in South East Asia• Member States

– Brunei Darussalam– Cambodia– Indonesia– Lao PDR– Malaysia– Myanmar– Philippines– Singapore– Thailand– Vietnam

4

ASEAN Community – Single Market

• ASEAN Economic Community Goal by 2015 – Economic Integration through

- Establishment of single market & production base comprising 5 core elements (free flow of goods, services, investments, capital and skilled labour)

•Free flow of goods looks at- Elimination of Tariffs - Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers - Rules of Origin (ROO)- Trade Facilitation - Customs Integration - ASEAN Single Window- Standards & Technical Barriers to Trade

5

Harmonising Standards & Reducing Technical Barriers to Trade

• ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards & Conformance (ACCSQ) was set up to : - Implement mutual recognition arrangements (MRAs) of test reports,

certifications & conformity - Harmonise national standards, technical regulations & conformity

assessment requirements

• Supported by 3 working groups (WGs) and 8 product working groups (PWGs)- Sectors covered: Automotive products, Electronics, Healthcare, Rubber

based products, Prepared Food Stuffs (identified priority sectors for integration)

6

• MRA for Electrical Electronic Equipment Acceptance of test reports (based on APLAC MRA & IECEE CB Scheme) &

certification (based on PAC MRA & IECEE CB – Full Certification Scheme) Signed in 2000 and implemented in 2004 Supports implementation of AHEEER

• Pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) MRA ASEAN MRA on GMP of Inspection of Manufacturers of medicinal

products (signed in 2009 and based on PIC/S) Inspections can be carried out by competent local inspection bodies

resulting in cost savings for manufacturers.

Key Achievements of ASEAN Regulatory Cooperation – Sectoral Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs)

7

•ASEAN Harmonised Cosmetic Regulatory Scheme-ASEAN Cosmetic Directive Harmonised technical requirements (including definitions for cosmetics,

permitted ingredients/preservatives etc) Implemented in Jan 2008

•ASEAN Harmonised Regulatory Regime for Electrical and Electronic Equipment (AHEEER)

-Harmonised Technical Regulations Essential requirements for EEE (eg: safety) Listed standards deemed to meet the essential requirements (based on IEC

standards)-Harmonised Conformity Assessment Procedures Based on ISO/IEC guides 53,67 & 28 Registration of EEE & designation of conformity assessment bodies (CABs) -Signed in Dec 2005 and members are in the process of transposing national

legislation to implement AHEER

Key Achievements of ASEAN Regulatory Cooperation – Harmonised Regulatory Regimes

8

Lessons Learnt

• Willingness to collaborate and commitment by regulators are essential – needs to be backed by top level political support

• Members are at various stages of development – challenging to achieve consensus

• Different national S & C infrastructure – Despite the differences, the basis for recognition can be underpinned by

international conformity assessment and accreditation schemes with minimal changes to current regimes. For eg., registration of EEE and designation of CABs (using IECEE CB scheme and PIC/S) to develop MRAs.

9

Benefits of MRAs

• MRAs set the groundwork for regulatory coherence in ASEAN– Provide platform for collaboration and build up confidence

for ASEAN to move towards harmonized technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures (AHEER)

– Harmonization of national standards with international standards is an important component of AHEER.

– Building on the MRA, the desired outcome is “one standard, one test, one certificate accepted everywhere”

– Support the realization of ASEAN Economic Community Goal of free flow of goods

10

Thank You