1. Experiences of the ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ)
Ho Chi Bao
Deputy Director
Policy & 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 2

3. ASEAN Association 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 4

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) 5

6. Key Achievements of ASEAN Regulatory Cooperation –
Sectoral Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs)
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. 6

7. Key Achievements of ASEAN Regulatory Cooperation – Harmonised Regulatory Regimes
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 7

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. 8

9. MRAs set the groundwork for regulatory coherence in ASEAN
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 9

10. Thank You 10