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
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
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ASEAN
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
• Grouping of 10 Member States with population of more
than 560 million in South East Asia
• Member States
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Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam
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
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Elimination of Tariffs
Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers
Rules of Origin (ROO)
Trade Facilitation
Customs Integration
ASEAN Single Window
Standards & Technical Barriers to Trade
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Harmonising Standards & Reducing Technical
Barriers to Trade
• ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards & Conformance
(ACCSQ) was set up to :
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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)
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Sectors covered: Automotive products, Electronics, Healthcare, Rubber
based products, Prepared Food Stuffs
(identified priority sectors for integration)
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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.
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Key Achievements of ASEAN Regulatory Cooperation –
Harmonised Regulatory Regimes
• ASEAN Harmonised Cosmetic Regulatory Scheme
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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)
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Harmonised Technical Regulations
 Essential requirements for EEE (eg: safety)
 Listed standards deemed to meet the essential requirements (based on IEC
standards)
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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
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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.
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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
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Thank You
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