Delegates from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat participated in the 40th meeting of the ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality – Working Group 1 on Standards and MRA (ACCSQ-WG1) in Singapore.

The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS), participated in the 40th Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) Working Group on Standards and Mutual Recognition Arrangements (WG1-MRAs) last 07-11 May 2018 in Singapore.

The ACCSQ is composed of three (3) Working Groups, namely, Standards and Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAS), Conformity Assessment, and, Legal Metrology. The Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), as the National Standards Body of the Philippines, represents the Philippines in the Working Group on Standards and Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) – WG 1. It also serves as the focal point for standards and conformance activities.

The scope of activities of WG 1 are monitoring the implementation of the sectoral MRAs in ASEAN; establishment of an ASEAN Guide to MRAs in ASEAN; harmonization of national standards to international standards; assistance in promoting Gross Regulatory Practices (GRP) concept to regulators; build confidence among regulators in the use of harmonized standards; promote transparency of technical regulations; explore new areas for development of MRAs and standards harmonization in ASEAN; develop a mechanism for cooperation between standards bodies and regulatory agencies; and recommend to the ACCSQ, proposals, activities or issues for ASEAN cooperation in relevant international and regional organizations such as International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Among the meeting topics are the 12th Meeting of the Task Force on Wood-based Products (TFWBP), Workshop on ISO/IEC Guide 21, and, 3rd Workshop on the Revision of the ASEAN Good Regulatory Practice (GRP) Guide and WG 1- PTB Workshop on Future Cooperation Activities.

The Task Force on Wood-based Products (TFWBP) assists the ACCSQ – WG 1 in addressing the Technical Barriers to Trade for the wood-based products sector, which is a Priority Integration Sector under the ASEAN Community building efforts to support trade facilitation initiatives towards the realization of the ASEAN single market and production base.

During the meeting, the Philippines, through Engr. Mario Gaudiano of DTI-BPS, was elected as the first Vice-Chairman of the Task Force on Wood-based Products (TFWBP) for a three-year term from 2018-2021.

The ACCSQ WG 1 Meeting was attended by delegates from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat.

It was also attended by the representatives from Physikalische-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Germany, ISO Regional Engagement Initiative – Asia (ISO REI – Asia), IEC Asia Pacific Regional Centre (IEC APRC), and ASEAN Regional Integration Support by EU (ARISE Plus).

For more information on the ASEAN WG 1, call BPS at 751.3126 or send an email to bps@dti.gov.ph.