t is a real pleasure for me to welcome all readers to the 16th issue of the ASEAN Standards and Quality Bulletin entitled “ACCSQ and its activities”. We are very pleased to highlight in this issue all activities, which are being undertaken by the ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) and we believe that you will find ACCSQ activities useful as a means to improve your quality of business.
ACCSQ was formed in 1992 by the ASEAN Economic Ministers to support the realization of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and to facilitate the external ASEAN trade by removing unnecessary barriers to trade caused by standards and conformity assessment or so- called Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT).
In achieving its objective, ACCSQ has been working on four following broad areas, which are in line with the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade:
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Implementation of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangements;
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Harmonization of standards;
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Enhancement of standards and conformity assessment infrastructure in Member Countries; and
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Transparency of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment regimes in the region.
ACCSQ at the same time actively conducts consultations and undertakes collaborative programmes with its counterparts from METI- Japan, USA, EC and CER (Australia and New Zealand).
ACCSQ is no doubt a bridge between national standards agencies, regulators and business community. In planning and charting business strategies to ensure sustained growth, business community needs to be aware of the changing needs of product standards and regulatory requirements applied in foreign countries and ACCSQ and its members- National Standards Bodies are in the best position to provide you the much needed-information support services. We are all one way or another contributing to the development of the ASEAN trade.
I take this opportunity to thank Member Countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, ACCSQ Chairs and Co-Chairs of Working Groups and Product Working Groups for their great efforts and contribution to the work of ACCSQ.
Let us work together for a better future for ASEAN.
Hj Abd Gapar Bin Hj Abdullah
The ACCSQ Chairman 2003
