Background
1. The ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) was formed by the ASEAN Economic Ministry in October 1992 with the aim of removing technical barriers to trades in order to facilitate the implementation of the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Agreement and to realize the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

2. The 21^st Meeting of ACCSQ held in Brunei Darussalam in March 2003 agreed to form a Product Working Group to assist ACCSQ in addressing the elimination of technical barriers to trades for prepared foodstuff.

3. The ACCSQ product working group on prepared foodstuff meetings were organized in Indonesia and Thailand respectively. The meeting endorsed its terms of reference and work programmes. These work programmes are classified into 4 activities lead by assigned countries which are,

            3.1 Achieving transparency of prepared foodstuff regulatory regime among member countries. (Thailand)

            3.2 Specifying area for MRA of prepared foodstuff. (Indonesia)

            3.3 Enhancing the technical infrastructure for prepared foodstuff. (Philippines) 

            3.4 Strengthening of food safety standard for prepared foodstuff (Malaysia)

4. In relation to the work programme on the transparency of prepared foodstuffs regulatory regimes, the establishment of the ASEAN Consultative Network on Product Working Group for Prepared Foodstuff is required as a platform for transparency of prepared foodstuff regulatory regime.

Objectives
5. To establish ASEAN Consultative Network of Product Working Group on Prepared Foodstuff  to achieve transparency of prepared foodstuff regulatory regime among member countries

Proposed Mechanism

6. ASEAN Consultative Network should be set up through existing website. In this connection, Thailand proposes to set this network through ASEAN Food Safety Network Website.

7. The ASEAN Food Safety Network Website under the coordination of Thailand was established for the purpose of providing cohesive approach by various authorities under ASEAN to coordinate, highlight and propose food safety issued that should be addressed. Concerns raised will include the protection of consumer health as well as facilitation of food trade and the establishment of a forum for bilateral or multilateral discussion for exchange of information on specific issue.

8. Only member of product working group and national contact point for the network could access information on ASEAN consultative network webpage.

-Benefits

9. Prompt and well coordinated information on regulatory regimes among member countries.

Activities

10. Using the established network as a platform, activities to meet the objects, according to the resolution of 2^nd PF PWG meeting , will be undertaken :

            10.1 Identify the national contact points for the ASEAN Consultative Network.

            10.2 Develop information exchange template for the existing standards, regulations procedures

            10.3 Circulate information exchange template to ASEAN Member Countries for completion

            10.4 Member Countries to submit the completes information

            10.5 Compile and disseminate of information exchange template though ASEAN Consultative network webpage

            10.6 Translate the technical regulation related to prepared foodstuff by each ASEAN member countries in to English

            10.7 Publication of the technical in the national website

            10.8 Review, analyze and define similarities and differences of the member countries, regulatory regime and develop the profile of ASEAN regulatory regime for prepared foodstuff

            10.9 Publicize and update the profile the through ASEAN Consultative network webpage.

Time Frame

Years 2004 ??? 2006