Background

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 Trades Area (AFTA).

At the 4^th Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) held in Medan, Indonesia on 8-10 September 1997, the SEOM approved the revised TOR of the ACCSQ, which among others, authorized the ACCSQ to involve regulatory bodies in the ACCSQ in order to achieve its mandate of eliminating technical barriers to trade.

The Special Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (SOM-AMAF) held on 24-26 April 2001 in Siem Riep, Cambodia agreed on the need for MRAs for prepared foodstuff.  The Regional Seminar on Prepared Foodstuff held on 25 November 2002 in Manila, Philippine recommended ACCSQ set up a working group to look into possible MRAs for Prepared Foodstuff.  As a follow-up, the 21^st ACCSQ Meeting held on 3-4 March 2003 in Brunei Darussalam agreed to form the Product Working Group (PWG) on Prepared Foodstuff.

Article 1: Objectives and Scope of the PWG on Prepared Foodstuff

            The PWG on Prepared Foodstuff will assist the ACCSQ in addressing the elimination of technical barriers to trade for prepared foodstuff though, among others, the following measures:

a)       Exchange of information on standards, regulations, procedures and mandatory requirements in Member Countries related to prepared  foodstuff;

b)      Review and analyze the comparative study of regulatory regimes among Member Countries;

c)      Identify areas for possible harmonization and MRAs;

d)      Develop, implement and monitor the sectoral MRAs; and

e)       Identify the technical infrastructure needs and build-up mutual confidence in testing and conformity assessment.

Article 2: Structure

            The PWG will be composed of:

a)       The PWG Chair and Co-Chair;

b)      Representative(s) from Food Regulatory Agencies, National Codex Committee, National Food Association and Food Industry nominated by Member Countries to the PWG;

c)      Representative(s) from Regional Food Association;

d)      Any ACCSQ Members wishing to participate; and

e)       Representative(s) from the ASEAN Secretariat.

The PWG may form expert committee(s) or task force(s) to assist the PWG to carry out certain specific activities.

Representative(s) from other relevant organizations such as FAO, WHO and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX) that are interested in, and/or contribute to the development of the PWG, could be invited to take part in the PWG Meeting on case-by-case basis.

Article 3: The Duties and Responsibilities of Chair, Co-Chair.

a)       The Chair of the PWG shall be responsible to the ACCSQ.  The Chair shall preside at every meeting of the PWG and ensure that all interests are heard, keep discussion to the point, judge when a consensus of opinion has been reached and express it by summing up progress in order that the minutes are clear and precise.

b)      Prior to any discussion, the Chair shall consult with the members of the PWG on the subject to be covered during the discussion.

c)      Any policy issues which might arise during discussion at the PWG, The Chair shall report to the ACCSQ for further consideration.

d)      The Co-Chair shall assist the Chair in implementing the above duties and responsibilities and shall assume these duties and responsibilities when the Chair is not available.

Article 4: The Duties and Responsibilities of the Secretary

            The Secretary of the Product Working Group shall be appointed by the Chair Country to assist the Chair to perform the following functions:

a)       to service the Product Working Group during and between its meetings;

b)      to monitor the activities of the Product Working Group;

c)      to compile and disseminate, periodically, among Member Countries relevant data and information pertaining to Prepared Foodstuff in coordination of the ACCSQ Working Group on Information.

Article 5: Frequency of Meetings and Reports

a)       The Product working Group will meet at least once a year;

b)      Any member of the Product Working Group can request for a meeting with the approval of the Chair and the Co-Chair.

c)      At the conclusion of each meeting, the Product Working Group will determine the time, date and venue of its next meeting. The Product Working Group may hold a seminar or forum back-to-back with the Meeting, if necessary.

d)      Members shall be given at least 1 month notice of meeting.

e)       The Product Working Group shall report its recommendations and proceedings to the ACCSQ, with copies to SOM-HD and SOM AMAF.

Article 6: The Term of Office

            The PWG shall be undertaken for the period of 3 years starting from July 2003 and may be renewed for further period subject to ACCSQ approval.