Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Trần Việt Thanh delivered the opening speech
During three days from September 19 to 21, the meeting was focused on discussions to approve Strategic Plan of Actions of ACCSQ’s working groups in fields of standards and conformity assessment for the 2016 - 2025 period.
On this occasion, ACCSQ’s partners as the US, Europe and Japan were present and discussed together with ASEAN on issues relating to standards and conformity assessment for the coming time.
Over the past decades, ACCSQ has experienced a long way to patiently pursue the objective of reducing trade barriers. So far, nearly 300 standards, technical specifications, requirements and guidelines have been harmonized with international one in ASEAN’s fields prioritized for integration as electricity, electronics, rubber, automobiles, supplementary food, medical equipment, pharmacy, cosmetics... Two Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) in fields of electricity and electronics and GMP Inspection for pharmaceutical producers have been implemented. Following MRAs would be in fields of bioequivalence, approval of types of automobile products, construction materials and processed food. The harmonization of management regulations for electricity and electronics equipment, cosmetics and health equipment has been ACCSQ’s important progress.
Since the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was established on December 31, 2015 so far 96.01% of tariff items have been removed. With this momentum, the figure will reach 98.67% in 2018. In the context of the economic integration ASEAN gradually pay attention to support trade and non-tariff fields, ACCSQ has showed more and more its active role inside and outside the Community. When the Plan of Action is implemented, ACCSQ’s activities will become more specific and practical, meeting strong trade demands in the region and at the international level.