The 5
th
Meeting of the ACCSQ WBPWG 11-12 July 2007, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
6 forest-based products.
37. Viet Nam informed the Meeting that 28 ministerial standards related to
wood-based products were issued in December 2006. Most of them are aligned with ISO standards and will be adopted as the national standards or
technical regulations in the near future.
38. Brunei Darussalam informed the Meeting that there was no change on
their regulations since the last meeting.
6.1 Networking among ASEAN Member Countries on standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment
procedures
39. The Meeting noted that there were no new updates to be reported
under this agenda item.
6.2 Networking of ASEAN Member Countries with non-ASEAN trading partners on standards, technical regulations and
conformity assessment procedures
40. Malaysia updated the Meeting that Taiwan has imposed new import
requirements for formaldehyde emission test for plywoods and Laminated Veneer Lumber LVL. The requirements will be effective from 1 July 2007 for
plywood, while for the LVL it had already been effective from 1 January 2007. 41.
The Meeting acknowledged the need to secure recognition for national
testingcertification bodies through appropriate forum e.g. APLAC and ILAC to facilitate extra-ASEAN trade. Towards this end, it was agreed that a list of
Member Countries’ accredited testingcertification bodies for wood based products should be compiled. Member Countries were requested to submit
their list to Malaysia by 31 July 2007. The Meeting requested the ASEAN Secretariat to publish this information on the ASEAN website.
42. The ASEAN Secretariat will seek further information on the status of
Taiwan Accreditation Foundation and if they are bound to recognise test reports under the APLACILAC MRAs.
AGENDA ITEM 7: IDENTIFICATION OF AREAS FOR HARMONISATION
OF STANDARDS, TECHNICAL REGULATIONS AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
7.1. Comparative study on standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures of
ASEAN Member Countries
43. Malaysia presented to the Meeting the findings of Comparative Study of
Standards, Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures of ASEAN Member Countries, based on responses received from Brunei
The 5
th
Meeting of the ACCSQ WBPWG 11-12 July 2007, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
7 Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. The
information paper from Malaysia appears as ANNEX 9 and 10. 44.
The Meeting noted that the initial findings were as follows: • Sawn
Timber 45.
Each respondent country has its own reference documents, and the purposes and description vary from structural uses to measurements, timber
characteristics and properties, as well as treatment. Hence, the details of these documents may require to be scrutinised so as to harmonize the product
characteristic among ASEAN member countries.
• Wood including flooring and mouldings 46.
Within this chapter, only the Philippines requires the information on the characteristics and properties of the products. They are on the sampling
methods, testing in compression, shearing stress and MOE. Other countries in ASEAN may either adopt or adapt to the International Standards before they
could establish their own standards and products requirements, with regards to flooring and mouldings.
• Builders, Joinery and Carpentry BJC of wood, including cellular wood panels, assembled parquet panels and shingles
47. Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines and Singapore require information
on specific requirements. In the case of Brunei Darussalam, terms associated with trusses, nail and screw holding capacity, jointing systems, column,
beams, etc are being regulated based on its national and international standards. The Philippines requires information on specification of wooden
flush door and windows. As for Malaysia and Singapore, contractors are required to comply with the Malaysian Construction Industry Standards and
Code of Practice respectively.
• Furniture, including furniture wooden parts 48.
Malaysia and the Philippines have specific requirements for furniture, in terms of strength and stability, specification, seating performance rating as well
as method of test for finishes.
7.2 Harmonisation of standards, technical regulations and
