An 18 Revised ToR WBPWG

TERMS OF REFERENCE
OF THE PRODUCT WORKING GROUP ON WOOD-BASED PRODUCTS

Background
The ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) was formed by
the ASEAN Economic Minister 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)
At the 4th 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.
During the 9th summit held in October 2003 the Leaders of ASEAN adopted the ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC) as the end-goal of ASEAN Economic Integration as
outlined in ASEAN Vision 2020 – “to create a stable, prosperous and highly competitive
ASEAN economic region in which there is a free flow of goods, services, investment and
freer flow of capital, equitable economic development and reduced poverty and socio
economic disparities in 2020”. The AEC is based on a convergent of interests among
ASEAN members to deepen and broaden economic integration efforts through exiting
and new initiatives with clear timelines, aiming at establishing ASEAN as a single market

and production base to turn the diversity that characterizes the region into opportunity for
business complementation making ASEAN a more dynamic and stronger segment of the
global supply chain.
At the 24th ACCSQ meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on 3 – 4 August 2004, the ACCSQ
Leaders agreed to established New Products Working Group on Wood based Products,
Automotives, Traditional Medicine and Health Supplement, Rubber based Products and
Medical Device in order to eliminating technical barriers to trade to achieve ASEAN
Economic Community (AEC) at the end goal of ASEAN Economic Integration.
Article 1:

The Scope and Objective of the PWG on Wood-Based Products
The scope of PWG on Wood based Products is to assist the ACCSQ in
addressing the elimination of technical barriers to trade for Wood-Based
Products.
The objectives are:
1. To promote transparency of Wood Based Products standards, technical
regulations and conformity assessment procedures

Revised draft adopted in the first WBP PWG meeting
As of 1 March 05

2. To identify areas for harmonization of technical regulations and
conformity assessment procedures.
3. To harmonize technical regulations and conformity assessment
procedures in identified areas under the objective 2.
Article 2:

Structure
The PWG will comprise:
a) The PWG Chair, Co-Chair and Secretary;
b) Representatives from relevant Government Agencies, Regulatory
bodies, and Associations of Wood based Products, nominated by
Member Countries to the PWG;
c) Representative(s) from Regional Wood 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 UNEP 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 and report 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 and summarise
consensus of opinion in order that the minutes are correct and precise.
b) The Chair, prior to a meeting, shall consult members of the PWG on
the subjects to be covered during a meeting.
c) The Chair shall consult the ACCSQ on any policy issues that may
arise at PWG’s meeting, for further direction.
d) The Co-Chair shall assist the Chair in executing the above duties and
responsibilities and shall assume the same in the absence of the
Chair.

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) service the PWG during and between its meetings;
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Revised draft adopted in the first WBP PWG meeting
As of 1 March 05

b) monitor and coordinate the activities of the PWG;
c) compile and disseminate, periodically, among Member Countries
relevant data and information pertaining to Wood-Based Products in
coordination with the related ACCSQ’s Working Group/Product
Working Group.
Article 5:

Frequency of Meetings and Reports
a) The PWG will meet at least once a year. Notice of a meeting shall be
given at least 1 month prior to the meeting;
b) At the conclusion of each meeting, the PWG will determine the time,
date and venue of its next meeting. The PWG may hold a seminar or

forum back-to-back with the Meeting if necessary.
c) The Chair of the PWG may call for special meetings if and when the
need arises or upon request of any members of the PWG. Members
shall be given at least 2 weeks notice for special meetings.
d) The PWG shall report its recommendations and proceedings to the
ACCSQ, with copies to SOM-AMAF.

Article 6:

The Term of Office
The tenure of PWG shall be for a period of 3 years commencing February
2005 and may be extended for a duration approved by ACCSQ.

Chair of
PWG on Wood based Products

Co- Chair of
PWG on Wood based Products

Dr. Hadi Daryanto

(Indonesia)

Dato’ Mohd. Nazuri Hashim Shah
(Malaysia)

Endorsed by ACCSQ:

ACCSQ Chairman

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