Strengthening the Compliance of the OIC Member States
to International Standards
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c) A multi-year project is currently underway to develop food safety laboratory testing capacity in
the region. The initiative has used targeted capacity building programs, and has fostered
dialogue between food safety regulators and industry stakeholders. In addition, the SCSC is
developing guidelines to facilitate the harmonization of pesticide maximum residue limits—an
issue that is typically a thorny one in the context of consumer and environmental protection.
The APEC approach is to favor Codex limits, or those of a trading partner in particular cases,
thereby making this emerging area an additional one in which the SCSC is helping promote the
alignment of national and international standards.
d) The SCSC has also worked on capacity development of standards professionals, to prepare them
for the next generation of challenges in this area, in the context of broader concerns with quality
infrastructure. Although relevant for economies at all development levels, the issue is
particularly pertinent for developing member economies, which make up the majority of APEC’s
membership.
6.3.2 Association of Southeast Asian Nations
The ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) brings together countries at a variety
of development levels, from high income Singapore to low income Cambodia. Seven ASEAN countries (as
well as the one observer) are also member economies of APEC. As a result, the standards agenda in
those countries is influenced by what is going on in APEC, in addition to ASEAN-specific initiatives. This
subsection focuses on ASEAN’s own actions on standards, as a complement to the information presented
in the previous subsection.
ASEAN is currently working towards implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). As part
of that process, there is a work program on non-tariff measures, including product standards.21 The
objective is to favor harmonization and mutual recognition of standards. Unlike the European Union,
which has adopted a highly formalized approach to the harmonization of standards, along with the
development of regional institutions, ASEAN’s approach is that countries voluntarily assign non-tariff
measures for reform, including standards harmonization.
In 1997, 20 products were identified as priorities for standards harmonization within ASEAN.22 This
process was completed in 2003, using international standards in all cases. A second initiative regarding
the electrical products sector started in 1999 and was complete by 2004. Again, international standards
were used as the baseline for regional harmonization.
21 This section draws on ASEAN Secretariat and World Bank (2014), and Pettman (2013).
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