Mutual Recognition Arrangements
ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators' Council Sectoral
Mutual Recognition Arrangement
on Telecommunications Equipment
Introduction
The ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators' Council Sectoral Mutual Recognition
Arrangement (ATRC MRA) for conformity assessment on telecommunication equipment
is based on the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) arrangement convened in 1992. In
1995, the ASEAN Heads of Governments adopted the Bangkok Summit Declaration, which
among others, called for greater transparency for standards and conformance, the
alignment of national standards with international standards and undertaking projects
to facilitate mutual recognition arrangements (MRA) to facilitate greater intra-regional
trade.
Following that, the ATRC MRA was developed in 1998 in accordance with the ASEAN
Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangements and APEC Telecommunications
Working Group on MRA. The document was adopted by the ATRC in 2000 and endorsed
by ASEAN TELMIN in 2001.
Objectives
The ATRC MRA stipulates the arrangement under which each Party
will accept or recognize results of conformity assessment procedures, produced
by the Conformity Assessment Bodies of the other Parties in assessing conformity
of telecommunications equipment to the Party's Technical Regulations.
The ATRC MRA aims to facilitate trade in telecommunications equipment
within ASEAN and to remove non-tariff barriers to trade by reducing further regulatory
action that equipment manufacturers have to comply with in order to sell their
products in each market.
The ATRC Sectoral MRA and its
benefit
The ATRC MRA consists of two Phases. Phase I is the mutual acceptance
of test reports. This means a piece of equipment that has been tested in an exporting
country will not require re-testing in the importing country.
Phase II is the mutual acceptance of equipment certification.
This means a piece of equipment that has been certified in the exporting country,
can now directly enter into the importing country without the need for re-certification
in the importing country.
MRAs will eliminate the cost of re-testing and certification,
and shorten time-to-market for each country's manufacturers and exporters of telecom
equipment. This will enhance their competitiveness vis-à-vis suppliers
from other countries, thereby improving their access to each other's market. Consumers
will also enjoy greater savings from lower transaction costs and faster delivery
time.
All manufactures and vendors on telecommunications equipment would
also benefit from the MRA through cost and time saving for not having to repeat
the testing or certification process in the importing country. Therefore, the
MRA is a very real and tangible effort by ASEAN partners to facilitate business
and to make business cost lower for companies.
How does the MRA work?
Current Patterns
Most regulatory transactions involve testing and certification
of equipment in the importing economy.
Phase One of the MRA
Phase One of the ATRC Sectoral MRA provides for the mutual recognition
of test results, which allows technical testing to be done in the exporting economy
and having it recognized in the importing economy.
Phase Two of the MRA
Phase Two provides for the mutual recognition of certification,
allowing certification to be undertaken in the exporting economy and having it
recognized in the importing economy.
Confidence building is promoted by the development, within each economy, of rigorous
systems of accreditation for Conformity Assessment Bodies, using guides such as
ISO/IEC guides or recommendations issued by international bodies.
Scope of Telecommunications Equipment
That Is Covered in The MRA
Generally, the equipment scope may include telecommunications
equipment subject to network terminal attachment and other telecommunication regulation
of each Party, including wire and wireless equipment, and terrestrial and satellite
equipment, whether or not connected to a Public Telecommunications Network.
ATRC MRA Joint Sectoral Committee
Pursuant to Art.6 of the ATRC MRA, a Joint Sectoral Committee
(JSC) has been established under ATRC which is responsible for the effective functioning
of the ATRC MRA.
The JSC is comprised of one (1) official representative from each
Party's (member country) Regulatory Authority. The representative may be accompanied
by advisers at the meetings of the JSC.
The JSC may consider any matter and take appropriate actions relating
to the effective functioning of the Sectoral MRA. In particular, the JSC is be
responsible for:
a) listing, suspension, withdrawal, removal, reinstating and verification
of
Conformity Assessment Bodies in accordance with the ATRC MRA;
providing a forum for discussion of issues that may arise concerning the
implementation of the ATRC MRA; and
b) considering ways to enhance the operation of the ATRCl MRA.
Text of the ATRC Sectoral MRA
Terms of Reference of the JSC
(JSC's TOR)
Guideline to the ATRC Sectoral MRA
Implementation
a. 
Implementation
Guideline
b. Format for Exchange of Letters
c. Format for MOU
Current Status
The following ASEAN partners have entered into these arrangements
to date:
| No |
Countries |
Date Initiated |
Date Implemented |
 |
| 1 |
Indonesia - Singapore |
21/4/2004 |
|
|
| 2 |
Brunei - Singapore |
18/5/2004 |
|
|
| 3 |
Malaysia - Singapore |
28/1/2005 |
|
|
