The Abroad Official Service Travelling (SPDLN) held by the Research and Development Center for Standardization - BSN again held at Meeting Room A - BSN, in Jakarta, on Wednesday (07/28/10). The seminar was a regular agenda discussing results of BSN's Seminar on Abroad Official Service Travelling and issues related to standards curently being developed.
The seminar was moderated by the Head of Research and Development Center of Standardization BSN, I Nyoman Supriatna and attended by several officials from echelon III, IV, and BSN staffs as well. The seminar discussed four important topics they are Invitation to the 25th Meeting of ACCSQ on Working Group / Standard and MRAs, The 9th ISO TC 223 Meeting, Regular Meeting by the Committee on Technical Barrier to Trade, as well as TBT Regular Meeting.

Here are summaries of the Seminar on Abroad Official Service Travelling:

Invitation to the 25th Meeting of ACCSQ on the Working Group / Standard and MRAs
The first topic is Invitation to the 25th Meeting of ACCSQ on the Working Group / Standard and MRAs presented by the Standard Formulation Center Staff of BSN, Evan Buwana. Evan said the meeting held on 1 to 4 February 2010 in Hanoi, Vietnam consists of three series of meetings, the Special Meeting, the 4th 4th Task Force Building and Construction (TFBC) Meeting and the 25th Working Group 1 (WG1) meeting.
The Special Meeting discussed for legal aspects, infrastructure, and support personnel necessary for the harmonious development in ASEAN standards and technical regulations in line with its member states. In addition to that also conducted discussions on the harmonization of ASEAN-level standards. One of them with the implementation of the ASEAN single market and product base.
Second series of the ACCSQ that is the 4th Task Force Building and Construction (TFBC) Meeting was attended by Deputy Department of Information and Socialization of Standardization of BSN, Dewi Odjar Ratna Komala, Deputy Department of Research and Cooperation on Standardization of BSN, TAR Hanafiah, BSN Standard Formulation Center, Evan Buwana and the Ministry of Public Works (PU). TFBC is an integral part of WG1 (ACCSQ Working Group on Standards and MRAs) responsibles for coordination and harmonization to the field of building and construction.
The meeting discussed on updates to the list of standard construction and building, have been deregulated in Indonesia, survey results based on the harmonization of the Portland Cement standard based on type, scope, and technical specifications. The meeting  asked Indonesia to analyze the special continuation on Portland Cement, and assigned Indonesia as speaker related to the ASEAN Portland Cement standard analysis.
Series of the third ACCSQ meeting is the 25th Working Group 1 (WG1) meeting. One of its discussion agenda was regarding Standards Harmonization of wood-based products where Indonesia acting as its coordinator by describing the status of harmonization of the ASEAN standards.

The 9th ISO TC 223 Meeting
The second topic was the 9th ISO TC 223 meeting presented by the Head of Standardization Information Empowermen of BSN, Titin Resmiatin. Titin said that the meeting, held in Stockholm, Sweden on May 31 - July 4, 2010 consists of series of meeting. One of them is the Developing Country Contact Group (DCCG) meeting discussed on formation of the ISO / TC 223 national mirror committee in some developing countries: how to enhance the DCCG role in ISO / TC 223 as well as efforts to increase participation of developing countries to attend ISO / TC 223 the meeting.
Indonesia actively roled in the ISO / TC 223 where Indonesia as the P-member has established the National Mirror Committee (NMC) that activelly always respond to the standard drafts currently being developed within each of its project. In addition to that Indonesia also as twinned Secretary for ISO / TC 223/WG 3 with DIN (Germany).
The advantages from joining the meeting were able to maintain the Indonesian vote against the standard drafts related with ISO / TC 223, information sharing (share experience), especially with other developing countries, on how to improve participation in standardization.
As a follow up, Titin suggsted the need of improvements on socialization regarding advantages of Indonesia's involvement in the ISO / TC 223activities of, especially to the MC members and the development of personal skills designated as co-secretary for the other TC / SC / WG.

Committee on Technical Barrier to Trade Regular Meeting
The third topic was the Committee on Technical Barrier to Trade Regular Meeting presented by Staff of the Joint Center for Standardization of BSN. Suhaimi A. Kasman. Suhaimi said that the meeting which was held in Geneva on 24-25 March 2010 has its objective to exchange experiences on technical regulation of each state member in order to ensure fulfillment of obligation by those members under the TBT Agreement.
Under the meeting, one of the trade agenda discussed was related to technical regulations of the SNI mandatory applied in Indonesia that is the BPOM Regulation No. HK.00.05.1.23.3516 dated August 31, 2009 regarding the distribution license for drug products, traditional medicines, cosmetics, food supplements and foods originated from, containing certain ingredients or containing alcohol.
With the said regulation, the United States expressed its objection which according to them, Indonesia is not providing for prior notice and the regulations are deemed to be less obvious to some products that ultimately lead to resistance when the product is exported to Indonesia. However this is done to protect consumers from the use of traditional medicines, cosmetics, and food additives as well as food products that do not meet with food safety aspects as well as providing a good quality for the consumers.
As follow up of this meeting, Suhaimi suggested the importance of monitoring the trade issues related with the TBT meeting and conveyed to the interested parties, to inform to the regulators on the importance of transparency (notification) of the rules affecting trade, and more intensive coordination with the regulators and the related parties as well.

TBT Committee Regular Meeting
The last topic that was the TBT Committee Regular Meeting presented by the Head of International Cooperation of BSN, Hendro Kusumo. According to Hendro, the meeting which was held in Geneva on 22 - June 24, 2010 was partly financed by the WTO covered by trust funds, where the Indonesian Delegation as the speaker at the Sixth Special Meeting on Procedures for Information Exchange was Head of Research and Development Center of Standardization BSN , I Nyoman Supriatna and participants in 2010 Advanced Course on the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, Head of Sub Department of Notification of BSN, Esti Premati. Instead of I Nyoman Supriatna, Esti Premati, Hendro Kusumo, the meeting was also attended by Head of Sub Department of the Application of the mandatory Standards and Complaints Handling of BSN, Singgih Harjanto.
Whereas objectives of participating the meeting was to enhance effectiveness of function of the Indonesian Notification Body and Enquiry Point for TBT-WTO, provied for responds to the Specific Trade concerns presented by WTO members againts the Indonesian regulations, monitoring the trade concerns becoming attention and interest of Indonesia against the WTO members regulations, and to monitor developments and current issues developed under the framework of implementation of WTO-TBT agreement.
In the meeting discussed about the issues related to exchange information and to review periodically the implementation of notification procedures and operations functions of inquiry points. Implementation of these events are grouped into four sessions they were Good Practices in Notification, Electronic Databases, Operation of Enquiry Points, and Transparency in Standard-Setting, which each carried out in a panel meeting. And Indonesia has the opportunity to deliver presentations related to electronic databases with the theme "Information System on Notification - Indonesia's Experience".
Through this meeting being expected will provide information to members on the experience of using electronic tools and web-based applications that could improve transparency and access to the notification.
However, Hendro said that one of the challenges faced by WTO members related to electronic tools is constraint language used in the website. For that reason, said Hendro, the developed countries are encouraged to assist the developing countries in improving information technology applications related to TBT, while member states are encouraged to develop information technology to improve compliance with the transprancy principle.
In addition to the panel sessions, also conducted bilateral meetings. In the bilateral meeting between Indonesia and Japan was also discussed regarding the(G/TBT/N/IDN/33) Indonesian notification regarding  Draft Regulation of the Minister of Industry on mandatory Implementation of SNI for Steel Sheets and Cold Grind down Roll (BjD) where the Japanese asked for clarification by Indonesia concerning the reasons why Indonesia notifies such application of SNI for Steel Sheets and Cold Grind down Roll (BjD) mandatorily, considering Steel Sheets and Cold Grind down Roll (BjD) is an intermediate product, while in Japan only a set of security requirements for the final product. And Indonesia informed the Japanese that the regulation was established in order to ensure that SMEs will get for good quality Steel Sheets and Cold Grind down Roll (BjD) product then SNI should also mandatory implemented for the Steel Sheets and Cold Grind down Roll (BjD).
The meeting was also discussed the specific trade concerns by WTO members on the Indonesian technical regulations. For example, the MUI's decision concerning the halal certification agency. On the other hand, the Indonesia also proposed for Tobacco Act Trade Concern (Canada) related to the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention Tobacco Control Act  which prohibits the production and sale of clove cigarettes, but permits the sale of cigarettes, including menthol-flavored cigarettes.
In the meeting, Indonesia again stressed to the forum that enforcement of a regulation should be non-discriminatory, based on scientific and technical evidences, and covering the aroma which suspected could attract a young smoker. Therefore, Indonesia has requested the Dispute Settlement Body to set up a panel related to dispute between Indonesia with the United States of America.
Through this meeting, Hendro proposed the urgency of arranging Notification on the National Standards Guidelines, revised a revision to the National Standards Guidelines Number 301 on Good Regulatory Practices and tried for such referred National Standards Guidelines to be implemented by the regulator. In addition to that, BSN function as a Notification Body and Enquiry Point is important to always be strengthened. (NDA)