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Article 15 ‘Consultation and Settlement of Dispute’:

“1. Member States will, at the written request of another Member State, enter into consultations with a view to seeking a prompt, equitable and mutually satisfactory solution, if that Member State considers that:

a) an obligation under this Sectoral MRA has not been fulfilled, is not being fulfilled, or may not be fulfilled; or

b) any objective of this Sectoral MRA is not being achieved or may be frustrated.

2. Any differences between the Member States concerning the interpretation or application of this Sectoral MRA will, as far as possible, be settled amicably between the Member States concerned or within the Joint Sectoral Committee if applicable. If a settlement cannot be reached, it will be subjected to the Dispute Settlement Mechanism of ASEAN in accordance with the Protocol on Dispute Settlement Mechanism, which was signed on 20th November 1996 in Manila, the Philippines.”

Subsequently, this is one of the “covered agreements” pursuant to Article 1.1 of the 2004 ASEAN Protocol on Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism read together with Appendix I.

Article 20.4 ‘Final Provisions’:

“This Sectoral MRA will come into force on the date of its signature.”

1998 ASEAN Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangements

2005 Agreement on the ASEAN Harmonized Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulatory Regime

Note Article 4.2 ‘Scope and Coverage’:

“The scope of equipment covers all new electrical and electronic equipment that is intended to be either directly connected or plugged-in to the low voltage power supply or is battery powered, but does not include any equipment covered by the ASEAN Sectoral MRA on Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment. This Sectoral MRA does not apply to Medical Equipment.”