1998 ASEAN Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangements

1998 MRA Framework

• ASEAN Documents
  • ASEAN Economic Community
    • ASEAN Economic Ministers
    • ASEAN Free Trade Area

Article 12 ‘Consultation and Settlement of Disputes’:

“1. Member States shall, 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 Framework Agreement has not been fulfilled, is not being fulfilled, or may not be fulfilled; or

b. any objective of this Framework Agreement is not being achieved or may be frustrated.

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

This Agreement is one of the ‘Covered Agreements’ pursuant to Article 1.1 of the 2019 ASEAN Protocol on Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism read together with its Appendix 1. It was previously one of the ‘Covered Agreements’ pursuant to Article 1.1 of the 2004 ASEAN Protocol on Enhanced Dispute Settlement Mechanism read together with its Appendix I. The 2019 Protocol will only apply with respect to new requests for consultations made on or after its entry into force (20 June 2022). Likewise, the 2004 Protocol will only apply with respect to disputes that arose after its entry into force (29 November 2004). 

Secretary-General of ASEAN

ASEAN Legal Instruments

06/02/2009

Article 18.5 ‘Final Provisions’: “This Framework Agreement shall enter into force upon deposit of instruments of ratification or acceptance by all signatory Governments with the Secretary-General of ASEAN.”

Note that this 1998 Framework Agreement will be replaced by the 2025 ASEAN Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangements when it enters into force, but the 1998 Framework will continue to apply to Sectoral MRAs signed before entry into force of the 2025 Framework Agreement. Article 16.2 of the 2025 Framework Agreement:
“Upon its entry into force, this Framework Agreement shall replaced the 1998 Framework Agreement and shall not apply retrospectively to the Sectoral MRAs signed prior to the entry into force of this Framework Agreement.”

This agreement will be replaced by the 2025 ASEAN Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangements when it enters into force

2021 ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Type Approval for Automotive Products

2018 ASEAN Sectoral Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Inspection and Certification Systems on Food Hygiene for Prepared Foodstuff Products

2017 ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Bioequivalence Study Reports of Generic Medicinal Products

2009 ASEAN Sectoral Mutual Recognition Agreement on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Inspection of Manufacturers of Medicinal Products

2003 Agreement on the ASEAN Harmonized Cosmetic Regulation Scheme

2002 ASEAN Sectoral Recognition Arrangement on Electrical and Electronic Equipment

2016-2025 ASEAN Standards and Conformance Strategic Plan “Forging Ahead Together: Ensuring Quality and Building Confidence”

2009 ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement

2000 Interpretative Notes to the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Mutual Recognition Arrangements

1995 World Trade Organization Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade

1992 Agreement on the Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for the ASEAN Free Trade Area

ASEAN accessed on 17/10/2025

Dates of ratification, notification and acceptance given above were obtained from the ASEAN Secretariat’s Legal Instruments website and its electronic collection of instruments of ratification, notification and acceptance. Some of the dates given appear to be the dates of execution of the instruments of ratification/notification/acceptance, rather than their date of receipt by the depository.