Bernama.com (Malaysian National News Agency), 24 August 2006 20:04 PM

Five Countries To Sign Pact To Harmonise Pharmaceutical Standards

By Rosyatimah Tukimin

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Five Asean countries are expected to sign an agreement to harmonise drug standards and quality within the region by end of this year.

The countries which have agreed to adopt the common standards are Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

However, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines are expected to implement the common practice by Dec 31, 2008.

Business can go ahead once the standards have been agreed, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz told reporters after consultations between Asean economic ministers and South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-Chong, here Thursday.

"It's like the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs). As long as all the organisations involved are already in agreement and have signed at their levels, they can operate. We do not need to have (the) ministers to sign," she said.

The MRAs allows free movement of professionals and skilled labour in Asean.

Rafidah said that harmonisation of drug standards would have cost cutting impact without having to compromise quality.

"(For) countries that have the industries that requires testing, certification and verification, once they designate the lab or the institute or organisation as a competent authority to do the tests, then the other countries will recognise that certification and verification. So you don't have to do it twice," she said.

She said besides minimising cost and maintaining quality, the harmonised standards would also enable the smooth flow of products.

Asean had established a pharmaceutical product working group in 1999 to oversee the issue.

-- BERNAMA