The Department of Trade and Industry - Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) held a Public Consultation on the Draft ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Type Approval for Automotive Products last 14 January 2019 at the 5/F Conference Room, Trade and Industry Building, 361 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Makati City.

The draft MRA is a regional arrangement to facilitate the trade of automotive components and systems among ASEAN Member States through the recognition or acceptance of test and certification results conducted by listed technical services to eliminate the duplication of product testing and certification of management system.

The automotive products for M1, N1 and L categories, with their corresponding UN Regulations, covered by the MRA are Braking System (R13), Braking System for Passenger Car (R13H), Safety-belt Anchorage (R14), Safety-belt and Restraint System (R16), Seats (R17), Head Restraints (R25), Audible Warning Device (R28), Pneumatic Tyre for Passenger Car (R30), Speedometer (R39), Exhaust Emission for L category (R40), Noise for L category (R41), Safety Glazing Materials and their Installation (R43), Devices for Indirect Vision (R46), Exhaust Emission (R49), Sound Emission (R51), Pneumatic Tyre for Commercial (R54), Pneumatic Tyre for L category (R75), Steering Equipment (R79) and Exhaust Emission (R83).

According to Director James E. Empeño of the DTI-BPS, the public consultation is important in developing the Philippines’ position in the draft MRA’s outstanding issues. Automotive products’ manufacturers, importers, industry associations and relevant government agencies were invited for their inputs on the pending issues and to express their other concerns regarding the draft MRA.