Following the 15th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) held in Bandar Seri Begawan from 28 to 30 October 1993, Member Countries developed, for each of the priority areas identified in the Ministerial Understanding (MU) on ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and forestry signed in 1993, sectoral action programmes in policy coordination, research, technology transfer, production, marketing and investment promotion. These sectoral actiorn programmes were consolidated and approved by the Ministers at their 16th Meeting in Langkawi, Malaysia from 25 to 27 August 1994 as the Medium- Term Programme of Action for ASEAN Cooperation in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (1995-1999). The Ministers also approved the sectoral work plans for 1995- 1996 and the mechanism for the Implementation of the 16 new projects under the networking arrangement.
In line with the directive of the Fourth ASEAN Summit in 1992, the 16th Meeting of AMAF adopted and signed . Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on ASEAN Cooperation and Joint Approaches in AgricuIture and Forest Products Promotion Scheme. The purpose of the MOU is to sustain the expansion of ASEAN agriculture and forest product exports, while enhancing the collaboration between the government and the private sector. This Scheme is private-sector driven and designed to jointly promote ASEAN agriculture and forest products, strengthen ASEAN's collective bargaining position on matters affecting agriculture and forest products trade in the international markets, expand these products through product diversification, intensify downstream processing and higher value-added activity as well as upgrade the quality and standard of ASEAN agriculture and forest products. The Scheme is also aimed at laying don the foundation for closer -economic ties among Member Countries. A Joint Committee composed of a representative of the ASEAN Secretariat, National Coordinators and representatives of relevant private sector groups met in Kuala Lumpur in April 1995 to coordinate the activities of the Scheme. Lead countries have already put in place the machinery for the implementation of their respective promotional programmes.
In order to promote intra-ASEAN trade in agriculture and forest products, the 16th Meeting of AMAF also agreed to the inclusion of unprocessed agricultural products in the CEPT Scheme for AFTA. However, in view of the sensitivity of some of the unprocessed agricultural products, several working group meetings, such as the Special Working Group on Inclusion of the Whole Agriculture Sector in the CEPT Scheme and the joint SEOM-SOM AMAF Working Group Meeting on Inclusion of Unprocessed Agricultural Products in the CEPT Scheme for AFTA, were convened to address the issue. As a result of the discussions thus far, most of the items in the List of Unprocessed Agricultural Products submitted by Member Countries to the Fourth AFTA Council in 1994 are now included in the Immediate Inclusion List and the Temporary Exclusion List. A special arrangement for the inclusion of unprocessed agriculture products in the Sensitive Product List is being formulated in consultation with Member Countries. In addition, significant efforts have been undertaken by sectoral working groups to introduce greater transparency and establish equivalence/mutual recognition and harmonization of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures in order to facilitate trade in agriculture products to other Member Countries.
In an effort to enhance food safety, minimize post-harvest food losses and expand trade of food products of Member Countries, a seminar on food irradiation was held at the ASEAN Secretariat from 12 to 16 June 1995 with ICGFI (International Consultative Group on Food Irradiation), FAO, WHO and IAEA. The seminar addressed the status f regulations, technological advances, and trade in and consumer acceptance of irradiated food globally and within the ASEAN region.
With regard to the operation of the ASEAN Food Handling Bureau (AFHB), the proposal for the establishment of a Management Board was submitted to the 16th Meeting of AMAF. The Ministers agreed to privatise AFHB and endorsed the formation of the Management Board for one year to be chaired by a representative of the Secretary-General of ASEAN. The Management Board f AFHB has been appointed. The First Meeting f the Management Board on 1-2 June 1995 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia recommended that AFHB be nationalised by the host country,
Malaysia, and all its assets be placed under the responsibility of the Malaysian Government. Usage of the remaining funds in the AFHB accounts should be carried out in consideration with the ASEAN Secretariat.
The 16th Meeting of AMAF reiterated the need for Member Countries, to adopt common positions on international issues affecting the interests of ASEAN and for ASEAN to continue, to oppose initiatives in timber certification and labelling as well as import regulations on tropical timber taken by developed countries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and parties with pecuniary interests.
ASEAN cooperation at the Ninth Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) held in Ford Lauderdale, USA from 7 to 18 November 1994 was demonstrated by close consultation and solidarity among Member Countries. The solidarity amongst the ASEAN Member Countries was evident in their united opposition to the Netherlands' resolution on Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus) and the withdrawal of the Italian proposal on bird's nest. ASEAN agreed to oppose any proposal for the inclusion of Ramin (Gonystylus bancanus) in the Appendix 11 of CITES.
As the new modality for the sectoral cooperation called for active involvement of Senior Officials, a Special Senior Officials Meeting of ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (SOM-AMAF) was held from 6 to 8 April 1995 in Kuala Lumpur to review the progress of ASEAN cooperation in the sector and identify measures which could further enhance the cooperation. The Meeting noted the increased participation of the private sector particularly the Working Group on Agribusiness of the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WGABI-ASEAN CCI), the ASEAN Fisheries Federation (AFF) and relevant industry clubs, in the ASEAN cooperation programmes. The Meeting also discussed new Initiatives such as a strategic alliance of agriculture cooperatives and enhancement of food security in the region.
As part of the efforts to prepare Vietnam for its entry into ASEAN, a delegation from Vietnam as invited by the Chairman of SOM-AMAF to attend the Special SOM-AMAF as Observer. The Vietnamese delegation welcomed the proposed visit of a SOM-AMAF delegation to Vietnam in order to exchange views and obtain first-hand information o Vietnamese agriculture.
No new ASEAN cooperation projects with Dialogue Partners were approved during the period under review. However, the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (AIDAB) fielded Feasibility Design Study Mission to ASEAN Member Countries in January 1995. The Mission was tasked to finalize the design of the project "Development of Food Safety and Quality Assurance Systems for Horticulture Products in ASEAN". This project is expected to be implemented in 1995 under the Third Phase of the ASEAN- Australia Economic Cooperation Programme (AAECP III).
In addition to the AAECP, Dialogue Partners supported the following projects: (1) ASEAN Timber Technology Centre (ATTC)- (2) Preparing Rural Youth for a Better Future in Agriculture (Japan); (3) ASEAN Forest Seed Centre Phase II (Canada); (4) ASEAN Institute of Forest Management (AIFM) Phase II--(Canada); (5) ASEAN PouItry Research and Training Centre (APRTC)--(Japan); (6) ASEAN- Canada Fisheries Postharvest Technology Project Phase 11--(Canada) ad (7) ASEAN Aquaculture Development and Coordinating Programme (AADCP)--(EU). All other projects funded by the Dialogue Partners progressed satisfactorily during the period under review. However, the projects experienced financial constraints due to increased costs of operation and falling exchange rates.
Although the negotiations for Phase II funding of the ATTC did not come through and the funding of the project was terminated by EU at the end of August 1994, the Centre remained in operation throughout the year under review utilizing funds derived from income-generating activities as well as cash reserves accumulated over the years from such activities. The ATTC continued to provide the linkage between wood-based industries and consumers, particularly those outside ASEAN, and played important role in improving the quality of ASEAN wood products for intra- and extra-ASEAN markets. The Centre actively carried out all training, workshop, 'Information dissemination and trade promotion activities as outlined in its approved work programme.
Throughout the year, cooperation activities in the other sub-sectors also progressed satisfactorily. In the livestock sector, Member Countries actively participated i. technical cooperation projects which included the establishment of foot-and-mouth disease free zone, standardisation of animal vaccines, animal health and enhancement of international trade i. live animals and animal products. The cooperation in crops focussed on the harmonisation of phytosanitary measures for facilitation of trade in agriculture products, and minimisation of pesticide use to improve marketability of agriculture products and to prevent environmental degradation.
ASEAN cooperation in fisheries has maintained its momentum with the active participation of the private sector. With part funding assistance from Canada, the ASEAN Secretariat and the Government of Thailand successfully organized the Conference on Fisheries Management and Development Strategies for the ASEAN Region for the Year 2000 in Bangkok from 26 to 29 July 1994. The outputs of the Conference formed the basis of the sectoral programme of action which placed emphasis on increased fish production through quaculture development, acquisition and transfer of new technologies, improvement of product quality and increased involvement of the private sector.
A dialogue between Directors-General of Fisheries of ASEAN and the officials of the State of Bremen, Federal Republic of Germany, as held immediately prior to the Special SOM-AMAF in Kuala Lumpur in April 1995. The Special SOM-AMAF agreed to the proposal that the cooperation programme with Bremen would initiaIly focus on: (1) cooperation in Marine Environment Protection Programme in relation to fisheries including coastal aquaculture; (2) private sector interlinkages; and (3) linkages between fisheries training institutions of Bremen and ASEAN Member Countries.
Cooperation in forestry has been effected principally through on-going projects funded by Dialogue Partners, namely: the ASEAN Forest Tree Seed Centre, the ASEAN Institute of Forest Management (AIFM) and the ASEAN Timber Technology Centre (ATTC). An International Conference on MuItiple Resource Inventory and Monitoring of Tropical Forests was organized by AIFM in Seremban, Malaysia from 21 to 24 November 1994. The ATTC started its operation on a self-propelling mode to service the sector in September 1994 as there were no fresh funds made available by the EU and the host country, Malaysia. In addition, Member Countries have continued to coordinate their positions in international fora/ negotiations concerning forestry and forest products, particularly with regard to the implementation of UNCED decisions relating to forestry and discriminatory certification and labelling of tropical timber .
ASEAN cooperation in forestry has maintained its impetus with the assistance rendered by the European Union in improving the implementation of sustainable forest management in the ASEAN region. In this regard, the Government of Indonesia, has successfully organized the Second Meeting of the ASEAN-EC JCC Sub-Committee on Forests in Surabaya from 14 to 15 June 1995. The Meeting agreed to continue cooperation in activities of cooperation designed to improve sustainable forest management and at the same time, develop standards and suitable measures based on the principles of sustainable management. Both sides agreed to continue the efforts to put in place some concrete cooperation activities of mutual benefit to promote and enhance ASEAN-EU trade in forest products involving the private sector.
In the area of training and extension, Member Countries have continued with the exchange programme of study visits of farmers and extension agents. lndonesia hosted the Fifth ASEAN Farmer's Week from 14 to 20 October 1994. The cooperative programmes of the Training and Extension Sector for 1995-1996 is focussed on the promotion and intensification of the application of integrated pest management on fruits and vegetables. The revised work plan was made at the National Sectoral Coordinators Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on 4 April 1995. According to the work plan, the training modules on fruits and vegetables will be prepared by Thailand and Indonesia, respectively, for further adaptation by other Member Countries. The two pilot projects i.e. IPM on fruits and IPM on vegetables will be implemented in each Member Country after the completion of training modules development and the training of core trainers.
The ASEAN Centre for the Development of Agricultural Cooperatives (ACEDAC) continued to play a pivotal role in the implementation of ASEAN cooperation in the agricultural cooperatives sector. The activities undertaken by the sector during the review period were: (a) Exchange visits of cooperative personnel and leaders to Indonesia fro- 10 to 18 July 1994; (b) Workshop on Case Studies of Successful Cooperative Agri-businesses in Member Countries convened in conjunction with the Third Meeting of ACEDAC Board held in Chiangmai, Thailand from 12 to 14 December 1994; and (c) Seminar-Workshop on Agriculture Product Business Managed by Cooperatives in the Era of Post GATT held in Yogyakarta from 13 to 15 March 1995.