The Department Trade and Industry's Bureau Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) hosted the 4th Plenary Meeting of the ISO Technical Committee on Bamboo Rattan (ISO/TC 296) and its Working Groups at the Hotel Jen Manila from 02 to 06 September 2019.
During his welcome message, the DTI-BPS Director Mr. Neil P. Catajay expressed the bureau's gratitude to the delegates. He recognized that their attendance to the event shows they all share the same principles on standards and its benefits. Mr. Catajay added that the Philippines' hosting for this year's event demonstrates the country's active involvement in international standardization activities, one of which is the Technical Committee on Bamboo Rattan (ISO/TC 296).
ISO/TC 296 is composed of representatives from China, Colombia, Ethiopia, International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR), India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Uganda, the Phillippines.
The first four days of the event convened meetings of the following ISO/TC 296 working groups:
WG 1 Terminology of Bamboo Products - convened by the Project Leader Dr. Xianmiao Liu
WG 2 Bamboo Flooring- convened by Dr. Shengfu Wu
WG3 Bamboo Charcoal- convened by Atty. Dulce Blanca Punzalan
WG 4 Rattan- convened by Mr. Rene Kaam
WG 5 Bamboo for Furniture- convened by Dr. Rico J. Cabangon
The ISO/TC 296 Members discussed the following in the 4th Plenary Meeting held on 06 September 2019: (1) establishment of the resolution committee, (2) presentation of ISO Code of Conduct, (3) report of the Secretariat, (4) review of liasion (liasion reports and establishing new liaisons), (5) establishment of ISO/TC 296 website and (6) report of the five Working Groups. Several agreements have been reached in the 4th ISO/TC 296 Plenary Meeting.
The next Plenary Meeting (5th) of ISO/TC 296 will be hosted by Colombia in 2020 and Uganda has expressed interest to host the 6th Plenary Meeting in 2021.
