The ACCSQ was formed in 1992 to facilitate the accomplishment of the objectives of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.
In 2004, the ACCSQ was tasked to undertake the following actions in relation to the establishment of an ASEAN Economic Community:
- Set clear targets and schedules for harmonization of standards and align national standards among Member States;
- Harmonize and/or develop, wherever appropriate, technical regulations for national application;
- Strengthen cooperation within ASEAN countries in the area of capacity building, i.e., exchange of experts, regulatory infrastructure and human resource development, within available resources; and
- Convince Member States to consider modelling their technical standards and regulations after ASEAN harmonized technical standards and regulations.
The ACCSQ proposed to Senior Economic Officials during a SEOM meeting to form a Product Working Group on Traditional Medicines and Health Supplements, which was approved.