SOP
Subregional SOP activated
(publishedby: Haze-Online, 06 July2004)
The subregional standard operating procedure (SOP), which wasdeveloped based on relevant provisions of the Haze Agreement, has been activatedfollowing reports of unhealthy air quality conditions in many areas of RiauProvince of Indonesia and Malaysia. Based on the SOP, when air quality reachesunhealthy level, National Monitoring Centres of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia,Malaysia and Singapore, and the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC)have to provide daily situation reports to the ASEAN Secretariat as the InterimASEAN Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control. ASEANSecretariat then provides the consolidated reports to all National Focal Pointsof ASEAN member countries within few hours. In normal condition, situationreports are provided on a weekly basis.
The subregional SOP was developed by the four SRFA*) countriesto serve as guidelines for the implementation of monitoring, assessment andjoint emergency response under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary HazePollution. The subregional SOP, which was developed based on relevant provisionsunder the Haze Agreement, has enabled speedy action in terms of communicationand exchange of information among member countries during this critical period.
So far, two table-top exercises have been conducted to test theSOP and strengthen communication and coordination among the four countries. Thesecond table-top exercise was recently held in April 2004 in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia.
The second table-top exercise in April 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
*) ASEAN Working Groups on Subregional Firefighting Arrangement(SRFA) for Sumatra and Borneo consist of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysiaand Singapore
