The Monitoring and Surveillance Committee (MSC) of the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC) for the implementation of the Agreed Export Tonnage Scheme (AETS) held its first meeting on 20^th January 2009 at the Head Office of IRCo, in Bangkok, Thailand.

As agreed at the 14^th ITRC Meeting in Bogor, Indonesia on 12^th - 13^th December 2008, the three participating countries would implement the AETS by withholding 700,000 tons of rubber from export in 2009, of which 270,000 tons will be withheld in the first quarter beginning 1 January 2009.

The MSC reviewed the methodologies and the progress for the implementation of the AETS in the three countries, verifying that each country had instituted appropriate allocation and control systems. It also worked out the formats for reporting and schedules for its monitoring and surveillance activities.

Members of the MSC are scheduled to go to the grounds in the three participating countries some time in February to evaluate the implementation of the AETS after its first month of operation.