From September 2 to 6, 2019, the ISO Technical Committee on Bamboo and Rattan (ISO/TC 296) held the 2019 annual plenary meeting in Manila, Philippines. The conference was organized by ISO/TC 296 Secretariat and co-hosted by the Philippine National Bureau of Standards. More than 50 representatives from China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, the Netherlands, Uganda and a delegation from INBAR attended the meeting.

During the meeting, five working groups including bamboo flooring, bamboo product terminology, bamboo charcoal, rattan, and engineered bamboo held working group meetings in turn. The experts at the meeting fully discussed the draft standards of each working group, which effectively promoted the standard development process .

Ms. ZHAO Jingyi of the Secretariat summarized the work of the Secretariat in the past year. The convenors of the working groups reported on the work progress. A total of 12 resolutions were passed at the meeting, including: establishing liaison with the ISO Technical Committee on Furniture (ISO/TC 36); subdividing the "Bamboo Flooring" standard into indoor and outdoor parts, and progressing the "Indoor Bamboo Flooring" to inquiry stage (DIS); establish the ISO/TC 296 official website; revise the name and scope of the working group on engineered bamboo; decision on the location of the 2020 and 2021 annual meetings, etc.