Malaysian government announces plans for a public–private partnership in certification scheme

TOS17, September 2002

Though previously ignored in Malaysia, the Government’s 3rd National Agriculture Policy (NAP3) identified organic agriculture as a niche market opportunity, particularly for fruit and vegetables. The government plans to encourage small-scale producers to venture into organic farming as part of the strategy to raise producers’ income, overcome problems of chemical residues in food production, protect the environment, reduce food imports as well as enhance the country’s export of high quality safe food. Setting up an accreditation scheme to facilitate domestic market development is included in NAP3. In August 2001, the Malaysian Standards for the production, processing, labelling and marketing of plant based, organically produced foods (MS1529) were approved and published by the Department of Standards Malaysia. Implementation of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) organic certification scheme was expected to be launched on 13 August, 2002. However, it was announced at the public seminar/consultation, on that very day, for January 2003.

In his opening address at the seminar, the Minister of Agriculture noted that whilst there has been some organic farming in the country since late 1980s, it has not become widespread due to the lack of attention by the government. In addition to enhancing food safety for the domestic market, the Minister also observed that international market trends underline market opportunities for organic exports. According to the Minister support comparable to that given to conventional agriculture, i.e. credit facilities, extension, research and development, will in the future be devoted to develop organic agriculture in the country. The Ministry is studying the DOA’s proposal to establish special organic production areas. It is reported that smallholders collectively owning up to 400,000 hectares of land, where chemical fertilisers or pesticides are not being used, would be able to participate in the DOA organic certification scheme.

Public-private partnership

Until recently the DOA has encountered problems in finalising its certification scheme for implementation. One major constraint was that the group of stakeholders working with the DOA did not have enough experience in organic certification. The situation has now changed as certified operators from the private sector have been incorporated into the stakeholder group, and a private sector consultant has been contracted to assist. The recent move to involve private sector participation was welcomed by Organic Alliance Malaysia (OAM), the recently established private sector organic association. Whilst government involvement to support the expansion of organic production is undoubtedly welcomed, members of OAM were concern that an immediate increase of suply could flood and destabilise the market. Since its establishment in October 2001, OAM has been seeking a relationship with the government, in the implementation of its organic programme.

Nevertheless, the DOA’s receptivity to working with the private sector to jointly implement the DOA certification scheme surprised even OAM. Such a collaboration was not even on the horizon a month ago. According to Kerby Ho, a founder member of OAM, the joint implementation plan was not even on the agenda of the working meeting – called by the DOA with stakeholders and held on 26 July – where the joint implementation model was formulated.

Set up

The proposed set up of the Organik Malaysia certification scheme will comprise of the following:

• A joint Steering Committee (SC) consisting of government bodies and private sector nominees. The SC will oversee policy development and programme implementation. Amongst other duties, it will also approve standards, hear appeals and receive complaints.

• A joint Certification Committee (CC) consisting of government bodies and private sector nominees. The CC will be responsible for standards formulation, interpretation and certification decisions.

• Two administrative offices – those of DOA and OAM – for handling enquires, processing applications and conducting inspections. They will also deal with issuing certifications and the use of the seal.

Framework

Implementation

Ong Kung Wai
kungwai[at]tm.net.my

5 of 20 Good Reasons To Buy Organic 

Eliminate use of growth hormones, antibiotics and genetically engineered drugs
and feeds in livestock. In Australia there remain 12 antibiotics that can be used as growth
promoters. More than 500 000kg of antibiotics were used each year in the 1990s. Resistant
bacteria such as Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are known to spread via the food
chain (Collignon, 2003).

Source: BFA