Eco-labeling boosts, not hinders exports<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian exporters should not see eco-
\nlabeling requirements imposed by most developed countries as
\ntrade barriers but, instead, as a tool to persuade costumers in
\nthose countries to buy Indonesian products, an executive says.<\/p>\n
Hans-Dieter Haury, chairman of the German Advisory Assistance
\nto the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, said yesterday that eco-
\nlabeling is a new trend of costumer preference in developed
\ncountries and in some developing countries as well.<\/p>\n
He explained that in accordance with increasing environmental
\nconsciousness across the globe, consumers with growing purchasing
\npower now demand products which are environmentally friendly.<\/p>\n
"If Indonesian businessmen do not follow the trend, their
\nproducts will not be accepted well on international markets,"
\nHaury told journalists before chairing a seminar on eco-labeling
\nas a new challenge for the Indonesian industries.<\/p>\n
Ismeth Abdullah, administrator of the Export Support Board of
\nthe Ministry of Trade, said Indonesian export-oriented companies
\nshould follow the eco-labeling trend rather than oppose it.<\/p>\n
"We should consider eco-labeling as a way to improve our
\nmarket shares in developed countries rather than as a threat to
\nour exports," Ismeth said.<\/p>\n
Eco-labeling is currently imposed on a wide-range of products,
\nincluding textiles, garments, wood products, rubber, leather
\ngoods, food, pulp and paper.<\/p>\n
Losses<\/p>\n
State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja indicated
\nthat Indonesian textile and garment industries might have already
\nlost some of their potential export markets due to insufficient
\nadjustments to the eco-labeling policy of industrial countries.<\/p>\n
During the January-July period of this year, the country's
\nexports of textiles and textile products declined by 8.5 percent
\nto US$3.3 billion from the same period of last year.
\nDuring the same period this year, exports of wood products
\ndeclined by 0.38 percent to $3.1 billion.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Indonesian wood products were reportedly
\nboycotted by some 400 city administrations in Germany.<\/p>\n
Some speculated that the boycotts resulted from pressures by
\nenvironmental groups which do not believe in the sustainable
\nmanagement of Indonesian forests. Chairman of the Association of
\nIndonesian Wood Panel Producers, Muhammad (Bob) Hasan, argued
\nthat the boycotts were motivated more by commercial objectives
\nrather than by environmental concerns.<\/p>\n
Haury told The Jakarta Post that Germany is a leader among
\nEuropean countries where environmental issues are concerned. He
\npredicted that 10 percent of German consumers are very concerned
\nwith environmentally-friendly products.<\/p>\n
He said meeting eco-labeling requirements is actually not a
\ndifficult task for Indonesian entrepreneurs. He compared eco-
\nlabeling with halal (lawful) labeling imposed by some Islamic
\ncountries, including Indonesia, which require consumption
\nproducts, especially food and beverages, to meet Islamic
\nstandards.<\/p>\n
"Products with halal labels will sell better here than those
\nwithout the labels. The same thing happens in Europe, consumers
\nprefer products with eco-labeling to those without them," Haury
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He hailed the Indonesian government's initiative to establish
\nan eco-labeling agency, which is expected to start operating next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Emil Salim, a former state minister of environment and
\npopulation, was appointed by the government to lead the eco-
\nlabeling working group for wood-based products, the forerunner of
\nthe eco-labeling agency. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eco-labeling-boosts-not-hinders-exports-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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