Government to simplify food export assessment<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government is at work on a plan to simplify
\nand standardize the quality control policies for exported food
\ncurrently used by three ministries, the state minister of food
\nannounced yesterday.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a hearing with members of House Commission VII for
\nfood, trade and financial affairs, Ibrahim Hasan said that a
\n\"one-stop policy\" could streamline the control system utilized by
\nthe ministries of agriculture, health as well as industry and
\ntrade.<\/p>\n
Ibrahim said a one-stop quality control mechanism will be
\napplied to the overall management process, starting from raw
\nmaterial processing and treatment, product distribution and
\nstoring, up to environmental impact recording.<\/p>\n
\"Most Indonesian companies only apply quality control to their
\nfinal products,\" he said.<\/p>\n
This has caused many food exports -- both raw and processed
\nproducts -- to be held up by importer countries, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Commodities like cocoa, spices and fish products are
\nfrequently rejected because they contain high amounts of filth,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Most developed countries insist that imports meet the criteria
\nof the International Standardization Organization (ISO). The ISO
\nrequires a company to apply sound quality management systems at
\nall stages of production.<\/p>\n
\"For the food industry, the implementation of ISO standards
\nmeans a fundamental change in the management of an industry and
\nits human resources,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Apart from a sound management system, many developed countries
\ndemand that food imports meet certain product standards, which
\nhave been approved by the United Nations Food and Agriculture
\nOrganization and the World Health Organization.<\/p>\n
In order to meet these standards, Ibrahim said, the government
\nhas conducted training programs for managers in the food-
\nprocessing industry on hazard analysis, critical control and good
\nmanufacturing practices.<\/p>\n
\"The government will increase coordination among the
\nministries involved in the industry. This way, the one-gate
\npolicy can be implemented in the near future,\" he said, without
\ngiving a specific time frame. (icn\/pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-to-simplify-food-export-assessment-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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