Ecolabel debuts on environment day
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya/Semarang
World Environment Day 2004, observed here on Saturday, was marked by the introduction of the "ecolabel" certificate for Indonesian products deemed environmentally friendly, although the certificate is not legally binding.
The deputy environment minister for technical facilities on environmental management, Masnellyarti Hilman, said certification with the ecolabel would take effect in November for paper, powder detergent, leather, footwear and textile products. The official launch will coincide with National Quality Month.
"Those products are our priority considering their potential for environmental hazards, the number of consumers, export orientation and number of producers," she said.
The ecolabel has a green circle with two white leaves inside, and will be given to companies whose products pass tests to be conducted by private certification companies in a bid to maintain transparency. The companies will be supervised by the National Accreditation Committee (KAN).
The environment ministry, the National Standardization Agency (BSN) and the business sector are now setting the criteria for products that are entitled to ecolabel certificates.
"For example, on criteria for paper products, the certification body should make sure the wood has not been cut illegally or that it could encourage illegal logging," assistant to BSN chief for standardization and technology, Moh. Helmy, told The Jakarta Post.
"Products entitled to the ecolabel must be biodegradable, recyclable and very low or toxic-free."
The ecolabel project is a project conducted in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and was proposed to promote environmentally friendly products now that the level of environmental destruction here has reached an alarming level.
At the moment, there are several companies that claim to have environmentally friendly products.
"That is a result of their self-awareness and it is very good. However, we haven't verified their claims yet," said Masnellyarti. "Our ecolabel standard is acceptable abroad as we also follow the ISO 14024 standards for ecolabeling."
BSN chief Iman Sudarwo said products with ecolabels would be accepted worldwide, including in countries with high environmental standards.
Ecolabeling is being used in several countries, such as Ecomark in Japan and Groehnepoenkt in Germany.
Masnellyarti, however, said ecolabel certificates would not be mandatory for producers for the time being. She did not set a timetable for a change of status into a legally binding requirement.
The environment day was also marked by a presentation of Adipura certificates to 10 municipality administrations for keeping their areas clean. The certificates were conferred by Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim.
The winners were Sibolga and Binjai municipalities in North Sumatra, East Jakarta municipality, West Jakarta municipality, Semarang municipality, Bangli and Denpasar municipalities in Bali, Sabang municipality in Aceh and Muara Enim municipality in South Sumatra.
The more prestigious Adipura trophy will be awarded on June 7 by President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the presidential palace.
Separately, in Surabaya, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) commemorated the day with a rally, urging people to vote for a presidential candidate who has a commitment to the environment.
Another demonstration took place in Semarang, where dozens of Anti-Nuclear Community (Mani) activists protested the Muria nuclear power project in Jepara, Central Java.