Firms urged to hire local certification agencies

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan urged local companies yesterday to hire local quality management certification agencies in assessing the quality of their management.

"Local quality management certification agencies are also using international quality standardization in their assessment and they are accredited by the government," Rahardi said at a accreditation award ceremony.

Thirty-five test laboratories, seven calibration laboratories and two local quality certification agencies were given accreditation awards by the National Standardization Agency (BSN) yesterday. The institutions are allowed to issue national standard certification SNI 19-9000, the equivalent of the internationally recognized ISO 9000 certification.

The laboratories and agencies work in various fields, such as textiles, oil and gas, steel, agriculture and leather.

He said at least 650 companies had received quality certification awards since 1992, but more than 70 percent of the total was issued by foreign certification agencies.

Rahardi said many importer countries required a quality certification document on all goods imported from Indonesia.

"It is good because our trading partner countries have recognized our national standard, SNI 19-9000. This should encourage local exporters to obtain the SNI certification," Rahardi said.

He added that several Middle Eastern countries, such as Kuwait, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, required all exporters of automotive wheels from Indonesia to pass the SNI certification.

Minister of Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin said local agricultural companies should also obtain such certificates to ensure the quality of their products to customers.

Soleh said he hoped more certification agencies, especially those in the agriculture sector, would be accredited by BSN. (gis)