The Philippines is trailing far behind Asia-Pacific countries like China, Japan and Korea in the internationally-accepted global standards of the Good Agriculture Practices or GAP which is a strict requirement of more advanced countries in allowing the imports of fresh produce like fruits and vegetables into their countries.
DAVAO , PHILIPPINES —- A top United Nations official has expressed dismay and skepticism over the slow progress of the Philippine government in achieving the high global standards required in the world’s fruit exports.
Dr. Ulrich Hoffman, head of trade development in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, said the Philippines is trailing far behind Asia-Pacific countries like China, Japan and Korea in the internationally-accepted global standards of the Good Agriculture Practices or GAP which is a strict requirement of more advanced countries in allowing the imports of fresh produce like fruits and vegetables into their countries.
“There’s no way the Philippine government can achieve the GAP world standard if its approach to this global requirement from producers and growers is entirely voluntary,” Hoffman told local and foreign delegates to the First Philippine Global Banana Summit held in the southern city of Davao over the weekend.
Hoffman said the current National GAP Program of the country “doesn’t look like it’s working because it lacks focus and concentration on what is really required in the world’s markets.”
The UN trade official said there are 240 “control points” for a fresh fruit product to achieve the GAP global standard that makes it possible for exporters from producing countries to penetrate the markets of such advanced countries like US and Europe. Many Philippine products could hardly even pass one-third of the control points, according to Hoffman.
“It’s very important for farmers in every country to understand what GAP is all about, which isn’t just the production of safe and quality fruits but also to protect the environment where the products come from,” Hoffman said.
Although Hoffman cited the efforts of the Philippine government for the progress made under its National GAP Program, he urged concerned government agencies and industry stakeholders to get together soonest and come up with a “clear concept and vision ” of achieving this goal of a GAP global standard.
( PHILPRESS NEWS )
Posted on December 5, 2010
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