HACCP Certification for tea to be subsidized

Food safety certifications available currently are based on ISO standards as well as many other standards such as association, company as well as national standards.

The Ministry of Plantation Industries has launched a subsidy programme for food safety certification based on HACCP.

Under this scheme up to 60% of the cost incurred in obtaining quality certification from agencies approved by the Ministry will be reimbursed. This scheme is also focused on encouraging qualified and accredited service providers for certification and group training to support certification activities.

The ISO FORUM of Sri Lanka Association for Quality (SLAQ) said in a statement, that it is of the view that this is a strong move by the Ministry to encourage internationally acceptable certification so that the ‘Ceylon Tea’ will continue to hold the traditionally strong market position held internationally.

The ISO FORUM said it has highlighted certain unacceptable practices, in food safety certification operated and this intervention by the Ministry will be a very important step in promoting tea exports.

“It is also noted that still the industry is confused on different certificates offered and it is necessary that more awareness is made on these so that the industry will be guided in obtaining the most beneficial certifications,” the statement said.

Food safety certifications available currently are based on ISO standards as well as many other standards such as association, company as well as national standards.

“The industry needs to be kept aware of the implications of different standards used for certification purposes, and selection of appropriate standards considering the trends of international markets which require compliance with international standards, the ISO FORUM said.

It quoted the Ministry as saying there was a lack of awareness in the tea industry i.e. producers, factory owners, exporters, packers and general public on the growing trend for quality certification specially with the introduction of EU food safety regulations. As a step in this awareness campaign, the Ministry had jointly organized a seminar with Quality International Certification Services (Pvt).Ltd (QICS) on January 23.

Among the presenters at this seminar, the Secretary, Ministry of Plantation Industries will outline the policy of the subsidy scheme and Director General of the Sri Lanka Tea Board with the Tea Commissioner will explain the role of respective agencies onpromotion of quality in tea.

Representatives from the department of commerce and international agencies such as FAO, UNIDO, ADB and EU also will attend the seminar.

This seminar is meant for industry-associated agencies such as associations, plantation companies (RPC’s) and private factory owners.