Implementation of GAP in the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Sector in Malaysia

1. FAO- Thailand Workshop on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables14th – 15th September 2005Bangkok, Thailand Implementation of GAP in the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Sector in Malaysia Presented By Sathianathan Menon qa plus asia-pacific sdn.bhd. Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

2. Fruit and Vegetable Industry under NAP3 • Basic policies and strategies are outlined to address issues encountered by the FFV industry • Amplified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries through its key agencies • NAP3 targets to achieve near self sufficiency levels for fruits and vegetables in 2010.

3. Fruit & Vegetables Development Strategies under NAP3 (1998-2010) • Increasing efficiency & productivity • Rationalizing resource use • Strengthening Competitiveness • Strengthening Economic Foundation • Strategic Sourcing

4. Drivers for implementing GAP Schemes in Malaysia • Food safety concerns • Worker welfare • International market demands • Competitiveness • Improved acceptability • In compliance with National Agricultural Policy

5. Initiatives on GAP in Malaysia • Implementation of SALM Scheme • Development of Malaysian Standard MS 1784: 2005 for Crop Commodities – Good Agricultural Practice

6. FARM ACCREDITATION SCHEME OF MALAYSIA(SALM) Source: Department of Agriculture, Malaysia

7. SALM and Department of Agriculture • SALM is a national program developed by the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, Malaysia. • Implementation of the Scheme • The scheme started from January 2002.

8. WHAT IS SALM ? Objective A program to recognize and accredit farms that adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), operate in a sustainable and an environmentally friendly way and yield produces that are of quality and safe for consumption

9. FARM ASPECTS EVALUATED • Legal Status of Farm • Environmental Setting • Agricultural Inputs For Production • Agronomic Practices • Waste Disposal Management • Workers Welfare and Safety • Quality of Farm Produces

10. Problems Experienced in Implementation of SALM • Documentation of procedures • Understanding of GAP requirements • Communicating objectives and requirements to workers • Maintenance of records, traceability • IPM • Pesticide residue analysis • Inadequate equipment • Management of the system • Cost of compliance

11. Malaysian Standard on Good Agricultural Practice • MS 1784:2005 • Developed by the Working Group on GAP for Crop Commodities • Approved by the Department of Standards Malaysia, the national standardization and accreditation body • In January 2005 • Secretariat is SIRIM Berhad Source: MS 1784:2005 issued by SIRIM

12. Normative References for MS-GAP 1784:2005 • EUREPGAP Ver 2.0Jan-04 Control Points & Compliance Criteria- Fruits & Vegetable • Malaysian Environment Quality Act 1974 and Environment Quality Regulations 1979 • Malaysian Pesticide Act 1974 • Malaysian Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 • MS ISO/IEC 17025, General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

13. Other MS-GAP Standards for specific crops-being developed • GAP standards for specific crop commodities based on Generic MS 1784:2005 • Crop commodities include Fruits & Vegetables, Cocoa, Palm Oil, Rubber, Tea, Coffee, Pepper, Flowers • Presently being developed by Technical Working Groups comprising experts for specific crops

14. Common misconceptions in implementing GAP • Identified with increasing cost • Farms may comply but do not get premiums • Voluminous record-keeping/ paperwork • Buyer market is not guaranteed • In actual fact GAP contributes to: • Increase in productivity • - efficient and effective use of agricultural inputs • - improved morale of workers • Product safety and quality

15. Problems to implementation of GAP • Insufficient awareness of the impact of agricultural practices on - the environment - climate - social : worker welfare - food safety

16. Grave need to increase this awareness • Inform people, policy makers, agri-business heads and the public at large on the negative impacts of unhealthy agricultural practices

17. Codes of Practice on GAP • There a a number of codes of practice being developed by various institutions and organizations • Leads to confusion as to which is preferred and may tend to deprecate some over others • The code must not only benefit farmers & producers but must be accepted by the trade

18. What needs to be done • Awareness seminars, workshops and conferences • Capacity building at all levels in elements that contribute to GAP and standards • Suitably trained personnel on agricultural auditing through conduct of proper recognized training programs which is presently lacking • Local auditors would reduce cost of certification • Simplifying documentation – IT systems

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