The First Meeting of the Special Experts Working Group on the ASEAN
Regional Standards for Organic Agriculture and the 9th Meeting of the
Task Force on ASEAN Standards for Horticultural Produce and Other Food
Crops officially opened in Brunei’s capital, Banda Seri Begawan, on
April 8.

The five-day meetings, jointly held by the
Brunei Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources’ Agriculture and
Agrifood Department and the ASEAN Secretariat, have drawn
representatives from all 10 member nations.

The Acting
Director of the Department, Hajah Aidah binti Haji Mohd Haniffah,
stressed the important role of ASEAN as the region’s leading exporter of
agricultural and food products.

However, she noted that
ASEAN is facing challenges posed by trade liberalisation, adding that
the region needs to produce horticultural and food products that can
compete in both regional and international markets.

Aidah
went on to assert that it is imperative to adopt and harmonise ASEAN
member states’ national standards with the established international
standards.

Officials and experts at the meetings discussed
issues related to boosting organic farming under a sustainable
agro-ecological model.

There are no specific guidelines
or standards for organic agriculture in ASEAN member countries,
participants admitted, adding that the development of organic farming in
the region depends on the actions of individual countries.

Participant will prepare draft standards for organic produce, build a
future working agenda for the Working Group and propose activities to
develop the strategic action plan.

ASEAN is building an
economic community for 2015, which recognises the importance of the
agricultural sector and the Single Market and Production Base.

Since the First Meeting of the Task Force on ASEAN Standards for
Horticultural and other Food Crops took place in 2005, the grouping has
established 24 ASEAN standards for various tropical fruits and
vegetables.-VNA