Training Programme "Concept EU Organic Regulation"
Frick, Switzerland, May 25 - June 2/2010
In the first weeks of june, bio.inspecta AG, a Swiss based certification company, held a training programme in organic regulation of the EU. The aim of the course was to enable the participants in inspection and certification services for organic producers outside the EU to be able to enter the European market. With our support, several participants from Indonesia attended the training programme: Ir. Sri Sulasmi M.Sc, Head of Quality Cooperation and Harmonization Division of the Genereal Directorate of Crops Distribution and Processsing, Hanang Dwi Atmojo M.Sc, staff of General Directorate of Horticulture of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, Purnomo and Bambang Jumadi from the Seloliman Institute for Organic Certification LeSOS and Yenny Lucia, Organic Manager of YEL's Environmental Education Center PPLH Bahorok. The objectives of this training programme were among others:
- To widely introduce the terms and conditions for organic products to be able to enter the European market, especially the European Union EU;
- To understand the inspection and certification procedures, as well as other services provided by bio.inspecta for its clients;
- To introduce the Internal Control System applied by bio.inspecta AG, so that the participants can conduct inspection to plants producers and to collectors of wild plants including its treatment.
Some of the modules explained and discussed within the training programme dealt with the accreditation requirements for inspection and certification bodies, the Code of Conduct for inspectors, requirements of the EU Organic Regulations (plant production and wild collection), inspection of Internal Control System and the import regulations of the EU and Switzerland.
Following the training, the officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture conducted a courtesy call to a meeting with the Swiss Agriculture Department represented by the Head of Quality and Sales Promotion Unit, Mr. Patrik Aebi and the Head of International Cooperation of the Department. Topics of the meeting were the exchange of information regarding policy and development of organic products in both countries and also Indonesia's success in entering the Japanese organic market. This was highly appreciated as Switzerland has so far not been able to enter the Japanese market with its organic products. In reply to the question, whether the Swiss certification would facilitate Indonesia to enter the EU market, Mr. Aebi suggested Indonesia to lobby the EU in order to enter the EU market and to get the EU certification, since the outreach will be wider and easier as the other way around. Indeed it is a long and time consuming process to get the EU certification, but it is better to be done. Responding to the question on the possibility of other training programmes for the agricultural sectors, the Head of the International Cooperative of the Swiss Agriculture Department answered that anything related to or resulting in a financial impact is organized by the State Secretariat of Economic Affairs Swiss SECO and the Swiss Agriculture Department only implements. SECO is therefore the best counterpart.
Since 2008, Indonesia and 6 other developing countries have been declared as priority countries for Switzerland within the period of 2009 until 2012 and received supporting development funds of CHF 800 million prioritized for poverty alleviation, development of small and middle scale business, to increase Indonesian competitiveness in export goods and for environmental protection. Bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Switzerland in the sectors of farming and agriculture shall therefore be continuously improved by using the momentum of the declaration and, additionally, the signing of the Collective Commission on Economy and Commerce.
