ADB subsidy program to benefit 600 tea factories

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided a grant of US$1.5 million to the ministry of Plantation Industries to launch a subsidy program for food safety certification based on HACCP. Six hundred tea factories will benefit from this scheme as 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.

According to a spokesman each factory has to identify the problems, develop the quality systems, conduct two audits before obtaining the certificate and then conduct a audit once in six months to see whether everything is in place after the certificate is obtained. Once they get the certificate 60% of the cost will be reimbursed. It would be approximately Rs. 150,000 per factory.

The Ministry of Plantation Industries said that Quality international Services (Pvt) Ltd, SLSI and SGS can issue the certificates.

The ISO Forum of Sri Lanka Association for Quality (SLAQ) said that this is a strong move by the Ministry to encourage internationally acceptable certification so that 'Ceylon Tea' will continue to hold the traditionally strong market position which they hold internationally.

The ISO Forum had 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 on obtaining the most beneficial certifications.

It is said that 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 while recognising the positive approaches made by the Ministry, launched a wide publicity program to assist the industry to obtain a much clearer view of certification activities.

The Ministry also had noted that the lack of awareness in the tea industry among producers, factory owners, exporters, packers and the 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 organised a seminar with Quality International Certification Services (Pvt) Ltd (QICS).

The Secretary, Ministry of Plantation Industries will outline the policy of the subsidy scheme while the Director General of the Sri Lanka Tea Board with the Tea Commissioner will explain the role of the agencies on promotion 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. They will be available for any clarification regarding their role in promoting quality in tea during discussion time.

The seminar targets the industry associated agencies such as associations, plantation companies (RPCs) and private factory owners and will be held on January 23 at the BMICH.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) is a systematic preventative approach to food safety that addresses physical, chemical and biological hazards as a means of prevention rather than finished product inspection.

HACCP is used in the food industry to identify potential food safety hazards, so that key actions, known as Critical Control Points (CCP's) can be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of the hazards being realised. The system is used at all stages of food production and preparation processes.