UNIDO certifications vital for USA and EU markets

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) launched the ISO 22000/HACCP and SA 8000 certifications to upgrade the capacity in food safety management and social accountability standards.

UNIDO has undertaken the program in collaboration with the Ministry of Industrial Development, the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI), National Chamber of Exporters and the Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) to enhance the credibility of the certifications and ensure that high standards are maintained in food safety management.

The program launched with an investment of US $ 10.6 million will be funded by Norway through the Norwegian Development Agency (NORAD). The two accredited certifications are necessary to carry out exports to USA and the EU markets.

Importers in the EU countries have stressed the need for foreign food manufacturing methods being certified by the ISO 9001 and HACCP certifications, said Director-Trade Capacity Building Branch UNIDO, Dr. Lalith Goonetilake. Although EU legislation on food safety standards was not binding on non-EU countries at the beginning of this year, the regulation is now in force for those countries as well.

The new EU food safety regulations on traceability, hygiene and control put pressure on enterprises in developing countries, to comply with the standards as they are necessary to have access to the EU market.

Dr. Goonetileka said credibility is what is lacking in food safety management certifications. The food safety management and social accountability standard certifications ensures integrity, transparency, hygiene and good manufacturing practices to the tourism sector, he said.

A major difficulty exporters face is the absence of internationally accredited metrology and testing facilities that would give recognition to their products.

The two accredited certifications introduced by UNIDO will require a company to maintain standards which will be strictly monitored, he said.