In an effort to focus on
improving the quality of export products according to world standards of
quality to expand export access of Indonesian products, so that leading Indonesian
products must be able to meet the standards and technical requirements which
are accepted and recognized by all export destination countries, the Ministry
of Trade participates and acts as a technical coordinator in the implementation
of Trade Support Programme (TSP) II in Indonesia. TSP II is a European Union
(EU) program aimed at accelerating the integration of Indonesia in
international trade. The program worth around EUR 1 million has been started
since the signing of the financial agreement by both parties on October 30,
2009 and will end on October 30, 2015.
“Just like TSP I, this program is also emphasized on the
compliance of Indonesian export products with standards and other technical
requirements, including product traceability applied by EU. We wanted
Indonesian products to achieve world quality standards, “said Director General
of Standardization and Consumer Protection of the Ministry of Trade, Widodo, in
the opening of the Achievements and Closure Exhibition of EU-Indonesia TSP II, in
Jakarta, on Wednesday (October 7).
Based on studies conducted by TSP II in 2010, the program
is focused on five Indonesia’s potential sectors that have a relatively small
share of imports in the EU. The sectors are agro food products, fisheries,
electronics, furniture, and natural cosmetics. Widodo said the creation of
Export Quality Infrastructure (EQI) Roadmap and Guidelines. This Roadmap is an
export quality infrastructure development plan to be a world class EQI that
must be realized jointly by the ministries and institutions, as well as other
relevant stakeholders.
“By having a world class EQI, quality certificates issued
by Indonesia’s conformity assessment body will always be accepted and
recognized by the notified bodies, and there is no refusal from export
destination countries. Thus, access to Indonesian export products will be more
easy and smooth, “said Widodo.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM)
laboratory is very competent in testing the safety of food products. BPOM is
also committed to make efforts to increase of Indonesian products. “In line
with the assessment results of TSP II expert team, several BPOM laboratories
are believed to play a strategic and competent role in implementing food safety
assessment, especially testing of aflatoxin contamination in nutmeg.
“BPOM is ready to facilitate food assessment, especially
nutmeg, which is to be exported to the European Union,” said Head of BPOM, Roy
Sparringa. Besides, National Quality Assurance (NQA) as part of the implementation
of EQI Roadmap must be followed up with the same commitment. Because it
involves various sectors, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs will
be the driving force, with BPOM and the Ministry of Trade as the technical
coordinator, respectively for food and non-food affairs.
“I am optimistic that the implementation of NQA will
improve the quality of Indonesian products, both for domestic and export
markets,” said Head of BPOM. In a continued effort to improve the quality
standard of export products, because consumers today have an awareness of
quality products manufactured by considering health, safety, security,
environment, and social, demands on producers and exporters in improving
product quality is also higher.
TSP II responded to this by establishing Indonesia
Technical Requirement Information System (INATRIMS/inatrims.kemendag.go.id)
containing information on standards and technical requirements of export
destinations. The information is focused on 10 Indonesia’s main export products,
namely textiles, electronics, rubber and rubber products, palm oil, forest
products, footwear, automotive, shrimp, coca, and coffee; and 10 potential
export products, namely leather and leather products, medical equipment,
medicines, medicinal plants, processed foods, essential oils, fish, crafts,
jewelry, spices, and non-paper stationary products.
Currently, INATRISM has covered information on the EU
market, China, and South Korea, and will be followed by United Arab Emirates,
United States and other countries. TSP II is focused on seven relevant
ministries/agencies, namely the Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Industry,
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and
Drug Supervisory Agency, the National Standardization Agency, the National
Accreditation Committee, and Indonesian Institute of Sciences.
The Achievements and Closure Exhibition of UE-Indonesia
TSP II held in October 6-7, 2015 was also filled with presentations of
achievements of TSP II by beneficiaries. On of the achievements listed are the
National Data Sharing System (DSS) which is managed by the Ministry of Maritime
Affairs and Fisheries. DDS provides centralized, consistent, and transparent
data to prevent and combat Unreported II-legal Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. This
system is easily accessible by competent authorities, at both central and
provincial government level.
Ambassador-designate of European Union to Indonesia and
Brunei Darussalam, Vincent Guerend, expressed his pride of the achievements of
TSP II, especially on matters relating to EQI. Vincent is proud that TSP II is
able to support work priorities of the government to overcome some trade
barriers between Indonesia and the European Union. For example in the fisheries
sector, TSP II helps strengthen DSS for the implementation of capture fisheries
certification in 32 ports, so as to balance the strictness of EU regulation on
IUU.
The development of marine and fisheries sector is one of
the main priorities of the government. “The success story can also be seen in
nutmeg commodity of Siau, North Sulawesi, where TSP II not only supports the
legal system and quality control of nutmeg, but also implements a pilot project
at the stage of production and post-harvest handling,” said Vincent. Other success
stories of TSP II were also presented in the exhibition, which is about EQI
Roadmap and Guidelines for Strategic Improvement of Indonesian Export; National
Quality Assurance to Enhance Export Quality Products; Strengthened Policy
Framework Ensures Compliance with EU Requirements; Best Practices Lead to more
Effective and more Efficient Accreditation at KAN; Improving Export Access
through INATRIMS; Improved Nutmeg Quality for Better Acceptance in EU Market;
Improved Quality of Cocoa Beans and It’s Derivatives Expands Access to EU
Market; Strengthened Catch Certification System by Support of Data Sharing
System; National Residue Monitoring Plan (NRMP) to Secure Access to EU Market
for Fishery Products; and improved KIM LIPI Capabilities Guarantees International
Trust. (E)
Business News - October 12, 2015
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