Almost all ASEAN member countries acknowledged that their food products still had low quality, Dinna Wisnu of Paramadina University said at a discussion on foods at the ASEAN-European Union Business Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center here on Thursday.
"I think it is an interesting suggestion to set up a kind of food certification agency based in Jakarta as the capital of ASEAN," Dinna said.
He said the agency would facilitate the standardization of ASEAN food products. ASEAN member countries had so far sent food specimen to Europe to have its quality standard tested. If European buyers agreed on the quality standard they would put orders for the food.
However, he added that some ASEAN member states were still reluctant to integrate their agricultural and food sector on the ground the sector was the job priority of their peoples.
Meanwhile, Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said the formation of such standardization institute was a good idea because certification and standard served as an important factor to penetrate the European market.
"We must not increase our standard according to their request, What is important is that they acknowledge our standard. Therefore, our standard must be clear and acceptable. If want our standard recognized we must improve infrastructure such as laboratory and upgrade businessman`s knowledge," she said.
(Uu.S012/H-NG/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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