Asian countries speed up their uptake of EUREPGAP. The total number of certified producers have more than doubled, over the last 12 month period.

Acknowledging this EUREPGAP has organized its annual event in Bangkok on 6th and 7th September 2007. Expert speakers from more than 13 countries will share their views and experience in setting up farm assurance certification in Asia.

Kristian Moeller, Secretary EUREPGAP, said “Although Asia/Pacific shares just 5% of all world-wide EUREPGAP certificates, we are seeing a very high growth rate in Asia . Asia is rapidly catching up, especially due to the number of initiatives to build national schemes for Good Agricultural Practice, such as ThaiGAP, MalaysiaGAP, ChinaGAP and JGAP (Japan) which will be referenced directly (benchmarked) to the EUREPGAP global standard.“

The plenary day (7th September) of the 8th EUREPGAP Conference will be opened by the Thai Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Punpienmrat. Delegates will learn how smallscale farmers are organising to obtain certification as well as hear the requirements of international and local retailers. The major theme of the event is how to “Think Global but Act Local”. Regional industry leaders  and public officials will explain how to benefit from a globally harmonized GAP standard through the establishment of EUREPGAP multistakeholder National Technical Work Groups.

”Timing and location are perfect for this year`s event, in a region where the public and private sectors are working together to plan and implement Good Agricultural Practices for both export and local markets,“ said Nigel Garbutt, Chairman of EUREPGAP.

At the conference we will also begin to finalise the consultation process for the EUREPGAP Shrimp standard with a specially convened one day workshop for  key stakeholders. The shrimp standard is expected to be available for certification by the end of this year.

The Conference Programme and online registration is available at the special Event website www.eurepgap2007.org.


Speaker Organisations include:

ACFS, Thailand
Aeon, Japan
Africa Observer/Smallholder "Ambassador" EUREPGAP, Germany
Albert Hejn, The Netherlands
Anova Food, Vietnam
ArgenINTA, Argentina
Central Pertiwi Bahari, Indonesia
CNCA, China
FAO, Thailand
GTZ Thailand
Heiploeg, The Netherlands
Inspectorate, Argentina
IsaCert, The Netherlands
IUCN, The Netherlands
Jas-Anz, Australia
JGAP/JGAI, Japan
KC Fresh, Thailand
Kiara, Indonesia
Malaysian Agrifood Corporation
MPI/GTZ, SME Development Programme, Vietnam
Oxfam/Novib,
The Netherlands
QA Plus, Asia-Pacific, Malaysia
Quality Council of India
SAIGlobal/EFSIS, Australia/UK
SGS, Australia
SGS, The Netherlands
Syngenta, Switzerland
Tesco Stores, UK
Tumbuyog, Phillipines

(Make your trip to Thailand worthwhile and visit the ASIA Fruit Logistica 2007 - which will start one day before the EUREPGAP Conference - while being in Bangkok. For more information please see here www.asiafruitlogistica.com.)


See certified producers in selected Asia/Pacific Countries in the official EUREPGAP Press Release:

Download:

Press_release_Bangkok_cert-numbers_07_08_07.pdf