ABAC To Propose Environment Friendly Product Standardization

Medan, N Sumatera, July 4 (Antara) - The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) Indonesia will propose a mutually recognized environment-friendly products standardization in the APEC forum. The Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association (APKI), one of ABAC Indonesia`s members, has stressed the importance of the mutually recognized standard for major agriculture commodities in Indonesia such as wood, rubber and palm oil, said APKI`s Executive Director Liana Brastida in Medan, North Sumatera, on Thursday. "We in Indonesia already have several environmentally-based standardizations to our agricultural products, like Legal Verification Letter on Woods (SVLK) and Eco-products label from Trade Ministry," she said. However, Liana underlined that the Indonesian standard has not yet been recognized as a verified standard based on different methodologies and international publications. "I personally assume that it is a matter of business sentiments from our (Indonesia) competitors," she said. Hence, Liana and her colleagues from the Indonesian Vegetable Oil Association (GIMNI) and Indonesian Rubber Companies Association (GAPKINDO) have attempted through the ABAC forum in order gain mutual recognition product standard. "Today (Thursday, July 4) we have schedule to meet the Senior Official of APEC economists and we certainly will be delivering our statements and evidences about the Indonesian palm oil, pulp and paper and rubber as green products," said Executive Director of GIMNI Sahat M Sinaga. Sinaga added Indonesian palm oil industries are obliged to have Indonesian Sustainability Palm Oil (ISPO) certification that requires environment-friendly cultivation of palm oil farm and industry management. "ISPO requires the Indonesian palm oil industries to run an end-to-end environmentally process on our products," he said. Meanwhile, on the rubber industry, GAPKINDO`s Executive Director Daud Husni said they have developed a sludge system that is supported by Japan technology to process more environmentally friendly rubbers. "All in all, we have to cooperate with all stakeholders to continue our efforts on promoting our agriculture products as green products," he said. ABAC is a council in APEC that represents the business sector. In July 8 to 11, 2013, ABAC will organize a third meeting in Kyoto, Japan, to discuss about final recommendations from the business sector to be proposed by the ABAC in a dialog with leaders during the APEC Summit in October, in Bali.