ISO certification starting point for budding exporters

OBTAINING an ISO certification can be a starting point for companies hoping to tap into the export market.

Amargit Singh, director of SGS (Malaysia) Systems and Services Certification, said that the ability of companies to meet international standards on safe and high-quality products and services is now becoming the way towards penetrating the export market.

He said that the export market faces new challenges such as globalisation and advances in IT, making it a "border-less world" thus minimising trade barriers.

"Changes are occurring at a rapid speed and there is a need to gain a competitive edge in this highly competitive environment," he said.

During ceremonies yesterday to present an ISO 22000:2005 certification to meat processor BMC Food Industries Sdn Bhd at The Empire Hotel & Country Club, he said companies getting such certification will provide global recognition, allowing consumers to be sure that the products will perform predictably.

"Systems certification including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000 and OHSAS provide confidence to international buyers," he said.

Amargit added that such certification will result in a customer-focused environment throughout the organisation, leading to improved operational effectiveness.

"It also qualifies (the company) to compete in international markets and sets worldwide benchmarks for improvement," he said.

This was therefore one of the primary aims of the National Standards Centre (NSC) in implementing the "Certification for Local Small and Medium Enterprises in the Food Sector Programme".

According to information provided by the NSC, the programme aims to promote and help SMEs in ensuring that their products abide and meet global standards.

"This programme will help develop the food health safety management system in fulfilling international standard needs," the centre said, adding that it will also help the government ensure that locally made products are safe, clean and of high quality.

At present, the NSC provides assistance to local companies in obtaining a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) and ISO 22000:2005, which are often pre-requisites for the export of food products.

The NSC explained that the entire duration of the certification programme can run from 12 to 18 months, depending on the capabilities of the companies in question.

The programme consists of two phases, the first of which is an intensive and on-site (factory) consultancy phase introduced to develop a system for food safety.

The second phase involves compliance and document audits to ensure that the company has successfully implemented the food safety management system.

Since introducing the programme in 2006, four local companies, namely PDS Meat Industries Sdn Bhd, PDS Abattoir Sdn Bhd, Golden Chick Abattoir Sdn Bhd and Semaun Seafood Sdn Bhd, have successfully acquired HACCP certification.

Meanwhile, BMC Food Industries Sdn Bhd was awarded the ISO 22000:2005 certification yesterday.The Brunei Times