Food firms urged to step up, meet global standards

Three government agencies have converged to help small food processors and manufacturers meet global standards and get a bigger share of the Southeast Asian market.

Nelia V. F. Navarro, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Cebu provincial director, said they have partnered with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a series of training sessions and seminars on how the food sector can improve its global competitiveness.

“All the agencies are now in convergence with each other,” Navarro said during a seminar yesterday, where FDA discussed the requirements for licensing while DOST representatives showed how members of the Confederation of Food Manufacturers and Exporters, Inc. can upgrade their technology.

“With COFMEI as (our partner), we will be able to know if our methods are working. They will be able to tell us the real needs of the sector,” Navarro said.

Tristan Abando, DOST director, said the food sector will have to work more on improving productivity and setting competitive pricing.

He also said that because some manufacturers and processors do not pass global food safety standards,  they operate informally and without license.

Without a license, a food processor will not be able to expand nor compete in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Economic Community, which will be established by the end of this year.

“That is why we are conducting seminars like this: to make the manufacturers and processors know and understand the requirements, and encourage them to voice out to the government,” he said.

Bess Gaw, COMFEI president, said the group will help its members find ways to improve their efficiency and market their products and services.

Gomel Gabuna, FDA Visayas cluster head, said the seminar yesterday was part of the second phase of their campaign to raise awareness about food safety standards. Some 40 food exporters and manufacturers attended the two-day activity.