Malaysia has developed a number of quality assurance programmes for primary producers with a number of voluntary farm certification schemes including the fresh fruit and vegetable sector certification (SALM); livestock certification (SALT); fisheries and aquaculture certification (SPLAM) and organic sector certification (SOM). The implementation of GAP standards in Malaysia started with the introduction of the Farm Accreditation Scheme of Malaysia (SALM) in 2002 by the Department of Agriculture (DOA). SALM is a programme designed to accredit farms that adopt Good agricultural practices, are operated in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way, and yield quality products that are safe for consumption.
Three major aspects are evaluated under SALM, namely:
Environmental setting of farms
Verification of farm practices
Safety of farm products
What are the main requirements?
Under these three aspects 21 elements are evaluated, of which 17 types of records must be maintained. Information available from SALM-certified farms include land use, soil type, source and quality of irrigation water, soil preparation including soil fumigation, fertilizer programmes, harvesting techniques and field transport, post-harvest treatment and packaging, and farm waste disposal.
How to get certified?
The farmer must first register with the Department of Agriculture and undergo a farm visit by a team of auditors, whose report is subject to approval by the Secretariat. A second farm visit results in the preparation of a technical report for the Farm Accreditation Committee. On acceptance, the farm is provided with a GAP certificate and approval to affix the SALM logo. Farms then undergo verification of farm practices and sequential residue analyses of farm produce and water.
Main opportunities and constraints
SALM-registered farms are reported to get priority in the local market because they qualify as preferred suppliers and offer a degree of differentiation. However no premiums are offered to products from certi- fied farms. SALM-registered farms are eligible to qualify for the çMalaysia Besté logo, a branding exercise administered by the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA). On the export front, through a bilateral agreement with Singapore, consignments receive preferential treatment.
However as the scheme is managed, audited and certified by the Depart- ment of Agriculture, there is a lack of transparency. The SALM scheme has also not received recognition of equivalence with other countriesû or private standards, although benchmarking to GLOBALGAP, initiated in September 2007, will change this situation.
More information on Malaysia - SALM
- Department of Agriculture, Malaysia:
www.doa.gov.my/main.php
- SALM scheme, Malaysia:
www.doa.gov.my/main.php?Content=contentdetails&Content ID=12&CurLocation=0&Page=1