Matrade Teams Up With Testing Bodies On Product Certification Standard For Export

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) is working with the Malaysia's Standards Department, SIRIM Bhd and foreign testing bodies to develop a product certification standard for export. Matrade Chief Executive Officer Dzulkifli Mahmud said product testing will be conducted locally to speed up the process, reduce cost by 50 per cent and encourage more small and medium entrepreneurs to get their products certified. Speaking to reporters at the 13th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) here Friday, he expressed hope that the standard could be completed by 2018, before the implementation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). "We have the expertise and facilities to do it locally. We must get ready with this standard ahead of the TPPA implementation. "This will allow local companies' products to compete globally, get access to more developed markets and gain market acceptance," he said. Accreditation required to tap into global markets, especially developed nations, includes Hard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) for food safety and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) besides Halal certification, which is an added value proposition for exports, he said. Earlier, Dzulkifli said the TPPA will open up additional halal market opportunities for all member countries but at the same time increase market competition. He said Matrade, the national trade promotion agency would look into ways to help more companies export their halal products, pointing out that countries like Chile already import a significant amount of halal products from Malaysia. Twelve countries -- Malaysia, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Mexico, Japan, Peru, Canada, Vietnam, the United States, Singapore and Brunei -- finally signed the ambitious TPPA in Auckland, New Zealand on Feb 4 which is set to expand markets, reduce tariffs and promote freer trade. The comprehensive free trade pact represents nearly 40 per cent of global Gross Domestic Product worth US$30 trillion (RM124.7 trillion). --BERNAMA