Science and tech dep’t to teach marketing to exporters

THE Department of Science and Technology (Dost)-Davao Region seeks to teach exporters how to market their products in countries that have preferential deals with the Philippines.

Dietmar Speckmaier, Dost food safety consultant presented in a Davao Trade Expo session Sunday the good ways of implementing a food safety management system (FSMS).

Speckmaier presented the Food Safety System Development in three ways: First, he introduced the Generating More Papers (GMP), a prerequisite for the license to operate issued on Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“Quality must be built into a product, not just tested into a product. That includes the contract manufacturer, the storage, documentations, trainings (to name a few),” Speckmaier said.

He also introduced the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), a certifying body that conducts hazard analysis and establishes critical limits, monitoring system, corrective actions, and verification procedures. And lastly, he introduced the FSMS.

According to Speckmaier, 76 million Americans every year suffer from food poisoning that is attributed to food processor problems.

For instance, he said, 25 grams from a ton of product does not guarantee that the entire load is free of pathogens.

“The end-product testing gives a false sense of security that resulted to food-borne disease which takes a major toll on health up to one-third of the population of developed countries are affected,” Speckmaier said.

Speckmaier said that implementing a food safety management system, with the implementation of good manufacture practice will make the exporters and buyers enjoy the products and lower tariffs abroad.

“This applies more to exporters, but also it should apply to the domestic market with the implementation of HACCP certification. Because without the certification that proves your product is safe, it is not possible to export product outside the country,” Speckmaier said.

He also said that with good manufacturer practices required by Philippine administration order 156 or 21, all Philippine food establishments need to show all their requirements.

“So, in the long run, Philippine companies that have a good product for exportation can only be successful if they are HACCP certified,” Speckmaier added. (Ivy C. Tejano)