INTRODUCTION

• The Second Meeting of the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) was held on 22^nd June 2010 in the Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines.

·         The Meeting was attended by the 19 ACC TWGFS members and observers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.  The ASEAN Cocoa Club (ACC) Secretariat was also in attendance.  The list of delegates appears as Annex I.

WELCOMING REMARKS AND MESSAGE

·         Mr. Gilberto F. Layese, Director of Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS),  Department of Agriculture, Philippines welcomed members from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to the Second Meeting of the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) and thanked all members for attending the Meeting.

·         In his welcoming remarks, he extended his warm mabuhay welcome to the members from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand to the Philippines and thanked all members for attending the 2^nd TWGFS Meeting.  He mentioned that by hosting this 2^nd meeting of the TWGFS of the ASEAN Cocoa Club, the Philippines indicated its full support and cooperation to the activities of this Working Group.

·         In his speech he mentioned that in 2007, the Philippines developed the Philippine National Standard for Cacao or Cocoa Beans.  Currently, there is no Codex Standard developed yet for the primary production of cacao.  This year, the Philippines is developing a Code of Hygienic Practice for Cacao which will address Good Agricultural Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices that will help control microbial, chemical and physical hazards associated with all stages of the production from primary production to the packing of dried cacao. This is part of the Philippines investment on enabling policies and regulations to meet the goal of at least 100,000 MT exportable quality cacao beans indicated in the Philippine Cacao Roadmap.  

·         He also encouraged the other ASEAN member countries to join in developing ASEAN standards and Codes of Practice for Cocoa and Cocoa Products in the future.  Quality is the primary determinant of price for the cocoa in the world market and that farm management and post-harvest practices are recognized as two of the major factors influencing the quality of our cocoa beans. It is imperative then that the ASEAN member countries to work together to enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN cocoa and cocoa products in meeting international quality and safety requirements.  The full text of his speech appears in Annex II.

AGENDA ITEM 1: OPENING REMARKS

·         The Chairperson of the ACC TWGFS, Dr. Sabariah Samsudin, Director of Chemistry and Technology Division, Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the Philippines for hosting the Second Meeting of the ACC TWGFS.

·         She also welcomed members from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to the Philippines and thanked all members for attending the Meeting.

·         In her opening remarks, she emphasized that the food safety is an important matter to be given serious attention and compliance to food safety requirements if the ASEAN member countries would remain competitive in the global market.  The ASEAN countries are still facing many challenges such as the stringent requirements imposed on food safety as well as the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) permitted on cocoa of which is technically impossible to comply being imposed by many countries especially in Europe, America and Asian.  On top of that, most of the importing countries have been implementing their own food safety standards which are not in line with the CODEX Standard.

·         She emphasized that the ASEAN countries as a group should work closely together to further facilitate the cocoa trade in this region particularly in addressing the issues affecting cocoa trade, strengthening research and development, standardising standard requirement as well as setting up database that could be used to challenge any dispute or claims with regards to food safety issues on cocoa and cocoa products.  With the continuous, full cooperation and networking of all ASEAN countries, these initiatives and efforts will benefit the ASEAN member countries as a whole. 

·         She also recapitulated that the idea to establish the TWGFS was conceptualized during the 10^th Meeting of the National Focal Point for ASEAN Cocoa Club (ACC) on ASEAN Cooperation and Joint Approaches in Agriculture and Forest Products Promotion Scheme held on 26–27 June 2007 at the Inna Kuta Beach, Hotel, Cottage and Spa, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia.   The objectives of the TWGFS is to provide and share information to address food safety issues pertaining to cocoa and cocoa products among the ASEAN member countries, with specific tasks to monitor and update information on food safety requirements imposed by importing countries, to address issues of importance related to food safety, to develop database on food safety and to share knowledge and expertise on testing methodologies.  The full text of her opening remarks appears in Annex III.

AGENDA ITEM 2:   ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

·         Mr. Gilberto F. Layese, Director of Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS), Department of Agriculture, Philippines was unanimously elected as the Vice–Chairman of the Second Meeting of the ACC TWGFS.

AGENDA ITEM 3:   ADOPTION OF AGENDA

·         The Meeting adopted the Agenda of the Second Meeting of the ACC TWGFS as it appears in Annex IV.

AGENDA ITEM 4:   BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS

·         The Meeting was held in plenary.

AGENDA ITEM 5:   DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

·         The ACC TWGFS Secretariat presented the status report on the development of the Terms of Reference (TOR).  The TOR consists of the ACC TWGFS background, objectives, roles, functions, structure and frequency of meeting.  The TOR appears in Annex V.

·         The Meeting agreed to revise on the following:-

a.         The two (2) objectives of the ACC TWGFS are:-

                                       i.        To provide and share information to address food safety issues pertaining to cocoa and cocoa products among the ASEAN member countries.

                                     ii.        To develop or adapt mechanism in promoting agreements on ASEAN position in food safety for consideration and approval by the ACC.

b.      The functions of the ACC TWGFS are:-

                                      i.            To provide information on the current status of the country’s initiatives   relative to food safety on cocoa and cocoa products and related activities.

                                    ii.               To monitor and update information on food safety requirements imposed  by importing countries.

                                  iii.          To address issues of importance related to food safety.

                                  iv.            To develop database on food safety.

                                    v.            To share knowledge and expertise on testing methodologies.

                                  vi.         To harmonize the food safety requirements of the ASEAN member countries.

AGENDA ITEM 6: DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE ON FOOD SAFETY

·            The ACC TWGFS Secretariat presented the website of the food safety as appears in Annex VI.

·            The Members were informed that the database covered both cocoa and cocoa products.

·            The Meeting agreed that only one (1) login (username and password) will be given to each member countries.  However, the members could extend the login to their other appointed members (technical and non–technical).  The members were requested to provide the name of the person in-charge or reference point to the ACC TWGFS Secretariat immediately.

·            The Meeting was informed that the data and information in the database will consist of the current and the historical data.

·            The Meeting informed the members that hyperlink to other relevant food safety website can be accessed.  However, the members are requested to provide the URL address of the website to the ACC TWGFS Secretariat.

AGENDA 7:  OTHER MATTERS

·            The members were requested to update their corresponding address if there are any changes.

·            The members were also requested to inform the ACC TWGFS Secretariat if there are any changes of the nominated members.   The ACC TWGFS Secretariat will send the reminder to each of the member countries.

·            The Meeting was informed that only four (4) countries had not submitted their appointed members as appears in Annex VII.  Therefore, members who have not submitted are urged to submit their nomination to the ACC TWGFS Secretariat immediately.

·            The members took note of the information shared by the Philippines on the electronic working group lead by Ghana for the discussion paper on the occurrence of the ochratoxigenic fungi and Ochratoxin A (OTA) in cocoa under the CODEX Committee on Contaminants in Foods.

AGENDA 8: DATE AND VENUE OF THE NEXT MEETING

·            The Meeting agreed to have once a year physical meeting back to back with the ASEAN Cocoa Club (ACC).

AGENDA 9: ADOPTION OF THE REPORT

·            The Meeting unanimously adopted the Report of the Second Meeting of the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) held on 22^nd June 2010 in the Department of Agriculture, Quezon City, Philippines.