INTRODUCTION

1.             The Third Meeting of the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) was held on 9^th May 2011 in Maruay Garden Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.

2.             The Meeting was attended by the 41 ACC TWGFS members and observers from Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.  The ASEAN Cocoa Club (ACC) Secretariat was also in attendance.  The list of delegates appears as Annex I.

WELCOMING REMARKS

3.             Dr. Suwit Chaikattiyos, Director of Horticulture Research Institute, Department of Agriculture, Thailand welcomed the members from Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand to the Third Meeting of the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) and thanked all members for attending the Meeting.

4.             On behalf of the Thailand delegation, he expressed his sincere appreciation to ACC TWGFS for giving the honour to Thailand to host the 3^rd ACC TWGFS Meeting.

5.             He briefed the meeting on the status of cocoa industry in Thailand.  Thailand currently produce about 200 tonne of cocoa beans with domestic grinding is more than 20,000 tonne a year.   With this wide supply and demand gap, Thailand has to import cocoa beans from the other producing countries. 

6.             He also mentioned that the Department of Agriculture is given a mandate to conduct research and development on cocoa covering research area on breeding, cultural practices, pest management, and post harvest techniques. 

7.             He also acknowledged the support and full cooperation from all stakeholders, both in public and private sector to the successfully organizing the Meeting.  The full text of his speech appears as Annex II.

AGENDA ITEM 1: OPENING REMARKS

8.             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 Thailand for hosting the Third Meeting of the ACC TWGFS.

9.             She also welcomed and thanked the delegates from Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand for attending the Meeting.

10.         In her opening remarks, she highlighted that food safety must not only be tackled at the national level but also through closer linkages among the exporting and importing countries at the international level in order to protect the public health and facilitate the trade. 

11.         She also emphasized the functions of this Technical Working Group on Food Safety are to provide a platform for ASEAN member countries to share information and to address food safety issues pertaining to cocoa and cocoa products among the ASEAN member countries. This is inline with the ASEAN Food Safety Improvement Plan (AFSIP) which was developed by the ASEAN Expert Group on Food Safety (AEGFS) whereby Information Sharing Programme is one of the priority areas. 

12.         She urged all the members of the TWGFS to be actively involved and fully committed in the activities that has been formulated so that it could be successfully implemented and will benefit the member countries. The full text of her speech appears as Annex III.

 AGENDA ITEM 2:   ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN

13.         Mrs. Peyanoot Naka, Senior Scientist, Horticulture Research Institute, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand was unanimously elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Third Meeting of the ACC TWGFS.

AGENDA ITEM 3:   ADOPTION OF AGENDA

14.         The Meeting adopted the Agenda for the Third Meeting of the ACC TWGFS as appears in Annex IV.

AGENDA ITEM 4:   BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS

15.         The Meeting was held in plenary.

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

16.          The objectives and functions under the terms of reference for the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) were revised during the 2^nd Meeting of ACC TWGFS.  The Secretariat of ACC TWGFS presented the revised TOR as appears in Annex V.

AGENDA ITEM 6: DEVELOPMENT OF DATABASE ON FOOD SAFETY

17.          The Secretariat reported the status of the nomination for the person in-charge of the food safety database from each member countries and the URL address that hyperlink to relevant food safety website.  The details of the nominated person in-charge and the URL address as appears in Annex VI.

18.          Indonesia informed the Meeting that some information on the food safety database had been provided to the Secretariat.  Indonesia also reported on the work progress carried out on pesticide residues.  Currently, the evaluation on pesticides used in the farm and establishment of the laboratories are being carried out.  

19.          The analysis done by Indonesia on 2,4-D Amine indicated that the result of the pesticide residue is below the MRLs.  Indonesia will continue providing the data for food safety database in stages.

20.          Malaysia had uploaded 34 pesticide residues, 1 fumigant and 5 heavy metals which have the provision under the Malaysian Food Regulation 1985.  For the profile, Malaysia had uploaded the data from the monitoring programme for pesticide residues such as acephate, chlorpyrifos, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, endosulfan and 2,4-D Amine from various regions in Malaysia.  The information uploaded can be accessed via URL address “http://www.koko.gov.my/twgf/twfgs_bg.htm”.

21.          Philippines informed the Meeting that Philippines had yet to submit the focal point for the food safety database as there are several ministries involved in food safety on cocoa.  The Philippines will submit Mr. Gilberto F. Layese, Director of Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS), Department of Agriculture, Philippines as the person in-charge for database for Philippines.  Philippines will upload the information on MRLs of pesticide residues into the database upon receiving the username and password. 

22.          Thailand reported that Thailand has the standard of cocoa beans and set MRLs for carbaryl, carbosulfan, triazophos, pirimiphos-methyl, lambda-cyhalothrin and acephate.  The full report appears as Annex VII.

23.          Philippines requested the member countries to share if there are initial results carried out on Ochratoxin contamination in cocoa as there is a discussion paper being circulated by the CODEX Committee on Contaminants in Food (CCCF).

24.          Related to this matter, all member countries informed the Meeting that the research on Ochratoxin is still at the early stage. Any information on this matter will be shared in the future meeting.

25.          The Chairperson seeks the cooperation and support from all the Member Countries to provide complete information and to upload the database continuously.

AGENDA 7:  OTHER MATTERS

26.          The Chairperson informed the status of the membership for the ACC TWGFS. Myanmar and Malaysia had replaced their technical and non-technical members, respectively.  The list of membership of ACC TWGFS appears in Annex VIII.

27.          Indonesia informed the Meeting that Dr. Gardjita Budi will replace Dr. Nyoman Oka Tridjaja as non-technical member for Indonesia.  Other changes on membership for Indonesia will be officially informed to the ACC TWGFS Secretariat by the end of the 14^th ASEAN Cocoa Club (ACC) Meeting.

28.  The Meeting discussed on the activities and work plan related to the following functions:

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

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

c.        To address issues of importance related to food safety

d.       To develop database on food safety

e.        To share knowledge and expertise on testing methodologies

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

a.  To Provide Information on the Current Status of the Country’s Initiatives Relative to Food Safety on Cocoa and Cocoa Products and Related Activities

29.          Indonesia informed the Meeting that Indonesia is carrying out evaluations and survey on the usage of pesticides in cocoa at the farm level.

30.          Malaysia reported on The International Workshop on the Safe Use of Pesticides in Cocoa and Harmonized Legislation for Food Safety which was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 25-27 January, 2011.  The full report appears in Annex IX.

31.          Philippines informed the Meeting on the current activities related to food safety on cocoa as follows:

a.        Final drafting of the Philippines Code of Practice for cacao to be completed by the end of this year with emphasis on the prevention and control of Ochratoxin A during drying and storage.

b.        Pilot testing of a proposed traceability system at the farm level of Philippines cacao beans to be initiated this May 2011.

c.         Drafting of a Philippines National Standard and Code of Practice for Tablea (molded cocoa liquor).

b.       To Monitor and Update Information on Food Safety Requirements Imposed by Importing Countries

32.          The Meeting agreed on the proposal by Malaysia to compile and update MRLs of pesticide residues imposed by importing countries.  This activity will be led by Indonesia. 

c.        To Address Issues of Importance Related to Food Safety

33.          Malaysia proposed the establishment of positive and negative lists for cocoa as new activity under this function.  The Meeting commented that the member countries are not ready to commit on this proposal.  However, the Meeting agreed on the importance of this matter to strengthen the position of ASEAN member countries.

34.          The Meeting agreed to revisit this proposal in the future meetings.

d.    To Develop Database on Food Safety

35.          The Meeting informed that this is an on-going activity.

e.    To Share Knowledge and Expertise on Testing Methodologies

36.          The Meeting informed that all ASEAN member countries are not ready to share the knowledge and expertise on testing methodologies.

f.         To Harmonize the Food Safety Requirements of the ASEAN Member Countries

37.          The Meeting commented that the possible activities to be carried out under this function is still at initial stages.

38.          The revised work plan of ACC TWGFS for year 2011-2015 appears in Annex X.

AGENDA 8: DATE AND VENUE OF THE NEXT MEETING

39.          The Meeting agreed to have once a year physical meeting back to back with the ACC Meeting.

AGENDA 9: ADOPTION OF THE REPORT 

40.          The Meeting unanimously adopted the Report of the Third Meeting of the ASEAN Cocoa Club Technical Working Group on Food Safety (ACC TWGFS) held on 9^th May 2011 in the Maruay Garden Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT  

41.          The Chairperson of the ACC TWGFS expressed her gratitude and thanks to all delegates for their active participation in the Meeting.

42.          The delegation of Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand expressed their sincere appreciation to the government of Thailand in particular the Department of Agriculture for their hospitality accorded to them and the excellent arrangements made for the meeting.  The Meeting also thanked the ACC Secretariat for the assistance and support provided.

43.          The Meeting was held in the traditional spirit of ASEAN cordiality and solidarity.

Bangkok, Thailand

9^th May 2011