A Practical Manual for
Producers and Exporters from Asia

REGULATIONS, STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION FOR
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS

RAP PUBLICATION 2007/13

Trade and Markets Division (EST)
and
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Bangkok, 2007





Download Report : Part I (758 KB) Part II (445 KB)

The mention or omission of specific companies, their products or brand names does not imply any endorsement or judgment by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. All rights reserved. Reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product for educational or other noncommercial purposes are authorized without any prior written permission from the copyright holders provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of material in this information product for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without written permission of the copyright holders. Applications for such permissions should be addressed to the Chief, Publishing Policy and Support Service, Information Technology Division (KCT), FAO, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy or by e-mail to copyright@fao.org

© FAO 2007
Editor and author:
Pascal Liu, Trade and Markets Division, FAO

Associate authors:
Siobhán Casey, Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division, FAO
Jean-Joseph Cadilhon, RAP, FAO
Peter Sousa Hoejskov, RAP, FAO
Nancy Morgan, RAP, FAO

With the collaboration of:
The Economic and Commercial Counsellors, French Embassies in Asia


Text formatting: Daniela Piergentili, Trade and Markets Division, FAO
Layout: Earth Net Foundation/Green Net, Thailand
Illustrations: Earth Net Foundation/Green Net, Thailand
Other acknowledgements: The French Ministry of Agriculture and
Fisheries contributed in funding the editing, printing and distribution of
this publication through FAO project MTF/RAS/212/FRA

Abstract

Many producers and exporters feel that the market for certified agricultural products is very complex and that the opportunities and requirements associated with certification programmes are not always clear. In addition, producers do not always know if the requirements are compulsory or voluntary. To assist stakeholders from the private and public sectors, FAO set out to produce a publication series covering various regions in the world – this one covers Asia. The manual is aimed at producer organizations, trainers, extension agents and exporters. It describes the import regulations of the main export markets, and major private standards and voluntary certification programmes. The reader is provided with an easy-to-read guide on the main voluntary certification schemes, their importance, the differences between them as well as their advantages and limitations. In order to be able to export his or her products any producer or exporter must also conform with the regulations of importing countries. The manual therefore provides information concerning the main import regulations in the United States of America, the European Union, Japan and other selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Owing to the changing nature of regulations and the diversity of products and their characteristics, numerous Internet addresses have also been provided where up-to-date, detailed information can be found.