Introduction
·
MyGAP (Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices) was launched by
the Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry on 28 August 2013.
·
MyGAP is a rebranding exercise of Malaysian Farm Certification Scheme for
Good Agricultural Practices (SALM), Livestock Farm Practices Scheme (SALT),
and Malaysian Aquaculture Farm Certification Scheme (SPLAM).
·
MyGAP is a comprehensive
certification scheme for agricultural,
aquaculture and livestock sector.
·
MyGAP is implemented based on Malaysian Standard (MS).
MS 1784:2005 Crop Commodities – Good Agricultural Practice is
used for agricultural sector module and
MS 1998:2007 Good Aquaculture Practice (GaqP) – Aquaculture Farm
– General Guidelines and
MS 2467:2012 – Code of Practice for Seaweed Cultivation used for
aquaculture sector module. Whereas
MS 2027:2006 Good Animal Husbandry Practice is for livestock
sector.
·
Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) is an agricultural
practice which emphasises on environment,
economy and social aspects to ensure the produce is safe and of good
quality.
·
MyGAP is an Economic
Transformation Programme (ETP) initiative under the Strategic Reform Initiatives – Competition,
Standard and Liberalisation (SRI-CSL) which is an enabler to the
National Key Economic Area – Agriculture (NKEA - Agriculture).
Benefits of MyGAP
Certification
·
Produces quality and safe to eat agricultural products.
·
Reduces environment
pollution and assist in developing
an environmentally friendly and sustainable national agricultural industry.
·
Since GAP is recognised worldwide, it facilitates
the export of the products.
·
One certification scheme facilitates the implementation
of Good Agricultural Practices certification.
·
Guarantees the safety and welfare
of the staff.
·
Encourages and
facilitates the acceptance of consumers towards agricultural, livestock and aquaculture products with
only one certification.
·
Unlike SALM, SPLAM and SALT, GAP is more
commercialised and will
not confuse the consumers and entrepreneurs.
·
Facilitates and
reduces the promotional costs as consumers are already very familiar with GAP products.
Direction
·
Increase the number of farms with MyGAP certification to
encourage quality and safe to eat produce for domestic and export market.
·
Increase consumers' awareness and demand for quality and safe to
eat produce with MyGAP logo on it.
·
Increase the Malaysian agricultural produce competitiveness at
international level.
·
Benchmarked with international GAP certification scheme such as
ASEAN GAP and Global GAP.
SALM - Good Agriculture Practice
Scheme Malaysia
WHAT IS SALM?
SALM
is a national program implemented by the Department of Agriculture to
recognize and certify farms which adopt good agricultural practices (GAP),
operate in an environmentally friendly way and yielding products that are of
quality, safe and suitable for human consumption.
PROCESS OF CERTIFICATION
Certification is achieved through visitations to farms to evaluate farming
practices so that these are in conformance with stipulated conditions imposed
by standards, guidelines and regulations currently in placed.
FORMS OF RECOGNITION
Farms conforming to the stipulated conditions will receive a certificate of
official recognition, which allows the producer to affix seals of quality on
their products destined for domestic and international markets.
SCOPE OF EVALUATION
Three major aspects, covering different conditions of conformance,
will be evaluated before a farm is accredited. Most of the conditions
evaluated are similar to those listed under EUREPGAP Protocol for Fresh
Fruits and Vegetables and the CODEX Code of Hygienic Practices for the
Primary Production and Packaging of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
These are conditions relating to (a) the environmental setting of the farm,
(b) farmer's adherence to good agricultural practices and (c) safety of the
produces. Data and information required for the purpose of this evaluation
are sourced from site investigations, farm records, field observations and
through sampling of products for analysis.
ELEMENTS EVALUATED UNDER SALM
1. Environmental Setting of Farm
>>Legality of farm
>>Altitude above mean sea level (a biodiversity consideration
>>Previous use or history of the land
>>Slope and terrain of farm
>>Soil erosion risk factor
>>Source and quality of irrigation water and farm use
>>Source and distances from pollution centers
2. Verification of Farm Practices
>>Farm records of activities undertaken
>>Soil and substrate preparation and management (including soil
fumigation, if any)
>>Selection of planting (variety, root stock, clones etc)
>>Crop nutrition or fertilizer program
>>Crop pest management system (pesticides usage, IPM, etc)
>>Harvesting techniques and field transport
>>Post harvest treatment, grading and packaging
>>Storage of farm inputs and products
>>Farm waste disposal system (empty pesticides containers and other
non-degradable products)
>>Farm workers legal status, welfare and safety training of farm
operatives
3. Safety of Farm Produce
Physical and chemical analysis of ex-farm gate produces covering:
>>Physical quality of produce such as appearance, infestation from
pests and taste
>>Levels of pesticide residue in the produce covering groups such as
dithiocarbarmates, organo-chlorine, organo-phosphates and synthetic
pyrethroids
>>Contamination of heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury and
cadmium.
THE
MAJOR MUST OF CERTIFICATION
The minimum standard of conditions that must be fulfilled before
certification is given to the farm are as follows:
>>The farm is a legal entity.
>>The farm has a soil inspection report.
>>The soil and terrain is suitable for the intended crop.
>>The farm is situated at an elevation less than 1000 meters above sea
level - exemption is given to those operated before 2002.
>>The farm practices sound soil conservation measures.
>>The farm maintains up-to-date records of activities (17 types)
>>Sewage or industrial sludge is not permitted for fertilization.
>>Genetically modified planting materials are not permitted.
>>The pestides used are legally registered by the Pesticides Board.
>>The farm practices integrated pest management (IPM).
>>The farm possess a proper storage area for pesticides and
fertilizers.
>>Farm workers use personal protective clothing when applying
pesticides.
>>The farm possesses a proper waste disposal plan.
>>The farm practices good harvesting techniques, handling and transport.
>>The farm employs workers that are legal (with ages more then 16
years).
>>Pesticides residues in farm produce are less than the Maximum Residue
Limits (MRL) of Schedule 16 of the Food Act 1983.
>>Contents of heavy metals below permissible limits of Schedule 14 of
the Food Act, 1983
Organic Farming
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