MANILA, April 7 (PNA) — Local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are urged for higher product standards for them to be more competitive in the local and world market.
“Aside from exposing SMEs to national buyers or large companies to get big orders, we expose them to the products of the other enterprises,” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory L. Domingo.
Domingo added that SMEs should consider better packaging and product quality as well as exposing themselves to higher product standards through participating trade fairs.
Recently, DTI held Sikat Pinoy National Food Fair participated by some 150 exhibitors with products such as meat, fish and marine products; processed fruits and vegetables; ingredients, sauces, and condiments; wines and beverages; coffee, tea, and cocoa; bakery products; snacks and confectionaries; organic, herbal and natural products; and food supplements and vitamins.
Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) Director Rhodora Leaño noted that this year’s National Food Fair became more selective of the exhibitors, requiring them to have international standard such as having certification from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“One of the basic requirements that they are seeking from suppliers is the fact that they must have a Food and Drug Administration registration. They can be appeased if the supplier has at least filed an application with FDA,” said Leaño.
“In this age of globalization, there is no way to go but follow a given criteria. If you do not follow, your chances of actually growing become almost nil,” she added.
Moreover, Domingo noted that meeting the global standards will allow SMEs to benefit from the zero-duty benefits to products entering the European Union (EU) market after the Philippines was included in the EU Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+).
According to the DTI chief, the EU market is stringent in its product standards particularly labeling requirements and product standards for food, thus the need for Filipino SMEs to hasten the quality of their products. (PNA)