Three factories awarded HACCP certification
Three factories awarded HACCP certification
Three factories have each been awarded certification as a model factory on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) after taking part in a 15-month project for productivity enhancement.
The certificate was handed over yesterday at a ceremony marking the end of the model factory project on HACCP in Vientiane.
The ceremony was attended by Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Promotion Department Director General Mr Somdy Inmyxai, a representative from the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO) Mr Yong Kok Seng and senior staff of small and medium enterprises.
Mr Somdy explained that the SME Promotion Department under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce serves as the Lao National Productivity Organisation and has a role and duty in coordinating and implementing APO projects with international partners to promote and enhance productivity.
He said that in 2013-2014 the department received support from the APO to launch a model factory employing the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point to help companies become model factories and be prepared and ready to request certification on HACCP.
The project also builds the capacity of relevant officials in the country so that they will be able to provide consultancy on HACCP and continue to implement this system with other factories in other provinces across the country.
In the implementation of the project there will be provision for training and consultancy services to enhance entrepreneurial management systems and competitiveness in local and international markets, Mr Somdy added.
The department selected three factories, Houngheuangsin fermented fish sauce, Le Trio Coffee, and Hong Te meatballs to take part in the project to enhance their quality, entrepreneurial management, food safety and competitiveness, because they are small to medium enterprises.
“We selected these factories because they use raw materials and local wisdom in their production which they can take advantage of when in competition with others. So we want to use these factories as examples for others,” he said.
During the project period from August 2013 to November 2014, officials from the department and relevant sectors followed up on their productivity progress and business development and trained them for productivity enhancement seven times, Mr Somdy added. Over the past 15 months these factories have achieved the goals of the project and are now preparing to request certification of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
Le Trio Coffee factory is requesting GMP certification from TUV Company from Germany. Houngheuangsin fermented fish sauce factory is requesting it from the Ministry of Health, while Hong Te meatball factory will continue to improve their production processes in preparation for requesting GMP certification as the next step.
Mr Somdy believed that if factories were awarded both HACCP and GMP certification, there would be more confidence in their products and their businesses would expand.
vientiane times
