Mr. Kevin Fitzsimmons,
I reveived your mail with apprehension.
I am not an Aquaculture CRSP collaborators but I am a WAS member and I have been confirmed acceptanceto present an oral presentation entitled "Aquaculture Farm Certification Scheme as Practiced in Malaysia". My abstract ID is 688.
As myabstract has been accepted, I wish to apply forCRSP Travel Award to payregistrationfees andother expenses related to theWAS Bali.
The followings are information required of me.
Name :THALATHIAH SAIDIN
Institution : DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES MALAYSIA,
Address: Department of Fisheries Malaysia, MInistry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry, 16 Floor,Wisma MBSA,
Shah Alam Selangor.
Tel 603-55190169/70
Fax: 603-55190690
2. Not a CRSP Participant
3. Abstract ID: 688
4. Application for registration fee , hotel, airfare and per dium amounting to about
Thank you for your assitance.
Thalathiah Saidin
AQUACULTURE FARM CERTIFICATION SCHEME AS PRACTICED IN MALAYSIA
Thalathiah Saidin and Junaidi C. Ayub
Department of Fisheries Malaysia
Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry
Putra Jaya
Selangor , MALAYSIA
Abstract
With the globalization in world trade, sanitary and food safety standards become the determining factor to ensure market access. Sustainability standards now is not only confine to food safety, but also environmental and social standards. As an assurance to consumers and buyers that aquaculture practices comply with good or best aquaculture practices as well as sustainability practices as envisaged by FAO, certification is now being used as a tool not only to give credit to best aquaculture practices, but also to certify that produce from such best practiced farm is safe for consumption and is of very high quality. This is now the trend in trade liberalization, where only products that are not only safe for consumption, but are produced in a sustainable manner, have a good leverage for market access as well as the competitive advantage in international market.
Having realized this potential, Malaysia has embarked on aquaculture farm certification scheme beginning 2002. Under this scheme, Quality Assurance Programme (QAP) which comprises of best aquaculture practices, HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) at source, food safety from farm to table, sustainable practices and environmentally friendly practices are incorporated to form what is called “SPLAM” (Malaysian Aquaculture Farm Certification Scheme). The Code of Practice for the various aquaculture systems were published and distributed to aquaculture operators as guidelines to advocate sustainable and best aquaculture practices in compliance with QAP. Farms, which fully comply with the terms of the QAP, will be accredited with SPLAM logo. The validity of this scheme is for two years, after which, surveillance audit will be conducted to ensure continuous compliance with best aquaculture practices.
It is the aspiration of the Department of Fisheries Malaysia as the competent authority to ensure that aquaculture industry, which is one of the highly promoted agriculture activities, complies to not only the best and sustainable aquaculture practices, but also to the legislations in place. Aquaculture farms certification scheme is a step towards ensuring aquaculture practices in Malaysia adhere to the draft aquaculture regulations that are in the process of being gazetted under the Fisheries Act 1985. Under these regulations, fish disease control and quarantine measures, including the use of prohibited antibiotics, additives and chemicals will be regulated.