"Standards and Metrology Institution Grants Safe Product Certification to Several Farmers and Agricultural Associations –"
Standards and Metrology Institution Grants Chemically Safe Product Certificates to Farmers and Agricultural Associations – 13/06/2022
The Standards and Metrology Institution, represented by its Director General, Eng. Haidar Hajjeh, granted chemically safe product certificates to a number of farmers and agricultural associations.
Eng. Hajjeh stated that the Institution delivered eight certificates in Gaza and nine in the West Bank for chemically safe products, following the implementation of certification systems and the completion of all required testing to ensure the products’ compliance with relevant standards. This event coincided with World Accreditation Day.
He added that the Safe Product Certificate is awarded to crops produced without pesticides or with pesticide residues below the maximum allowable limits set by regulations. He warned of the dangers of direct exposure to pesticides during spraying or from consuming sprayed vegetables, which can lead to various health problems. Furthermore, excessive and unregulated use of pesticides wastes money, increases farmers’ production costs, and negatively impacts soil quality.
Hajjeh also noted that the Institution has developed a certification system tailored to Palestinian farmers, including the PAL-GAP system, which aligns with international requirements. The Institution has also made the relevant PAL-GAP standards available free of charge to eliminate barriers for farmers and support their continued presence on their land. In addition, many of the standards have been compiled into user-friendly manuals to simplify adoption and are available on the Institution’s website: www.psi.pna.ps.
Eng. Hajjeh expressed his appreciation to the Union of Agricultural Work Committees for their cooperation and services, and thanked the farmers for their efforts in meeting the requirements to obtain certification. He called on all certified individuals to continue adhering to the necessary conditions to ensure renewal of the certificate in the coming year.
Eng. Basheer Al-Khairi, Chairman of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, affirmed the Union's ongoing commitment to supporting farmers through its projects and activities aimed at strengthening their resilience on their land and helping them maintain their livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Eng. Adli Baraka from the Standards and Metrology Institution in Gaza thanked the farmers for their cooperation and awareness regarding the importance of chemically safe product certification. He emphasized that every citizen has the right to access safe products that protect their health.