PTPN VIII is the first in the world to receive tea certification from UTZ CERTIFIED
Business Watch Indonesia in collaboration with Solidaridad and the National Reference Group (NRG) held an NRG meeting with the theme “Development and Implementation of UTZ CERTIFIED Tea Code for Indonesia”. The meeting which was held on 16 April 2009 at the Horison Hotel Bandung was aimed at disseminating the UTZ CERTIFIED pilot project that had been carried out at PTPN VIII. In this event, UTZ CERTIFIED certificate was officially received by PTPN VIII
The event was attended by Ir Rizki Muis, Director of Spices and Refreshing Plants, Directorate General of Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture who is also a representative of the Indonesian Tea Council. The discussion was divided into 2 sessions, the first session, presentations from 3 resource persons representing Sara Lee, Solidaridad, and UTZ Certified. Daan de Vries, the representative from UTZ CERTIFIED, had the opportunity to introduce UTZ Certified and what the missions are. Representatives from the DE Foundation, Stefanie Miltenburg, provides an overview of the CSR practices that have been carried out by Sara Lee, especially in the tea sector. Meanwhile, Geertje Otten, Solidaridad’s Program Manager explained Solidaridad’s vision for the tea sector.
The ceremony of handing over the UTZ certificates to 3 plantations belonging to PTPN VIII, namely Gunung Mas Gardens (Cianjur), Gedeh (Cianjur), and Cianten Gardens (Sukabumi) with a total area of 2,119 ha was carried out as one of the events to look forward to. The three estates have participated in a series of activities in the UTZ Certification implementation program since last July 2008. PTPN VIII received the UTZ certificate because it was considered successful in implementing sustainability in economic, social and environmental aspects. The handover of the UTZ CERTIFIED certificate was represented by Mr. Daan de Vries, Mrs. Stefanie Miltenburg, Mrs. Geertje Otten, and Mr. Winaryo Suyono to the management of 3 gardens, and representatives from PTPN VIII with musical accompaniment and traditional Sundanese dishes.
Sharing experiences from the certification process in the field, establishment in the second discussion session. This session also tries to find out the extent to which producers’ capabilities and potential meet certification standards. Acting as a speaker at the session were Ir. Dede Kusdiman as a representative of 3 certified PTPN VIII plantations; Winaryo Suyono from Control Union as a certifier in the certification scheme; and D. Savio Wermasbun, a representative from BWI as Solidaridad’s partner in implementing UTZ CERTIFIED in Indonesia.
As many as 50 participants who were members of NRG who took part in this activity. These participants are stakeholders in the Indonesian sector such as PTPN VIII (manufacturer); Farmers from Cikalong Wetan and Cisondari (producers); Aptehindo (association); Indonesian Tea Council (association); PPTK Gambung (research institute); Cakra Kabepe (manufacturer); Ethical Tea Partnership (buyers association); Department of Industry and Commerce; Indonesian Organic Alliance (CSO); and Consultants.