Experts from eight ASEAN member countries are working on measures to accelerate the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) at the fourth meeting of the Expert Working Group on ASEAN GAP.

During the four-day meeting, which commenced on May 21 in Da Lat city, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, delegates focus on the Strategic Plan of Action on cooperation among ASEAN nations to carry out GAP during the 2013-2016 period.

How to enhance links between GAP at national and regional levels, raise public awareness of ASEAN GAP and draw the participation of the private sector as well as social and non-governmental organisations will also be tabled.

Besides, they will compare notes on the pilot application of ASEAN GAP in a number of farms in the region, the establishment of a committee charged with granting ASEAN GAP certificates and the enhancement of laboratories’ capacity to examine the safety of fruits and vegetables.

Tran Kim Long, Deputy Head of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the meeting will review the implementation of relevant policies and debate the formation of a plan of action on the implementation of GAP in the region as scheduled.-VNA