Indonesia

''Introducing the UTZ Certified Code of Conduct for tea''.

Project partners cooperated to introduce the UTZ Certified Code of Conduct for tea in Indonesia. Feedback and alignment for adaptation in Indonesia was sought by setting up and consulting a National Reference Group. Manuals for implementation were developed. With support from local NGOs (such as Business Watch Indonesia), baseline studies were carried out and working plans and training set up to ensure successful implementation of the UTZ Certified requirements. Certification was achieved in April 2009 in Indonesia.

Subsequently an inventarisation has been made to define follow-up support needed to address the remaining critical gaps and to involve related smallholder producers. In 2009, an additional project has been started with a new estate and a group of smallholder offering a new challenge in the support to tea producers.

Focus of the project

Introducing the UTZ Certified Code of Conduct in Indonesia and helping the first tea estates and small producers to improve their agricultural practices and to obtain the resulting certification.

Activities

• Adapting the UTZ Certified Code of Conduct for tea to the local situations
• Setting up a national reference group with local stakeholders for regular input and feedback
• Training tea estates with the UTZ Certified guidelines
• Training and supporting smallholder groups in getting organized to receive training and implement certification
• Developing manuals and other training materials
• Achieving UTZ Certified certification 

Results

The estates that received support and became certified, showed improvement of their internal organization and management system (documentation, recording, accountability, etc.). Environmental improvements were made through more efficient fertilizer and pesticide use and safe pesticide storage. Improvements in working conditions were driven mostly by ensuring the use of protective clothing during spraying and health and safety protection in tea factories (for example protection from dangerous equipment).

Partners

• Solidaridad: www.solidaridad.nl
• UTZ CERTIFIED: www.utzcertified.org
• Business Watch Indonesia

Contact information

Geertje Otten, Geertje.Otten@Solidaridad.nl