Palm Sugar's GI Status

KHMER TIMES
SOK CHAN



Kampong Speu palm sugar is expected to receive its geographical indication (GI) status certification from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development by the end of this year, according to an official from the Kampong Speu Palm Sugar Promotion Association (KSPSPA).

Mr. Sok Sarang, advisor to the KSPSPA, told Khmer Times that last month the European Union (EU) accepted the association’s application for a GI status and was now verifying all information related to the origin of the palm sugar in order for it to be sold in the EU.

“KSPSPA’s application was supported by technical documents from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the French Agency for Development and the Ministry of Commerce,” said Mr. Sarang.

“The EU is evaluating all documents and we expect to receive a GI status certification from the EU by the end of the year,” he said.

A product name identified as a geographical indication by the EU is one that is closely linked to a specific production area.

On February 18, Kampot pepper became the first Cambodian product to receive GI certification from the EU. This means that any product sold in EU countries calling itself “Kampot pepper” must come from a designated region that includes Kampot and neighboring Kep province.

Mr. Sarang said while about 300 tons of Kampong Speu palm sugar are produced a year, only 20 tons were exported overseas, mainly to Vietnam and Thailand.

“We expect to export more once we get GI status certification from the EU,” he said.

Ministry of Commerce spokesperson, Soeng Sophary, told Khmer Times that the GI status certification will spur the demand for Kampong Speu palm sugar.

“All companies that want to export palm sugar from Kampong Speu to the EU will have to label their products as ‘palm sugar that originates from Kampong Speu’ because of its GI status,” she said.

This, she said, was necessary for the palm sugar to get access to EU markets.

Hym Piseth, deputy general manager of Confirel Co. Ltd. and Pharma Product Manufacturing Enterprise, said in a year his company exported close to five tons of palm sugar overseas, mainly to France, Japan and Taiwan.

“The demand for palm sugar from Cambodia is not as high as Kampot pepper. Because of that, we only export small quantities,” he said.

Last year, Kampong Speu plam sugar was priced at $1,400 per ton, said Sam Saroeun, president of the Kampong Speu Sugar Association.

“The price would increase this year due to a decrease in the supply of palm sap because of the prolonged drought earlier this year,” he said.