GAP Certification Stays, with QR Codes Added in the Future
The Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) of the Council of Agriculture last October successively uncovered 5 cases of counterfeit Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) marks in Taipei, Kaohsiung and other places, which unexpectedly triggered discussion about phasing out the mark. For this reason, the AFA decided to fully promote a traceability QR-code system for Taiwan agricultural products in July, adding a QR-code next to the existing GAP mark, so consumers can more conveniently look up production information while also reducing the possibility of counterfeiting.
In the past, the GAP mark carried only 9 codes, and consumers could not directly see the production process through the mark. Unless they wrote down the code, used a computer to access the GAP production and marketing information website, and then entered the code, they could see information about the producer. However, once traceability barcodes are introduced in the future, consumers can scan them directly with mobile phones and other mobile devices to easily see the producer's production environment.
Launching in July, the GAP Mark Gets an Upgrade
Su Mao-hsiang, chief secretary of the AFA, said the QR-code system about to be launched in July is an "upgraded version" of the existing GAP mark. During past discussions, some farmers panicked because they thought the GAP mark would be abolished. He stressed that the GAP mark will still exist in the future. After being combined with the QR-code, the mark will imitate the design of "traceable agricultural products": the left half will be the GAP mark, and the right half will be the QR-code.
The AFA is currently focusing on promoting this to farmers in GAP production and marketing groups. Individual farmers can also apply to local farmers' associations. Su Mao-hsiang stressed that in July this system will not require an application fee. Farmers only need to fill out the form and prepare identification documents and other paperwork. He believes that farmers being able to independently manage product safety while actively disclosing production information is a good way to enhance trust between producers and consumers.
Stepped-up Inspections, 3000 Cases Per Year
In the future, the AFA will also strengthen inspection work, with the goal of randomly testing 3000 agricultural products certified with the mark each year. Su Mao-hsiang said that no matter how good a certification mark is, counterfeiting is still possible. If unscrupulous operators insist on violating the rules, they can still be investigated and handled under the relevant provisions of the Trademark Act. Recently, district courts have also issued successive rulings, with some imposing a 3-month prison term and others imposing 50 days of detention.