13 Jul 2010

Fiji sets up National Coconut Forum

10:07 am on 13 July 2010

Coconut by-products will have to meet tough standards endorsed at Fiji's first ever National Coconut Forum.

The forum, scheduled for August 27 in Savusavu, is expected to endorse 17 standards that have been formulated for coconut byproducts, including virgin coconut oil and desiccated coconut.

Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary Colonel Mason Smith told the Fiji Times that compliance standards for such byproducts had already been developed internationally to ensure producers complied.

The forum is expected to be attended by stakeholders including farmers, processors, shipping companies, exporters and importers.