Australian High Commission
Papua New Guinea

Aroma Coconut Products gets HACCP Accreditation

The world of opportunities just grew bigger for a small-to-medium enterprise located in the Central Province of Papua New Guinea. Aroma Coconut Products Limited (ACP Ltd) launched a new facility last week after completing an internationally recognised food safety accreditation program.

Specialised in the production of high-value coconut products including virgin coconut oil, body lotions and soaps, ACP Ltd previously could not access certain overseas markets despite producing export quality products because it did not have food safety certification.

Five years of hard work finally paid off when the business owners and their staff finally completed the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point or HACCP program, a management system through which food safety issues are addressed to ensure food safety is not compromised. The company was supported by the Australian and New Zealand supported Pacific Horticultural and Market Access Program or *PHAMA Plus which helped fund the audit and certification process.

For Geno and Kellyn Genolamar, the achievement means they can now sell to or access export markets. It also means improved livelihoods for their family and the rural communities who have played an equally important role in helping the business acquire HACCP certification. 

The facility underwent a series of inspections and audits since April 2018 before being certified in August 2019. 5 women workers, out of 10 staff, were also trained to ensure compliance with HACCP standards. The women were certified and can now work at any HACCP-certified facility.

Governor of Central Province, Honourable Robert Agarobe, was present at the launch and praised the joint effort towards supporting economic empowerment in the village communities that supply coconuts to ACP Ltd.

Mr Agarobe pledged the provincial government’s support towards infrastructure improvement and development of the facility, saying the contribution would be of help to the community. He also commended the partnership between Aroma Coconut Products, Kokonas Indastri Koporesen (KIK) and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access (PHAMA) Plus Program in helping businesses acquire HACCP certification.

KIK General Manager, Research and Development Division, Eremas Tade was also at the launch and reaffirmed KIK’s interest in continuing work with the coconut sector, small businesses like ACP and PHAMA Plus to grow the sector.

Mr Sidney Suma, the PNG Country Manager for the PHAMA Plus program, in congratulating ACP on its achievement said ACP is only one of 4 virgin coconut oil (VC0) producers in the country that has been HACCP accredited. He said, PHAMA Plus will continue to work with relevant Government agencies and the private sector to get more factories and processing facilities HACCP accredited.

Australian High Commission representative Julienne Leka-Maliaki stated that the Australian Government through the PHAMA Plus program is happy to be supporting the Agriculture sector.

She said this milestone achievement by ACP is a demonstration of Australia’s support in improving livelihoods in rural communities. She added the certification was a great achievement that not many processing facilities are able to acquire and by acquiring this creates the opportunity for ACP’s products to access markets that were once difficult to access.

Ms Leka-Maliaki also commended Mrs Kellyn Genolamar who is a recipient of an Australian Awards Short Course Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation and is now able apply her learned skills in the development of ACP Ltd.

(L-R): Australian High Commission representative Julienne Leka-Maliaki, Central Province Governor Robert Agarobe and Aroma Coconut Products Ltd executive director Geno Genolamar celebrate the launch of the ACP facility in Central Province.

For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100