The government will start adopting this year the national quality seal (NQS) for agricultural and fishery products to boost market access of quality and safe products produced in the country.

The Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) has been tasked to lead in the implementation of the national quality seal.

Companies and fish farms certified according to food safety and quality assurance systems either of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqP) or Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) depending on the commodity products, will be allowed to use the quality seal.

The Department of Agriculture Secretary or his duty designated representative will approve the application and issue the corresponding authority for the use of the NQS after a thorough evaluation by the certification committee that the applicant conforms to an established Philippine National Standard for that specific commodity.

The stamping of quality seals on agricultural produce was pioneered in ASEAN by Thailand that has successfully marketed their farm products through its “Q” mark.

Malaysia has also started to adopt the same practice through its campaign slogan for quality foods dubbed as "Malaysia’s Best,” he said.

Apart from the NQS program, the BAFPS is working on the promotion of organic agriculture in the country.

The agriculture department serves as an accreditation body that certifies a non-governmental organization to undertake the accreditation.