The Steady Progress of the Standardization of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) in Recent Years

Standardization of virgin coconut oil (VCO) production is an issue that needs to be discussed and resolved soon. Considering that there are many coconut products from Indonesia, such as VCO, differences in VCO production standards from place to place may cause consumers to be reluctant to use this oil. As a result, the demand for VCO may decrease due to the absence of standardization of quality and other matters related to VCO.

Producers of VCO

Until now, the VCO industry in Indonesia has generally been dominated by small-scale farms as one of the main participants in the production of coconut products from Indonesia, as well as in the Philippines.

Unlike oil palm plantations which are managed by large companies, about 95% of VCO production in these two countries belongs to these small-scale agricultural sites. 

Unfortunately, around 60% of VCO farmers and producers in the Philippines still live below the poverty line. As a result, it is difficult to standardize VCO production because of these imbalances.

Standardization Process

Even so, it does not mean that efforts to standardize VCO production have never been carried out until now. 

In Indonesia itself, an Indonesian national standard (SNI) was inaugurated by the National Standardization Agency (BSN) in 2008, which states the provisions for quality requirements, sampling, test methods, hygiene tests, and feasibility of VCO products. 

According to this standard, all squeezed coconut will not be heated over 60 degrees Celsius to guarantee the quality of VCO.

Indonesia’s neighboring countries, such as Malaysia and the Philippines, have also issued their standards for VCO production. 

In the Philippines, this standard is classified into the Philippine National Standard (PNS) and was inaugurated in 2004 as a way for the government to guarantee the standardization of the quality of all VCO products from the Philippines. 

Although it was revised, this standard is still used in the Philippines as a standard for testing the feasibility of VCO products. 

In Malaysia, the standard was formalized in 2007 and is classified as one of the standards listed in the Malaysian Standards (MS). 

This standard, in addition to setting standards for the feasibility of VCO quality from Malaysia, also seeks to ensure that the interests of VCO producers and consumers can be met properly.

Conclusion

Fulfilling all production standards related to the feasibility of VCO as one of the coconut products from Indonesia is the responsibility of the producers. Fortunately, we are from PT. Kelapa Asli Indonesia sells coconut products that meet national standards for the satisfaction of customers around the world. Call us right now!