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National Project
Coordinator Ministry of Health, Liliendaal Annex, Guyana, South America tel: (592) 222-5463 fax: (592) 619-7262 email: |
The objective of the project is to assist the Government in the establishment of an effective national food control system capable of ensuring the quality and safety of food supply in Guyana. The proposed assistance is intended to provide the country with updated food laws and standards; organised and coordinated food control activities; staff trained and national laboratories capability upgraded, contributing thereby to foster increased export of food products and safety of the domestic food supply.
The project began in December 2002 and is projected to continue with FAO funding until the end of 2004 after which time further funding will be sought from other donor agencies for the completion of the establishment of a Guyanese Food Control System. Funding provided by the FAO for the project is US$262,000. The project fits under FAO’s programme for Technical Cooperation.. These type of FAO projects provide seed money to begin a process. Further funding is often required to complete the task or make it sustainable, hence the current effort to obtain further funding.
1. A National Food Safety Bill, Regulations and Standards updated in the
context of Codex standards, thus enabling Guyana to strengthen the
control of food quality and safety for both domestic consumption and
international trade.
A draft bill has been formulated
and has been cleared by FAO and is awaiting submission to the Cabinet.
2. An Administrative, Managerial and Operational Plan for the Food
Quality Assurance Analytical Laboratory, to enable the laboratory to
expedite contamination monitoring in primary agricultural products and
processed foods.
The relevant laboratories under
the guidance of the International Laboratory Management consultant
undertook this task during the last quarter of 2003.
3. Laboratory staff trained in Analytical Quality Assurance.
Training was
undertaken during the last quarter of 2003. Persons from FDD, IAST,
GuySuCo, GWA and Nari were all invited and the training proved a success
with excellent participation by relevant institutions.
4. An operational plan of action with an estimated budget to implement the
recommendations of Codex required for improving Guyana’s Food Control
system.
Completion of
the plan is currently taking place and is due to be ready by the end of
October 2004. The International Consultant for CODEX matters and the
Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) are formulating the plan.
5. Recommendations for modernization of the food inspection system and
food inspectors and food industry representative, responsible for
processing and quality control trained in the application of HACCP system.
The issue of
rationalization has been discussed throughout the period of the project.
The idea has evolved to the point where it is now agreed that a
coordinating body to rationalize the different inspection, certification
and testing activities of the relevant agencies will be the model for the
food control system. It will also propose that a single inspectorate be
established.
6. Codex Secretariat staff, Government officials, regulatory
authorities, food industries and consumers informed/sensitized on food
quality, inspection, and other Codex related issues and the importance of
the role of Codex in Guyana’s trade and survival in the global market.
An education programme including print material, a television documentary as well as television and radio public sector announcement is due to ‘go live’ in the last quarter of 2004.
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