A number of local agro-processors now have better knowledge of the requirements needed to meet international standards for agro-processed foods, after completion of a four-day training workshop, at the Regency Hotel, Hadfield Street, hosted by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
The workshop, which focused on education requirements for agro-processing and marketing, ran from February 18 to February 21. It was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture, with support from the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) and the Ministry of Health’s Food and Drug Administration and had participants drawn from over 50 agro-processors being educated on the Better Process Control School, which offers FAO and USFDA certified training for agro-processors and manufacturers.
Two food safety specialists from the School of Food Science, Washington State University – Dr Richard Dougherty and Dr Karen Killinger conducted the workshop. Washington State University has been approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) to offer the Better Process Control School (BPCS) module.
The USFDA Regulations for thermally processed low acid and acidified foods packaged in hermetically sealed containers are designed to prevent public health problems from commercially packaged foods. The BPCS provide practical applications of principles set forth in the regulations and satisfy the training requirements of both FDA and USDA.
Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy delivered remarks to participants at the conclusion of the workshop on Thursday and he said it was the first Better Process Control School hosted in Guyana and it has signalled an important step, indicating that Guyana wants to be a part of the international trade market.
He said that to export Guyana must first be able to meet the export standard requirements of the international markets.
He was quoted as saying, “Unless we meet the Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary measures and agreement of these countries we will always remain small and poor… our sights must be fixed on part of Caricom, North American and Asian markets.”
According to Dougherty, two-thirds of the participants successfully completed the training course.
GINA said that the Ministry of Agriculture and other sister agencies will continue to work with the FAO and other agencies to ensure that agro-products are meeting international standards.
The ministry will facilitate more training sessions as it seeks to lift the level of standards of agro-processed products and to create a cadre of trained personnel who will increase the food safety processing skills and will promote these standards in the different agro-processing companies.
