A trade agreement signed by Guyana and Suriname opens a pathway for heightened trade in fresh agricultural produce.
The agreement was signed between the two countries’ Ministers of Agriculture – Zulfikar Mustapha for Guyana and Parmanand Sewdien, Suriname during the August Presidential visit to Guyana by Suriname’s President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi. “The signing of this agreement will enhance commercial trade because….there (were) a number of barriers between the two countries, (so this agreement)… will help our business persons in the agro-sector processing facilities…” Mustapha explained recently to Stabroek News.
According to the signed agreement seen by this newspaper the two countries will implement a number of measures. One of the measures states that fresh agricultural produce will only be accepted from farms located within pest-free areas.
Another measure states that under processing requirements, produce shall be washed and packaged at approved pack houses only. All post-harvest treatments shall be done at the facility prior to inspections and for pineapples, the growing point of the crown shall be trimmed where that fruit is intended for shipment. The agreement stated too pack houses shall be equipped with facilities for washing, brushing and drying.
In order for a pack house to be certified, Plant Protection staff from the Ministries of Agriculture of Guyana and Suriname must conduct a detailed inspection to ensure that the building is constructed according to the agreed guidelines and be equipped with adequate ventilation, water, lavatory facilities, tables and benches, pallets for stacking cartons, and protective measures which secures the integrity of the produce after inspection.
“Certified pack houses from which produce is exported frequently, shall be visited by the Plant Protection Personnel of the respective country to ensure compliance with established guidelines for trade in agricultural produce. The Plant Protection Personnel of the respective country shall de-certify pack houses should they fail to comply with operational guidelines. All agricultural produce intended for export shall be taken to the certified pack houses for cleaning, washing, drying and packing. Final inspection will be done by authorized personnel of the Plant Protection Services of the respective country prior to shipping,” the agreement outlines.
Outlining the requirements for packaging and storage, the agreement states that no soiled package will be accepted nor will its contents. “Each carton must be new and sturdy, and where bags are used, netted ones are preferred. The weight of the produce shall not exceed 50 pounds. All produce cleaned and packaged must be stored on pallets or similarly constructed structures and shall be separated from unclean and unprepared produce.” The agreement further states that field operators are voided from handling treated produce and measures must be in place to avoid cross contamination.
According to the pact, National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) “staff of both Guyana and Suriname shall be responsible for all inspections of produce for export. No inspections shall be performed unless a valid Import Permit or copy of the original is presented. After the produce has been inspected and approved for export, NPPO’s personnel shall issue a Phytosanitary Certificate in accordance with the amount of produce approved for export.” The agreement outlines that Import Permits shall be presented to NPPO’s officials prior to inspections while noting that the exporter shall be responsible for the security of the produce after it has been inspected and approved for export.
“Any produce that arrives without inspection and certification shall be confiscated and destroyed, or returned to the exporting country at the expense of the exporter/importer. Vehicles transporting produce shall be enclosed or covered with tarpaulins. Both vehicles and tarpaulins shall be cleaned and disinfected prior to transporting produce from the farms to the pack houses and after pack house operations, sanitized before transportation to the ports (or containers) to prevent contamination,” it states. On the other hand, importers of produce of the respective countries shall acquire an Import Permit from the NPPO of the importing country, prior to importation. Produce arriving without Import Permits issued in advance of importation shall be confiscated and destroyed. Phytosanitary Certificates shall also contain the Import Permit Number, the agreement notes. Further-more, it was agreed that all produce be subjected to inspection at the point of entry and any found breaching the guidelines for trade in agricultural produce will result in both confiscation and destruction of consignment or return of consignment to the exporting country at the exporter/importer expense.
According to the pact both countries will collaborate on addressing market access to agricultural produce/products to the North American and European markets including logistics and certification. It was noted that the terms of the agreement are only applicable to commercial shipments. Individual travelers are subjected to existing regulations relating to shipment of fresh produce at the ports of entry.
According to Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, the agreement is timely and will boost Guyana’s emerging agro-processing sector. He stated that his ministry will be boosting this sector through the Guyana Marketing Corporation who will be identifying markets for farmers and procuring new freezing trucks to aid in transportation across the countries.
