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Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy yesterday stressed the importance for Guyana to attain the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) in order that the local agriculture sector would be sufficiently developed and agro-processor can enter markets in North America, Europe and CARICOM neighbours. Dr. Ramsammy was at the time addressing a gathering of agro-processors and other stakeholders in the agro-processing business at the closing of a four-day Better Process Control School at the Regency Hotel on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
The “SPS Agreement” is an international treaty which came into force with the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 1st January 1995, and it sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards.
Meanwhile, Minister Ramsammy noted that there are approximately 50 enterprises in Guyana that are involved in agro-processing.
“Those agro-processed products will make these enterprises and our country wealthier if we can enter the markets of North America, Europe and our own CARICOM neighbours. But unless we meet the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards, not just basic standards but the highest quality, we will always remain small and poor,” he stressed.
He said that the SPS is very meaningful to Guyana as it relates to value-added products because this is what will propel Guyana forward. He further emphasized that the government will use its agencies to facilitate awareness, education and training to implement the highest standards.
He added that the training programme which concluded yesterday was intended to bring together agro-processors and other personnel and professionals to make them aware of these standards.
Guyana brand
“The Guyana brand must be something that we work towards… as we enter this new age of value-added agro-processed products, we must create our Guyana brand but we will do so once we accept that the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards are not options, they are imperatives…,” he asserted.
Dr. Ramsammy highlighted that although the first workshop has come to an end, it would now be a continuous programme since they are seeking to ensure that there is a cadre of trained people in Guyana who are aware of the standards that exist among trading partners.
He added that not only must they be aware of these standards but also be able to work with local entities to help them to attain the standards.
The minister noted that Guyana will continue to be a poor country if it continues to produce only for itself. “If we really want to meet the ambition of being rich and living better and developing our country, then we have to enter the markets that are out there for us. Not just any market but the most lucrative markets,” he stressed.
He mentioned that according to the Economic Partnership Agreement with Europe, their goods can enter Guyana without tariffs and that in a reciprocal gesture, Guyana’s products can do the same but only under the condition that certain standards be met, which have not yet been achieved.
Dr. Ramsammy told the gathering that the Guyana Shop will help to promote their goods. However, he advised that by the middle of this year products will not be permitted to enter the Guyana Shop or any other market unless they are registered with the Food and Drug Analyst Department.
Nevertheless, he assured that the ministry will work with persons who are unable to reach the requirements by June, once they express a willingness to work towards reaching the requirements.
“We will work with you to ensure that our goods in our supermarkets, in our community markets and sold anywhere, reach at least those standards, because if you can’t reach the standard to sell in your community market, how are you going to get your products into the international market?” he questioned.
The four-day lecture series commenced last Monday and was facilitated by Professor Richard Dougherty of Washington State University (WSU) and Food Safety Specialist, Dr. Karen Killinger also of WSU.
The event was aimed at equipping local manufacturers with the relevant agro-processing training, and served to enable participants to fully comply with the education requirements of the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for hermetically sealed, low acid and acidified foods marketed in the United States.
The Better Process Control School modules meet the needs of food processors/manufacturers in Guyana who wish to export related food products to the U.S.
File photo of Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.
The “SPS Agreement” is an international treaty which came into force with the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 1st January 1995, and it sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards.
Meanwhile, Minister Ramsammy noted that there are approximately 50 enterprises in Guyana that are involved in agro-processing.
“Those agro-processed products will make these enterprises and our country wealthier if we can enter the markets of North America, Europe and our own CARICOM neighbours. But unless we meet the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards, not just basic standards but the highest quality, we will always remain small and poor,” he stressed.
He said that the SPS is very meaningful to Guyana as it relates to value-added products because this is what will propel Guyana forward. He further emphasized that the government will use its agencies to facilitate awareness, education and training to implement the highest standards.
He added that the training programme which concluded yesterday was intended to bring together agro-processors and other personnel and professionals to make them aware of these standards.
Guyana brand
“The Guyana brand must be something that we work towards… as we enter this new age of value-added agro-processed products, we must create our Guyana brand but we will do so once we accept that the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards are not options, they are imperatives…,” he asserted.
Dr. Ramsammy highlighted that although the first workshop has come to an end, it would now be a continuous programme since they are seeking to ensure that there is a cadre of trained people in Guyana who are aware of the standards that exist among trading partners.
He added that not only must they be aware of these standards but also be able to work with local entities to help them to attain the standards.
The minister noted that Guyana will continue to be a poor country if it continues to produce only for itself. “If we really want to meet the ambition of being rich and living better and developing our country, then we have to enter the markets that are out there for us. Not just any market but the most lucrative markets,” he stressed.
He mentioned that according to the Economic Partnership Agreement with Europe, their goods can enter Guyana without tariffs and that in a reciprocal gesture, Guyana’s products can do the same but only under the condition that certain standards be met, which have not yet been achieved.
Dr. Ramsammy told the gathering that the Guyana Shop will help to promote their goods. However, he advised that by the middle of this year products will not be permitted to enter the Guyana Shop or any other market unless they are registered with the Food and Drug Analyst Department.
Nevertheless, he assured that the ministry will work with persons who are unable to reach the requirements by June, once they express a willingness to work towards reaching the requirements.
“We will work with you to ensure that our goods in our supermarkets, in our community markets and sold anywhere, reach at least those standards, because if you can’t reach the standard to sell in your community market, how are you going to get your products into the international market?” he questioned.
The four-day lecture series commenced last Monday and was facilitated by Professor Richard Dougherty of Washington State University (WSU) and Food Safety Specialist, Dr. Karen Killinger also of WSU.
The event was aimed at equipping local manufacturers with the relevant agro-processing training, and served to enable participants to fully comply with the education requirements of the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for hermetically sealed, low acid and acidified foods marketed in the United States.
The Better Process Control School modules meet the needs of food processors/manufacturers in Guyana who wish to export related food products to the U.S.
File photo of Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.
