In light of concerns raised by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the need for full support of the House, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder referred the Food Safety Bill to a Special Select Committee. The bill was deferred on Thursday after a late night debate in the National Assembly on its importance and possible loopholes or stringent measures. The bill, when passed, will not only pave the way for the establishment of a Food Safety Authority but will prevent the spread of food-borne diseases through control of the production, preparation, handling, storage, and transportation of food.

In defending the bill, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, who opened the debate, said for Guyana to be a part of the world-wide food system whose goal is food security, there needs to be a massive overhaul of the country’s food laws.
Such an overhaul with the introduction of a Food Safety Authority, he said, will lead to the production, consumption, importation and exportation of safe and heathy foods. In doing so, Guyana will be following in the footsteps of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in maintaining consumer confidence at a high level to alleviate concerns.
He told the House that the authority will place major emphasis on surveillance and inspection of food and food-related diseases in Guyana.
“Heavy and increased surveillance will be practiced regarding the production of foods and the use of ingredients. This is to curb the spread of health-related diseases and ensure that the food-related products being imported, exported or used for sale within the local market, meet the health standards put forward in this bill,” he explained.
It was made clear in the House that any food that is deemed unfit for consumption will be retracted and will be destroyed.
Additionally, Minister Holder made it known to his colleagues on both sides of the House that the Food Safety Authority introduces, to Guyana, numerous cautionary and solution-oriented methods and stipulations that have been prescribed by international bodies such as Codex Alimentarius, a subsidiary of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and whose food safety standards act as a global marker for food producers and consumers.
It also brings the country in line with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) – a subsidiary of the United States Food and Drug Administration, and the Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA).
OPEN NEW DOORS
“Mr. Speaker, by upgrading food safety standards to meet those of Codex, Guyana will be opening up new doors to trade and negotiations regarding food hygiene, residue of pesticides and veterinary drugs, and prevention of chemical and microbiological contamination, among the members of Codex,” he told the House through the Speaker, Dr. Barton Scotland.

He said Guyana, more than ever, needs to restructure its food safety system in order to be recognised internationally – a move that can see the country tapping into more foreign markets.
The Agriculture Minister told the National Assembly that the bill, which will aid in the prevention of food-borne diseases through the control of the production, preparation, handling, storage and transportation of food, will lend to the reduction of the high levels of diarrheal diseases in children under five.
In further building his case to the House, the Agriculture Minister alluded to three specific effects that would materialise following the implementation of the bill.
“Firstly, traceability practices will be implemented to follow the growth of plants and animals throughout all stages of production…. Secondly, strategic advances will be taken in the area of risk assessment; to identify food-related hazards, characterise them into groups and to assess the mobility of diseases as to identify the health risks that are attached to producing and marketing certain foods,” he explained.
He added: “Thirdly, along with the introduction of biotechnology to aid in the production of food products and Genetically Modified Foods (GMO’s), the need arises for policies to be put in place by governing the use of food and food ingredients obtained via genetic engineering.”
Former Public Health Minister, Dr. George Norton, in endorsing the Food Safety Bill, emphasised that the bill will play a critical role in preventing the spread of food-borne diseases.

“Food-borne diseases, either infectious or toxic in nature, are caused by agents that enter the body through the ingestion of food. For this reason, a robust food safety control system is very important to all of Guyana, but particularly, in the area of public Health and agriculture as it is directly related to the protection of the Guyanese citizens against food-borne illnesses,” he told his colleagues on both sides of the House.
It was pointed that reports out of the Public Health Ministry indicates that in 2007 close to 14, 000 cases of gastroenteritis, a food-borne disease, were recorded in Guyana. In 2008, approximately 32, 000 cases were recorded.
Turning his attention to the Food Safety Authority, Minister Norton, who now heads the Ministry of Social Cohesion, pointed out that the authority will monitor all areas including livestock and crop production, food processing and manufacturing, meat and fish processing, inspection and sale, water production, bottling and sale, restaurant and supermarket inspection and street vending, amongst other areas.
TIGHTER CONTROL
“Another key function of this Authority would be the control of entry of food through border ports and ports of entry. The authority may, at any time, order that any food that is imported into Guyana be held at a particular place until an inspection or re-inspection is conducted. One can remember not so long ago, the incident of the Lailac milk which had to be recalled because it was found that the carton in which it was imported had a viable expiry date while the cans had a date that was expired as well as difficulties in finding out exactly where it was manufactured. These cans with milk were actually found to be infested with worms. I remember the difficulties encountered in getting this product off the shelves of shops and supermarkets,” Dr. Norton explained.
In supporting her ministerial colleague, Minister within the Ministry of Education Nicolette Henry told the House that the bill is key in light of the fact that international trade of good is growing exponentially as countries depend on each other to secure an adequate and varied supply of foods.
“Mr. Speaker, in the context of trade, food safety is of paramount importance for culture and the development of the creative industries. Here in Guyana, cultural products such as cassareep, farine, wines and even syrups made from local fruits could be given a boost with the possibility of export due to the establishment of enabling legislation to regulate and certify their production,” Minister Henry told the House.
Additionally, she endorsed the notion by the agriculture minister that the bill will assist in standardising Government institutions and policies, which according to her will contribute significantly towards ensuring that agriculturalists and businessmen and women are clear about the their obligations to protect the health and well-being of consumers.

NO NEED FOR HASTE
However, former Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, who now sits on the opposing side of the House, said food safety is an important issue that should not be dealt with in a manner of haste.
He said while the Food Safety Bill is a “beautiful one” which lays a good foundation for the food industry, it can be built upon and improved.
His concerns surrounded the establishment of the Food Safety Authority and the powers that will be handed down to the food inspectors operating out of that authority and other officers.
“For example, we have the posts of the food analysts and the food inspectorates and inspectors, quite necessary but at the same time, the devil is in the detail… with them having severe powers including the seizing and sequestering of certain products,” he pointed out.

According to him, “these things have created some discomfort”. On this note, Dr. Ramsarran advised that the Food Safety Bill be referred to a Special Select Committee.
This was also the view of most of the PPP Members of Parliament who addressed the House on the Bill, including Dr. Frank Anthony. Dr. Anthony said while bringing the bill to the House is commendable, the Government should allow for further consultation.
Laying his concerns down, the PPP MP said the bill seeks to remove food from the Food and Drug Act 34:03 No. 10 of 1997, and placing it under the Food Safety Authority. Additionally, he pointed out that it is being removed from under the purview of the Public Health Ministry to the Agriculture Ministry.
“Policing foods and monitoring foods for safety standards have always been with the Ministry of Public Health for close to 46 years and really we never really had any major outbreaks,” he contended. He is of the opinion that key sectors and agencies are expected to be placed under the authority but there is no clear explanation as to how it will be done. Dr. Anthony told the House sending the bill to a Special Select Committee will address all the inefficiencies addressed.
The concerns expressed by the Opposition were not in vain as the Government in a surprised moved, agreed to have the bill sent to a Special Select Committee.
The National Assembly also sent the Animal Welfare Bill to a Special Select Committee to allow for national consultation and input.
The bill intends to reform Guyana’s animal welfare laws in ways that are synonymous with European Union (EU) standards so as to promote trade, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
The Animal Welfare Bill 2016 seeks to reform the way animal welfare is approached in Guyana by presenting more contemporary regulations that should be followed in order to improve animal health and safety.
The bill also includes several requirements that ensure the protection and wellbeing of domestic animals, especially with regards to their shelter, food supply and humane treatment.
In order to see that the provisions are carried out and in the manner proposed, the bill provides for an Animal Welfare Commission to be formed.