ALTHOUGH vital sanitary regulations exist to safeguard the integrity of goods during shipment, these must not be used to “stymie” the flow of trade among Caribbean Community [CARICOM] states, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Guyana’s Vice President, Dr Bharat Jagdeo has said.

Dr. Jagdeo’s comments on Thursday came following the blockage of milk products from Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) a Guyanese Company to Trinidad and Tobago earlier this week.

Jagdeo however said, that while sanitary restrictions are supported “it must not be used to stymie the flow of goods and services across our region.”

“We’ve always been in the forefront of the fight for the reduction of trade barriers in our region,” he added.

Following a meeting with representatives from Trinidad and Tobago’s Ministry of Trade and Industry and Guyana’s Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Wednesday it was agreed that the genesis of the matter arose out of a misunderstanding by the importer in regard to specific regulatory requirements for the importation of milk products into the twin island.

The Twin Island’s Ministry of Trade and Industry stated that the government will expedite the process once the regulatory requirements and relevant information are made available by DDL.

According to the ministry on April 22, a consignment of goods which included milk, mineral waters and flavoured beverages arrived in Trinidad

All products except the milk were cleared by the island’s Chemistry Food and Drugs Division (CFDD).

The ministry noted that it was the Importer took the decision to return the products to DDL.