SIXTY CONSULTANTS are being trained in the advanced quality management to help Jamaican companies secure access to sophisticated overseas markets.

"Many companies have been trying for years to get their products on the shelves of the major multiples (retailers) and without much success," Howard Find-lator, marketing manager, JABLUM, noted. "It is clear that companies are having problems meeting the quality specs and other requirements for successful market entry at that level."

He was speaking at a workshop held at the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) head office in Kingston recently. A number of exporters attended the workshop to receive the latest updates on the Quality Jamaica Project (QJP).

THREE-YEAR PROGRAMME

The QJP is being implemented by the Bureau of Standards. This is the penultimate year for a three-year programme, and training of the quality advisers is expected to be complete by the middle of next year.

Exporters participating in the workshop on Market Access requirements into the EU said they were concerned about their inability to penetrate the major retailers in the U.K. They continue to do business with the smaller retailers which have been more flexible with quality standards.

DETAILED RECORDS

"Exporters will now be required to keep comprehensive records of raw materials to meet the traceability standards," according to Cheronne Ellis, policy development consultant, JAMPRO. She added that exporters will also have to have their plants or processing methods approved by the national competent authority and the necessary certificates to accompany the shipments.

Ms. Ellis cautioned that, "Pesticide use and farm practices be continuously reviewed to comply with country standards for minimum residue levels (MRLs) allowable into the EU markets. Produce which does not meet the new General Food Law standard can be refused entry into the market, and in some cases the exporter blacklisted across all EU markets, or the product destroyed at the border at the exporters expense."

Natalie Grandison, JAMPRO export development consultant, said exporters have to understand "these requirements are becoming increasingly consumer driven, and retailers are responding to that."

The new EU General Food Law, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), British Retail Consortium (BRC), and Grune Punkt (German Regulation) were among the regulations discussed at the market access seminar.

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