Dr. André Gordon (right), president, Jamaica Exporters Association (JEA), addresses members of the media during a press conference at 1 Winchester Road, St. Andrew, yesterday. Looking on is Denyse Perkins, general manager, Walkerswood Marketing Ltd. The JEA called the press conference to highlight the challenges that Jamaican exporters will encounter as of January 1, because of new European Union regulations. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
THE JAMAICA Exporters' Association (JEA) yesterday warned food producers to ensure standards or find themselves unable to export.
This follows last week's recall or seizure by the United States-based Food and Drug Administration (FDA), of Jamaican canned ackees containing dangerously high levels of hypoglycin exported into the United States and compulsory new European Union (EU) standards, starting January 1. According to recent JEA estimates, up to US$43 million (J$2.75 billion) of exported food products could be lost if companies failed to comply with EU standards.
Only 12 companies have so far fully implemented EU-required standards of traceability, good food handling practices (GHPs) and 'Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point' (HACCP) systems said JEA President Dr. André Gordon during a press conference at the association's Winchester Road, St. Andrew headquarters. An additional 11 seafood companies, he said, comply for their major, although not all products.
Over 85 per cent of existing exporters to the EU and over 90 over cent of products will be affected, said Dr. Gordon, who admitted the situation could become a crisis.
He said companies had not heeded the association's advice over food standards. "We have come as close as possible to having the market closed," said Dr. Gordon of the canned ackee market which he valued at between US$6 and US$12 million per year. "If we don't take control of our business and act in a manner that is in the interest of our business ... we are going to lose the industry," he warned.
Thousands of jobs in some of Jamaica's poorest areas could be at stake, he added.
Dr. Gordon is also the managing director of Technological Testing (TSL) which conducts food testing. TSL is to lead a study beginning next week he announced, into hypoglycin levels in canned ackees as affected by weather patterns and geography. The approximately 30-day long study is to be conducted in partnership with the same FDA laboratory that tests for hypoglycin, together with the Jamaica Agricultural Processors Association (JAPA), the JEA and the Bureau of Standards Jamaica.
EXTENSION REQUESTED
"We would also like to reach a stage where all testing done here would be accepted by the FDA," said JAPA Director Denyse Richards.
Meanwhile the JEA, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, had requested an extension of the 18-month grace period for companies to be HACCP-compliant. But this had been refused said Dr. Gordon who said that following a directive in 2002 and one as far back as 1993, the EU had given sufficient warning.
HACCP is an internationally recognised system of food safety management focusing on record keeping and 'controlling hazards' at each stage of production. This is intended to ensure product flaws can be traced.
But "... the industry is not responding," said JEA Director Hernal Hamilton. "We have a system in place and it has been tested so what we really need now is for the exporters to more or less utilise the system." However, he added that, everyone, including the JEA was unaware of the exact stipulations of the regulations. Companies he insisted, would have to contact their business partners in the EU to find out.
Exports at risk
Below are some of the country's main exports that could be affected by new European Union regulations as of January 1:
Banana
Coffee
Citrus
Ackee
Ground provisions - Yam
Sugar will not be affected.
