Damion Mitchell, News Coordinator - Radio
ACKEE PROCESSORS are reporting losses amounting to $100 million resulting from the inability of the Bureau of Standards, Jamaica (BSJ) to expeditiously test samples to facilitate exports.
According to Denise Perkins, president of the Jamaica Agro Processors Association, about 20 ackee processors have been affected.
She said the BSJ had promised a seven-day turn-around processing time, but that it has been taking as long as 30 days. She claimed the first set of results were received only last week, although the samples were submitted to the BSJ on January 3.
"They do not have the lab capability to keep up with it," Mrs. Perkins said.
In December last year, the BSJ decided it would conduct batch-by-batch testing for all ackee exports following an incident in which 31 cases of ackee were denied entry to the United States.
The processed fruit was not allowed to enter the United States market because it was reported to have had unacceptably high levels of the toxin, hypoglycin.
Up to press time, the BSJ had no comment on the issue.
COMMISSION ANOTHER STUDY
In the meantime, Phillip Paulwell, the Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, said that in another two months the Government is to complete a major study as part of efforts to identify the factors which have led to the intolerable levels of hypoglycin in ackee for export.
But according to Mrs. Perkins, immediate resolutions to the ackee problems are critical at this point.
"By the time the study is completed, the industry might be dead. A whole study on ackee is going to be long term, but we need something short term now," she said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Paulwell said initial investigations indicate that some exporters have been violating prescribed regulations.
"People (processors) are purchasing ackees where the process for ripening has not been adhered to," he said, adding that several stakeholders would be involved in the study being carried out.
