Food producers urged to become certified
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Karl Samuda, is urging food producers, especially those involved in exports, to initiate work to become certified.
He cited the international standard, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification, as relevant to the food industry.
“This will enable our food-producing businesses to access export markets. Lack of certification could constitute non-tariff barriers to our exports. Our food-exporting businesses, therefore, have an obligation to the country to become certified,” Samuda said.
The Minister’s message was read by ISO Ambassador/Consultant at the ISO Quality Systems Division in the Ministry, Reginald Budhan, at the launch of the Quality Systems Solutions and Initiatives (QSSI) Training Institute on June 14 at the Pegasus Commerce Centre, Upper Waterloo Road. Samuda said that by becoming certified, these businesses will be able to increase access to markets, and thereby increase employment in agriculture.
“We must rise to global standards in terms of the goods and services we produce for both the domestic and export markets,” the Minister stressed.
In addition, Samuda said his goal is to have ministries and agencies of government modernised by becoming ISO 9001:2015 certified.
He added that he expects his Ministry, as well as five other agencies, to become certified by the end of the 2017/18 financial year. The ISO 9000 is a series of standards developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that define, establish and maintain a quality assurance system for the manufacturing and service industries. They deal with the requirements that organisations wishing to meet the standard must fulfill.
“In terms of the productive sector, the Bureau of Standards, under the chairmanship of James Rawle, will be increasing its work to help more businesses to become certified to ISO 9001:2015, HACCP and other relevant standards,” Samuda said.
He added that as a small island developing state, Jamaica has to ensure that its products and services are of the highest quality, in order to compete in the international market.
“The sustainable production of high-quality products and services will, therefore, lead to increased efficiencies, better employee morale and international recognition,” said Samuda.