THE NATIONAL FOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IN GUYANA EVALUATION

THE NATIONAL FOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IN GUYANA: EVALUATION OF THE CURRENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR FOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS Maya A. Phillips 1, Neela Badrie 2, Marsha Singh 3 1, 2, 3 Faculty of Food and Agriculture, Department of Food Production, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

INTRODUCTION A well-functioning national food control system: • protects public health and consumers • increases a nation’s food security • builds international credibility (FAO and WHO 2003) ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

LITERATURE REVIEW Organisational arrangements for food control systems: • single agency system • multiple agency system • integrated system (Al-Kandari and Jukes 2012) ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

OBJECTIVES To determine: • agencies involved in food control in Guyana • overlaps in their responsibilities • gaps in the food control system • weaknesses in the current regulatory framework ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

METHODOLOGY Scope of Research • food laws and regulations Data • sixteen (16) interviews with key stakeholders • secondary data sources: – Acts of Parliament – archival documents ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

METHODOLOGY Analysis of Data • hand written notes of key points • stakeholders confirm accuracy • further investigation using archival documents • information presented according to themes: - gaps - overlaps -weaknesses ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

RESULTS The National Food Control System in Guyana is a fragmented, multiple agency system. ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

RESULTS Agencies involved in Food Control in Guyana • two (2) in the Ministry of Public Health • ten (10) in the Ministry of Agriculture • one (1) each in the Ministries of: - Business - Finance - Communities - The Presidency ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

RESULTS Overlaps in Responsibilities • Laboratory Infrastructure – Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) is the national laboratory • The Fish Industry • The Meat Industry ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

RESULTS ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

RESULTS • 2015: Fisheries Department notified by FSIS • 2018: ban imposed by the USDA • Which agency was at fault? – VPHU was responsible for satisfying US requirements ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

RESULTS • Guyana lost a valuable market for all Siluriformes fish (catfish) • 2018 US Fish Ban included: – Sciades parkeri (Gilbacker sea catfish) – Hoplosterum sp. locally known as ‘Hassa’ – Sciades proops locally known as ‘Cuirass’ ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

RESULTS Gaps in the Food Control System • skills gap • no database for sharing information • slow surveillance system • paper base documentation • poor harmonization of standards • lack of adequate quarantine facilities • lack of robust traceability systems ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

RESULTS • Communication Pathways – informal – personal Recommendation: ü Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between agencies ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

RESULTS • Personnel – lack of trained personnel in food control Recommendations: ü expand the human resource capacity ü employ food safety specialists ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

RESULTS • The Food Authority – Guyana lacks a functional Food Authority Recommendations: üestablish a Ministry of Food Production ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS • national policy for genetically modified (GM) foods • certifies public abattoirs • establish quarantine facilities and regulations • develops baseline data for heavy metals • establishes a functional Food Safety Authority • improves laboratory infrastructure ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

REFERNCES • FAO and WHO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization). 2003. Assuring Food Safety and Quality: Guidelines for Strengthening National Food Control Systems. FAO Food and Nutrition Paper 76. • Al-Kandari, Dina and David J. Jukes. 2012. “The Food Control System in Saudi Arabia-Centralizing Food Control Activities. ” Food Control 28(1): 33 -46 • Guyana. House of Assembly. 2002. Fisheries Act, 2002. • Guyana. House of Assembly. 2003. Fisheries Product Regulations, 2003 ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

THANK YOU! ICon. ETech-2020, Faculty of Engineering, The UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago