Lack of food standards costing TT business

The local dairy industry knows what it’s like to face US food safety regulations, so does the sea food sector. And unless these businesses start to adhere to international food processing standards, they will be prohibited from exporting their goods to international markets, says Richard Parish, a safety and food processing consultant.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Caribbean Business Services Limited (CBSL), Parish said the government also needs to get its act together. The main objective of the seminars was to assist manufacturers in the food processing industry in understanding why it is essential that they adhere to food safety regulations and implement food safety standards. Parish noted that food-borne illness has economic losses as well as a negative effect on business. He cited Perrier as an example and said the company lost its market dominance after its poisoning outbreak and has never been able to regain earlier sales volume. The cost of recall alone was in excess of US $5 million. He noted that one outbreak of food poisoning is sufficient to wipe out 20 years of good reputation and performance. “The trend in the food industry has been towards more regulation, more commitment to food safety concerns, increased onus on manufacturers on providing food safety and improved adherence to labelling regulations.” National Agricultural Development and Marketing Company CEO (Namdevco) Samaroo Dowlatt said because of these regulations, local exporters face many problems when exporting food. These include meeting regulations in importing countries and safety, particularly in respect of pesticide control programmes and proper recording of usage.

He explained that most food processing manufacturers are unable to comply with certain standards because they depend heavily on inspections from the Chemistry, Food and Drug Division of the Ministry of Health. There are only eight food inspectors within that Division who are responsible for  inspecting food and servicing the entire country. He said given their myriad responsibilities, it is extremely difficult for them to meet and service all the food processors and manufacturers in TT. Parish stressed that the lack of understanding of the obligations is keeping the food processing industry back. He wants to see Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) implemented locally.

Parish noted though, that some local exporters, in limited numbers, do adhere to safety standards. “Food safety standards in TT are below the required norms, below the international regulatory requirements, below standards in most other countries in the world. Awareness is lower in TT when compared with other states in the Caribbean region,” he said. He believes that government needs to take food preparation seriously and create the necessary competent bodies to oversee the implementation of the essential food safety programmes. This, he stressed, is needed to prevent their trade from being irrevocably damaged due to intentional regulatory exclusion.

He said more markets are demanding an assurance that products are manufactured within food safety programmes. In the US, federal authorities are now rejecting products that once had no problem coming into that country. In Europe, importers are already required to ensure that they have evidence of a certified HACCP system in place for all imports. Caribbean manufacturers are currently receiving notification from their long- term European importers that trade must cease unless they receive proof that the food products have been produced under a certified HACCP scheme. Some companies have seen orders being cancelled. Parish said the time period given by the importers for the HACCP certificate to be presented is usually only a matter of weeks. These regulations are also backed by heavy penalties and the risk of imprisonment.

One other important issue highlighted was the need for absolute accuracy in labelling and the strict adherence to the labelling regulations of each market. Food safety regulations act as non-tariff barriers to trade and provide no opportunity for non-compliance if export manufacturers need to comply with these regulations as soon as possible in order to remain internationally competitive. Dowlatt said the food manufacturing sector has expanded quite rapidly over time and there are many people in the sector that require the services of the inspectors. He noted that in the 1960s when the sector was not as large, eight inspectors were adequate, but with the growth in the industry 40 years later, more inspectors are definitely needed.