Out of line

Local fish processors are losing out on foreign exchange, because the European Union is not backing down on its food safety restrictions on TT.

TT still cannot export to the EU because the food safety control legislations and regulations in Trinidad and Tobago are not yet harmonised with those of the EU, say industry officials. This has been the case since 1998 when TT was banned from exporting to the EU and countries like Martinique and Guadeloupe, which were important markets for this country. TT used to export fish to the EU up till 1998. It currently exports to the US and some Caribbean islands. Last year TT exported about $90 million worth of fish products. According to Richard Joseph, general manager, Caribbean Business Services Limited (CBSL), TT saw the EU slap coming for many years and did nothing to stop it. He said while TT did try to amend the Food and Drugs Act in 1998, it did not implement the regulations that were necessary to allow TT’s fish into the EU. He added that the Government did not even submit a full application for allowing exports back into the EU. He explained that the EU is not interested in specific fish processing plants and factories like the United States (US), but want to ensure that the local regulatory environment protects, as far as possible, from food borne illnesses. “They want to make ensure that we have the same protection that they have. As far as they are concerned, if we cannot take care of ourselves in terms of making sure that we have proper fish to eat, we are not going to take care of them.” However, Joseph said the EU’s requirements are not any different from those in TT. “We have pretty stringent food requirements, but they are not enforced. That is why you have people selling fish on the highway and processing fish behind their houses.”

He said because these requirements are not enforced, there is no system of control to ensure that fish passes through proper processing before it is sold or exported. He noted, though that the EU is prepared to provide assistance to TT to help bring its fish processing industry up to international standards. “There is a big programme that is due to start this year with quite a lot of money available, some of which will be used to enable the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division of the Ministry of Health to play a more active role in the industry.” The Chemistry Food and Drugs Division is responsible for the processing, inspection and certification of fish and fishery products for human consumption. He noted that the Chemistry, Food and Drug Division is supposed to have inspectors “check up” on local fish processors on a regular basis but added that as far he is aware, it does not even have a carefully, developed and executed programme. “They always use the excuse that they have resource limitations and that they only have two people to do inspections and those inspectors have other things to do.” However, Stanley Temal, director, Chemical Food and Drugs Division dismissed those claims, saying that they inspect fish processing plants on a regular basis. He said those plants that comply with the rules and regulations are issued a certificate for export. Temal admitted though, that there were only two inspectors, but he said they do conduct routine checks on these plants.

In an effort to help identify some of the major problems affecting the local fish processing industry, CBSL hired Dr Roland Vanthuyne, a Belgium veterinarian, sometime ago to conduct some research into the industry. Dr Vanthuyne’s research revealed that there were many problems in the fishery product sector in TT and some other countries in the Caribbean. He said the structure and hygienic conditions of landing sites are a matter of concern. He noted that many structures can be found on landing sites, which do not comply with minimum hygiene requirements. Dr Vanthuyne said the transport of fishery products has to be reorganised and improved. “Transport of fishery products is a problem everywhere. Fishery products are transported in an open pick up, on the floor of an insulated truck or in dirty containers.” Additionally, he said facilities for preparation and processing of fishery products are not complying with international standards.“What is needed is good plant, potable water, raw material, cleaning and disinfecting, pest control, personal hygiene, manufacturing and waste disposal practices.”  He said while quality assurance (good practices) and safety assurance (HACCP) systems are present in some establishments, they are not properly implemented and documented.

Dr Vanthuyne also cited problems with the airport facilities which lack proper cold chain facilities and discrepancies at the level of marketing. He also said there were problems on the level of communication with the European community. Joseph said there are lots of opportunity in fish for TT, however, he noted that the competent authority must be put in place now to supervise and monitor the industry. Samaroo Dowlat, chief executive officer, Namdevco shared some of Joseph’s views. He too explained that TT was banned from exporting fish to the EU because it could not assure the safety of the fish. “At that time we were unable to meet the basic requirements with respect to the quality of facilities which included landing sites, processing facilities and fishing boats.” In addition, he said there was also the need for a basic legislative agenda to ensure compliance with requirements.

Dowlat believes that once these hurdles are crossed TT can export large quantities of fish to the EU. “There is a demand and a big market out there. That market is ready and waiting.” He noted that TT can also obtain slightly higher prices for its seafood in the EU than it is currently getting in the US because there is a worldwide shortage of seafood. Dowlat is also of the view that government through different agencies like TIDCO, Namdevco and the Chemical Food and Drugs Division is trying its best to upgrade the industry. He said these agencies have undertaken various training exercises to sensitise all the stakeholders in the seafood industry about the requirements for safe food and the need for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) compliance. He said the private sector has taken up this challenge and has spent millions of dollars upgrading their fish processing facilities to make them compliant. With regards to the landing sites, Dowlat said Namdevco is currently tending to two sites which it manages in Orange Valley and Sea Lots and which should be HACCP compliant very soon.