Dark cloud over poultry industry

THE EDITOR: We of the Veterinary Services Unit and Public Health Department of our Ministry of Health are horror-struck to get up this morning and read of an allegation made by one of our local chicken processors against the integrity and quality of chicken imported from the United States. Ultimately, this processor has also tarnished the quality of other imported meats. In this regard, we wish to put this matter in its proper perspective as follows:

United States Health Inspection
Similarly as other US meats and other meat products including chicken that have been imported into Trinidad and Tobago for decades, US chickens are strictly inspected under very strict health laws of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that is well accepted by the rest of the world. They also operate under other health policies such as the Hazard Analysis Critical Point (HACCP) and ISO meats certification. We certify that this is true and correct since we have been trained under these laws in United States.

The Absence of a TT National Poultry Health and Improvement Plan
In 1988 the then Minister of Trade Dr Bhoe Tewarie and again in 1992 the Minister of Agriculture Dr Keith Rowley attempted to introduce among local processors a National Poultry Health and Improvement Plan to improve greater efficiency for healthier chickens and an important requirement for the export market. This Plan was deliberately and systematically ignored by these same processors since it required ISO Certification and other regulations that none was prepared to accept not even for the health of consumers. today, this still remains a dark cloud over the poultry industry.

Loss of Opportunities to TT
As a result and most regrettably, TT remains one of the only exporting developing countries in the world that does not possess a Poultry Health Plan and as such, has since lost out on opportunities to export its chicken in United States as well as other South and North American territories. In the meantime, TT and consumers have continued to pay a heavy price whilst these processors have been enjoying exorbitant profits over poor consumers.

Lack of TT Health and Inspection Laws
These processors are able to get away from irregular processing practices that continue to pose serious health risks due to outdated health laws. We, the Authorities are unable to protect consumers to the maximum.

Dangerous Allegations
These serious allegations against imported chicken can negatively impact on and have serious international complications to Trinidad and Tobago and at the same time jeopardise trading relations between both countries as far as all other products and services from being exported to that country. It also seriously jeopardises our opportunity for the headquarters of FTAA and affect our thrust to expand our Tourism Industry. Interestingly, why is it that this local processor has chosen to make these dangerous and unsubstantiated allegations now?

PRESENT HEALTH OFFICERS
Ministry of Health