Latest update January 3rd, 2025 4:30 AM
US deadline looms in September for local food manufacturers
Participants at the recent training on food safety.
New US regulations governing how manufacturers handle food that is being traded with that country are coming into effect from September.
The regulations could very well see a number of local manufacturers losing markets there unless they comply.
The issue was brought to the fore recently when the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), in collaboration with the Food Technology Programme of the Cooperation Extension Service of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, recently concluded two training programmes.
The training, according to GMSA, examined in detail the requirements of US Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for companies that manufacture foods for sale in the US.
The most comprehensive revision of the food safety laws in the US for over 50 years, the final regulations to implement major provisions of the FSMA were published in November 2015.
“Companies of differing sizes were given various times to implement these regulations. The date for compliance for the Preventive Controls for Human Food rule of the FSMA, which applies to all food manufacturers who sell or distribute food in the US, started in September 2016 for large companies.
“It extends to September 2018 for very small companies. After September 2016, all companies exporting processed foods to the US must be compliant.”
The two courses, Hazard Analysis & Risk Based Preventive Controls for Human Food and Principles of Food Hygiene & Food Safety, were held from March 6 to March 8, 2018 at the Roraima, Duke Lodge. ‘
GMSA said that the courses discussed the key requirements for developing and implementing a Food Safety Plan compliant with the requirements of the Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Preventive Controls for Human Food Rule and the modernized Good Manufacturing Practices that go with these preventive controls.
According to GMSA, 36 participants were drawn from 12 large and small food manufacturing companies and agencies in Guyana.
“These participants now meet the training requirements for Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, who can develop and apply a food safety plan meeting Preventive Controls for Human Foods requirements and for Qualified Individual for all who manufacture, process, pack or hold food.”
Present at the opening of the training programmes was Sandra Zuniga Guzman, Economic and Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown, Guyana.
She highlighted the urgency for local food manufacturers to meet the requirements of the FSMA, as these regulations will be enforced for all companies shortly.
“She noted that if these requirements are not met, companies could see potential difficulties in the export of their processed foods to the United States, and encouraged all companies to see the training as an opportunity for timely compliance.”
Clem Duncan, Director of the GMSA, lauded the collaboration between GMSA and the University of Hawaii and urged participants to make the best use of the training programmes.
The course instructor, Dr. Aurora Saulo, is a Professor and Extension Specialist in Food Technology of the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa.
Dr. Saulo is a food scientist with extensive experience working in and advising many food manufacturing companies ranging from Fortune 500 companies to very small operations.
She is a Lead Instructor of the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) that developed the only standardized curriculum recognized by the US FDA to meet FSMA training requirements for preventive controls for human food, and has conducted similar courses on a number of occasions in the US, the Philippines and Samoa.
The issue would come amidst news that US has restricted the importation of Catfish from Guyana, including Gilbacka.
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