FDA official advises Guyanese about export standards at Florida Trade Expo

Oct 12, 2019 News

Many of the participants in the Florida International Trade Conference and Expo (FITCE 2019) held this week was attended by a number of

FDA’s Kim Prenter in discussion with Anne Peters Bristol of Anne’s Products while GACC president Wesley Kirton listens

Leisa Gibson of Leisa Salon and Beauty Supplies chats with FDA’s Kim Prenter

The benefits listed on the packaging of this soap from Guyana is considered a medical statement by the FDA and would require a period of clinical analysis and testing before approval for sale since it would be considered a drug.

Guyanese. They included small manufacturers of sauces, cosmetics and other products which require US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in order to enter the US market. Yesterday the Guyanese exhibitors were visited by Kim Prenter, a senior official of the FDA on the invitation of Mr. Wesley Kirton, president of the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce (GACC). During the visit to the various booths Ms. Prenter discussed with the exhibitors the standards which their products need to meet in order to be legally imported and sold in the United States.
While many of the products can find markets in the US, it was pointed out that the labelling needs to be improved in some cases to include ingredients and nutritional facts; caps need to be properly sealed; in cases where colouring is added this must be stated; claims of benefits of the use of lotions and soaps either need to be medically proven or removed from the packaging; exporters need to be registered with the FDA in both Guyana and the United States and the processing/production process needs to be certified.
Quite a few companies have shown interest in some of the products from Guyana and were impressed with the quality of especially the pepper sauces, green seasonings, bar-b-que sauce, soaps and coconut oil. Many were not too familiar with the cassareep and achar and information on their use were provided.
The Guyanese manufacturers, many of them small enterprises owned and operated by women, were slated to participate in an FDA workshop that will include the agency’s legal team.
The FDA has agreed to prepare and provide to the GACC a number of documents regarding import guidelines which the Chamber will share with Guyanese manufacturers as well as with the Chamber of Commerce and the Private Sector Commission in Guyana.
Kirton also discussed with the FDA the possibility of hosting workshops in Guyana for the manufacturers as well as visit to their operations with a view to having these certified by the agency.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News