The Draft Food Security Bill that has been given Cabinet’s ‘go-ahead’ will facilitate the creation of a Food Safety Authority that will oversee the control of production, handling, storage and transportation of food, and regulate the system of food safety, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said.
Addressing the media at the post-Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency today, Minister Harmon explained that the authority that will be created under the law will comprise a food safety laboratory, agro-processing food service and hospitality, quarantine and border control, food borne illnesses and common food inspection units.
Harmon explained that the Bill will also seek to consolidate the various inspectorates relating to food safety such as Veterinary Public Health, the Food and Drug Department, and the Plant Health and Animal Health Department into one authority.
According to Minister Harmon, Cabinet also gave its approval for the Bill to be laid in Parliament.
Also getting Cabinet’s nod of approval was the draft Animal Welfare Bill and the Motor Vehicle Insurance Third Party Risk Amendment Bill 2016, Minister Harmon said.
He explained that the Animal Welfare Bill will deal with the welfare of all animals in relation to the protection of life, health, slaughter, transportation and production. The Bill will also regulate the functions of animal shelters and pet shops, as well as the use of animals in experiments for recreation and their conditions in zoos, the Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Motor Vehicle Insurance Third Party Risk Amendment Bill 2016 seeks to amend the Motor Vehicle Insurance Third Party Risk Act Chapter 51:03 to provide third party insurance coverage for motor vehicles entering Guyana from a foreign country which are signatory to a national agreement (that is, any bilateral or multilateral agreement or treaty between Guyana and foreign states), Minister Harmon said.
Specifically the Bill will provide for the issuance of insurance coverage that caters for liabilities arising out of the use of motor vehicles in respect of death or bodily injury of any person or damage to property of any person, the Minister said. (GINA)
