[www.inewsguyana.com] – The government Food and Drug Department has finally cleared the air on what requirements need to be met by businesses that import food items into the country.
Director of the Department, Marlan Cole, issued a statement on November 02, outlining the requirements following reports in several sections of the media that imports are being deliberately delayed by the department, resulting in companies losing millions of dollars.
According to Cole, all importers of food items that are to be released the local market must be accompanied by the relevant documentation which includes and in some cases is not limited to: a Free Sale Certificates or a Health Certificate and/or a Certificate of Analysis.
“The Free Sales or Health Certificates must be issued by the regulatory Authority or Agency from the Country of Origin. The Certificate of Analysis can be issued by an independent laboratory or that of the manufacturer,” the statement noted.
See the full statement below:
Government Analyst Food & Drug Department advisory to all importers of foods
The Government Analyst –Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) is once again advising all importers of food items that are to be released on our local market, that these items of foods must be accompanied by the relevant documentation which includes and in some cases is not limited to; A Free Sale Certificates or a Health Certificate and/or a Certificate of Analysis.
The Free Sales or Health Certificates must be issued by the regulatory Authority or Agency from the Country of Origin. The Certificate of Analysis can be issued by an independent laboratory or that of the manufacturer.
The laws of Guyana Chapter 34:03, Section 32(2) ; and its regulations # 10 of 1977 part 13 states that “ Except as provided by the regulations, no article of food , drug, cosmetics or devices shall be imported into Guyana unless the Article wholly confirms to the Laws of the country in which it was manufactured or produced and is accompanied by a certificate in prescribe form and manner that the article does not contravene any know requirements of the laws of that country an \d that its sale therein would not constitute a contraventions of the law thereof “
Therefore original copies, of Free Sale Certificate or Health Certificate which attest to the fact that the items of food being imported are produced and manufactured under safe regulatory and sanitary conditions where regular inspections are conducted on the premises or the factory.
The certificate guided the Department in relation to the product’s specification and manufacturing compliance. These documents will support the GA-FDD when executing our mandate, which is to protect consumers by ensuring only safe and wholesome foods are released for sale on our local market.
The GA-FDD has recently conducted stakeholder’s consultation with members of the general public / business community in association with Environmental Health Officers from the various Regions to highlight the regulatory functions and services of the Department in the interest of trade and consumer protection,. Consultation held to date were:
- February 26th , 2015 – National Library Georgetown Region # 4
- March 25th ,2015 –Berbice Regional Health Authority Boardroom, Fort Canjie Region # 6
- April 15th , 2015 – RDC Board Room Anna Regina Essequibo Region # 2
- July 30th , 2015 – Bartica Hospital Boardroom Region # 7
- August 18th , 2015 – Mayor and Town Council Board room Linden Region # 10
The Department will shortly be taking this exercise to Regions # 9, 3 and 5 in an effort to ensure that foods, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices traded and produced locally meet national and international standards.
Marlan Cole
Director Food and Drug.
