The Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) is in receipt of an official communication from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture via the Office of the Guyana mission to Brazil (Ambassador Talbot) on the circumstances surrounding ‘Operation Spoilt Meat’, where Inspectors were accused of taking bribe to certify and facilitate export document for spoilt meat.
Information received confirmed that the findings of the Federal Police operation is restricted to two major Brazilian meat packer/producers and they are FBR SA with trademarks (brands) such as Friboi, Swift and Ceara and BRF SA, with trademarks (brands) such as Sadia and Perdigao who are implicated. Information received suggested that spoilt meat were mainly used to process different types of sausages.
The Department, in a statement this morning, said it has initiated the process of exacting closer regulatory oversight (verification) on several containers currently on the wharfs in Georgetown with sausages to ensure the implicated brands were not imported into Guyana.
“All importers of sausages and other meat products imported from Brazil are being asked to take the necessary precaution by removing and/or recalling any of the affected brands from our market and to notify the Department of any shipment(s) that are destined to Guyana,” the GA-FDD said. Port Health Officers are also asked to exercise greater caution with meat particularly sausages that are imported from Brazil.
Director of GA-FDD, Marlan Cole, said the Department will continue to monitor the situation and would notify the general public and importers of any additional information that may come to the Department’s attention.
