B.S.I Responds to Leaked Information on Non-Compliance in Audit Report

The Belize Sugar Industries Limited today responded to information that has been leaked on its non-compliance which was flagged in an audit report and subsequent suspension of its Fairtrade certification. In a press release issued today, B.S.I states that the information pertaining to the recent audit was misleading. The factory said it was notified on March seventh, that following the audit done in January, four non-compliances were identified, including one major non-compliance, and those have led to a suspension of its Fairtrade certification. B.S.I explained, “The major non-compliance which led to the suspension relates to a change in classification of B.S.I in the FLOCERT system, of which we were not aware, and which confers additional obligations relating to our communication with our customers.  The other non-compliances also relate to technical matters that do not affect the flow of Fairtrade eligible sugar to our customers or affect the payment of premium from our customers to eligible Fairtrade associations,”. It’s all a technical issue, according to the factory – one that the auditors flagged instead of asking for clarity on an issue. B.S.I says it has already submitted corrective measures to FLOCERT for all its non-compliances and that it expects that the suspension will be lifted shortly.