Belize copes with U.S. bioterror regulations
In June of last year the United States imposed strict new rules relating to the importation of food products in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 2001. And, as in most cases, when Uncle Sam sneezes, the rest of the world catches flu. The latest rules, which fall under the U.S. Bioterrorism Act of 2002, require meticulous monitoring of foodstuff from the point of origin all the way to the dinner table. Countries like Belize that fall short of the requirements were given a grace period to upgrade standards, and by December twelfth of this year must be up to speed with the regulations in order to keep exporting to the U.S.. With the deadline fast approaching, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, which is the point of contact between exporters and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is conducting a series of workshops to sensitise exporters and officials to the new regulations. According to BAHA Director of Phytosanitary Services, Delila Cabb, Belize is already well on its way to complying with the new rules.
Delila Cabb, Director of Phytosanitary Services, BAHA
“For the aqua culture industry, it won’t be much of a problem because they already have the HACCP program and part of the HACCP programme does include maintaining records and ensuring that adequate control points are in place to ensure that the end product that is exported, that will be consumed, is actually very safe.”
“Today’s workshop is basically addressing a section of the Bioterrorism Act which deals with record keeping and maintenance. This is a vital aspect that needs to be addressed by not only producers and processors, but also packing facilities, transporting agents, inclusive the shipping agents. The United States has passed this Act indicating that all measures need to be in place to ensure that security measures are taken so that when this commodity, whichever food commodity enters the United States, it is safe for their consumers.”
Cabb says that what has helped is that most producers already have U.S. based facilities that are up to scratch with the new requirements. Over thirty participants, including representatives of the Customs and Immigration Departments, the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as producers and manufacturers, attended today’s workshop in Belize City. In 2002 Belizean food exports to the United States totalled over one hundred and sixty-three million dollars and that amount is expected to increase substantially in 2003.
