A Food Security Pilot Project is Launched in Belize

Francisco Gutierrez

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, also known as IICA, is piloting a voluntary third-party quality assurance project in Belize and Honduras. Today, a virtual ceremony was held to officially launch the initiative that is expected to empower the private sector to set standards for food safety for public health and trade. BAHA Acting Managing Director, Francisco Gutierrez provides an overview of the project, which began in October 2020.

Francisco Gutierrez, Acting Managing Director, Belize Agricultural Health Authority

“The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, IICA, will be the implementing agency for this project which officially started on the twelfth of October 2020 and will end on the eleventh of October 2023. It has an estimated budget of nine hundred and forty-two thousand six hundred and twelve U.S. dollars of which six hundred and nineteen, nine hundred and sixteen will be coming from the F.C.D.F. and three hundred and twenty-two thousand six hundred and ninety six dollars will be in kind contribution from the parties. This pilot project is closely linked to the ongoing work in the CODEX committee on food import and export inspection and certification systems.”

Gabriel Rodríguez Marquéz

Dr. Gabriel Rodríguez Marquéz, Representative, IICA

“The objective of this pilot project seeks to drive up compliance with national food safety standards and regulations through better targeting of official resources to facilitate improved public health outcomes and trade opportunities. As you know food business operators have the primary role and responsibility for managing the food safety of their products.”