| Agricultural,
Health & Food Safety Achievements |
Component 2 is being implemented through three (3) sub-components, namely, Food Safety, Plant Health and Animal Health. A number of activities hae taken place under this component, including the upgrading of labaratory, research and export facilities, as well as modernizing some of the methodologies used under each sub-component. The objectives of the sub-components and some key chievements to date are listed below: |
| |
| Sub-Component |
Objectives |
Achievement |
| Food
Safety |
| i. |
To enhance the capacity of the country to provide safe food for human consumption domestically and internationally. |
ii. |
To develop a more effective surveillance and response capacity to report outbreaks of food borne illnesses; and to raise public awareness about food safety. |
|
| The ASSP facilitated the coordination of Jamaica's food safety systems which are currently administered through the Ministries of Commerce, Science and Technology, Agriculture and Health. The major activities were: |
i. |
Development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for collaboration between the relevant Ministries. This MOU was signed on May 25, 2005. |
ii. |
Funding for the Food Agency Consultancy,
the recommendations of which will result
in establishment of a single agency for
streamlining the food safety system in the
country. The cost of this consultancy was
J$3.9 million. |
iii. |
This collaboration resulted in Cabinet approval for the formation of a food safety agency. |
Monitoring of Food Safety Policy
Development of MOU-"Proposal of the coordination of the activities of Agriculture Health and Food Safety Agencies in Jamaica"
Focus is being placed on the establishment of the One Stop Shop at the Port. Space has been allotted for the creation of the One-Stop shop which will house all agricultural health and food safety regulators at the Port. The specific activities of the proposed One Stop Shop are to: |
| |
Serve as a central location to coordinate all inspection processes
Achieve quicker processing time by making agency representative more available.
Standardize inspection procedures to better ensure product wholesomeness.
Reduce duplication of inspection functions. |
|
Plant
Health |
| i. |
To
strengthen the delivery of plant health
services so that Jamaica can develop an
internationally recognized plant health
system that would satisfy World Trade Organization
(WTO)/Sanitary & Phytosanitary requirements
and improve food security and trade. |
|
| The
ASSP provided funding for the following
consultancies: |
i. |
Development of a Plant Health Surveillance
and Pest Response System.
The system will facilitate rapid detection of pests and diseases that are not now present in the country thereby reducing the risk of them causing major economic loss to agriculture and related industries. The system is developed and testing is being conducted. |
ii. |
Review and Updating of plant health
methodologies for plant health import/export
certification and inspection.
Manuals have been developed for Inspection Procedures, Sampling Methods, Treatments for disinfestations, Basic Pest Risk Assessment, and Record Keeping. |
The ASSP has done some refurbishing of the facilities at Montego Bay Export Complex. Refurbishing among other works included the roadway of the office was repaved, the warehouse was expanded and the Fumigation Centre has been refurbished.
The ASSP has funded training of personnel inclusive of staff and farmers in various areas. Some training areas included: |
a |
Workshop on Methyl Bromide |
| b |
Fumigation |
| c |
Pest Indentification & Recognition Training |
| d |
Food Regulation |
| e |
Hot Pepper Production Workshop |
| f |
Farm Budgeting For Farmers |
|
Animal
Health |
| i. |
To
enhance that Jamaica will be in full compliance
with its responsibilities under the WTO
and will be able to protect itself against
foreign animal diseases and take advantage
of the opportunities the WTO offer Jamaica
producers. |
|
| The
ASSP provided funding for development of
an Animal Identification System. |
|
The consultancy to examine the feasibility of this unique animal identification and registration system has been completed with favourable outcomes. A notional programme for tagging animals is the next logical step for this exercise. This identification and registration of animals will be the foundation of a traceable system for animals and animal products and will also facilitate diseases surveillance and monitoring within the animal population.The ASSP to date are monitors of the animal identification consultancy. |
Inorder to have a safer more productive live stock industry, training of various personnel has been funded by the ASSP in such areas as: |
| a |
HACCP |
| b |
Phytoplankton |
| c |
Bacterial Isolation |
| d |
Microsoft Application |
| e |
Avian Influenza and Newcastle disease |
| f |
Public and animal health |
Regarding infrastructural Improvements, the Civil work activity at the Veterinary Services Division Office has been completed at a cost of $3,481,800.00, with the funding of ASSP. |
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