THE NATIONAL FOOD CONTROL SYSTEM IN GUYANA: EVALUATION OF THE CURRENT REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR FOOD CONTROL SYSTEMS
Maya A. Phillips1*, Neela Badrie2 and Marsha Singh3
1,2,3Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, Trinidad
1Email: maya.phillips@my.uwi.edu; phillips_maya@rocketmail.com *(Corresponding author)
2Email: neela.badrie@sta.uwi.edu; nbadrie@yahoo.com
3Email: marsh.singh@sta.uwi.edu; marsha_ggg@hotmail.com
Abstract:
The national food control system in Guyana is fragmented. It is a multiple agency system where multiple governmental agencies across various Ministries of Government are responsible for different aspects of food control. Overlaps in responsibilities arise from agencies sharing the responsibility for a particular industry or sharing food related legislation and/or regulations. Gaps in the food control system include the skills gap, the lack of a database to share information between agencies, slow surveillance system for foodborne diseases, largely paper based documentation system, poor harmonization of national standards with international standards, lack of adequate quarantine facilities, and the lack of a robust traceability system from farm to table. Outdated legislation and weak communication pathways are major weaknesses in the current regulatory framework for food control in Guyana. Guyana needs to address the overlaps, gaps, and weaknesses in the current national food control system. It is recommended in the short term that Guyana establishes formal channels of communication such as Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between agencies responsible for food in Guyana, expand Guyana’s human resource capacity by training personnel in various aspects of food control, and design and implement Public Service Announcements (PSAs) for food safety and food quality. In the medium term, it is recommended that Guyana establishes a Ministry of Food Production, develops accompanying Regulations for the new Food Safety Legislation (Act) following the passage of the Draft Food Safety Bill 2016 Bill no. 22 of 2016, designs a national policy for genetically modified (GM) foods, certifies public abattoirs, establishes quarantine facilities and regulations to govern operations, and develops a database with baseline data for heavy metals in the water supply. In the long term it is recommended that the country establishes a Food Safety Authority and improves laboratory infrastructure and capabilities.
Keywords: National Food Control Systems; Food Legislation and Regulations; Guyana.
https://doi.org/10.47412/CDOB4139
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