Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 14, 2017 News
By Kiana Wilburg
When you buy food items, do you pay attention to the labelling? Do you check for the country of origin, name of the manufacturer or the company’s address?
These small but necessary steps when buying food items are critical. Besides, it becomes increasingly important by the day to do so as Guyana sinks deeper into the era of imported products, many of which are often being linked to having an adverse effect on one’s health.
To be better informed consumers, when it comes to products and their labeling, one must gather a better understanding of the laws used by the gatekeeper—the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD). The Department is currently being led by Director, Marlan Cole.
Cole was adamant in the initial part of my interview with him that his Department is guided by the Food and Drugs Act Chapter 34: 03. He said that the Department also uses the Food and Drugs Regulations.
Pressed to say if there were any other laws in which his department is guided by, Cole insisted, “Not to my knowledge.”
He stated that products entering Guyana can be held up for a number of reasons. He acknowledged that one of the reasons could be the fact that the name of the manufacturer is not on the product.
The Food and Drugs Director told Kaieteur News that the reason for this is because the Act specifically requires the name of the manufacturer to be on the product. This is necessary because there must be someone who can be held accountable for this product.
Over the years, the Food and Drugs Department has issued several missives to the media stating same and calling on consumers to purchase goods which have “the name and address of the manufacturer and the country of origin”.
As recent as January last, the Food and Drugs Department issued a warning to all consumers, cautioning them to ensure that products they are purchasing must meet the aforementioned criteria.
It appears, however, that behind the scenes, there are some back-up rules which are being used that the average consumer may not be aware of.
BACK-UP RULES
While Cole intimated that all products must have the name and address of the manufacturer and the country of origin, there are a plethora of products being distributed by companies in Guyana which do not subscribe to same.
Products which are in Guyana’s market without the name of the manufacturer and the country of origin include Brunswick Tuna, Grace Sardines, Moo Milk, Snapple, Tropical Rhythms and several others.
Take the popular Brunswick Tuna, for example. This product only has the country of origin. There is no name or address of the manufacturer on the product even though by Guyana’s laws, this is a requirement.
Cole was then asked to explain how this product, along with many others, is allowed to be on the shelves given the requirements of Guyana’s laws.
The Director’s defence/excuse is that “the product could have a reputable distributor that one can hold accountable as it relates to the traceability of the product and it would have the country in which it was manufactured.”
The Director added, “Let’s say for instance, Grace Kennedy; products could be manufactured on behalf of Grace and it could state the country of origin, and it could state manufactured for or packed for Grace Kennedy and put the details for Grace Kennedy.”
Cole said that while this is not allowed for according to Guyana’s laws on label guidelines, it is catered for by CODEX and the CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) Standards.
But it was this same individual who in January last, told some sections of the media that his department will be making an effort to refuse products from entering Guyana which do not have the name and address of the manufacturer and the country of origin.
The CODEX, also known as CODEX ALIMENTARIUS, is a set of international food standards, guidelines and codes of practice which contribute to the safety, quality and fairness of the international food trade.
CROSQ is the regional centre for promoting efficiency and competitive production in goods and services, through the process of standardization and the verification of quality. In this regard, CROSQ aims to support international competitiveness for the enhancement of social and economic development of the region.
Both standards state that the name and address of manufacturer, packer, distributor, importer, exporter OR vendor of the food shall be declared.
Asked to clarify under what circumstances his department would employ the use of the CODEX and CROSQ standards over Guyana’s laws, to determine what products enter Guyana, Cole promptly declined.
He said, “I don’t want to go on record as saying so. And I know what you are getting at.”
He admitted that the disparity between local laws and the regional and international standards, lends credence to the fact that Guyana needs to update its Food and Drugs laws.
While Cole declined to offer a comment, there are several instances where his Department fights cases in court against errant importers/distributors citing breach of the “Food and Drugs Act” but never the Codex and CROSQ standards.
Additionally, when releases are sent out to caution the public against bogus products, there is never any mention of the said standards.
Jagdeo giving Exxon 102 cent to collect 2 cent.
Apr 25, 2024
By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – The French Diplomatic Office in Guyana, in collaboration with the Guyana Olympic Association and UNICEF, hosted an exhibition on Tuesday evening at the...Kaieteur News – Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, persists in offering... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]