Efforts to Ensure Compliance with US Food Safety Act Boosted

Jamaica’s efforts to become compliant with the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA) have been boosted through a $100 million allocation in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure.

The aim is to ensure continued access of Jamaican foods to the United States and other leading international markets.

The money will be used to provide technical and financial assistance to farmers and fresh produce exporters to meet the FSMA requirements; rehabilitate the AMC Complex in Kingston to meet international standards; and to strengthen institutional capacity at the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Veterinary Services and Plant Quarantine Divisions.

Meanwhile, a sum of $2 million has been allotted to the Maintenance of Gardens Project to improve the facility managers’ residence at Chinchona Botanical Gardens.

Both projects are being undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

By Chris Patterson, JIS Reporter