Bureau of Standards to Step-up Food Safety Procedures

Monday, August 28, 2000 - The St. Lucia Bureau of Standards is to take a more proactive stance in ensuring that food quality and safety is adhered to and maintained on the island.

Acting Director of the Bureau Thomas Edmond, says a lot more needs to be done on the part of importers and exporters with respect to improving food quality and safety.

According to Mr. Edmonds, "You still see people engaging in very poor hygienic practices with respect to food safety, how their handle food and how it is transported. On open truck for example, frozen products that are supposed to be transported at freezing temperatures are being carried in the hot sun on and open truck just covered with a tarpaulin or not covered at all. How people carter, you see many weak points and all of these needs to be addressed."

In order to remedy the situation, the Bureau will further step-up the level of training being offered to importers and exporters. A memorandum of understanding has also been developed with the Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU) whereby the Bureau will provide assistance to small agro-processors.

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