|
| |
Contact:
Primus Hutchinson
Tuesday, September 09, 2003 - A number of health and other pertinent issues
surrounding food safety and consumer protection will come into sharp focus in
2004. That is when the European Retailers Working Group, UREP, implements Good
Agricultural Practices or GAP.
The United States Department of Agriculture, (USDA), has also implemented
control measures to address primarily agricultural commodities, particularly
fruits and vegetables. Some of these measures include water safety, manure,
worker hygiene, various chemicals, field sanitation and transport. These
commodities will have to meet certain protocols and standards in keeping with
GAP which will allow these fruits and vegetables to be marketed in the United
States and the United Kingdom.
Acting Director of Agricultural Services, in the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries, Joan Norville explains that at present measures are
being instituted to facilitate the implementation of GAP throughout the OECS.
Such a move, she says, would allow for easier export of fruits from this region
to both the UK and the US.
|
