TRADE AGREEMENTS AND OTHER KEY ISSUES

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TRADE AGREEMENTS AND OTHER KEY ISSUES

• EXPORT CERTIFICATION

Presented by Dalton W. Hastings Manager Plan
t Quarantine/ Produce Inspection
Branch November 12, 2015
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MANDATE

• To ensure that only the highest quality produce
  is imported into the island and exported to our
  trading partners.
• To ensure that no harmful exotic plant pests are
  introduced and become established in the island.

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Governing Regulations and Guiding Standards

• Plant Quarantine Act 1993
• Various regulations
• Agricultural Produce Act 1926
• Various regulations
• Ministry of Health Legislations
• Ministry of Industry Investments and Commerce
• BSJ and FSPID
• Customs Regulations

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EXPORT COMPLEXES

• There are two Agricultural Export Complexes
  operated by the Plant Quarantine (PQ)Branch ,
  located at the International Airports in Kingston
  and Montego Bay.

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• Function as one-stop facilities housing relevant
  agencies PQ Inspectorate, USDA, Customs and
  Airlines.
• Provides the following services
• Inspection and certification of agricultural
  produce for exports
• Cold and Ambient storage
• Fumigation Facility

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PROCEDURES FOR REGISTRATION OF EXPORTERS

• Make appointment for the inspection of the
  packing facility with the Plant Quarantine
  Inspection Branch.

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PACKING HOUSE REQUIREMENTS

• Building must be separate from dwelling house.
• Floor space should be a minimum of 1000 sq. ft.
• Packing house must be separate from any activity
  that could be considered incompatible with the
  handling of fresh produce.

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• There must be adequate space for loading and
  unloading of produce.
• Building must be protected against the entry of
  insects, birds, rodents or anything likely to
  contaminate the produce.
• Suitable fixtures and equipment for grading and
  handling of the produce must be in place, such
  as
• Tables for sorting and grading
• Tanks for washing and chemical treatment

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• Building should have
• Adequate lighting
• Adequate drainage
• Adequate ventilation
• Proper sanitary facilities
• Adequate storage space (for boxes and chemicals)

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• If the facility is approved, Plant Quarantine
  will prepare a letter to the Export Certification
  Officer at JAMPRO, requesting that they proceed
  with the registration process.
• All exporters and their staff must participate in
  an orientation programme conducted by the Plant
  Quarantine/Produce Inspection Branch, and
  Ministry of Health .

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EXPORT CERTIFICATION

• All produce for export must be prepared and
  packed in the approved packing house.
• All produce must be appropriately packaged in
  new, clean, properly labeled bags or boxes.
• Labeling on packages must coincide with the
  information on the export documents.

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EXPORT CERTIFICATION cont.

• Produce for Export must
• Conform to local and international standard
• Be soil free
• Be pest and disease free
• Be uniform in Quality

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EXPORTING PROCESS

• Make appointment for inspection (24- 72hrs)
• Documents required
• Customs entry
• Commercial invoice
• Letter from JAMPRO

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USDA PRECLEARANCE PROGRAMME

• USDA Preclearance program fast-tracks export of
  fresh produce
• Utilizing US documentation and technical
  expertise
• Fifty-two (52) commodities
• Funding by GOJ totally

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Benefits

• Expedites Trade
• Minimal Inspection on arrival at US ports
• Facilitates open trade of high risk commodities.
• Minimise rejection or delays upon arrival
• Faster access to markets

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Quarantine Treatment
Mandatory fumigation is required for Peppers,
Thyme and Yams as a condition of entry into the
United States.
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SOLID WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL

• Phytosanitary measures to reduce the risk of
  introduction and /or spread of quarantine pest
  associated with wood packaging material used in
  international trade.
• All solid wood packaging material (SWPM)
  including dunnage, packaging or crating made from
  non-manufactured wood must be heat treated or
  fumigated with Methyl Bromide as a condition of
  entry.
• It is based on the International Standard For
  Phytosanitary Measure 15 (ISPM 15) developed
  under the International Plant Protection
  Convention (IPPC)

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Entry of treated non-manufactured wood packaging
material

• No import permit or phytosanitary certificate is
  required
• A logo or mark officially endorsed by the NPPO of
  the country from which the material originates
  must be permanently affixed to each unit of wood
  packaging material
• NPPO National Plant Protection Organization.
  Official service designated by a government to
  discharge the function specified under the
  International Plant Protection Convention. In
  Jamaicas case the Plant Quarantine/Produce
  Inspection Unit is the designated body.

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ISPM 15

• Treatment of all solid wood packaging material
• Heat Treatment
• Fumigation (Methyl Bromide)
• IPPC Mark

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ISSUES OF CONCERN

• Notification of non compliance
• USA and EU re high levels of pesticides
• Solid wood packaging material
• Packaging in uncertified packaging houses
• Due diligence re Consignees credibility

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FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT

• Aims to ensure the United States food supply is
  safe by shifting the focus of federal regulators
  from responding to contamination to preventing
  it.

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Why is the law needed?

• Globalization
• 15 percent of U.S. food supply is imported
• Food supply more high-tech and complex
• More foods in the marketplace
• New hazards in foods not previously seen
• Shifting demographics
• Growing population (about 30) of individuals are
  especially at risk for food borne illness

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Food Safety Issues

• FSMA Implications for Our PQ functions
• Increased responsibility concerning food safety
• Appropriate use of Chemical (yam rejections)
• Upgrade of packing facilities
• Reregistration by FDA

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WHAT IS REQUIRED

• Certification
• Proper record keeping
• Traceability
• Implementation of GMP/GAP
• Upgrading of Exporters facilities to HACCP
  Standards
• Conducting training in the pack houses
• Regulators PQ/PI, Vet Services, RADA, PCA,
  Health and FSPID

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Provisions under Produce Act
Under the Agricultural Produce Act of 1926
Section 3.(1) Every person carrying on the
trade or business of buying or selling, or of
buying or exporting agricultural produce shall be
required to take out a license under this Act for
each premises in which he intends to carry on
such trade or business.
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Help us protect our industry and our foreign
markets.
THANK YOU
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• Main Office (Hope Gardens)
• 
  977-0637/6401
• 977-6992 (fax)
• Website
  www.moa.gov.jm
• Email ppq_at_moa.gov.jm
• Export Complex
• Airport, Kingston 924-8906, 924-8736
• 924-8907 (fax)
• Airport, Montego Bay 940-4146
• 940-1038 (fax)