Andrew Wildes, Gleaner Writer
ALL LOCAL ackee processors will now be subject to batch-by-batch testing by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), following last week's recall of canned ackees with dangerously highs levels of hypoglycin.
The shipment had been exported to the United States ,but was barred from entering that country by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, the Bureau has decided to get tough. Six processors who had been given exemption under the Processed Food Act, have had this exemption revoked.
Dr. Omer Thomas, executive director of the BSJ, yesterday said that with immediate effect, any ackee processor who is not in total control of the ackee he or she processes will not be given critical certification needed for exporting. Dr. Thomas was speaking at a press con-ference yesterday, at the Bureau's Winchester Road, St. Andrew office.
According to Dr. Thomas, the matter relating to the exportation of canned ackee in brine to the United States has been the subject of much discussion for some time and this new directive was set to be implemented on January 1, 2006. But, following last week's seizure of ackee from Jamaica by the FDA, the order has been advanced to take immediate effect.
Previously, ackee processors who had signed on to the FDA's Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) food safety protocol were allowed to export their product while being exempted from testing by the BSJ. The processor, whose shipment was seized last week, was among the six granted exempt status.
Gladstone Rose, manager for standardisation at the Bureau, explained that along with being subject to batch by batch testing, the processor must now control the supply of ackee he uses and prove that he is managing it in a quality way. Mr Rose emphasised that this new directive from the Bureau is not a replacement of HACCP protocol but processors must now comply with both regulations.
The value of the local ackee industry has been put at $400 million.
