The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat is assisting Jamaica, along with several other Caribbean countries in preparing for the implementation of international sanitary and phytosanitary measures that is to govern the export of all agricultural produce.
The IPPC Secretariat's assis-tance comes in the form of a series of consultative workshops with key representatives from the Caribbean to strengthen the capacity of the region to meet the required standards set out under the draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM).
Pest risk analysis
The workshop, now under way at the Hotel Four Seasons in Kingston for two weeks, is to examine the provisions for pest risk analysis, recognition of pest-free areas and areas of low pest prevalence, phytosanitary treatments for regulated pests, establishment of areas of low pest prevalence for fruit flies, debarked and bark-free wood and the amendments to the glossary of phytosanitary terms under the ISPM.
"All these are of major importance and will impact directly on international trade, so it is critical that they be given your fullest attention," Dr. Dunstan Campbell urged the participants.
Obligation
Agriculture and Lands Minister, Roger Clarke, emphasised that these measures established the basic rules for agricultural food safety, and as such, "we therefore have an obligation to comply with their requirements ..."
He said the ISPMs address issues critical to our health and should be given priority even without pressure from the international community.
Given the importance of agricultural trade to the local economy, Mr. Clarke said the government has "continued to take steps to ensure the safety of our domestic food production for our local and export markets by putting proactive measures in place."
He pointed out that the Ministry's export centres at both the Norman Manley and Sangster International airports have been providing certification for all fresh produce, as well as a preclearance inspection and fumigation services.
