The Ministry of Agriculture, through the Guyana Food Safety Authority (GFSA), is contemplating the introduction of a Farm Registration and Licensing System and a produce (plant and animal) and processed foods traceability system among Guyanese business operatives dealing in crops and Livestock farming.
It is a requirement under the Registration Act: 1949, that, individuals and businesses involved in crop or livestock farming be registered with the Ministry of Agriculture through its designated Agency/Authority.
The registration of farm establishments shall enable the Ministry of Agriculture to provide better services to the Agriculture sector. Registration shall also qualify individuals and businesses to access incentives and other benefits being offered by the Government.
This can be achieved through a well-streamlined produce registration system and licensing of the value chain actors in the agriculture sector. The system to be developed shall be compliant with the Food Safety Act 2019, which aims to protect the public/nation from foodborne risks and food fraud, and to enhance the safety of food originating in Guyana.
Food produce safety is increasingly becoming an important factor in the global market. Especially where the food supply chain is longer and more complex maybe a number of ingredients or components from different producers or countries are brought together to be made up somewhere else, it becomes difficult for consumers to ascertain the origins and authenticity of food produce and to make informed decisions during purchasing from only reading the product labels.
In the food production industry, many large producers tend to buy their ingredients from various companies in the world, where they can be obtained at the cheapest price. As a result, the origin may not be the same the next time that a product is being bought. If something goes wrong somewhere in a complex food supply chain—a genuine mistake, contamination, adulteration or some nefarious substitution—it may negatively affect thousands of consumers and also cause both public health and economic crises.
It is, therefore, important that farm establishments trace produce all the way back along the production chain and also forward to ascertain the source of potential risks and to quickly isolate them. This will help to minimize and prevent the possibility of contaminated farm produce from quickly reaching a large number of the consumer population.
More importantly, an effective and efficient traceability system can facilitate swift recalls of produce along any part of the supply chain, improve food safety and quality, reduce the possibility of praedial larceny and food fraud, and also contribute in reducing the overall cost that may arise in issuing a recall.
The farm register and produce traceability system for the agriculture sector to be developed are envisaged to be a national system and, therefore, all agriculture sector/agencies and food business operatives countrywide are expected to participate and ultimately meet the requirements, as established by the Food Safety Act 2019.
The farm register shall include a framework or structure detailing relevant information regarding plant and animal produce grown, harvested, purchased, transported, distributed or sold by business establishments.
The traceability system shall enable the identification, tracing, recalling and withdrawal of all types of farm produce and traceable items including, but not limited to the entire range of crops, fisheries, seafood—both farmed and wild-caught, and livestock farmed/reared throughout Guyana or intended for sale in Guyana, as deemed necessary based on the requirements of the Food Safety Act 2019.