FOOD SAFETY

GUY- STATUTORY LAW- FOOD SAFETY- PICTURE © Brent Stirton

SUMMARY

The Fishery Products Regulations establish provisions to ensure the food safety of fishery and aquaculture products. It prescribes requirements for establishments involved in the harvesting of fishery products. Regulations are provided for vessels, landing sites, seaports and airports, unloading, transportation, storage, etc. It also prescribes handling requirements for fishery products during harvesting, storing and transportation. It requires adequate hygiene practices for the facilities, equipment, and personnel in contact with the products (temperature controls, use of potable water, among others). It establishes safety conditions for the processing of fishery products and requirements for imports and exports.  

The Guyana Livestock Development Authority Act, the Animal Welfare Act, the Slaughter of Cattle (Control) Act, the Food and Drugs Regulations, and the Animal Health Act provide regulations related to the food safety of livestock products. Specific rules are also provided for under the Georgetown (Abattoir) By-laws and the New Amsterdam (Markets) By-laws. There are also hygiene regulations and standards for personnel involved in the slaughtering of animals. The legal framework provides for ante- and post-mortem inspections of animals and carcasses, and empowers inspectors to declare meat either fit or unfit for human consumption. Licences and permits are provided to engage in import and export of livestock, animal products and commodities.

Regarding wildlife, there are no prohibited methods to kill animals with respect to safety requirements and conditions to handle, store, preserve and transport wild animal carcasses for consumption after hunting activities. There are also no requirements or standards for the handling, processing, transportation and inspection of wild meat.

With regard to the mentioned provisions on wildlife, livestock and fisheries, the requirements established for food safety make no distinction of the scale of the trade. Regulations are focused on industrial productions, but there are no specifications on the applicability of such provisions to small-scale households, except for the Animal Welfare Act which contains some provisions concerning the slaughtering of animals for private domestic consumption.

The Food and Drugs Regulations regulate the processing of food, including additives that may be used in food processing, requirements for the storage and use of packaging materials, and the obligation to use potable water in food processing. The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) administers and regulates the trade and export of livestock and livestock products. The Fishery Products Regulations empower every authorized officer of the Veterinary Public Health Unit of the Ministry of Health to enforce the regulations.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

MEAT AND PRODUCTS GENERATED FROM HUNTING

FISH AND PRODUCTS GENERATED FROM FISHING AND AQUACULTURE

INSPECTION

PROCESSING

DISTRIBUTION

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK RELEVANT TO FOOD SAFETY