Senator Don Wehby - Gleaner photo
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Senators Don Wehby and Wensworth Skeffery
The Processed Food Bill and the Processed Food General Regulations were passed without amendments in the Senate on Friday afternoon.
The legislation will, among other things, remove the requirement for export certificates to facilitate the implementation of the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA).
Pest-control programmes, transportation of food items, time and temperature control, microbiological and chemical requirements as well as hazard analysis will also be monitored under the legislation.
Senator Don Wehby, who is also Chairman of Jampro and CEO of Grace Kennedy, said with the passage of the legislation there can be greater focus on easing bureaucracy in trade. He said streamlining export and import processes will be made simpler through the implementation of a single economic window using ASYCUDA.
"We need to continue this focus on bringing processes and new systems in line with new technologies. We must also be constantly looking at new world technologies and how we can improve ASYCUDA on an ongoing basis. Let us not stop here," he charged.
Opposition Senator Wensworth Skeffery added that with the new legislation expected to drive growth in the agricultural sector, more focus should be placed on other agencies such as the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.
"If you have a Rural Agricultural Development Authority, then it must drive the changes in the agricultural sector, the new technology, the new methodologies, to inform the farmers so they can make it something profitable and sustainable," he insisted.
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