Page 16 - Agric Info Mag 2018 - 01

For many years, when annual audits were conducted at Fish Processing
Establishments (FPEs), a license to operate as an approved FPE to export
was not granted due to the unavailability of pre-requisite programmes and/
or a proper Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. Al-
though training workshops were held in the past to assist some establish-
ments in developing these systems, they seemed to be overwhelmed by all
the requirements and documentation this entails.

The Fisheries Division,
Quality Assurance and Prod-
uct Development Unit real-
ized that this deficiency hin-
dered progress in the fishing
industry and the initiative
was taken to assist in Good
Manufacturing Practices
(GMPs) and the writing of
Standard Operating Proce-
dures (SOPs). A two day
training workshop was con-
ducted with management

and staff of the Bequia Sea-
food Company Ltd on
Wednesday 31st January to Individuals who participated in
Thursday 1st February 2018 the training
at the Bequia Fisheries Cen-
tre. Theory, interactive discussions and practical
sessions were used to disseminate the information.
The facilitators were Fisheries Officers Alisa Mar-
tin and Cylena Andrews.

This training was a pre-requisite requirement for
the development and implementation of a Hazard
Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system
for which training will be done in the near future.
HACCP requires processors of fish and fishery
products to identify hazards that are associated
with their products and formulate control strate-
gies to ensure sea food safety.