EXPORT CERTIFICATION
Presented by:
Dalton W. Hastings
Manager
Plant Quarantine/
Produce Inspection Branch
November 12, 2015
MANDATE
To ensure that only the highest quality
produce is imported into the island and
exported to our trading partners.
To ensure that no harmful exotic plant pests
are introduced and become established in the
island.
Governing Regulations and Guiding
Standards
 Plant Quarantine Act 1993
 Various regulations
 Agricultural Produce Act 1926
 Various regulations
 Ministry of Health Legislations
 Ministry of Industry Investments and
Commerce
 BSJ and FSPID
 Customs Regulations
EXPORT COMPLEXES
There are two Agricultural Export
Complexes operated by the Plant
Quarantine (PQ)Branch , located at the
International Airports in Kingston and
Montego Bay.
Function as one-stop facilities housing
relevant agencies; PQ Inspectorate, USDA,
Customs and Airlines.
Provides the following services:
• Inspection and certification of agricultural produce
for exports
• Cold and Ambient storage
• Fumigation Facility
PROCEDURES FOR REGISTRATION OF
EXPORTERS
 Make appointment for the inspection of the
packing facility with the Plant Quarantine
Inspection Branch.
PACKING HOUSE REQUIREMENTS
Building must be separate from dwelling house.
Floor space should be a minimum of 1000 sq. ft.
Packing house must be separate from any
activity that could be considered incompatible
with the handling of fresh produce.
There must be adequate space for loading and
unloading of produce.
Building must be protected against the entry of
insects, birds, rodents or anything likely to
contaminate the produce.
 Suitable fixtures and equipment for grading
and handling of the produce must be in place,
such as:
• Tables for sorting and grading
• Tanks for washing and chemical treatment
 Building should have:
• Adequate lighting
• Adequate drainage
• Adequate ventilation
• Proper sanitary facilities
• Adequate storage space (for boxes and chemicals)
 If the facility is approved, Plant Quarantine will
prepare a letter to the Export Certification
Officer at JAMPRO, requesting that they proceed
with the registration process.
 All exporters and their staff must participate in
an orientation programme conducted by the
Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspection Branch,
and Ministry of Health .
EXPORT CERTIFICATION
 All produce for export must be prepared and
packed in the approved packing house.
 All produce must be appropriately packaged
in new, clean, properly labeled bags or boxes.
 Labeling on packages must coincide with the
information on the export documents.
EXPORT CERTIFICATION cont.
Produce for Export must:
Conform to local and international
standard
Be soil free
Be pest and disease free
Be uniform in Quality
EXPORTING PROCESS
Make appointment for inspection (24- 72hrs)
Documents required:
•Customs entry
•Commercial invoice
•Letter from JAMPRO
USDA PRECLEARANCE
PROGRAMME
 USDA Preclearance program fast-tracks export
of fresh produce
 Utilizing US documentation and technical
expertise
 Fifty-two (52) commodities
 Funding by GOJ totally
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Benefits
Expedites Trade
•Minimal Inspection on arrival at US
ports
•Facilitates open trade of high risk
commodities.
•Minimise rejection or delays upon
arrival
•Faster access to markets
QUARANTINE TREATMENT
Mandatory fumigation is required for
Peppers, Thyme and Yams as a
condition of entry into the United
States.
SOLID WOOD PACKAGING MATERIAL
 Phytosanitary measures to reduce the risk of
introduction and /or spread of quarantine pest
associated with wood packaging material used in
international trade.
 All solid wood packaging material (SWPM) including
dunnage, packaging or crating made from nonmanufactured wood must be heat treated or
fumigated with Methyl Bromide as a condition of
entry.
 It is based on the International Standard For
Phytosanitary Measure #15 (ISPM 15) developed under
the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
Entry of treated non-manufactured wood
packaging material
 No import permit or phytosanitary certificate is
required
 A logo or mark officially endorsed by the NPPO of the
country from which the material originates must be
permanently affixed to each unit of wood packaging
material
 NPPO – National Plant Protection Organization.
Official service designated by a government to
discharge the function specified under the
International Plant Protection Convention. In
Jamaica’s case the Plant Quarantine/Produce
Inspection Unit is the designated body.
ISPM #15
Treatment of all solid wood packaging
material
Heat Treatment
 Fumigation (Methyl Bromide)
IPPC Mark
ISSUES OF CONCERN
Notification of non compliance
• USA and EU re high levels of pesticides
• Solid wood packaging material
Packaging in uncertified packaging houses
Due diligence re Consignees credibility
FOOD SAFETY MODERNIZATION ACT

Aims to ensure the United States food supply is
safe by shifting the focus of federal regulators
from responding to contamination to preventing
it.
WHY IS THE LAW NEEDED?

Globalization



15 percent of U.S. food supply is imported
Food supply more high-tech and complex

More foods in the marketplace

New hazards in foods not previously seen
Shifting demographics

Growing population (about 30%) of individuals are
especially “at risk” for food borne illness
Food Safety Issues
 FSMA Implications for Our PQ functions
 Increased responsibility concerning food
safety
 Appropriate use of Chemical (yam
rejections)
 Upgrade of packing facilities
 Reregistration by FDA
WHAT IS REQUIRED
 Certification:
 Proper record keeping
 Traceability
 Implementation of GMP/GAP
 Upgrading of Exporters facilities to HACCP Standards
 Conducting training in the pack houses
 Regulators – PQ/PI, Vet Services, RADA, PCA,
Health and FSPID
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Provisions under Produce Act
Under the Agricultural Produce Act of 1926
Section 3.(1) “Every person carrying on the
trade or business of buying or selling, or of
buying or exporting agricultural produce
shall be required to take out a license under
this Act for each premises in which he
intends to carry on such trade or business.”
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Help us
protect our industry and our
foreign markets.
THANK YOU
 Main Office (Hope Gardens)
977-0637/6401
977-6992 (fax)
Website www.moa.gov.jm
Email ppq@moa.gov.jm
 Export Complex
• Airport, Kingston
924-8906, 924-8736
924-8907 (fax)
• Airport, Montego Bay 940-4146
940-1038 (fax)