PRESS RELEASE

Belmopan, November 3, 2003

BAHA Acknowledges all Contributors to Belize's List I Status for
Fishery Exports to the European Union

Belize City, Nov 3, 2003 - The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) this evening held an awards ceremony at the Belize Biltmore Plaza for stakeholders who contributed to Belize attaining the European Union's (EU) List I Status for export of its fishery products, and for BAHA being recognized by the EU as the Competent Authority for Belize.

Receiving Certificate of Appreciation were: Daniel Silva, former Minister of Agriculture, Cooperatives and Fisheries; Michael Tewes, former Managing Director of BAHA; Pamela Scott, former Managing Director of BAHA; Yvonne Hyde, Belize Representative to the EU in Brussels; the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives; the Ministry of Foreign Investment and Trade; the National Fishermen Cooperative Association; the Shrimp Growers Association; and the entire staff of BAHA.

In particular, the staff of BAHA's Food Safety Services: Marla Ramirez, Suzanna Allamilla, Lloyd Perriott, Marie Gomez, Andrea Reneau, Endhir Sosa and Director Michael DeShield were applauded for their dedication to the cause.

"By attaining List I Status, Belize now enjoys the EU's confidence to export its fishery products to any of the EU Member Countries, from where it can be distributed to other Member Countries without any additional formalities," said Agriculture Minister Servulo Baeza. "Belize's access to the more lucrative European Union Market also comes at a very opportune time with the decline of prices for shrimp in the United States, the traditional trading partner for this commodity."

Previously, the EU allowed Belize to export shrimp to individual Member Countries under the List II Regime. Under this Regime, if an individual Member Country accepted Belize's shrimp export, it could not subsequently distribute to another Member Country without the approval of that Member Country. Presently, the EU has 15 Member Countries, but next year 10 new countries will join the EU, thereby significantly expanding the market for Belize's fishery products.

"The achievement of the EU List I Status represents an excellent example of the public sector and the private sector working together to achieving a common goal," said Minister Baeza. "As you will appreciate a lot of scientific work had to be done as no amount of lobbying will get you into the EU Market in this new era of trade liberalization."

<<Back to press releases menu