PRESS RELEASE

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and OIRSA is organizing a workshop on the "United States Public Health and Bio-terrorism Preparedness and Response Act, 2002".

The act, referred to as "the Bio-terrorism Act", was signed into law by President Bush last year. It imposes new guidelines for food commodities being imported into the United States, aimed at protecting this country's food supply from bio-terrorists threats.

BAHA, in its mandate to facilitate trade in agricultural products, has taken the lead in preparing Belizean exporters to become aware of the implications of the Act and assisting them in complying with all aspects of it. In this light, BAHA created a Task Force with members from both private and public sector with the responsibility to prepare an action plan.

A first workshop was organized in March of this year, sensitizing producers, farmers and packers of perishable produce about proper record keeping, a requirement of the Act recognized to be a weakness of this group. In a following workshop, the Act was introduced to all stakeholders. Last June, training was provided on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), a tool for the industry to assist in meeting the provisions outlined in the Bio-terrorism Act.

The upcoming workshop will provide new and additional information on the Bio-terrorism Act to all stakeholders. Additionally, BAHA will make a presentation on the services it can offer to ensure the industry's compliance with the Act.

The workshop will take place tomorrow, Thursday, September 18 at the Biltmore Hotel from 9.00 a.m. sharp to 3.00 p.m. Non-invited guests will pay a contribution of BZD45.00, which includes hand-outs, information booklets as well as snacks and lunch.

All exporters of food commodities to the United States, even those that are planning to do so in the future, are urged to come and take part in this important event.

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For more information on this Press Release, please contact Dr. Michael DeShield, Director of BAHA's Food Safety Department (011-501-224-5230; 011-501-224-4794 or 011-501-610-3481) or Ms. Delilah Cabb, BAHA's Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary Inquiry Point (011-501-824-4899; 011-501-824-4872 or 011-501-614-1952).

September 15, 2003

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