The workshop targeted the regulations included in the United States Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for the export of food
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, July 10, 2018 (IICA). As part of the continued support given by IICA to officials, specialists, producers and exporters, the Dominican Republic Delegation facilitated the livestream of the workshop “Accredited Third Party Certification Program”, as well as the “Voluntary Qualified Importer Program”. The purpose of this seminar was to sensitize government officials, private sector and IICA staff in the Americas about the aforementioned regulations.
In order to fulfill this goal, the workshop included a keynote presentation of Mr. Kenneth Nieves, International Policy Analyst at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, who presented the Accredited Third Party Certification Program, and another presentation from Ms. Doriliz De León, Co-Leader of the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program, who explained the requirements to become a Qualified Importer.
This workshop involved the participation of consultants, producers of the honey sector, members of the Dominican Agro-Business Board (JAD), representatives of the Dominican Institute for Quality (INDOCAL), as well as directors of the Dominican Accreditation Body (ODAC). The latter showed great interest in being part of the Accredited Third Party Certification Program, investigating the steps to be taken in order to be FDA-recognized for these purposes.
With this workshop, IICA continues to collaborate with the strengthening of capacities and competencies of the different sectors to face the challenges and opportunities that the FSMA Act poses for exports from the Dominican Republic.
More information: Gaudy Suzana, Specialist in Agricultural Health and Food Safety, gaudy.suzaña@iica.int
