KINGSTON: The Bureau of Standards Jamaica has announced the removal of a requirement for export certificates in order to export prescribed foods, mainly agro-processed foods. Companies that require certification from the Bureau in order to meet the requirements of importing jurisdictions will continue to be facilitated, but the Customs Agency will no longer need the certificate in order for these foods to leave the country.
In announcing the move at the meeting of the National Competitiveness Council held yesterday, the Hon. G. Anthony Hylton, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, noted that, “this is yet another positive move in the Ministry’s deliberate approach to improve the ease of doing business by eliminating irrelevant processes, particularly in our import and export processes”.
Executive Director of the Bureau, Yvonne Hall, in explaining the decision stated that, “there are a number of countries that do not require certification for goods to be imported, yet we were still requiring exports to be certified. This change will allow exports to be certified based on the market access rules that apply in the destination country. It will reduce time and save them money.”
This recent change follows a similar move by the Ministry last year, when the removal of the requirement for export licenses from the Trade Board Ltd. in respect of the export of ornamental fish from Jamaica, was announced.
Both the Bureau and the Customs Agency have confirmed that the removal of the requirement takes immediate effect.
