How to get certified in Ghana

Transcription

1 How to get certified in Ghana Where do I get the certificates I need? By Frederick O. Gyamera Programme supported by the European Union

2 Hygiene and traceability Hygiene Rules regarding microbiological criteria of foodstuff Microbiological hazards in foodstuffs the acceptability of foodstuffs / Food safety- protect human life and health implementation of HACCP procedures & hygiene control measures. Traceability ability to trace and follow any food or substance, through all stages of production, processing and distribution. Tracing the path Farm to Fork / Table requirements on traceability on Fruits and vegetables Food traceability:

3 Hygiene and traceability How to get certified in Ghana? suppliers complying with private and international standards on food hygiene and traceability Implementing rules to be complied with by food business operators Competent authority (certification bodies ) shall verify compliance with the rules and criteria When the results of testing against the criteria set are satisfactory, the CB grants certificate of Conformity The Certification Body could be Private / Public. E.g. SGS, or Food and Drugs Authority

4 Contaminants on food Food containing an unacceptable amount of a contaminant in particular at a toxicological level Chemical contaminants, e.g. environmental chemicals, Microbiological contamination (e.g.: bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites) heavy metals other residues unintentionally or accidentally introduced into the food supply during farming, processing, shipping or packing Maximum levels may be set for certain contaminants Limits for various heavy metals in vegetables, fruit and drinks.

5 Contaminants on food How to get certified in Ghana? Example: Laboratory analysis of heavy metals in vegetables, fruit and drinks. certification needed: Certificate of Test (CoT) or Certificate of Analysis (CoA) Obtained from accredited labs at Food Research Institute (FRI) of CSIR, GSA and other private laboratories

6 Pesticides rules on Pesticides residues, pesticides contaminants in and on food Food containing residues, to an amount unacceptable from the public health viewpoint Limits for various Pesticides residues in vegetables, fruit and drinks. free from contaminants ( e.g. Agro Chemicals)

7 Pesticides How to get certified in Ghana? Laboratory analysis of Pesticides residues in vegetables & fruit certification -Certificate of test (CoT) or COA Obtained from accredited labs at GSA / EPA and other private laboratories

8 Plant health control General requirements Exports of plants and plant products: be accompanied by a plant-health certificate issued by the relevant competent authorities in Ghana undergo customs and phytosanitary inspections Must not pose a risk to the EU member countries Meet requirements that prevent the introduction of organisms harmful to plants or plant products or their spread in the EU More information on EU plant health requirement go to: http//e.c.europa.eu/food/plant/organism Specific marketing requirements for other plant material

9 Plant health control How to get certified in Ghana? plant-health certificate issued by the Plant Protection and Regulatory Department of Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana

10 Marketing standards (for bananas) Technical regulations and standards are two distinct concepts. fresh fruits or vegetables must comply with the EU marketing standards (MS): free from rot and disease & clean (i.e. contamination) pest-free and undamaged ( pest /pesticide residues) clearly label packaging with information required under the Specific MS / General MS E.g. Bananas from Ghana Please check :Export Helpdesk for Ghana s details.ec Directorate General for Agriculture, Marketing Standards for fruit and vegetables Fruit and vegetables not covered by a specific standard must meet the general standard or the applicable UNECE standard

11 Marketing standards (for bananas) How to get certified in Ghana? GlobalGAP Certification provided by Private Certification bodies such as Control Union Certification, (UTZ and Organic Certification ) SGS etc

12 Food labelling must meet both environmental and health requirements Not misleading. Comply with Codex Alimentarius general Labelling rules Includes standard requirements on health and safety. Example: Lot identification, Best before date, Storage instruction etc Must meet environmental and health requirements. Comply with rules on materials intended to come into contact with foodstuffs Wood packages (cases, boxes, crates, etc.) must go through one of the approved treatments specified in Annex I to FAO International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures

13 Main private standards Type of Standard (PS) Retailer s own standards Group Buyers standard(european supermarket chains Issues addressed by the standard Food Safety and Quality Safety, Product Quality Certificate /How to get certified meeting key requirements of relevant PS BRC, SQF, Tesco s Nature Choice, Carrefour s Filière Qualité. BR GlobalGAP(formerly EurepGAP) Large food manufacturing companies Not-for-profit NGOs (e.g. ICFTU, FLO, SAN) and Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), Food safety, Animal health, Environment & quality Social, ethics, environment, Global Food Safety Initiative, Private religious standards Religious code Halal, Kosher etc. Process standards Food Safety practices/ Hygiene generic code for ensuring Labour rights, Fairtrade Labelling management system standards and performance standards. (ISO 22000, HACCP etc.)

14 Main private standards Sr. No Type of Certificate Where to get it 1 Food Sanitary Port Health (MOH) 2 Phytosanitary Ministry of Food & Agric. (MOFA) 3 Contaminants (COT/COA) Accredited Labs. E.g. GSA/FRI 4 Pesticide Residue (MRL) Accredited Labs. E.g. GSA/ PPRS 5 BRC certification Private Certification Bodies 6 EUREPGAP certification Private Certification Bodies 7 Codex HACCP GSA /Private Certification

15 Other useful contacts Organization Core Functions Contact Details Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) Ghana TBT & SPS Website Portal MoTI Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) Plant Protection & Regulatory Services (PPRSD) of MOFA. The WTO/TBT National Enquiry Point national focal point institution for export development and promotion Providing technical information to Exporters and Importers on the subject of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS). national regulatory body under the Ministry of Health, responsibility of implementing Food and Drugs Law of 1992, National Statutory Body responsible for the quality infrastructure of the nation embracing Metrology, Standards, Testing, and Quality Assurance. Residue levels compliance and testing Plant Quarantine service Provide information about trade regulations, technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures within Ghana as well as WTO members. Storehouse for information on WTO/TBT Agreements and notifications from other WTO Member countries. P.O. Box M.146, Accra, Ghana Tel: /228830/ Ministry of Trade, Industry & PSI. Tel: Website: P O Box CT 2783, Cantonments Accra. Tel: E- mail: fda@ghana.com Website: P.O. Box MB 245, Accra, Ghana Tel: (+233) , Website: PPRSD, Pokuase Accra Tel: GSA, P.O. Box MB 245, Accra, Ghana Website:

16 More information? Contact-us TRAQUE Programme Ministry of Trade and Industry Trade Drive, Rooms 115 & 116 Accra, Ghana Follow us on facebook: Programme supported by the European Union