Agriculture Minister Announces Changes to the Regime for the Importation of Refined Sugar

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF), Hon. Karl Samuda (seated at microphone), addresses a media briefing to update the country on the importation of refined sugar and future of the Monymusk Sugar Factory, held at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices, on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Also at the head table (from left) are Director General at MICAF, Vivian Brown and CEO, SCJ Holdings, John Gayle.

The Agriculture Minister has announced changes to the regime for the importation of refined sugar for the retail trade.
Minister Samuda made the announcement Wednesday afternoon at a press conference at the Ministry’s St. Lucia Avenue offices in New Kingston.
This, he said, is in an effort to stop the leakage of refined sugar, imported by manufacturers duty free as a raw material for manufactured products, from entering the retail trade.
According to Minister Samuda, the granting of permits to import refined sugar for the retail trade will be restricted to approved marketing agents or other entities as designated by the Minister.
The Agriculture Minister also noted that all sugar sold in the retail trade must be packaged in keeping with the recently enacted sugar standards.
“Any entity found selling refined sugar in the retail trade which is not packaged in accordance with these standards will be found in breach and enforcement measures will be applied under the SIA Control Act,” said Minister Samuda.
Penalties include the seizure of goods and fines of up to $3m.
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Contact: Karlene Brown Tel: 968-8669

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