Compliance with the Revised Sugar Standard JS:102 to become effective July 1

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda (left), in discussion with executive director, Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), Yvonne Hall, at a media briefing to update the country on the implementation of standards for the labelling and packaging of sugar, held at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices, on Friday, June 23, 2017. Looking on at right is chief executive officer, National Compliance & Regulatory Authority (NCRA), Lorice Edwards Brown.

Effective Saturday, July 1, 2017, the new labelling, packaging and food safety requirements for brown and granulated sugar will become mandatory for pre-packaged sugar and will be implemented across the entire island of Jamaica.

This means that all pre-packaged sugar available to the retail trade must now be appropriately labelled. This is intended to ensure that the consumer is provided with clear and correct information.

The new revised mandatory standards for brown cane sugar which outlined the requirements for labelling, packaging and food safety were gazetted on December 30, 2016.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Karl Samuda, made the announcement at a press briefing held at the Ministry’s St. Lucia offices on June 23.

According to Minister Samuda, sugar re-packers must be registered with the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA), who will now ensure that consumers will be getting a product which is processed and packaged under hygienic conditions and free from foreign matter.
The packages must be labeled appropriately which will allow for traceability of the product and must include product name and brand name, net content, name and address of manufacturers, distributors, importers or vendors, storage conditions, country of origin, lot identification, date markings and instructions for use

“In other words, sugar, like other food items, must now provide the stamp of quality assurance to purchasers that they are buying safe food, fit for consumption and meeting international traceability and food safety standards”, the Minister informed.

To date, six (6) re-packers have been identified and sensitized island wide, by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica and the National Compliance Regulatory Authority. Four are now registered with the NCRA while the other two are expected to meet the requirements for registration before the end of June.

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