Sources of Technical Information
Main Agencies
FAO - Codex Alimentarius
Codex Code of Practice on various food and food products are provided on this page for FREE download. Useful codes of practice to search for include: General Principles of Food Hygiene, Code of Practice for the Processing and Handling of Quick Frozen Foods, Code of Practice for Packaging and Transport of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Code of Hygienic Practice for the Transport of Food in Bulk and Semi-Packed Food and Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. Codes of Practice
PAHO
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is the specialized international health agency for the Americas. It works with countries throughout the region to improve and protect people's health. PAHO engages in technical cooperation with its member countries to fight communicable and noncommunicable diseases and their causes, to strengthen health systems, and to respond to emergencies and disasters.
CAHFSA
The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) contributes to enhanced agricultural health and food safety in the Caribbean Community. Its primary objectives include regional and national support in establishing, managing and operating national agricultural health and food safety systems in accordance with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement.
CROSQ
The CARICOM Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) is the regional centre for promoting efficiency and competitive production in goods and services, through the process of standardization and the verification of quality.
CARDI
The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) has been steadfast in providing sterling contributions to the growth and development of the agricultural sector of Member Countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The Heads of Governments of CARICOM in 1975 established CARDI to serve the agricultural research and development needs of the 12 Member Countries within CARICOM. CARDI through national consultations in Member Countries is impacting on the regional food basket through commodity programmes – small ruminants, sweet potato, and other root and tuber crops, vegetables, cereals, grain legumes, fruits and hot peppers.
FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. The FAO Regional Office supports Member Nations by monitoring food security levels; assisting in the design and implementation of hunger-eradication strategies, laws and programmes; and promoting family farming, agricultural and rural development and climate-change adaptation policies.
Standards
FAO - Codex Alimentarius
Codex Standards on various food and food products are provided on this page for FREE download.
Guidelines
IICA
The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is the specialized agency for agriculture of the Inter-American System that supports the efforts of Member States to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being. The Institute provides cooperation services through close and permanent work with its 34 Member States, addressing their needs in a timely manner.
Supporting Agencies
CARPHA
"The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is the new single regional public health agency for the Caribbean. The objectives of CARPHA are: promoting the physical and mental health and wellness of people within the Caribbean; providing strategic direction, in analysing, defining and responding to public health priorities of the Caribbean Community; promoting and developing measures for the prevention of disease in the Caribbean; supporting the Caribbean Community in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies and threats; supporting solidarity in health, as one of the principal pillars of functional cooperation in the Caribbean Community; and supporting the relevant objectives of the Caribbean Cooperation in Health (CCH).
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The U.W.I. - Faculty of Food and Agriculture
The primary focus of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA)is to produce the human resources needed for our Region to attain food and nutrition security. With its relevant research and wide range of undergraduate and graduate offerings in agriculture, agribusiness, food and nutrition, geography and related areas, the FFA is poised to make a significant contribution. Its services include: soil quality testing, plant health services, water quality testing, farm sales and short courses.
Other Resources
Intertek Alchemy
This global expert in workforce performance offers training and resources (in form of webinars, case studies, ebooks and research) to improve the business needs of the manufacturing, food processing and distribution industries.
ePing
ePing shares information on product requirements using data compiled by the World Trade Organization (WTO). Products entering a market need to be in line with that market’s product requirements. As a producer, trader or government official, it is important to be informed when a government is planning to revise regulations on product requirements (also referred to as Sanitary or Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) or Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) within the WTO). Using ePing, you can subscribe to receive email alerts on planned regulatory revisions covering products and/or markets of interest to you and communicate with other users and SPS/TBT enquiry points. Most countries have SPS/TBT enquiry points, so you can also reach out to them directly to assist you in determining the regulations in other territories.
The Acheson Group
The Acheson Group (TAG) is a leading global food safety and public health consulting team of subject matter experts. Expertise is provided in some of the following areas food safety, recall and crisis management, supply chain management and hygienic design.
