PRESS RELEASE

BAHA - NO TIME TO FRY THE FISH!

Even as the extraordinary fact that Belize was considered favourable to be placed on the European Union's List I is still being digested (This listing enables Belize to export fish and fishery products to the EU. It's noteworthy that the USA is only on List 2), the continued efforts of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) to assist in the growth of our fisheries industry has paid off again.

Three European consultants arrived in Belize this week to provide advice, support and training to BAHA, the fisheries industry and the countries' testing laboratories.

Their presence in the country is the result of the timely submission of a Project Proposal to the EU and African-Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) that was endorsed by the National Authorizing Office making Belize one of the first countries to benefit from assistance through the "Strengthening Fishery Health Conditions in ACP/OCT Countries Project".

Mr. Mannino will assist BAHA's Central Investigation Laboratory (CIL) - as well as the smaller laboratories of fish-processing establishments - in improving its organizational structure and testing capabilities in relation to the surveillance of fish and fishery products.

Mr. Da Silva will provide training to both BAHA personnel and the industries' Quality Assurance Managers in principles of modern quality assurance techniques and implementation.

And Mr. Do Porto will assist BAHA to evaluate and certify any processing plant that wishes to export its fishery products to the EU, by strengthening its control capacities.

This technical support is fully sponsored by the ACP and EU.

For more information please contact Elsie Alpuche at BAHA (011-501-822-0818).

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