Friday, October 30, 2015. Jamaica. The Caribbean is now much more equipped to ensure safety from pesticides in fruits and vegetables with the accreditation of the University of the West Indies’ Jamaica – based Pesticide Research Laboratory (PRL) less than a week ago . The laboratory was accredited in the area of Food Testing by the Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) , thanks to the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTFund) Project funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), and administered by the Caribbean Development Bank. The project was implemented by the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ). PRL can now provide pesticide residue analysis on fruits and vegetables with this ac creditation and be assured that the test results will be internationally acceptable . It is the first laboratory to have received this accreditation, specifically for pesticides, in the region. Remarks from CROSQ ’s CEO Mr. Deryck Omar were delivered by head of the U niversity’s Pesticide Research Laboratory, Professor Tara Dasgupta. In the remarks, Mr. Omar noted that CROSQ and others had extended technical support to the laboratory in securing the certification, which was the second such accreditation perfor med through the regional organisation’s Caribbean Cooperation for Accreditation (CCA) Scheme.
The CROSQ – CCA Scheme provides conformity assessment bodies with regional opportunities to access affordable and reliable available development assistance in pursu it of accreditation. “Jamaica and the Caribbean at large are well known for its vast array of fresh fruits and vegetable which provide immense nutritional value. More of these fruits and vegetables are being processed along the value chain as the region se eks to increase its capacity in creating value added products,” the CEO stressed. He further extended thanks to technical consultant Ms. Maxine Campbell for her assistance to the laboratory, as well as the Bureau of Standards Jamaica for its support, and the CDB and DFID for the financial backing. Thanks were also expressed to Professor Dasgupta, Dr. Raymond Reid and the team at PRL for their commitment to seeing the process through to successful completion. The accreditation ceremony was officiated by Jam aica’s Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton , who noted, “A strengthened NQI [National Quality Infrastructure] means that the products and services developed in Jamaica and tests conducted by our laboratories are trusted intern ationally. It means realizing the full benefits of the National Export Strategy.”
