Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha commissioned the Guyana Food Safety Authority’s Laboratory and Office at the ministry’s La Bonne Intention complex on the East Coast of Demerara on Saturday.
The commissioning of this new office and laboratory is a pivotal step in the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health and promoting food safety nationwide.
While offering remarks at the event, Minister Mustapha said that as agri-food production increases, citizens must be confident that the commodities produced are safe for human consumption.
He also said the government remains committed to ensuring that food is safe and has been working with the relevant agencies and partners to strengthen the capability of the Guyana Food Safety Authority.
Meanwhile, IDB’s Country Representative in Guyana, Lorena Solorzano-Salazar said the facility was a collaboration between the IDB and the Government of Guyana in a shared vision to ensure food safety and public health as international markets are also requiring traceability and quality.
Through funding from the IDB, over G$520 million was expended to outfit the laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment capable of testing a wide range of commodities to ensure they are safe for consumption.
The equipment can also be used to conduct sophisticated traceability studies and analyses and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving global food safety landscape (Modified press release from the Ministry of Agriculture)
