Belize to Export Shrimp to Taiwan

Earlier today, a delegation from Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration wrapped up a productive visit to Belize. Over the past two weeks, they conducted thorough site inspections at various shrimp farms nationwide. Belizean producers are keen to export shrimp and other fisheries products to Taiwan. Acting Director for Food and Safety, Natalie Gibson, noted that the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has been instrumental in facilitating the Taiwanese team’s visit.

 

Natalie Gibson, Acting Director, Food Safety, BAHA

“Our shrimp production sector was very interested in accessing this market and it’s one of the products that’s included in the agreement with Taiwan.  We have been exporting lobster, historically, to Taiwan, so this is an effort to expand the scope of products that we can export.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“And what was included in this process, in terms of, perhaps, inspections and what have you?”

 

Natalie Gibson

“So we started out with documentation, where we had to submit documentation for them to evaluate, our regulations, what authority we have, what are our standards for different fisheries products, the processing, food safety standards, specifically.  So we’ve passed that phase now and now we’ve gone to the onsite inspection where we have three FDA inspectors that came in to physically identify, inspecting our facilities.  We’ve been to the port and the airport where the exportations happen.  And for the last two weeks, they’ve been to the aquaculture farms and in some of the processing facilities, conducting their evaluation.”

 

Isani Cayetano

“Do we know when we can either get can get a report or an update from them to determine whether we are export ready, in terms of our shrimp products?”

 

Natalie Gibson

“YOU know we have been exporting shrimps to other countries, but in terms of accessing the Taiwan market and meeting their food safety requirements, we have received a few findings but they will actually complete their reports over the next three months and then we will have a definitive answer.”