Blog

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) welcomed officials from the Government Analyst–Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) to its Boardroom for a courtesy meeting focused on regulatory compliance, business readiness and opportunities to strengthen support for local manufacturers and agro-processors.

Representing the GCCI were Senior Vice President Gavin Ramsoondar and Councillor Delmar Walcott. The GA-FDD was represented by Tandeka Barton, Director; Crystal Nunes, Senior Food Inspector; Ayodele Singh, Acting Principal Analytical Scientific Officer; and Shemroy Pompey, Drug Inspector.

Discussions focused on the requirements businesses must navigate as they work towards becoming market and export ready, including product testing, labelling, facility inspections, certification and proper record-keeping. Particular attention was given to the need for manufacturers to understand these requirements early and build the necessary systems into their operations.

The GCCI highlighted the value of targeted training and sensitisation to help businesses better understand regulatory requirements and strengthen their internal processes. HACCP, record-keeping and guidance on documentation were among the areas identified for further support, particularly for small manufacturers seeking to improve consistency and meet the standards required to access wider markets.

The engagement also explored opportunities for closer collaboration between the GCCI and GA-FDD on training and information-sharing, with the Chamber providing an avenue through which practical regulatory guidance can be shared with businesses to support greater compliance and market readiness.