A team of experts from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is arriving on 1 February to ensure the HACCP system (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) is being properly implemented in processing plants, as required for export to the US market.
Fisheries official Orlando Crespo, who is coordinating the visit, said inspections would be carried out at shrimp packing, sardine and tuna canning and fresh and frozen whitefish exporting plants, in Guayaquil, Manta and BahÃa de Caráquez.
The FDA team says it will be visiting the premises of companies affiliated to the National Fishery Chamber (CNP), the National Aquaculture Chamber (CNA) and the Whitefish Exporters Association (Asoexpebla).
Inspections at Produsa, Expalsa, Promariscos, Empacadora Nacional, Peslasa, Marisco San Francisco, Negocios Industriales Real, Gondi, Prefexport, Empacadora Mar Grande, Socapes, Empacadora Diamante are all on the agenda.
The last inspection took place two years ago and the continuity of seafood exports to the US depends on it, said Crespo.
"So far no plants have failed an inspection, Ecuador's industry is very careful in that respect," he added.
Asoexpebla executive director Guillermo Morán said whitefish exporting plants are always prepared for FDA inspectors. "Some plants such as Mardex and Gondi have gone beyond HACCP and also apply ISO 9002," he added.
US food health authorities should also inspect other smaller plants that also export fishery products to the US but have not been inspected up to now, said Morán.
When Asoexpebla was created seven years ago, its primary concern was to train companies in HACCP, as a preventive mechanism to ensure the quality of products against microbiological, chemical and physical risks, he said.
Source : Fish Information & Services