Question 1: What is a food label?

Answer: A label is any tag, brand, mark, pictorial or other descriptive matter, written, container of food.

Question 2: What should be on the Main Panel of a label?

Answer: Regulation 18 (2) of the Laws requires that the main panel should have the:

  • Brand name or Trade name
  • Common name of food, e.g. Full Cream Milk Powder
  • A correct declaration of the net contents in terms of weight (g, kg), volume (ml, L), or number in accordance with the usual practice of describing the food. 

Question 3: What should be on the alternate display panel?

  • A complete list of ingredients in descending order of proportion by weight (i.e. if the food consists of more than one ingredient).
  • The name and full address of the manufacturer or person preparing the food (including country)
  • Expiry date or date mark.
  • Storage instructions
  • Any other statement required to be declared by Regulations
  • Nutritional information

Question 4: What are the requirements for sample submission ?

The Drug Chemistry Laboratory:

  • Ensure that samples are properly sealed and clearly labeled with relevant information.

The Excise Laboratory:

  • Ensure samples are sealed and properly labeled.
  • Ensure samples are at least 750ml

The Food Microbiology Laboratory:

  • Ensure that chilled samples are transported in a cooler with ice packs. This is to maintain a temperature that is below 8˚C. [Note: Samples should not be floating in water].
  • Ensure that samples are clearly labeled with relevant information.
  • Ensure that water samples meet the 100ml mark .
  • Ensure that food samples are at least 65ml/g per analysis requested.

The Food Chemistry Laboratory:

  • Ensure Cereals, Beans ,Peas, Spices and condiments samples are sealed and submitted at room temperature.
  • Ensure dairy samples are submitted frozen or in a semi solid state.
  • Ensure carbonated samples are submitted at cold/room temperature.
  • Ensure samples submitted are at least 300g x 2 for Cereals, Beans ,Peas, spices and condiments per analysis.
  • Ensure Dairy samples and Carbonated beverages  submitted are at least 500ml/g per analysis

The Water Chemistry Laboratory:

  • Ensure samples are sealed and properly labeled
  • Ensure samples are at least 250ml at room  

Question 5: How should samples be submitted to the GA-FDD Laboratories?

Answer:

  • The customer visits the Sample Submission Area at the Government Analyst-Food and Drug Department.
  • Customers will then be issued with a Customer Information  Forms (CIF) along with the Government Analyst  Food and Drug Laboratories list of capabilities.
  • The customer then completes sections A-D, and the Analytical Technical Assistant (ATA) uses the price list to tally the total cost to issue the customer with an invoice. (Not applicable to internal customers)
  • The customer then takes the invoice to the Accounts Dept, to make payments.
  • The ATA assigns a reference number to the CIF after payment.
  • The reference number is very important as the customer uses this for future reference of the sample.
  • The ATA will then take the CIF to the respective Laboratory where the Analyst examines the sample to ensure that it meets the requirements for Sample Submission. If it does then the Analyst issues a turn around time and signs off the CIF. A copy of the CIF is then given to the customer.

Question 6: What are the Requirements for the Importation of Processed Foods?

Answer: All Importers of processed foods and raw materials used in the manufacture of foods are required to comply with the following requirements for importation :

  1. Import Licence Applications of Food must be approved by this department.
  2. All relevant customs documents should be submitted to the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department for examination before the consignments are cleared with customs.
  3. A suitable registered premise for holding and storing products should be provided. Air-conditioning, refrigeration, and freezing facilities should be provided where necessary.
  4. All products arriving in the country should have a minimum of 75% of the stated shelf life at the time of entry.

 Question 7: What are the requirements for the importation of drugs?

Answer: All Drug Importers must  comply with the following requirements:

  • The business of a Drug Importer should be under the direct control of a Pharmacist.
  • Importers are required to have direct control over their distributors; including inspection of records, ensuring proper storage conditions and that the various schedules of drugs are sold to authorized dealers only.
  • A Drug Importer should have a registered premise with suitable conditions for the holding or storage of drugs.
  • Importers should ensure that a drug to be imported is listed by its Generic Name in the most recent Publication of the Guyana National Formulary or the Guyana Essential Drug List.
  • All drugs imported into Guyana must be registered with the Department and should arrive with at least seventy-five percent (75%) of their stated shelf life.
  • Each consignment or drugs imported into Guyana must be accompanied by a Batch Certificate of Analysis.
  • Drug labels must comply with the Labeling Requirements of the Food & Drug Regulations, 1977.
  • During transportation drugs should be maintained at temperatures which would not adversely affect their shelf-life or potency.
  • All importers of drugs should obtain a licence from the Food & Drug Department which is valid only for the particular importation in respect of which it is issued. An Application for Licence should be forwarded in advance to the department.
  • Import Licence Applications and Customs Entries of Drugs must be approved or released by this department.
  • Importers and Sub-distributors are required to maintain records of the receipt and distribution of drugs including Batch Number.
  • Only Original Invoices from Manufacturers and authorized Agents/Wholesalers would be accepted by the Department, a copy of which will be retained for Official Use.
  • In cases where an Importer does not deal directly with the Manufacturer, but instead imports through an Agent/Wholesaler, the Importer will request from the Agent/Wholesaler evidence of their authorization to market the company’s products.
  • An Importer without a Registered Pharmacist or Registered Premise for holding or storing drugs for wholesale, could be granted a Conditional Registration to import and supply drugs directly to a business providing the business is under the control of a Registered Pharmacist and the premise is registered for the holding or storing of drugs.
  • In this case it is necessary for the Customs Entries of such imported drugs to be prepared in the name of the business concern to which the drugs are to be supplied