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MoFAD launches Class 1 Recognition Scheme for Fish Processors

Ghanaians have been offered the rear opportunity of buying safe and healthy fish from recognised processors following the launch of a Recognition Scheme for Fish Processors in the country.

Date Created : 7/8/2019 6:42:12 AM : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

The launch of the Class 1 Recognition Scheme by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development with support of the US Government through The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is to enhance the production and trade of healthy fish in the Ghanaian market.

By this, any fish processor with the Class 1 recognition certificate is deemed to have passed all the necessary checklist and is giving only safe and healthy fish to consumers.

The scheme aims among others to;

• Improve market access and income for fishers

• Develop guidelines for the regulation and production of safe and healthy smoked fish as well as

• Serve as a monitoring tool for compliance to the Class 1 checklist.

The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture development, Kingsley Ato Cudjoe urged all other processors in the country to strive to meet the requirements and be part of this great opportunity that has been offered them so that their fish will meet international standard and be accepted for export as well as provide safe and quality fish for domestic consumers.

He said the support of SFMP in providing the Ahotor Oven which gives zero PAH on smoked fish and the introduction of hygienic fish processing practices are all geared toward ensuring better market value for their fish and safety of the consumer.

Obtaining the Class 1 Recognition Status

One would have to meet the following requirements to obtain the Recognition Status:

• Acquire improved fish smoking oven (Ahotor, FTT ovens, etc)

• Undergo the healthy fish training

• Apply directly to the respective Zonal Fisheries Officers (ZFO)

• Internal audit by ZFO of the processing facility to meet the checklist developed by the multi-disciplinary stakeholder committee

• Evaluation of ZFO report by the HFS Committee to make recommendations

• If the facility meets the required certification standards, a recognition status would be awarded.

MoFAD is the only institution mandated to issue the Class 1 certificate and healthy fish labels (stickers) to successful candidates.

Meanwhile, though the certificate is valid for a year, during which it can be renewed after an internal audit of the processing facility and the fish smoking process, processors risk losing their certificate if the Committee suspects the following:

• That their smoked fish is exposed to the risk of contamination

• Misuse of labels, such as transfer or alteration.

Mr. Samuel Manu, Head of Post-harvest Unit at MoFAD however disclosed that the Class 1 Recognition Scheme is only the first of a proposed three level implementation hygienic standards within the local fish processing sector, and called for more support to help the sector meet the second and third levels so that they can export fish to the USA, and other countries.

Certificates and labels were presented to the first batch of fish processing establishments that have been inspected and found to meet the international pre-requisite programme to Hazard Analysis Crital Control Points (HACCP).