Jamaican Government revises sugar packaging and labelling standards

The Jamaican Government has revised standards for the retail sales of brown and granulated sugar in order to improve the way the commodity is supplied to the consumer.

Effective from 1 July, the standards indicate that brown and granulated sugar retailers across the country will have to supply the commodity in heat-sealed, pre-packaged bags.

In addition, the packaging needs to feature labels that should include information such as product and brand names, net content, storage conditions, country of origin and instructions for use.

The government has taken this decision to ensure that the product is packaged in safe and hygienic conditions, as well as address the potential health risks posed to consumers who buy sugar retailed in a transparent, unlabelled plastic bag.

The officials are urging consumers to purchase sugar products that are properly labelled and packaged.

Jamaica's Industry Commerce Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Karl Samuda insisted that all sugar re-packers must be registered with the National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NCRA), and appealed for strict compliance with the new standards.

Consumer Affairs Commission chief executive officer Dolsie Allen was quoted by JIS News as saying: “We ask that you report to the CAC any type of deviation that you would have noticed in the marketplace. Give us information so that we can at least visit those locations to ensure that they are complying with the standards that have been laid down.”

The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) and the NCRA will also continue to monitor and guide the implementation process.

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Image: Jamaica Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Karl Samuda. Photo: courtesy of Jamaica Information Service.