Central Packaging Facility and Parika Agro-Packaging Facility are the only two approved packaging facilities for fruits and vegetables in Guyana. These Packaging Houses facilitate the processing of fresh fruits and vegetables to Barbados, Antigua, Trinidad and St. Lucia, as clearly stipulated by the Protocols established between Guyana and these countries.
LOCATIONS
- Central Packaging Facility
National Exhibition Complex, Sophia
Tel.: 219-0085
- Parika Agro Packaging Facility
Mora, Parika
(Behind the Neighborhood Democratic Council Office)
Tel.:260-4983
OPERATION
The facilities were established to ensure traceability and correct monitoring of fruits and vegetables being exported from Guyana. It is important to note that all packaging facilities must adhere to the Standard Sanitation Operating Procedures (SSOP’s) and they must ensure that they make provisions for all workers, in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for Conduct, Hygiene and other Regulations for Packaging Facility Workers.
- The facilities are opened daily at the request of the exporters
- The facilities are geared with equipment used for washing, drying and sanitizing, cooling (cold storage and refrigerated trucks)
- Priority for the use of the facility is given to exporters to countries that fall under the protocol arrangement i.e. Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda.
- The Parika Agro Packaging Facility has a wharf which can be used by farmers to unload their produce.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE USE OF THE FACILITIES?
- A request form for the use of the facilities can be downloaded here or can be uplifted at the Guyana Marketing Corporation’s Office, 87 Robb & Alexander Streets.
- The form is completed by the exporter, who documents the produce he is exporting, the name of the certified farmer he is purchasing from, the source area and the packages he would use. The completed form is submitted to a Marketing Officer who approves and signs and then the exporter pays a fee for the use of the Facility to the Cashier.
COST
20 ft Container – $10,000.00
40 ft Container – $13,500.00
Air shipment – $10,000.00
Fees charged are only for use of the Packaging Facilities and do not cover worker cost. Exporters are responsible for hiring and paying their workers.
- B. This form must be completed three days in advance or 72 hours before processing time
ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- An import permit from the importing country
- Exporters need to provide their own workers. Food handler’s certificates, a passport size photograph and Police Clearance are required for each worker.
