The Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) has announced that a new import procedure called RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) has been implemented immediately for all dried, fried, and salted fish imports into Belgium.
Under RASFF, imported goods will undergo rigorous scrutiny, and in case of food safety concerns, shipments will be blocked by the AFSCA.
Under this stringent system, imported fish products will undergo meticulous scrutiny to ensure food safety. In the event of any health or safety concerns, the AFSCA will take measures to block the shipment.
Imported goods will only be released for distribution if the laboratory results are deemed satisfactory, ensuring they meet the required safety standards.
However, in cases where potential health risks are detected, the goods cannot be re-exported and must be disposed of at the importer’s expense.
This disposal according to the Authority can be a costly process, with expenses potentially reaching up to €2,000, dependent on the weight of the shipment.
“Importers should be aware of high laboratory analysis fees and a one-week waiting period for lab results, incurring storage costs of €0.075 per kilogram per day. ” Ghana Shippers Authority wrote.
Additionally, importers should be prepared for high laboratory analysis fees and a one-week waiting period for lab results, which may lead to additional costs, including storage fees of €0.075 per kilogram per day.
The Authority therefore cautioned shippers importing these fish products into Belgium to stay informed about these new regulations and associated costs to ensure smooth and compliant import operations.
