WILLEMSTAD - The Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN) is introducing extra checks on meat. The Council of Ministers has reaffirmed the decision to charge the Public Health Inspectorate with the control and enforcement of the National Ordinance on Commodities. GMN minister Dorothy Pietersz-Janga has confirmed this in Parliament.
Earlier this year, 29,330 kilograms of meat that had expired were seized. During the Parliamentary Assembly, Pietersz-Janga answered questions from parliamentarians and Inspector General Sirving Keli gave an extensive presentation. Keli explained the division of tasks between the Inspectorate, the implementing organization Veterinary Affairs and the Technical Hygienic Care Department in the enforcement and control of food and drink products.
The meeting was a follow-up to another one that took place in early June on the issue.
The minister states that her aim is to carry out more intensive checks on the storage and sale of imported meat. Pietersz-Janga also wants extra checks on compliance with the best-before dates.
According to the minister, 41 checks were carried out at various companies in 2021 by the implementing organization Veterinary Affairs. In the first six months of this year, this organization carried out 23 inspections. Pietersz-Janga states that efforts are being made to strengthen and train the staff in these government services.