Boosting Sea Moss Exports Through Improved Food Safety Standards
The Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund recently hosted a Sea Moss Roundtable on Monday, July 28th, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in the growing sea moss industry. Among the speakers was Mr. Andre Charles, Head of the Standards Development Department at the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS), who highlighted the importance of food safety standards in helping local producers access international markets.
As of 2020, Sea moss became one of Saint Lucia’s key agricultural products, with duty-free and quota-free access to high-value markets like the USA, Canada, the EU, the UK, and CARICOM nations. However, many Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) struggle to meet the strict food safety and Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements needed for export.
To address this, the SLBS submitted a proposal to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) titled “Improving Sea Moss Food Safety in Saint Lucia.” The proposal was approved in November 2023, with the STDF recognizing its potential to empower local producers and boost exports.
The project, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Subregional Office for the Caribbean, brought together government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and international experts to:
– Train sea moss producers in food safety standards, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs).
– Review national and international food safety regulations for sea moss production.
– Analyze the legal and regulatory environment affecting the industry.
– Engage stakeholders across the value chain, including farmers, processors, regulators, and exporters.
The SLBS, in partnership with the British Standards Institution (BSI), has been working together to develop and improve standards surrounding sea moss production
Here are two key standards to ensure food safety and quality in sea moss production:
- SLCP 1:2023 – A Code of Practice outlining hygiene and safety requirements for food handling, including sea moss.
- SLNS 145:2023– Specifies HACCP system requirements, helping producers implement internationally recognized food safety controls.
These standards ensure that Saint Lucian sea moss meets global safety and quality expectations, making it more competitive in export markets.
An international and national consultant will soon be recruited to lead the project, working closely with the SLBS and other partners. The goal is to equip sea moss producers with the tools they need to meet global demand while ensuring safe, high-quality products.
