E-mail:
Country:
Guatemala
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentació
Contact person name:
Nelson Antonio Ruano García
Website:
Physical full address:
7 avenida 12-90 zona 13, ciudad Guatemala
Phone number:
(502) 24137454
Fax number:
(502) 24137454
Country introduction
Summary:
The biggest sector in the Guatemalan economy is agriculture; the main exported products are cardamom, sugar cane and coffee. The tourism is the second source of foreign exchange for the country, the industry is an important branch of the Guatemalan economy and the service sector that year after year becomes more important, making the typical Guatemalan economy based on agriculture service delivery.
In Guatemala the issue of food safety lies with the Directorate of Safety of VISAR - Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) when a product is not processed, however when it comes to a processed product is under the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance responsability. Guatemala bases many of its fresh exports in horticulture and fresh tropical fruits, seafood and honey. In the other hand, the majority of fresh imported products are based on poultry, meat, stone fruits and grains (the main source of food). It has now been given greater importance to the processes and value added in the industry, trying to acquire new markets and be more competitive arround the world.
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country does not have a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country is in the process in developing a structure for GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
Assessment
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country does not conduct safety assessment of GM food but the country has, or the country is in the process of developing national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country has never conducted food safety assessment of GM food but is planning to conduct such assessment in the near future.
Supplemental information on the implementation:
Stacked events
Regulation of stacked events:
There is no regulations in my country on stacked events.
Supplemental information on the stacked events:
Production and trade
GM food/feed production:
My country does not produce any GM food or feed.
GM food/feed imports:
My country may import GM food or feed and there is no authorization process.
Supplemental information on the production and trade:
LLP/AP incidents
LLP/AP incidents:
My country does not monitor LLP/AP situations.
Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:
Labelling requirement
Labelling requirement:
My country allows a voluntary and positive labeling on GM food.
Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment
Other relevant documents:
Country information last modified:
02/11/2017
