SBS opens new fish inspection, quality control unit at Providence |29 March 2022
Having an office with inspectors very close to the fish landing site allows them to board and inspect the vessels as well
The fish inspection & quality control unit of the Seychelles Bureau of Standards whose main office is based at the Fishing Quay, Victoria has now opened another small unit at the Providence Artisanal Fishing Port.
The purpose of this unit situated in the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) building is to facilitate timely issuance of fish export health certificates to fish exporters exporting fresh fish on ice by air.
This office will also be used as the base for fish inspectors undertaking inspections and sampling at the Providence Artisanal Fishing Port.
The chief executive of the SBS, Andy Ally, said the recently opened satellite office will provide servicesrelated to fish inspection, sampling and certification because in the area there are altogether four fish export establishments and the area at Providence is an approved landing site for fish before they are processed at the fish establishments for export.
“It is also a zone where several new businesses that add value to fish are based. The small office provides the necessary fish export certificate. It is the result of a demand by the fish export stakeholders as our main office is in Victoria and with the traffic congestion to travel to Victoria and back to the airport was a big constraint as when travelling with or exporting fish on ice there are certain protocols in relation to time that should be strictly adhered to and the challenge was the length of time being spent on the road stuck in traffic. Now we have brought our service closer to our customers,” Mr Ally stated.
Karl Seraphine,SBS’ senior fish inspector, is responsible for the operations, functions and smooth provisions of the different services at the office.
“When it comes to issuing the export certificate for instance, the fish processing plant sends an email and the inspector present will address the request, visit the site to inspect the product to ensure it meets all international sanitation requirements for export before the certificate is issued,” Mr Seraphine explained.
He said if the inspector found anything that is not in line with the standard requirements, we inform the processor and the necessary corrective actions are taken.
“Normally we have a very good collaboration and understanding with the different processing factories to ensure that all products leaving Seychelles are in the required condition for human consumption,” Mr Seraphine stated.
He also said having an office with inspectors very close to the fish landing site allows their inspectors to board and inspect the vessels as well.
The fish inspection & quality control unit of the SBS is the Seychelles competent authority responsible to implement sanitary controls and certification of fish and fishery products being exported from Seychelles to the European Union (EU) as well as other markets around the world. It was designated the status of competent authority by the EU in 1999 through the publication of the EU Council Decision 245/1999.
Marie-Anne Lepathy
Photos by Thomas Meriton
