THE MINISTRY of Agriculture has launched an investigation into what has been found to be widespread illegal importation of chicken parts based on information from exporters in the United States.
Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke said the suspension on the issuance of permits for the importation of chicken necks and backs will remain in effect until the investigation is complete. According to the Agriculture Minister, "there is a discrepancy in what the United States says it has exported to Jamaica and the permits that we have given."
He explained that "we have given (permits) for a minimal amount of leg quarters and (permits) for a substantial amount of necks and backs (but) the export figure from the U.S. is showing that a minimal amount of chicken necks and backs and a substantial amount of leg quarters (came into the island)."
SUSPENSION OF IMPORT PERMITS
Minister Clarke said his ministry had given permits for the importation of 1.4 million kilogrammes of chicken leg quarters between January and now. However, he said the figures coming out of the U.S. indicate that 8.5 million kg of chicken leg quarters were exported to Jamaica in the same period, as opposed to 1.4 million kg of chicken backs and necks, which is significantly less than the 8.5 million kg that the ministry issued permits to import.
The investigation and suspension of import permits by the Agriculture Ministry has come just days after The Gleaner first reported that the country's producers and suppliers of chicken and chicken products were struggling to stave off competition from imports, a significant amount of which come into the island illegally.
