The Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) is urging unregulated stakeholders operating in specific agricultural sectors to get licensed.
JACRA is the regulatory body responsible for coconut, cocoa, coffee, ginger, nutmeg, pimento, and turmeric, and is empowered by the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority Act, 2017.
The Act requires that persons must have a JACRA licence respective to their sector, if they engage in any regulated activity involving any of the regulated commodities.
JACRA’s Legal Counsel, Scheree Miller, said that unlicensed persons operating in these sectors should seek to obtain a licence from the Authority as soon as possible.
“If it is that you manufacture, distribute or process a regulated agricultural commodity, if you export or import, if you operate works related to it, if you establish or operate a nursery for any of those or if you operate as a dealer or special dealer for any of our regulated agricultural commodities or their substitutes, then you are engaged in regulated activities and you must be licensed by JACRA,” she emphasised.
Ms. Miller was speaking at a JIS Think Tank, today (April 10), at the agency’s Television Department at 5-9 South Odeon Avenue in Kingston.
She urged persons to get regularised as a key part of protecting the integrity and eliminating unfair competition within the industry.
“If you or someone you know may be engaged in any of the regulated activities, now is the time to act. We’re encouraging you to contact JACRA and we will assist you through the process. We will help you identify the appropriate licence for your activity. We can provide you with the information on the varying requirements and application fees which currently have been discounted by 50 per cent. Generally, we’ll walk you through the entire process, which shouldn’t take more than eight weeks,” Ms. Miller said.
Ensuring that operators are compliant promotes fairness, protection, and sustainability within the sector for farmers and by extension, brand Jamaica.
With JACRA’s push to streamline its licensing processes, applicants can expect a more efficient service.
Meanwhile, Ms. Miller said the Authority is also stepping up enforcement efforts for operators who are non-compliant.
“If you don’t come to us and we happen upon you operating without a licence or misusing our trademark, then of course, you would have exposed yourself to certain consequences. The goal of licensing really is not about punishment, it is about protecting our industry and ensuring that everyone benefits from a properly regulated system. Let’s work together to ensure that every farmer is registered, every processor exporter and dealer is licensed and compliant, to contribute to the success of our regulated industries,” she said.
Persons can face penalties in the form of fines ranging from $100,000 to $3 million as well as imprisonment.
JACRA is an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, responsible for promoting the growth and development of the industries under its purview.
Source: The Jamaica Information Service
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