NCE-USAID roll out second PCQI certification programme for exporters

The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) has joined hands with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to offer Preventive Controls Qualified Individual 
(PCQI) certification.

The course is rolled out for the second time under the NCE-USAID partnership.
The PCQI is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirement for food and beverage exports to the United States and is critical for an FDA-compliant food safety programme.

The FDA’s Food Safety Modernisation Act (FSMA) law on Preventive Controls for Human Food Regulation aims to prevent foodborne illnesses through the safe preparation of food products for human consumption in the United States.

The regulation requires food and beverage production facilities to have at least one PCQI to lead the creation, application and verification of risk-based preventive controls.  The second edition of the three-day, 20-hour PCQI programme will kick off on June 7 and will reach completion on June 10. Up to 10 persons can participate in the course, which will be conducted by Kemasorooby Vasenth, a certified instructor in preventive controls for human food.

On successful completion of this FDA-approved standardised curriculum, participants will receive a Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) PCQI certificate recognised by the FDA and issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) and International Food Protection Training Institute, the NCE said in a statement yesterday.

It added that fulfilling the requirements to be a PCQI is a critical step in exporting food and beverages to the United States.

“This course is aimed at exporters seeking to meet the training requirements for the PCQI. In order to attend the course, participants must have prior knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) or experience with food safety systems,” the NCE said.  Those interested are requested to send in the application to the chamber on or before May 20, 2022. The NCE is the only private sector chamber that exclusively serves Sri Lankan exporters. The main aim of the chamber is to provide support services required by Sri Lankan exporters to enhance exports.

The USAID’s Partnership for Accelerating Results in Trade, National Expenditure and Revenue (PARTNER) project is a US $ 19 million, five-year initiative to minimise bottlenecks to trade, bolster foreign direct investment and strengthen the capacity of small and medium enterprises, private sector associations and chambers of commerce to promote a vibrant private sector in Sri Lanka.

The PARTNER project is one component of the long-standing partnership between the Americans and Sri Lankans to support self-reliance and promote a healthy, educated and employed population.