National Chamber of Exports/USAID offer PCQI certification courses to access US food and beverage market

The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will offer online courses to become certified as a Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirement in order for firms to export to the U.S. food and beverage market.

The U.S. FDA's Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) law on “Preventative Controls for Human Food Regulation” aims to prevent foodborne illnesses through the safe preparation of food products for human consumption in the United States. This regulation requires food and beverage production facilities to have at least one Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) to lead the creation, application, and verification of risk-based preventive controls. A PCQI is critical for an FDA-compliant food safety programme, the NCE said in a media release.

The three-day, 20-hour course will be offered on April 5, 7, and 8, 2022 from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (IST) each day. On successful completion of this FDA-approved standardized curriculum, participants will receive a Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) PCQI certificate recognized by the FDA and issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) and the International Food Protection Training Institute. Fulfilling the requirements to be a PCQI is a critical step in exporting food and beverages to the US.

Up to 10 persons can participate in the course, which will be conducted by Kemasorooby Vasenth, certified instructor in Preventive Controls for Human Food. 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. Young women, applicants working in women-owned/led companies, and people outside of the Western Province are especially encouraged to apply. Additional 3-day courses will be offered on June 07-10 and August 03-05, 2022.

The deadline for the application is March 11, 2022. For more information on the course and its application, contact: Dilini Gamlathge, Senior Executive - Member Services, NCE, Tel: 011-4344662; Email: operations@nce.lk