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Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:   
 
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member :  JAMAICA   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Bureau of Standards Jamaica  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle 
comments regarding the notification  shall be indicated if different from 
above : 
Regional and International Trade Branch  
6 Winchester Road  
Kingston 10  
Jamaica W.I.  
Email: info @bsj.org.jm ; Website: http://www.bsj.org.jm  
Tel.: 1 (876) 926 -3140 -5/ (876) 618 -1534/ (876) 632 -4275 ; Fax: 1 (876) 929 -4736 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [], 2.10.1 [ X], 5.6.2 [    ], 5.7.1 [    ], OTHER:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):   
Fruits. Vegetables : ICS 67.080 
5. Title, number of pages  and language(s)  of the notified document:  Draft Jamaican  
Standard Specification for  Processed ackee ( Blighia sapida ) (20 pages), English   
6. Description of content:   
This standard specifies requirements for the processing of ackee, the fruit of the Blighia 
sapida  (ackee) plant.  
This standard does not include requirements for fermented ackee products  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  
Due to current practices  within the ackee industry , where pre -processors are now 
responsible for cleaning, de -seeding, and removing the raphe from ackee fruit  which  
necessitates  a review of the standard to ensure that these activities are carried out under 
suitable  conditions.  Previously, processors  (who manufacture canned ackee, cooked ackee 
or raw frozen ackee)  used to purchase ackee in the pod (opened), and if it was purchased 
unopened, they (the processor) allow  the ackees for a period of 3 -5 days  to mature  at their 
processing establishment, after which its seed and raphe are removed, which would then 
be processed for the desired product.  
Ackee is a highly sensiti ve commodity due to its Hypoglycin A content. This compound 
can be harmful to consumers if present in high concentrations. Therefore, it is imperative 
to establish strict guidelines to minimize the risk of health hazards.  The reputation and 
sustainability of the ackee industry are at stake.  PROVISIONAL60768  
 
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  If immature ackees with elevated Hypoglycin A levels enter the market, it could lead to 
public health concerns, potentially damaging the industry's reputation and economic 
viability.  
The invocation of Article 2.10 signi fies an urgent need for regulatory intervention due to 
the potential health risks associated with the current practices. This necessitates a shortened 
public enquiry period, accelerated publication  and enforcement date.  
8. Relevant documents:   
A notice of the Standard Specification for Processed ackee (Blighia sapida)  will appear 
in The Jamaica Gazette Supplement - Proclamations, Rules and Regulations. The 
document will appear as a Jamaican Standa rd Specification, with mandatory  status, and  
will b e available for sale.    
9. Proposed date of entry into force:    1 January  2024  
 
10. Final date for comments:                        15 November  2023 
11. Text available from :  National enquiry point  [ X], or address, telephone and fax 
number s, e-mail and web -site address es, if available of the other body:    
Regional & International Trade Branch  
Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ)  
6 Winchester Road  
Kingston 10  
+(876) -618-1534;  (876) -632-4275  
tbtenqu irypoint@bsj.org.jm ; http://www.bsj.org.jm