CAHFSA paves the way for Regional Food Authenticity centre

CAHFSA Participates in IAEA Training in Vienna: Paves Way for Regional Centre on Food Authenticity Testing

Vienna, Austria – March 17–28, 2025
The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) participated in a high-level training programme on Food Authenticity Testing hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. The two-week training was held from March 17 to 28, 2025, at the Seibersdorf Laboratories, and was delivered in collaboration with the FAO/IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. The programme brought together food safety experts and regulatory officials from across the Caribbean, with participation from 15 CARICOM Member States, including Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Strengthening Regional Food Integrity through Science

“In a world where olive oil can be diluted and rice can be plastic, food fraud isn’t just deception — it’s a danger. The Caribbean must strengthen its shield through science.”

The training, facilitated by the IAEA in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), focused on the application of nuclear and isotopic techniques to detect food fraud and verify the origin, composition, and quality of food products. These technologies are increasingly vital in the face of rising global concerns about mislabeling, adulteration, and food fraud, which undermine food safety systems and consumer trust.

Participants received hands-on instruction in state-of-the-art methodologies such as:

• Stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA)
• Trace element profiling
• Molecular and DNA-based identification
• Spectroscopic fingerprinting

The program also included laboratory demonstrations at the world-renowned Seibersdorf analytical facilities, providing valuable exposure to the latest tools in authenticity verification.

CAHFSA’s Leadership Role

CAHFSA, in its capacity as the regional coordinating agency for food safety and plant and animal health, played a critical role throughout the training—both as a participant and as a strategic advocate for regional capacity building. The Agency emphasized the need for a harmonized approach to food authenticity testing in the Caribbean, underpinned by robust scientific frameworks and regional cooperation.

In side meetings with IAEA technical officers and regional delegates, CAHFSA tabled the proposal for establishing a Caribbean Regional Centre for Food Authenticity Testing, citing the following rationale:

• The region’s growing reliance on food imports and need for traceability
• The absence of dedicated regional infrastructure to detect food fraud
• The importance of supporting export competitiveness through verified quality assurance

Key Outcome: Recommendation for a Regional Centre

At the close of the training, participating CARICOM countries unanimously endorsed the recommendation to establish a Regional Centre for Food Authenticity Testing under CAHFSA’s guidance. The Centre would:

• Serve as a regional reference hub for authenticity testing
• Facilitate training and knowledge exchange
• Support national regulatory laboratories with confirmatory analysis
• Enable early detection of fraudulent products in trade

This recommendation aligns with CAHFSA’s broader mandate to protect consumer health and enhance regional trade through science-based risk management.

“From counterfeit honey in Europe to mislabeled seafood in North America, food fraud is a global threat, valued at US$40 to 50 billion per year— and the Caribbean must be ready to detect and defend.”

Next Steps

CAHFSA will lead the development of a concept note and feasibility study for the Centre, in consultation with Member States and international partners including the IAEA and FAO. This initiative is expected to be presented for consideration by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and integrated into upcoming regional food safety programs.

Commendation to IAEA

The IAEA training represents a landmark moment in the Caribbean’s food safety journey. With strong regional commitment and technical partnerships, CAHFSA is poised to transform food authenticity testing into a strategic pillar of food integrity, public health, and market access for CARICOM.