Quality: The aim is to reduce the number of chemicals in meat and meat products.
The General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products (DIGEMAPS), through its Meat Products and Derivatives Division, officially launched the National Programs for the Control of Pathogens and Chemical Residues, an initiative aimed at strengthening the protection of public health and ensuring the safety of meat intended for human consumption in the Dominican Republic.
The activity was carried out at the facilities of the Dominican Agribusiness Board (JAD), with technical support from the Dominican Agribusiness Laboratory (LAD), reaffirming inter-institutional collaboration between the public and private sectors to strengthen health surveillance and quality control systems in the national agri-food chain.
The meeting was attended by health authorities, representatives of the national meat sector, specialized technicians, official inspectors, and actors linked to the production, processing, and marketing of food.
These programs aim to ensure that meat products intended for human consumption are free of chemical residues, microorganisms, and prohibited substances by implementing sanitary controls, sampling methodologies, and microbiological surveillance aligned with international standards and guidelines.
During the day, the main technical and regulatory components of both programs were presented, including inspection protocols, microbiological analyses, surveillance of pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, STECs, and Listeria monocytogenes, as well as controls related to residues of veterinary medicines, pesticides, and chemical contaminants.
The event also included technical presentations on microbiological control, N60 sampling methodologies, operational integration of programs in processing plants, handling of positive results, and preventive measures to ensure food safety.
DIGEMAPS highlighted that this initiative represents a significant step forward in strengthening the national health inspection system for meat and meat products, contributing to increased consumer confidence, improved traceability, and enhanced competitiveness of the Dominican livestock sector in national and international markets.
Likewise, the JAD, through the Dominican Agribusiness Laboratory (LAD), reiterated its commitment to continue supporting initiatives aimed at food safety, the quality of agricultural products, and the technical strengthening of the Dominican agribusiness sector.
The mission of DIGEMAPS, through its meat and meat product inspection system, is to contribute to national agricultural development through health surveillance and compliance with national and international regulations applicable to products of animal origin.
