Items of lower risk are inspected and released. Officers from both the Jamaica Ministry of Agriculture and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) perform inspections.

Produce is physically examined for pests, diseases and quality. Those pests that are actionable are those considered harmful to American Agriculture. Shipments of produce found with these pests are rejected. In some cases the yellow USDA plant quarantine tape is used to separate inspected lots. All commodities destined for the United States are inspected in this way before they are loaded, containerized and sealed by APHIS.
Inspections are mandatory for exports to be precleared for the U.S.

The preclearance certificate is issued after inspection and/or fumigation completed.
This allows immediate /expedient clearance upon entry of inspected produce into the U.S.

PACKING HOUSE REQUIREMENTS

For a packing house to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture, you must ensure that the following conditions are met:

1. Building must be separate from a dwelling house.
2. Building must be of sound construction.
3. Floor must be of concrete to facilitate washing after packing.
4. Floor space should be a minimum of 600 sq. ft. (550 sq. metres)
5. Suitable fixtures and equipment for grading and handling of the produce must be in place, such as:
   1. TABLES FOR SORTING AND GRADING
   2. TANKS FOR WASHING AND CHEMICAL TREATMENT
   3. DRYING RACKS OR PALLETS.
6. Building should have:
   1. ADEQUATE LIGHTING
   2. ADEQUATE DRAINAGE
   3. PROPER SANITARY FACILITIES
   4. ADEQUATE STORAGE SPACE (FOR BOXES AND CHEMICALS)
7. Packing house must be separate from any activity that could be considered incompatible with the handling of fresh produce.
Access to telephone recommended.
8. There must be adequate space for loading and unloading of produce.
9. Building must be protected against the entry of insects, birds, rodents and other vermin or anything likely to contaminate the produce.
10. There should be adequate provisions in the packing house to ensure proper inspection of produce by Plant

Quarantine/Produce Inspectors.
All operations must take place under cover of the approved packing house.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Ministry of Agriculture
Plant Quarantine/Produce Inspection Unit,
193 Old Hope Road,
Kingston 6.
Tel #: 876-924-8906 (KINGSTON)
876-924-8736
876-940-4146 (MONTEGO BAY)