Quality Control

The GRDB is the institution responsible for the Grading and Certification of paddy, rice and rice by-products intended for trade in and out of Guyana. The Quality Control Department carries out the statutory functions of the Board that relate to grading. These functions are as follows:

1. Grade and certify the grades of all paddy received into or proposed to be delivered to a rice factory for milling.
2. Grade and certify the grades of all rice intended for sale in Guyana.
3. Grade and certify the grades of all paddy and rice intended for export.
4. To collect and make available to the rice industry relevant data relating to grading of paddy and rice.
5. To train persons to grade paddy or rice or both and to certify and licence persons, who are in the opinion of the Board qualified to grade paddy or rice or both.
6. Exercise and perform in relation to rice factories the functions, under the Factories Act, as defined in that Act.
7. To determine suitable types of packaging for sale in Guyana and for exportation of paddy and rice.
8. Lay down and maintain technical standards consistent with international classifications for grading paddy and rice.

JANAAC Accreditation

On World Accreditation Day, June 9, 2015, the Guyana Rice Development Board’s Central Laboratory was among the newest recipients of an Accreditation Certificate from the internationally-recognized Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation, at a special function in Jamaica.

On June 26, the official celebration was held in Guyana, marking the occasion.

It was the first time such an accreditation had been awarded by Jamaica to an organisation outside of the country, and was also the first international and regional accreditation in Guyana in the area of Food Testing. The achievement was made possible under the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund (CARTFund) Project. The Trust Fund is financed by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and administered by the Caribbean Development Bank, with CDB and CROSQ serving as the implementation partners.

Facilities

Five Regional Quality Control Laboratories are operational at the regional offices of GRDB. The Regional laboratories are located as follows:

• Anna Regina -Essequibo Coast, Region 2
• Crane-West Coast Demerara, Region 3
• Cowan Street-Georgetown, Region 4
• Burma-East Coast Demerara, Region 5
• #56 Village-East Berbice, Region 6