caribbean agricultural health and food safety agency

What caribbean agricultural health and food safety agency does

The Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) is a regional intergovernmental institution of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), established under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and operational since the Revised Agreement was signed on February 25, 2011. Headquartered at Letitia Vriesdelaan #10 in Paramaribo, Suriname, CAHFSA is mandated to coordinate an effective and efficient regional sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regime and to execute SPS actions on behalf of Member States across 15 CARICOM Member States and 5 Associate Members.

CAHFSA's core offerings are organized around three pillars: plant health, animal health, and food safety. Its technology platform comprises a secure Member State Database Portal (database.cahfsa.org), online tools for Pest Risk Analysis, SPS Measures management, Diagnostic Protocols, Surveillance Resources, Animal Health, and Food Safety, plus a WTO SPS Notifications tracking system and online SPS training courses. The agency delivers capacity building through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), HACCP, and risk analysis programmes; free webinars on allergen management and food safety culture; and academic pathways delivered in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), including a Diploma and M.Sc. in Agri-Food Safety and Quality Assurance and continuing professional education short courses.

The agency's revenue model is non-commercial, funded by CARICOM Member State contributions supplemented by donor financing, notably the European Union's 10th European Development Fund (EU/CARIFORUM SPS Project) and Caribbean Development Bank funding for the Strengthening Framework for Intra-regional Trade in Agricultural Products Project. Services to member states and stakeholders are provided free of charge. Distribution runs through direct engagement with national competent authorities, the self-serve database portal, trade mission Help Desks, webinar-based training, and academic channels via UWI. Governance is exercised through a Board representing Member States, with the CARICOM Secretariat providing coordination.

Name

caribbean agricultural health and food safety agency

Legal name

Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency

Website

https://cahfsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA) is a CARICOM intergovernmental institution headquartered in Suriname that coordinates regional sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, digital surveillance tools, and capacity-building programmes across 15 Member States and 5 Associate Members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Health and Food Safety Coordination

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614), Public Administration (92), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADANAF

Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) & Food Safety Regulatory Cooperation

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Standards, Policy & Regulatory Cooperation

SECONDARYAFALADAH

Supplier Approval, Verification & Food Safety Risk Management (GFSI-aligned)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Regulatory Compliance Testing & Consulting (FDA/USDA/EFSA, HACCP)

SECONDARYAFALADAJ

Sanitation & Hygienic Design Compliance (SSOPs, GMPs)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Regulatory Compliance Testing & Consulting (FDA/USDA/EFSA, HACCP)

SECONDARYAFALALAD

Quality Documentation & Digital QMS (SOPs, CAPA, Change Control, Recordkeeping)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Food Quality Assurance Systems

SECONDARYAFAAAHAK

Biosecurity, Pest & Disease Control for CEA (IPM, Screening, Sanitation)

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Equipment & Technology/Controlled Environment Agriculture (Greenhouses, Hydroponics/Aeroponics Systems)

Keywords

• Sanitary phytosanitary measures
• Agricultural health coordination
• Food safety standards
• Regional SPS regime
• Caribbean trade facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Paramaribo

HQ country

Suriname

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Member State Contributions: CAHFSA is funded through contributions from CARICOM member states as part of its establishment under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas
2. EU/CARIFORUM SPS Project Funding: European Union funding under the 10th European Development Fund for SPS capacity building and legislative harmonization across CARIFORUM states
3. Caribbean Development Bank Project Funding: CDB financing for auditing national SPS systems and capacity building under the Strengthening Framework for Intra-regional Trade in Agricultural Products Project

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CAHFSA coordinates the regional Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) regime on behalf of CARICOM Member States, providing digital tools (database portal, pest risk analysis, diagnostic protocols, surveillance systems), capacity building programs (GAP, GMP, HACCP, risk analysis training), academic qualifications via UWI partnership, publications and technical guidelines, and direct technical assistance to harmonize food safety, plant health, and animal health standards across the Caribbean.

Product overview

CAHFSA operates as a regional platform for agricultural health and food safety across CARICOM member states, offering an integrated ecosystem of digital tools and capacity-building services. The core offerings include the Member State Database Portal for inter-country coordination, specialized online tools for Pest Risk Analysis, SPS Measures management, Plant Health (including diagnostic protocols and surveillance), Animal Health, and Food Safety. These digital products are complemented by educational programs including UWI-accredited Diploma/M.Sc. programs and Short Courses, plus a comprehensive publications library of guidelines, manuals, fact sheets, and technical resources. The organization also delivers regular training webinars and workshops to strengthen regional capacity in SPS compliance, food safety culture, and agricultural health management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 39 participants trained on Codex Approach from 11 Caribbean countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• The University of the West Indies (UWI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026MOU signed June 26, 2026 at UWI St. Augustine Campus establishing framework for collaborative research, training programmes, academic events, and joint project development. Partnership supports development of Regional Food Authenticity Centre and regulatory veterinary courses.
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2025CFIA partnered with CAHFSA to deliver virtual training on Codex Approach to 39 participants from 11 Caribbean countries, sharing insights on Canada's Codex Food Safety Program and participation strategies.
• International Regional Organizations (FAO, WOAH, WTO, IPPC, Codex)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAHFSA maintains formal liaison relationships with key international organizations including FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health), WTO (World Trade Organization), IPPC (International Plant Protection Convention), and CAC (Codex Alimentarius Commission) to align regional SPS standards with international frameworks and participate in global food safety governance.
• IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIICA is a key implementation partner for EU/CARIFORUM SPS Project, collaborating with CAHFSA and CARDI on capacity building initiatives for public and private sector stakeholders in areas including GAP, GMP, HACCP, and risk analysis.
• CARDI (Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARDI collaborates with CAHFSA under the EU/CARIFORUM SPS Project for agricultural research and development support to member states.
• CARICOM SecretariatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAHFSA is an institution of CARICOM, operating under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas with coordination from the CARICOM Secretariat.
• STDF (Standards and Trade Development Facility)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTDF enables CAHFSA's participation in international forums such as the Vienna Food Safety Forum and supports capacity building initiatives across the region.
• CABI (Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCABI collaborates with CAHFSA on regional pest risk analysis training workshops to strengthen Caribbean capacity in phytosanitary measures and plant protection.
• CROSQ (CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCROSQ collaborates on standards and quality assurance initiatives relevant to regional trade and food safety compliance.
• Regional Partners (COLEAD, CPHD, CRFM, IICA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAHFSA maintains partnerships with various regional organizations including COLEAD, CPHD (Caribbean Public Health Agency), and CRFM (Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism) for coordinated approaches to food safety and SPS measures.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA): Hemispheric intergovernmental agency supporting agricultural development across the Americas. It is CAHFSA's named implementation partner under the EU/CARIFORUM SPS Project and operates overlapping mandates in agricultural health, food safety, and capacity building in the same member states.
• COLEAD (Committee Linking Entrepreneurship–Agriculture–Development): Network focused on agro-food sector development across ACP/Caribbean countries, providing training, capacity building, and SPS compliance support. CAHFSA lists COLEAD as a regional partner and both organisations deliver food safety and SPS guidance to overlapping Caribbean stakeholders.
• Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI): CARICOM institution delivering agricultural research and development across the Caribbean. CAHFSA explicitly identifies CARDI as a core implementation partner under the EU/CARIFORUM SPS Project, making it a directly comparable regional agricultural institution with overlapping geographic scope.
• Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA): CARICOM public health agency coordinating regional health responses, including foodborne disease and food safety. CAHFSA lists CARPHA's predecessor/related body (CPHD) as a regional partner, and both agencies share CARICOM-level governance and operate from the Caribbean on overlapping health/food safety mandates.
• CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ): Regional standards and quality body serving CARICOM member states. CAHFSA identifies CROSQ as a secondary regional partner on standards and quality assurance; both bodies coordinate cross-border standards harmonization for CARICOM and operate as peer intergovernmental institutions.
• Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM): CARICOM institution coordinating fisheries policy and management across member states. CAHFSA lists CRFM as a regional partner; both are CARICOM-level bodies with coordinating mandates over food-related sectors in the same member states.

Broad incumbents

• Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC): Global intergovernmental body setting international food safety standards under FAO/WHO. CAHFSA maintains a formal liaison with CAC and works to align regional SPS frameworks with Codex standards, making CAC the broader incumbent that anchors CAHFSA's food safety work.
• European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Regional food safety authority providing scientific advice and risk assessment for the EU. As a fully resourced regional food safety body, EFSA is the closest analogue to what a mature CAHFSA could evolve toward in terms of scientific and regulatory depth.
• World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH): Global intergovernmental organisation setting animal health standards. CAHFSA maintains formal liaison with WOAH to align regional animal health and veterinary measures, making WOAH the broader incumbent counterpart in CAHFSA's animal health mandate.
• International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC): Global multilateral treaty setting plant protection standards. CAHFSA maintains formal liaison with the IPPC to align Caribbean phytosanitary measures with international frameworks, making IPPC the global incumbent in CAHFSA's plant health focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=PtdvsWE3Sbs
• Facebookcahfsa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CAHFSA-400-x-400-px-Instagram-Story-576x1024.png

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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