CPJ Responds to Speculations Surrounding Breaches of Customs Acts

Statement issued on July 21^st, 2013 by Caribbean Producers.

It has come to our attention that recent newspaper articles and press reports refer to breaches of the Customs Act by a major importer operating out of Western Jamaica that is listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.

While these reports do not name our Company, CARIBBEAN PRODUCERS (JAMAICA) LIMITED as the entity in question, we wish to advise our shareholders and the wider public that we consider such reports to be erroneous. The Company is a leading food service company and hotel supplier in Jamaica. It sources its products from some 30 countries and imports thousands of unique items in up to 100 containers per month. The Company considers that it has worked closely with the Customs Department and the Ministry of Finance in establishing and growing its business during the course of the last 18 years. Contrary to the press reports, the Company continues to have the status of ‘AUTHORISED ECONOMIC OPERATOR’ (AEO), which is granted by the Jamaica Customs Department. Changes to the AEO program were introduced by the Customs Department and the Company, along with other AEOs, will need to comply with certain requirements leading to security certification by 31 October 2013. More recently, one of the suppliers of the Company mislabeled a relatively small number of cases of pork products that the Company inadvertently imported in a large container containing a total of approximately 500 cases of pork bellies. This matter is under discussion with the Customs Department and the relevant supplier has admitted its liability, which arose due to their error, and has offered to pay any fines on behalf of the Company, which the Company believes will not exceed J$1.1M. Any other information published by the press in relation to the Company’s position as regards the Customs Act, including references to potential fines in the region of J$3 billion, is not correct. The Company is committed to being a good corporate citizen and responsible publicly traded company, operating within the law and with regard to the principles of good governance.