Administration Department
Overview
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Enquiry Point
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) was designated as Belize’s SPS Enquiry Point in October 2004. Prior to that date, the Ministry of Agriculture was the National SPS Enquiry Point for Belize. It was headed by a Coordinator from October 2004 to March 2020 when the post of Coordinator was changed to that of Technical Director. On 20 July 2023, the Unit was strengthened with the addition of a deputy technical director. Belize notified its National SPS Enquiry Point contact information and that of the National Notification Authority, to the World Trade Organisation, in accordance with its transparency obligations under the Application of the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
The main objectives of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Enquiry Point are to facilitate Belize’s compliance with the transparency provision of the Application of the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures; offer support to the technical departments in the BAHA, and function as the Authority’s liaison on SPS matters with other agencies, ministries and entities.
The Unit responds to all reasonable queries. Additionally, the SPS Enquiry Point also processes clients’ requests for import risk analyses. The work of the SPS Enquiry Point is strongly supported by the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) in the BAHA. The Technical Director of the Enquiry Point functions as secretary of the SSC.
The Enquiry Point, along with the Belize Bureau of Standards, functions as Co-Secretariat of the National Committee for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). This Committee, also known as the SPS/TBT Committee, is a subset of the Trade Technical Team (TTT). The TTT is an inter-ministerial committee which has the responsibility for all trade and trade-related matters.
The Unit is headed by a Technical Director and supported by a deputy Technical Director.
Application Form
Relevant National And Regional Policy
Trade Agreements
WTO Agreement
World Organization For Animal Health Agreement
Partial Scope Agreement With Belize And Guatemala
Application Of The Agreement On Sanitary And Phytosanitary Measures
Economic Co-operation Agreement Between Belize And The Republic Of China (Taiwan)
Revised Treaty Of Chaguaramas Establishing The Caribbean Community And Single Market And Economy
Manuals And Procedures
BELAPS Portal User Manual
National SPS/TBT Rules of Procedure
Revised Manual For CARICOM Projects
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Text
CODEX Alimentarius Commission Statutes And Procedural Manual
Handbook Of Good Practices – Participating In The SPS Committee Meeting
Practical Manual For SPS National Enquiry Points And National Notification Authorities
Projects
GA74/BZE Development Of A Risk-Based Import And Export Control System
STDF/PG/733 Piloting The Use Of P-IMA In The CARICOM Region
STDF/PG/682 Piloting The Use Of Third-Party Assurance (TPA) Programme In Central America (Belize And Honduras) To Improve Food Safety Outcomes For Public Health And Trade
Contact Us
How can the SPS EP Unit help you?
Use the contact form below to contact us or check our FAQ to help assist you in your queries.
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority conducts a risk assessment to determine the conditions that would apply for the importation of products. If the assessment determines that the risk is too high, then on that basis products are prohibited. Until the process is applied, the Authority is unable to indicate whether a product is prohibited or not.
However, this does not apply to veterinary drugs and biologics. If the query is on veterinary drugs, veterinary pesticides or biologics, the Veterinary Drugs and Control Unit would need to be consulted. The Registrar may be conducted at animalhealth@baha.org.bz.
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority does not regulate vitamins and supplements for human use. You would need to check with the Ministry of Health and Wellness at www.health.gov.bz.
Complete the respective application form and submit it via electronic correspondence to the SPS Enquiry Point and upon review if the product has already been imported from the source listed on your application, the requirements will be shared with you.
However, if upon the review of your application, it is noted that it would be a first-time importation, then you will be advised to pay for a risk analysis. The import risk analysis process results in a report which will indicate whether or not the product can be imported and if so, the conditions that would need to be met to allow such importation.
The Belize Agricultural Health Authority has the mandate to apply measures to prevent the introduction, establishment and spread of pest and diseases. As a result, to ensure that imported products do not endanger animal, plant, and human health and life, the respective departments conduct import risk analyses. This process informs whether the produce may be imported and the requirements that would need to be met if that is to happen.
The time frame for the completion of a risk analysis may vary from several weeks to months, depending on the availability and accessibility of relevant information.
Who We Are
Our Structure
Animal Health At A Glance
Food Safety At A Glance
Plant Health At A Glance
Quarantine At A Glance
Sanitary And Phytosanitary Enquiry Point (SPS EQ)
Contact Us
How can the Administration Department help you?
Use the contact form below to contact us or check our FAQ to help assist you in your queries.
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