Quarantine Activities
Inspection, Verification and Certification Activities
The Quarantine Department conducts inspection and verification of imported commodities at points of entry in an effort to minimise the risk of regulated pests and diseases from entering the country and to maintain the favourable health status of our local produce to enable access to export markets. All activities performed contribute towards fulfilling BAHA’s mandate.
Imports:
The inspection process ensures that regulated consignments comply with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary requirements of Belize. The globalization of trade has greatly increased the commercialization of commodities among countries; as a consequence an elevated risk exists for the introduction and dissemination of pests and diseases within Belize with devastating outcomes. The Inspection and certification of consignments is therefore an important duty performed by Quarantine Inspectors in safeguarding human health and preventing or delaying the entry and establishment of pests and diseases of quarantine importance.
- Cargo – Land, Sea, Air
Importations of cargo are allowed through the authorized points of entry and as stipulated in the import permit requirements, which are issued after a risk assessment has been completed. Areas for cargo inspection are:
- Terrestrial points of entry (Belize Northern Border and The Benque Viejo Western Border Stations – at the inspection yard designated for that purpose by the Border Management Agency.
- Phillip Goldson International Airport (PGIA) – the Amerijet warehouse or at any other authorized warehouse.
- Maritime Ports – at official sea ports or designated/approved warehouses in these areas.
- Inspection of Mail
Quarantine Inspectors are authorized to inspect postal packages which the Customs Department and/or the Belize Postal Service has verified as containing a commodity regulated by BAHA.
Transit cargo
Quarantine Inspectors verify that cargo (plants, animals, their products and by-products) originating from other countries transiting to a third country through Belize abide by BAHA’s regulations.
It is the exclusive responsibility of the owner of the cargo to comply with Belize SPS requirements for consignments transiting Belize. A copy of the import requirements for the destination country authorizing landing at their point of entry shall be presented to Quarantine upon declaration for transit.
Inspection of Exports
The inspection of commodities being exported that the Quarantine and inspection Service certifies that are in compliance with the import conditions of our trading partners; including the certification of commercial commodities that the Plant Health Department has authorized the Quarantine Department to inspect. Examples are: dried herbs being exported through the postal service or the PGIA as amounts for personal use, banana meristems, lumber and cacao beans.
Quarantine verifies as well that certified consignments by BAHA comply with the internal SPS controls of the export procedure to ensure that the security of the consignment is maintained up to its departure from Belize.
Inspection of Aircrafts
All Airline representatives, owners of aircrafts and private dispatching agents are to contact the quarantine office, and inform inspectors twenty-four (24) hours in advance of scheduled arrival of aircrafts to any authorized airports or airstrips.
BAHA inspects all class of aircrafts, such as passenger, cargo and special designated flights (air force, air ambulance etc.). It consists of a detailed examination directed at the galley, cabins, garbage bins, compartments, containers, and aisles including other areas of the aircraft.
Inspection of Sea Vessels
All sea vessels arriving from foreign ports, as well as from designated areas under official internal quarantine within Belize (pests or disease under official mandatory control); need to be boarded by officers of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority assigned for this activity.
These carriers include: passengers, general cargo, and fishing, Maritime Wing of the Belize Defense Force and other foreign naval fleet, as well as other small private vessels that arrive from foreign ports. Areas for inspection entails holds, stores, main and after desks and garbage storage rooms and bins.
Every shipping agent, owner of a vessel, and any owner of a private marina or his authorized agent shall inform the Quarantine Department of the arrivals of vessels within twenty-four hours prior to arrival of such vessels.
Inspection of Vehicles
All automobiles, trailers, trucks, buses, horses, pedestrians or any other type of carriers arriving into Belize need to be inspected by Quarantine officers to detect possible presence of quarantine pests.
Inspection of conveyances may also be conducted to verify presence of undeclared commodities.
Passenger Baggage – Land, Sea, Air
The inspection of a person’s baggage arriving in Belize by any means of transportation at a point of entry (Sea, Air, and Land) is of great importance. Records show that a large percentage of interceptions of plant and animal products prohibited or restricted entry into Belize are transported in baggage. These products can pose a serious threat to our agricultural health and food safety. The quantities intercepted may be small but can pose a high risk.
Quarantine Inspectors maintain adequate coordination with Customs, Immigration, Police and other related authorities to foster support in the execution of the inspection of baggage.
Passengers and crew baggage primarily is searched by Customs clerks and will be directed to Quarantine Inspectors when products regulated by BAHA are encountered. The Customs’ declaration form is a written declaration of the contents of a person’s baggage and includes a section for plant and animal products. All persons are required to fill out this form and sign under oath. Quarantine Inspectors have the authority to recall and search any passenger or baggage that is suspect of containing products of quarantine importance which has escaped the search or was overlooked by Customs.
