Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Enquiry Point

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority 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.  The Unit is headed by a Coordinator and has as one of its responsibilities to respond to all reasonable queries.  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.

In addition to responding to reasonable queries, the SPS Enquiry Point also processes clients’ requests for import risk analysis.  The Unit may be contacted at the following electronic address: baha.sps@baha.org.bz or by calling the office at  (501) 824-4873 extension 326.   Queries to the Directorate General for Foreign Trade, Belize’s National Notification Authority may be directed to foreigntrade@btl.net.

The work of the SPS Enquiry Point is strongly supported by the Scientific Steering Committee in the Belize Agricultural Health Authority, in which the Coordinator of the Enquiry Point functions as Secretary.   Belize also has a funcational National Committee for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade.  This Committee also known as the SPS/TBT Committee is a subset of the Trade Technical Team, an inter-ministerial committee which has the responsibility for all trade and trade-related matters.