Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 11/15/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** DO5001

DO5001

**Dominica**

**Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards**

**Country Report**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Omar Gonzalez, Agricultural Marketing Specialist

Caribbean Basin ATO

**Prepared by:**

Kay Logan, Agricultural Marketing Assistant

**Report Highlights:**

This report provides information on Dominica labeling requirements.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Miami \[C11\]

\[DO\]

# This report was prepared by the Caribbean Basin Agricultural Trade Office (CBATO) of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)/U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Miami, Florida for U.S. exporters of domestic food and agricultural products. While every possible care was taken in the preparation of this report, information provided may not be completely accurate either because policies have changed since its preparation, or because clear and consistent information about these policies was not available. It is highly recommended that U.S. exporters verify the full set of labeling requirements with the Dominica Bureau of Standards before any goods are shipped. FINAL IMPORT APPROVAL OF ANY PRODUCT IS SUBJECT TO THE IMPORTING COUNTRY'S RULES AND REGULATIONS AS INTERPRETED BY BORDER OFFICIALS AT THE TIME OF PRODUCT ENTRY. 

# DOMINICA LABELING REQUIREMENTS

The National Standards Council of Dominica adopted the following
labeling standards on November 1, 2005:

A.  Labeling of Commodities Part 1: General Principles for Labeling of
    Goods

> DNS 2: Part 1: 2002

B.  Labeling of Commodities Part 2: Specification for the Labeling of
    Prepackaged Goods DNS 2: Part 2: 2002

C.  Labeling of Commodities Part 3: Specification for the Labeling of
    Prepackaged Foods DNS 2: Part 3: 2002 ICS: 67.230

D.  Labeling of Commodities - Specification for the Labeling of Brewery
    Products (Beer, Stout, Brandy, Malt) DNS 10: 2002 ICS: 67.167.160

Following is a summary of the above standards:

## A. Labeling of Prepackaged Foods

All prepackaged food products must be labeled in English. Any
information that is presented on the label in another language must be
clearly separated from that in English.

Prepackaged foods should be labeled with the following information:

1.  **Name of the Food Product**

> The common name of the product and any accompanying trade name or
> brand name controlled by the manufacturer should appear in a prominent
> position on the label.

Note: Additional words or phrases describing the true nature and
physical condition of the food (i.e. dried, concentrated, reconstituted,
or smoked) should appear on the label, as necessary, within close
proximity to the name of the food.

2.  **List of Ingredients**

The ingredients of the product should be listed in descending order of
proportion by weight or percentage, and should be headed by a title that
consists of or includes the term "ingredient". All food additives
(together with their class titles and specific names), carry-over food
additives, and processing aids should be included in the list of
ingredients.

> *Please note that general class names are acceptable for ingredients
> falling within the following classes: Oil (Vegetable/Animal,
> Hydrogenated/Partially-Hydrogenated), Fats (Vegetable/Animal), Starch,
> Fish, Poultry Meat, Cheese, Spice/Spices, Herbs/ Mixed Herbs, Sugar,
> Dextrose/Glucose, Caseinates, Cocoa Butter, Crystallized Fruit.*
>
> *Please note that pork fat, lard, and beef fat should always be
> declared by their specific names.*

3.  **Net Contents and Drained Weight**

> The net contents of the product should appear in a prominent position
> on the label and in the same field of vision as the name of the
> product. The net contents should be declared in the metric system and
> immediately followed by Imperial Units in brackets. The net contents
> should be declared in the following manner:

i.  For liquids foods, by volume;

ii. For solid foods, by weight;

iii. For semi-solid or viscous foods, either by weight or volume.

Note: The label of a food packed in a liquid medium (i.e. water, aqueous
solutions of sugar and salt, fruit and vegetable juices, vinegar) should
also declare the drained weight of the food.

4.  **Name and Address of the manufacturer, packer, and distributor**

5.  **Country of origin**

6.  **Permanently marked batch/lot identification number(s)**

7.  **Date Mark of Minimum Durability**

> The "date of minimum durability" should be declared in the following
> manner:
>
> *"Best before (date in an numerical sequence)"*

i.  The day and the month for products with a minimum durability of not
    more than three months;

ii. The month and year for products with a minimum durability of more
    than three months.

*Note: A date of minimum durability is not required for the following
products: fresh fruits and vegetables that have not been peeled/cut or
similarly treated, wines, beverages containing 10% or more by volume of
alcohol, vinegar, food grade salt, solid sugars, confectionery products
consisting of flavored and/or colored sugars, chewing gum.*

8.  **Storage Instructions**

> Any specific conditions for the storage of the food product (i.e.
> "Refrigerate after opening," "Keep frozen") should be declared on the
> label.

9.  **Instructions for Use**

> Any specific instructions to ensure correct utilization of the food
> product, including reconstitution, should be provided on the label.

10. **Irradiated Food**

Irradiated foods should be declared in the following manner:

i.  A food product that has been treated with ionizing radiation/energy
    should specify on the label, in close proximity to the name of the
    food, the type of treatment;

ii. If an irradiated product is used as an ingredient in another food
    product, it should be declared on the label in the list of the
    ingredients;

iii. If a single ingredient is prepared from a raw material that has
     been irradiated, a statement indicating the treatment should be
     provided on the label.

# [B. Labeling of Brewery Products (Beer, Stout, Brandy, and Malt)]{.underline}

Retail containers of brewery products must be labeled in English. Any
information that is presented on the label in another language must be
clearly separated from that in English.

**Retail containers of all brewery products should be labeled with the
following information:**

1.  The common name of the brewery product

2.  Any brand name or trade name of the product

3.  The name and address of the manufacturer or brewer

4.  The name and address of the entity controlling the trade name or
    brand name, if different from the manufacturer

5.  The name of the country of origin

6.  The net contents of the retail container in terms of milliliters
    (mL)

7.  The name and address of the importers or distributors

8.  The alcoholic content of the bottled product as a percentage by
    volume

9.  An expiration date (e.g. "Best Before (date)")

10. Any batch number/lot number

**Labels on retail containers of shandy should also include the
following information:**

1.  A list of ingredients in descending order of proportion by weight

2.  A declaration of the fruit or vegetable flavor used in the product

3.  An declaration of the alcoholic strength of the product by volume

**Labels on retail containers of malta should also include the following
information:**

1.  A list of ingredients in descending order of proportion by weight

2.  The statement "non-alcoholic"

**Labels on retail containers of ale, beer, malta, malt liquor, porter,
shandy or stout may also include the following information:**

1.  Nutritional information in terms of the Recommended Daily Allowances
    (RDA) for vitamins and minerals set by the Caribbean Food and
    Nutrition Institute or U.S. authorities

2.  Any warning as to the effects of alcohol on health or safety

3.  If the product is in a glass container, a statement indicating
    whether the container may be returned to the dealer or manufacturer

4.  If the product is in a metal or plastic container, a statement
    indicating whether the container material may be recycled

5.  A statement indicating whether a refund or payment is made for a
    returnable glass container

**Bulk containers (i.e. barrels, casks, or pressurized containers)
should be labeled with the following information:**

1.  The common name of the brewery product

2.  The brand name or trade name of the product

3.  The name and address of the brewer, manufacturer, or person
    controlling the brand name

4.  The average net contents of the bulk containers

5.  The name of the country of origin

# 

# [DOMINICA GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCY CONTACT]{.underline}

Bureau of Standards

28 Kennedy Avenue, 1st Floor

P.O. Box 1015

Roseau

Commonwealth of Dominica, W.I.

Tel: 1 (767) 448-1685

Email: <standards@cwdom.dm>

# [U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTACT]{.underline}

Caribbean Basin Agricultural Trade Office

Foreign Agricultural Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

909 SE 1^st^ Ave. Suite 720

Miami, FL 33131

Tel: (305) 536-5300

Fax: (305) 536-7577

E-mail: <cbato@cbato.net>

Website: [http://www.cbato.fas.usda.gov](http://www.cbato.fas.usda.gov/)