Required Report - public distribution

**Date:** 7/28/2008

**GAIN Report Number:** BF8001

BF8001

**Bahamas, The**

**FAIRS Country Report**

**Annual**

**2008**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Sarah Hanson, Director

Caribbean Basin ATO

**Prepared by:**

Jennifer Rousseau

**Report Highlights:**

\"Updated on 7/28/08\"

\"Section(s) Updated: Appendix I, Government Regulatory Agency Contacts,
Appendix II, Other Import Specialist Contacts\"

The Bahamas is very receptive to U.S. products. With the overwhelming
majority of food and agricultural products being sourced from the United
States, the Bahamas recognizes and accepts U.S. standards for food and
agricultural products. Import permits are required for many perishables,
but these permits are easily obtained from relevant authorities. Import
permits are required for many perishables, but these permits are easily
obtained from the relevant authorities.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Annual Report

Miami ATO \[C11\]

\[BF\]

####### SECTION I. FOOD LAWS..............................................................................3

####### SECTION II. LABELING REQUIREMENTS........................................................3

SECTION III. PACKAGING AND CONTAINER
REQUIREMENTS............................3

####### SECTION IV. FOOD ADDITIVE REGULATIONS..................................................3

####### SECTION V. PESTICIDE AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS....................................\...3

####### SECTION VI. OTHER REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.................................4

####### SECTION VII. OTHER SPECIFIC STANDARDS.....................................................4

####### 

####### SECTION VIII. COPYRIGHT AND/OR TRADEMARK LAWS....................................4

####### SECTION IX. IMPORT PROCEDURES..............................................................\...4

####### APPENDIX I. GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCY CONTACTS.........................5

####### APPENDIX II. OTHER IMPORT SPECIALIST CONTACTS........................\.............\....5

**This report was prepared by the Caribbean Basin Agricultural Trade
Office of the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service 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 import
requirements with their foreign customers, who are normally best
equipped to research such matters with local authorities, 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.**

# 

# SECTION I. FOOD LAWS

Approximately 77 percent of food and agricultural products imported into
the Bahamas come from the United States. Therefore, the Bahamas
recognizes and accepts the U.S. standards for food and agricultural
products. The Bahamas sometimes applies the Codex Alimentarius standards
for imports from other countries. The Bahamian Food Act of 1985 is not
very extensive, and only requires that imported food be free from
ingredients and processing that would render it "injurious to health".

All importers must possess a valid business licence issued by the
Ministry of Finance. Bahamian importers are very knowledgeable of the
import requirements and clearance procedures and are essential in
guiding U.S. exporters through the process. The Bahamian Department of
Agriculture (BDOA) regulates imports of certain products by requiring
importers to obtain an import permit for each shipment of the following
products: fresh produce and plants (fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers,
sod, propagative material), live animals, fresh milk, eggs and fresh,
frozen and unprocessed meat of poultry, pork and mutton. The Fisheries
Division issues the import permits for seafood products. Import permits
can usually be obtained within 48 hours.

Phytosanitary certificates from the country of origin must accompany
imported fresh produce and plants. Live animals including livestock,
cats, dogs, birds and ducks must be accompanied by health certificates.
Animals from the United States are only inspected by the Veterinary
Division if they arrive without a health certificate. The Bahamas has no
quarantine facilities. The Ministry of Environmental Health Services
(MEHS) is responsible for inspection of all imported meat and dairy
products. However, because of their confidence in the meat inspection
procedures in the United States, U.S. meat products are usually not
subject to inspection. When food-related health threats arise, the BDOA
and the MEHS will monitor imports and work with local distributors to
ensure that affected products are removed from the distribution system.
Occasionally, items may be banned or duties increased if the government
decides that imports are competing unfairly with local production or may
pose a phytosanitary threat. For example, in the past import licenses
for chicken leg quarters have been restricted in response to complaints
from local processors, and citrus fruit from Florida is prohibited due
to the citrus canker outbreak.

# 

# SECTION II. LABELING REQUIREMENTS

The Bahamas accepts all standard U.S. labeling including the standard
U.S. nutritional fact panel. Meat and poultry products from the United
States must have the USDA inspection seal.

**SECTION III. PACKAGING AND CONTAINER REQUIREMENTS**

No special packaging or container sizes are required or preferred.
Packaging materials which meet U.S. standards are accepted.

**SECTION IV. FOOD ADDITIVE REGULATIONS**

The Bahamas accepts the U.S. standards for food additives.

**SECTION V. PESTICIDE AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS**

The Bahamas accepts U.S. minimum residue limits and tolerance levels for
pesticides. Local authorities do not regulate pesticide residues in
foods.

# SECTION VI. OTHER REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Products are not required to be registered or laboratory tested. Retail
prices are monitored by the Prices Commission. Although no duties are
assessed on product samples, a value must be shown on the export
documentation. Import permits are required for samples of meat products.
Mail order shipments are examined by Customs and may be assessed duties.

**SECTION VII. OTHER SPECIFIC STANDARDS**

No other specific standards apply. The Bahamas follows U.S. standards
for organic foods, food and feed ingredients, dietetic and special use
foods, infant formula and baby foods.

**SECTION VIII. COPYRIGHT AND/OR TRADEMARK LAWS**

The Bahamas' Trade Marks Act, Copyright Act and Copyright Regulations
protects trademarks and brand names. Trademarks are registered on a
renewable basis by the office of the Registrar General for a period of
fourteen years.

**SECTION IX. IMPORT PROCEDURES**

The customs clearance procedure is efficient and is focused on customer
service. Bahamian law allows the importer to begin the import clearance
of goods before arrival in the Bahamas using shipping documents, such as
bills of lading, provided by the shipping company. The importer
completes the customs documents and pays the required duties. Depending
on the size of the shipment, the clearance process can take as little as
an hour and normally no longer than 24 hours. Importers of perishable
products can establish "security bonds" through their bank from which
Customs can automatically deduct duties, further expediting the
clearance process.

**APPENDIX I. GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCY CONTACTS**

FOR IMPORT REGULATIONS AND PERMITS, CONTACT:

Mr. Simeon Pinder

Director of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture

Levy Building

P.O. Box N 3028

Nassau, Bahamas

Tel: 1 (242) 325‑7502/9, (242) 325-7438

Fax: 1 (242) 325‑3960, (242) 356-3919

Email: <SIMEONPINDER@bahamas.gov.bs>

FOR INFORMATION ON INSPECTION OF MEAT AND POULTRY PRODUCTS, CONTACT:

Mr. Hepburn Liviningstone

Acting Director-Environmental Health

The Department of Environmental Health Services

Nassau Court

P. O. Box SS 19048

Nassau, The Bahamas

Tel: 1 (242) 322-4180

Fax: 1 (242) 322‑3607

FOR INFORMATION ON DUTIES, CONTACT:

The Bahamas Customs Department

Thompson Blvd., P.O. Box N-155

Nassau, The Bahamas

Tel: 1 (242) 325-6550 to 8, 326-4401, 326-4406

Fax: 1 (242) 322-6223, 302-3317

FOR INFORMATION ON TRADEMARK REGISTRATION, CONTACT:

The Registrar General Department

Rodney E. Bain Building

50 Shirley St., P.O. Box N-532

Nassau, The Bahamas

Tel: 1 (242) 322-3316 to18

Fax: 1 (242) 323-7908, 322-5553

**APPENDIX II. OTHER IMPORT SPECIALIST CONTACTS**

Caribbean Basin Agricultural Trade Office Sarah Hanson, Director

Foreign Agricultural Service E-mail: <sarah.hanson@fas.usda.gov>

U.S. Department of Agriculture

909 SE 1^st^. Ave Suite 720 Omar González, Ag. Marketing Specialist

Miami, FL 33131 E-mail: <omar.gonzalez@fas.usda.gov>

Tel: (305) 536-5300

######## Fax: (305) 536-7577 Graciela Juelle, Ag. Marketing. Assistant

E-mail: <atocaribbeanbasin@fas.usda.gov> E-mail:
<grace.juelle@fas.usd.gov>

Website: [www.cbato.fas.usda.gov]{.underline}