WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/ATG/2 
23 August 2005 
 (05-3719) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Marine Resources and Agro 
Industries – Veterinary and Livestock Division  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  “Animal” includes bovine, canine, feline, equine, goat, monkey, rabbit, sheep, 
swine, birds, poultry, fish, reptiles, insects, amphibians, eggs of any kind and all other animals of whatever kind, domestic or wild, terrestrial or aquatic, be they genetically 
engineered or altered or otherwise, wh ether similar to the foregoing or not.  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  
Antigua and Barbuda and its trading partners 
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  (Draft) Animals 
(National and International Movement and Disease Prevention) Act, 2004 (English, 52 
pages).  
6. Description of content: This Bill proposes to regulate the movement of animals into and 
out of Antigua and Barbuda with the aim of pr eventing and controlling the spread of certain 
prescribed animal diseases.  The Bill also seeks to ensure that animals are imported into, or 
exported from Antigua and Barbuda in a safe and humane manner. 
 The Bill is divided into eight (8) Pa rts and fifty-seven Clauses, namely: 
 
PART I    Preliminary PART II  AdministrationPART III   Importation and Exportation of  Animals and Animal-Related Items 
PART IV Animal Quarantine 
PART V Control and destruction of Diseased Animals 
PART VI Powers of Inspectors PART VII Enforcement PART VIII Legal and General  
Clauses 11 to 13 of the Bill deal with import permits, the inspection of animal and animal 
products at ports of entry and the times for su ch inspection.  The Bill makes provision under 
Clause 13 for emergency inspection of goods in transit through Antigua and Barbuda or for 
perishable goods to be inspected on an application by the importer.  
Clause 14 gives wide powers to Inspectors at ports  of entry to deal with animal and animal 
related goods, which arrive wit hout the relevant documentation,  or where such goods pose a G/SPS/N/ATG/2 
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 threat to the spread of disease.  Inspectors ’ powers include: treatment or disinfection, re-
exportation, confiscation or destruction after the importer is duly notified.  Where the animal or goods remain unclaimed for two or more weeks, the costs associated 
with the destruction of the animal or animal -related items shall be borne by the importer, 
except in special circumstances where the G overnment assumes responsibility for the costs 
incurred.  Clause 15 is a penalty Clause and any person who imports an animal or animal related item into Antigua and Barbuda without the neces sary permit, or who contravenes terms or 
conditions contained in an import permit, commits an offence punishable on summary 
conviction to a fine of $5000.00 or imprisonment for 2 years. The Authority is also empowered to forfeit the goods to the State, to re tain or destroy, or to otherwise dispose of 
as the Minister may direct.  
Clause 16 spells out the procedure to be fo llowed where any person seeks to export animal 
or animal related items from Antigua and Barbuda. The exporter must ensure that 
documentation, fees and certificates for export are in order.  Under Clause 17, the Bill 
imposes a duty on the Minister to ensure the safe and humane treatment of animals to be 
moved from Antigua and Barbuda.  Further, th e Minister may delay the departure of an 
animal pending an investigation and, in extr eme cases, may order the destruction of the 
animal to prevent the sp read of a prescribed disease.  
7. Objective and rationale: [    ] food safety,  [  X ] animal health,  [    ] plant protection, 
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [    ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests   
8. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [ X ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [   ] None If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:   
For the purposes of the Act, references are made to:  
1. the International Animal Health Code (OIE);  
2. the List of Prescribed Diseases and Pests.  
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  (Draft) Animals 
(National and International Movement and Disease Prevention) Act, 2004 (English, 52 
pages).  
10. Proposed date of adoption:  January 2006  
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  January 2006   G/SPS/N/ATG/2 
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12. Final date for comments:  25 November 2005 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [  X ] National notification 
authority, [    ] National enquiry point, or add ress, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
Ministry of Agriculture 
Lands, Marine Resources and Agro Industries (Veterinary and Livestock Division) Chief Veterinary Officer E-mail: antiguavet@yahoo.com
   
Fax/phone:  + 268 460-1759  
13. Texts available from:  [  X ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry 
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:   
Chief Veterinary Officer 
E-mail: antiguavet@yahoo.com  ,   Fax/phone:  + 268 460-1759 
sps.enquiries@antigua.gov.ag