Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
 1BELIZE: 
 
 
STATUTORY INSTRUMENT  
NO.    OF 2011 
 
BELIZE AGRICULTURAL HEALTH AUTHORITY (IMPORTATION AND 
EXPORTATION OF LIVE ANIMALS AND PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN 
FOR THE PREVENTION OF BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY 
(BSE)) REGULATIONS, 2011 
 
 
ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS 
 
 
1.    Citation. 
 
2.    Interpretation. 
 
3. Trade in SRM. 
 
4.    Importation of live bovine animals. 
 
5. Conditions for the importation of live bovine animals. 
 
6.    Products of bovine origin not subject to special conditions.  
 
7. Requirements for importation of animal products. 
 
8.    Restrictions on the importation of fresh meat and meat products. 
 
9.    Importation of meat, bone meal and greaves. 
 
10.    Gelatin and collagen produced from bovine bones. 
 
11.    Importation of tallow that does not comply with conditions. 
 
12.    Importation of dicalcium phosphate. 
 
13. Import register. 
 
14. Export. 
 
15. Offence and penalty. 
 
16.  Commencement. Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
 2BELIZE: 
 
STATUTORY INSTRUMENT  
 
NO.    OF 2011 
 
REGULATIONS made by the Minister, after consultation with the Belize 
Agricultural Health Authority, in exercise of the powers conferred 
upon him by sections 61 and 86 of the Belize Agricultural Health 
Authority Act, Chapter 211 of the Substantive Laws of Belize, 
Revised Edition 2000-2003; and all other powers thereunto it 
enabling. 
 
(Gazetted …………, 2011). 
 
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1. These Regulations may be cited as the 
 
BELIZE AGRICULTURAL HEALTH AUTHORITY (IMPORTATION AND 
EXPORTATION OF LIVE ANIMALS AND PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN 
FOR THE PREVENTION OF BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY 
(BSE)) REGULATIONS, 2011. 
 
2. In these Regulations  
 
“Act” means the Belize Agricultural Health Authority Act; 
 
“animal” means a bovine animal; 
 
“Authority” means the Belize Agricultural Health Authority established under section 3 
of the Act; 
 
“BSE” means bovine spongiform encephalopathy; 
 
“bovine” means cattle; 
 
“cattle” means bos indicus, bos taurus and water buffalo; 
 
“indigenous case” means every positive case of illness of cattle where it cannot be clearly 
demonstrated that the illness is the result of an infection prior to the importation of live 
animals, embryos or ova; 
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 3“international veterinary certificate” means the veterinary certificate established in the 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code published by the World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE) issued by the Authority; 
 
“OIE” means the World Organization for Animal Health; 
 
“OIE Terrestrial Code” means the most up-to-date version of the Terrestrial Animal 
Health Code as approved and published by the OIE from time to time; 
 
“slaughterhouse” means  premises, including facilities for moving or lairaging animals 
used for the slaughter of animals to produce animal products which premises or facilities 
are approved by veterinary service or the Authority; 
 
“Specified Risk Materials” or “SRM” means the animal parts identified in the Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code as specified risk materials. 
 
 
3. The international trade in SRM is prohibited. 
 
 
4. (1) Without prejudice to the requirements under Part X of the Act, where a person 
desires to import live animals, he shall present an international veterinary certificate on 
the importation of bovine animals which shall certify that the animals 
 
(a) are identified by means of a permanent identification system that ensures 
traceability; 
 
(b) come from a country that expressly prohibits the feeding of all ruminants 
with  meat and bone meal or greaves derived from ruminants, and which 
can demonstrate an active implementation of this ban for a minimum of 
five years prior to the birth of the imported bovine animals; 
 
(c) comply with the import requirements established by the Authority 
according to the risk categories for BSE relating to the country, or any part 
of the country. 
 
       (2) Every person who imports live bovine animals shall 
 
(a) maintain a register of  
 
(a) the farms and country of origin of the bovine animal; 
(b) a record of dispatch to slaughter, and the destination of parts of the 
bovine animal; 
(c) the movements within Belize, of the bovine animal; 
(d) any changes in ownership of the bovine animal; and  
(e) any other relevant information as requested,  
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(b) report all cases of death in imported bovine animals that were not caused 
by ordinary slaughter at a slaughterhouse. 
 
5. (1) Without prejudice to Part X of the Act and Regulations made under the Act and to 
any other laws regulating the importation of live animals, the importation of  live bovine 
animals is conditional upon the presentation of an international veterinary certificate that 
verifies compliance with the following  
 
(a) that the country of origin, zone or region has been declared an area of 
insignificant risk and is in compliance with the relevant prerequisites for 
that status; 
 
(b) that in respect of animals which originate in a country designated as 
being of insignificant risk in which an indigenous case has been recorded, 
the following have been observed 
 
(i) the country, zone or region shall have been declared as being of 
insignificant risk by the OIE; 
 
(ii) the animals are identified by means of a system of permanent 
identification which system demonstrates that the animals have 
not been exposed to BSE; 
 
(iii) the imported animals were born after the date on which the ban 
on the feeding of ruminants with meat and bone meal and 
greaves derived from ruminants has been effectively enforced, 
 
(c) that where the animals originate in countries with a risk under control, the 
following have been observed 
 
(i) the country shall have been recognized by the OIE as having a 
risk under control; 
 
(ii) the animals are identified by means of a system of permanent 
identification which system demonstrates that the animals have 
not been exposed to BSE; 
 
(iii) in instances where BSE cases have been present in the country, 
that the imported animals were born after the date on which the 
ban on the feeding of ruminants with meat and bone meal and 
greaves derived from ruminants has been effectively enforced, 
 
(d) that where the animals originate in countries were risk status is 
undetermined 
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 5(i) the the ban on the feeding of ruminants with meat and bone meal 
and greaves derived from ruminants has been established, and is 
being enforced; 
 
(ii) all cases of BSE and all animals that do not comply with the 
necessary prerequisites so as to be considered not exposed to 
BSE in the country, zone or region of origin have been identified 
and the movement of those animals has been rigorously 
monitored, and after slaughter the carcasses have been destroyed. 
 
     (2)  Notwithstanding any other requirement, where animals originate in countries 
where risk status is undetermined, the Authority may require a risk analysis and a site 
visit as a prerequisite to importation. 
 
 
6. The following products of bovine origin are not subject to special conditions of 
importation in relation to BSE, irrespective of the sanitary status of the country, zone or 
compartment of origin 
 
(a) milk and milk products; 
 
(b) bovine semen and embryos collected in vivo, the collection and treatment of 
which has been in line with the recommendations published by the 
International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS); 
 
(c) hides and skins; 
 
(d) gelatin and collagen prepared exclusively from hides and skins; 
 
(e) tallow (the insoluble impurities of which are not to exceed 0.15% of the total 
weight) and products derived from tallow; 
 
(f) dicalcium phosphate (without protein or fat residues); 
 
(g) de-boned skeletal muscle meat from cattle (except meat separated by 
mechanical processes) that, prior to slaughter, were not stunned by applying 
compressed air or gas into the cranium, nor by cutting out the spinal cord of 
the cattle, and which had been cleared for slaughter and during ante mortem 
and post mortem inspections, and which cattle have been processed using 
methods that prevent contamination by any tissue considered SRM, according 
to the standards in place; 
 
(h) blood and blood products produced from cattle that, prior to slaughter, were 
not stunned by applying compressed air or gas into the cranium, nor by cutting 
out the spinal cord of the cattle; 
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 6(i) other items on the list of products published in the OIE Terrestrial Code for 
which no special conditions of importation apply. 
 
7. (1) The Authority, subject to the provisions of Part X of the Act, shall approve the 
requirements for the importation and transport of products of animal origin made from 
ruminants, according to the following considerations 
 
(a) the recommendations for the importation of animals and products of 
animal origin approved in the OIE Terrestrial Code published by the 
OIE regarding the risk category for BSE; 
 
(b) the analysis of risk undertaken by the Authority. 
 
          (2) The requirements regarding imports referred to in sub-regulation (1) above 
shall include a list of products for which no demand for specific conditions of import 
relating to the prevention or control of BSE can be made, independent of the risk 
category for BSE established in the country of origin.  
 
        (3) The list of products under sub-regulation (3) shall be updated according to the 
list of products for which it is not possible to establish the requirements regarding BSE in 
the OIE Terrestrial Code. 
 
 
8. The importation of fresh meat and meat products of bovine origin are subject to the 
following restrictions and conditions of importation 
 
(a) where the meat or meat products come from countries, zones or 
compartments in which the risk of BSE is deemed insignificant based on a 
risk analysis, the veterinary authority shall demand the presentation of an 
international veterinary certificate that accredits the following 
 
(i) that the exporting country, zone or compartment has been classified 
as being insignificant risk; 
 
(ii) that the bovine animals from which the fresh meat or meat products 
have been produced are declared suitable for slaughter and that the 
meat has been declared suitable for processing during inspections 
ante mortem and post mortem; 
 
(iii) for those countries declared at insignificant risk of BSE, but where 
an indigenous case of disease has been registered, that the bovine 
animal whose fresh meat and meat products are being imported 
were born after the date on which the ban on the feeding of 
ruminants with meat and bone meal and greaves derived from 
ruminants was established and enforced, 
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 7(b) where the meat or meat products come from countries, zones or 
compartments with a controlled risk of BSE, the veterinary authority shall 
demand the presentation of an international veterinary certificate that 
accredits the following 
 
(i) that the exporting country, zone or compartment has been classified 
as an area of controlled risk; 
 
(ii) that the bovine animals from which the fresh meat or meat products 
have been produced are declared suitable for slaughter and for the 
transformation of its channels during inspections ante mortem and 
post mortem; 
 
(iii) that the bovine animals from which the fresh meat or meat products 
for export have been produced were not stunned prior to slaughter 
using compressed air or gas into the cranium, nor that the bovine 
animals had the spinal cord cut;  
 
(iv) that the fresh meat and meat products were prepared and processed 
by means that guarantee that the fresh meat and meat products do 
not contain or are not contaminated by 
 
(aa) SRM; 
(bb)  meat separated by mechanical means from the cranium or 
the spinal column of bovine animals older than thirty 
months, 
 
(c) where the meat or meat products come from countries, zones or 
compartments in which the BSE risk is undetermined, the veterinary 
authority shall conduct a risk analysis and based on the findings, if 
importation is approved, the Authority shall demand the presentation of an 
international veterinary certificate that accredits the following 
 
(i) that the animals from which the fresh meat and meat products 
derive 
 
(aa) were not fed with meat or bone meal or greaves derived 
from ruminants; 
 
(bb) were declared suitable for slaughter and that the meat was 
declared suitable for processing during inspections ante 
mortem and post mortem; 
 
(cc) were not stunned prior to slaughter using compressed air 
or gas into the cranium, nor had the spinal cord cut, 
 Belize Agricultural Health Authority 
 8(ii) that the fresh meat and meat products were prepared and processed 
by means that guarantee that the fresh meat and meat products do 
not contain or are not contaminated by 
 
(aa) SRM; 
 
(bb) nervous tissues or lymphatic tissue that was exposed to 
contamination risk during the de-boning process; 
 
(cc) mechanically separated meat from the cranium or the 
spinal cord of bovine animals more than twelve months 
old. 
 
9. No person shall trade in meat and bone meal and greaves produced from ruminants 
born prior to the date when the ban on feeding ruminants with meat and bone meal and 
greaves derived from ruminants was established and enforced, and in any other goods 
which might contain the products in instances where the products come from 
 
(a) a country, zone or compartment of insignificant risk, but where an 
indigenous case of disease has been registered; or 
 
(b) a country, zone or compartment of controlled risk; or 
 
(c) a country, zone or compartment of undetermined risk. 
 
 
 10. The trade in gelatin and collagen produced from bovine bones to be used for the 
production of food for human or animal consumption, or of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, 
or biological products, or of medical products, is subject to the following conditions of 
importation 
 
(a) the requirement on arrival, of an international veterinary certificate that 
accredits that the country, zone or compartment of origin has an insignificant 
risk of BSE; 
 
(b) that the products originate from a country, zone or compartment where the 
risk status for BSE is controlled or undetermined, and where the cattle were 
declared suitable for slaughter and for the transformation of its channels 
during inspections ante mortem and post mortem, and that 
 
(i) the cranium has been removed; 
 
(ii) the bones have been submitted to treatments that conform to the 
following steps 
 
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 9(bb) acid demineralization, 
(cc) alkaline or acid treatment, 
(dd) filtration, 
(ee) sterilization at 138°C or more, for a minimum period of four 
seconds, or 
 
that the bones have been treated by an equivalent or more effective 
treatment for the reduction of infectiousness such as thermal high 
pressure treatments. 
 
11. (1) An importer of tallow that does not comply with the conditions described in 
Regulation 4 (e) shall obtain an international veterinary certificate issued by the 
competent veterinary authority in the country of origin, which can certify that the tallow 
 
(a) comes from a country, zone or compartment with an insignificant BSE 
risk status; or 
 
(b) comes from a country, zone or compartment where the BSE risk is 
controlled and the bovine animals were declared suitable for slaughter 
and for the transformation of its channels during inspections ante 
mortem and post mortem; and  
 
(c) that its production did not include the use of any tissues considered 
SRM. 
 
     (2) The products derived from tallow that does not comply with the conditions 
described in Regulation 4 (e) which are to be used for the preparation of food for human 
or animal consumption, for fertilizer, cosmetic products, pharmaceutical and biological 
products, or for medical products, shall be accompanied by an international veterinary 
certificate which accredits that the products 
 
(a) come from a country with an insignificant BSE risk status, according to 
the OIE; 
 
(b) are derived from tallow that complies with the conditions described in 
the sub-regulation (a); or 
 
(c) were produced via hydrolysis, saponification or transesterification  at 
high temperature and high pressure. 
 
12. The importation of dicalcium phosphate destined for the preparation of food for the 
consumption of humans or animals, for fertilizer, cosmetic products, pharmaceutical or 
biological products or medical materials, shall be accompanied by an international 
veterinary certificate issued by the competent veterinary authority in the country of 
origin, which can accredit that the di-calcium phosphate 
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 10(a) comes from a country, zone or compartment with an insignificant BSE risk 
status, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE); 
 
(b) comes from a country, zone or compartment where the risk status for BSE 
is controlled or not determined, and where the dicalcium phospate is a by-
product of gelatin from bones which have been processed in accordance 
with Regulation 7. 
 
13. The Authority shall maintain a register of authorized imports of ruminant animals, 
ruminant-based products, and feeds for ruminant production, including 
 
(a) the origin and destination of all animals and animal products imported into 
Belize, identification of the importers or previous owners of the animals and 
animal products, and the destination of the animals and animal products, be 
it another buyer or a slaughterhouse; 
 
(b) the origin, destination, and sanitary registration number as applicable, the 
ingredients, commercial brands for animal feed for ruminants or for animal 
feed for animals that contain SRMs from ruminants imported into Belize; 
 
(c) other requirements established by the Authority in regulations or otherwise, 
for the purpose of ensuring the traceability and control of animals and 
animal products, animal feeds and medicinal products used by veterinarians. 
 
 
 14. (1) When issuing an international veterinary certificate for the export of live animals, 
the Authority shall take into account the following matters 
 
(a) animals selected for export are not animals considered a suspected 
case of BSE as defined by the Epidemiological Surveillance, 
Prevention and Control Program; 
 
(b) animals must be identified using a permanent system of identification 
established for these purposes. 
 
 
         (2) When issuing international veterinary certificates for the export of ruminant-
based meat and bone meal and animal products, the Authority should take into account 
the following matters 
 
(a) the ban on international trade in SRM in Regulation 3; 
 
(b) Belize’s responsibilities regarding the classification of risk publicized 
by the OIE. 
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 1115. Notwithstanding any other penalty imposed under the Act, a person who 
contravenes these Regulations commits an offence and is liable on summary 
conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a 
period not exceeding three years or to both fine and imprisonment. 
 
16. These Regulations shall come into force on the        day of                                
, 2011. 
 
 
MADE by the Minister responsible for Agriculture, after consultation with the Belize 
Agricultural Health Authority, this       day of                   , 2011. 
 
 
 
 
(RENE MONTERO) 
Minister responsible Agriculture 
 
 
 
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