E-mail:
Country:
Antigua and Barbuda
Organization/agency name (Full name):
Plant Protection - Department of Agriculture
Contact person name:
Dr. Janil Gore-Francis
Website:
Physical full address:
Central Cotton Station, Friars Hill Road, St. John's, Antigua
Phone number:
+1 268 764-1255
Fax number:
+1 268 562-1923
Country introduction
Summary:
Antigua and Barbuda is a two-island nation which is located in the Eastern Caribbean. The population of under 100,000 - with approximately 1600 living in Barbuda just prior to the September 2017 devastation by Hurricane Irma - is largely of African descent. The economy is largely service oriented, with trade imports contributing approximately US$450 million, and exports amounting to about US$40 million.
The Convention on Biological Diversity and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety were ratified by Antigua and Barbuda on December 29, 1993 and December 9, 2003, respectively. The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing was ratified on March 12, 2017.
Antigua and Barbuda has, since 2002, been actively involved in assessing, developing and implementing a national biosafety framework for the country. Stakeholder consultations, training of regulators, development of national draft legislation, regulatory attachments and other capacity building activities constitute the main efforts in the process. In recent times, through a UNEP-GEF funded regional project, several activities were undertaken at the regional level with a view to harmonise the issue of biosafety across the Caribbean region.
Food and feed safety assessment capacity building stakeholder training activities were conducted in the first quarter of 2018 to assist te country in the process going forward.
Framework
Regulatory framework:
My country is in the process in developing a regulatory framework that requires the competent authority to conduct safety assessment of GM food.
Structure for GM food safety assessment:
My country is in the process in developing a structure for GM food safety assessment.
Supplemental information:
Contact details of the competent authority(s) responsible for the safety assessment and the product applicant:
In Antigua and Barbuda, food safety assessments is a shared activity amongst several competent authorities. The details are as follows:
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA BUREAU OF STANDARDS [CODEX Focal Point], Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Immigration; Old Parham Road; St. John's, Antigua; Email: [email protected]; website: www.abbs.gov.ag
Contact persons:
1.Mrs. Dianne Lalla-Rodrigues - Director
2. Mrs. Solange Baptiste - Manager of Information Services
DEPARTMENT OF ANALYTICAL SERVICES [Biosafety Testing Laboratory]; Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Barbuda Affairs, Dunbars, Friars Hill Road, St. John's, Antigua; Email - [email protected]; Tel. +1(268)462-6281, +1(268)764-8338
Contact person
Dr. Linroy Christian - Director of Analytical Services
DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT [Focal Point]; Ministry of Health, Wellness & the Environment; No. 1 Victoria Park, Botanical Gardens, Sir Sidney Walling Highway, St. John's, Antigua; Email - [email protected]; Tel. +1(268)462-4625; Website - www.environment.gov.ag
Contact person:
Ambassador Diann Black-Layne - Director
PLANT PROTECTION [Biosafety Clearing House]; Department of Agriculture; Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Barbuda Affairs; Central Cotton Station Building, Friars Hill Road, St. John's, Antigua; Tel. +1(268)562-2776, +1(268)764-1255, +1(268)764-7378; Fax. +1(268)562-1923; Email: [email protected]; Website - www.agriculture.gov.ag/index.php/plant-protection
Contact persons:
1. Dr. Janil Gore-Francis - Chief Plant Protection Officer
2. Mrs. Kishma Primus-Ormond - Senior Plant Protection Officer
VETERINARY & LIVESTOCK DIVISION [Animal Health]; Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Barbuda Affairs, P.O. Box 1282, St. John's, Antigua; Tel. +1(268)562-7592, +1(268)764-1263; Email - [email protected]
Contact person:
Dr. Tubal Edwards - Chief Veterinary Officer
Assessment
GM food safety assessment guidelines:
My country follows the relevant Codex Guidelines or national/regional guidelines that are in line with the Codex Guidelines in conducting safety assessment of GM food.
Conduct of GM food safety assessment:
My country does not regularly conduct food safety assessment of GM food, but has conducted at least once in the past.
Supplemental information on the implementation:
Two food and feed safety assessments have been completed to date for events MON801 (maize) and GTS40-3-2 (soybean). The respective documents can be found below under "Relevant Links - Other Relevant Documents".
Stacked events
Regulation of stacked events:
There is no regulations in my country on stacked events.
Supplemental information on the stacked events:
Production and trade
GM food/feed production:
My country does not produce any GM food or feed.
GM food/feed imports:
My country allows imports GM food or feed upon authorization.
Supplemental information on the production and trade:
LLP/AP incidents
LLP/AP incidents:
My country does not monitor LLP/AP situations.
Supplemental information on the LLP/AP incidents:
Labelling requirement
Labelling requirement:
My country is in the process of developing regulations/policies on GM food labeling.
Supplemental information on the Labelling requirement:
Relevant links to documents and information prepared by the competent authority responsible for the safety assessment
Other relevant documents:
Country information last modified:
06/09/2019
