Describes the country's standards landscape, identifies the national standards and accreditation bodies, and lists the main national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies.
Last Published: 9/27/2016

Overview   

The Bahamas has a newly-formed Bureau of Standards and Quality.  This has not been a hindrance to trade with the United States and U.S. products are widely accepted.  The country has enacted basic laws governing standards.
 

Standards Organization

Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality
Ministry of Financial Services
P.O. Box N-4843
Source River Centre
1000 Bacardi Road,
Nassau, NP, The Bahamas
(242) 397-9930
 
Conformity Assessment:  There are limited labs in the country and no national testing organization
 

Product Certification

  • Meat products: The government conducts the only major certification program conducted in The Bahamas.  The meat certification program requires that all meat animals, i.e., cows, pigs, sheep and goats are to be slaughtered at the government abattoir and be subject to inspections to certify compliance and conformance to basic standards. 

  • Fisheries: Bahamian fisherman and fisheries exporters are increasingly becoming certified in Hazard analysis and critical control points or HACCP.  These programs have been supported by both the public and private sector and today all fisheries exports are processed using best international standards.   

  • Accreditation/ International standards: The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is the key agency but has limited capacity to test or accredit findings. Generally if a product satisfies U.S. accreditation it is accepted in The Bahamas.  The Government proposes that any future system to ensure competence of certification programs will be conducted in accordance with international standards

 

Publication of Technical Regulations

Official Gazette:  Government information, including laws and official announcements are published in the Official Gazette The Bahamas.
 

Contact Information

Ministry of Financial Services and Investments
3rd floor Manx Corporate Center
West Bay Street
P.O. Box N-4843
Nassau, The Bahamas
(242) 328-5071
Email: Financialservices@bahamas.gov.bs

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More Information

Bahamas Market Access Trade Development and Promotion