ABOUT BARBADOS
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Official name: BARBADOS
Capital: Bridegtown
Official language: English
Gentilic: Barbadian
Government: Prime Minister
Total area: 431 km2
Population: 277,821
GDP (Total 2013 est.): US$4.4 billion
GDP per capita 2012: US$16,151
Currency: Barbadian Dollars
Exchange rate: 1US$ = 2 Barbadian $
Time zone: CST (UTC-4)
Geographic division: 11 Parish Christ Church, Saint
Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John,
Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint
Peter,Saint Philip and Saint Thomas
Map of Barbados
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR IMPORTS
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Airway bills or Bill of laden, depending on the method of import.
The CARICOM document invoice (the Commercial Invoice is acceptable if all of
the required information is present).
The supplier's invoice documenting all items in the shipment.
The C-60 form (a declaration of particulars relating to Customs value).
The C-63 form (indicating the items being shipped, the weight, the shipper, the
tariff code, etc.)
CARICOM Certificate of Origin
Certification Required
Phytosanitary
Certificate
Drug License
Product Category
Unprocessed and minimal process
plant products
Chemicals Products and
Pharmaceuticals
Health Certificates
Meat based products
STANDARDS
The Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) oversees product standards, labeling,
and certification in Barbados. A nongovernmental organization, it was established in
1973 under the Companies Act as a joint venture between the Government of
Barbados and the private sector. As a member of CROSQ the BNSI allows products into
the market if the product has been certified by another member agency.
LABELING AND PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS
A label affixed to, or marked on, or accompanying a commodity or its packing shall
conform to the following requirements:
1. Shall give a description of the commodity and shall provide adequate factual
information to the potential purchaser.
2. Shall include either the weight or volume or measurement or size as applicable.
3. Shall, if necessary, provide a purchaser with appropriate safety instructions.
4. Shall, if necessary, provide a purchaser with operating instructions and
information on care and maintenance.
5. Shall provide adequate information to enable both manufacturer and supplier
to be easily traced.
6. Shall provide adequate information relating to the country of manufacture.
7. Shall be legible and durable up to the point of sale, and, where appropriate,
during the normal working life and use of the commodity.
8. Shall not contain information that is false, misleading or deceptive, or is likely to
create an erroneous impression regarding its character in any respect.
9. Shall not contain information by words, pictorial or other devices which refer to or
are suggestive, either directly or indirectly, of another commodity with which
such a commodity might be confused, or in such a manner as to lead the
purchaser or consumer to suppose that the commodity is connected with such
other product.
10. The information specified in 2 and 8 above, shall be in the national language of
the country where the commodity will be marketed.
MANDATORY STANDARDS:
Barbados National Standard Specification for Labeling of Commodities (BNS 5: Part
1:1974)
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Barbados National Standard Specification for Labeling of Prepackaged Food
(BNS 5:Part 2:1994);
Barbados National Standard Specification for Labeling of All Products
Manufactured from Textiles (BNS 5:Part 3:1974);
Barbados National Standard Specification for Labeling of Prepackaged Goods
(BNS 5: Part 6:1979);
Barbados National Standard Specification for Labeling of Prepackaged Meat
and Poultry Parts/Cuts and Fish and Fishery Products (BNS 5:Part 7:2002);
Barbados National Standard Specification for Labeling of Toys and Playthings
(BNS 23:1976);
Barbados National Standard Code of Practice for Care Labeling of Textiles (BNS
CP 3:1980).
VOLUNTARY STANDARDS:
 Barbados National Standard Specification for Labeling Brewery Products (BNS
186:2000 – ICS 67.160.10);
 Barbados National Standard Specification for Labeling of Footwear (BNS 5: Part
4: 1980).
For further details on standards contact the BNSI at Tel: 246-426-3878 or email,
commerce.ps@barbados.gov.bb
CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION
Barbados is currently subscribed to the ASYCUDA system; this streamlines the process
and makes clearing goods much easier and faster. Barbados uses a tariff based on the
Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) for commodity classification. Goods from outside of
CARICOM are covered by a common external tariff (certain exceptions apply).
Barbados also accords tariff preferences to certain products imported from Colombia,
and the Dominican Republic, countries with which CARICOM has entered into freetrade agreements.
It takes an estimated day to clear goods at the ports. Goods may be held as
Demurrage by the Veconinter until all duties are paid. A broker is not needed to clear
goods.
TAXES/TARIFFS
 Import Duty (0 to 20%) of CIF
 Excise tax (charged on liquor, motor vehicle and petrol)
 Value Added Tax (VAT) (17.5%)
 Cess Tax
Copies of the legislation governing all import taxes can be obtained from the Barbados
Government Printing Department.
NON-TARIFF BARRIERS
Import licenses have been used in general to monitor import flows and to protect
domestic production from competition. Imports from CARICOM members are free of
any Quantitative Restrictions (QRs). Other Quantitative Restrictions such as prohibitions
and controls are in place to ensure national security, safeguard consumer health and
morality, or to preserve domestic plant & animal life and the environment. The capacity
of institutions was also seen as a form of non-tariff barrier as many of the agencies
lacked the full complement of human resources to carry out its functions effectively.
Barbados has made efforts to eliminated restrictive licensing procedures and imposed
WTO approved bound duty rates. However, licenses are still required (automatically
granted).
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES
Barbados requires that importers obtain permits, licenses or permission from the relevant
authorities for specified products prior to importation. Phytosanitary certificates are
required from the exporting authorities for fresh fruit, vegetables, and plants and plant
materials, and must accompany the goods declaration before processing is allowed.
Similarly, overseas health certificates must accompany meat and meat products.
Psychotropic and other controlled drugs are subject to licenses from the Ministry of
Health.
Please
see
legislation
at
http://www.agriculture.gov.bb/agri/images/stories/Vet_Services/documents/general/V
S_Supporting_Legislation.pdf
TRANSPORTATION
The process of transporting goods via sea freight or air freight from Jamaica to
the Caribbean is very expensive. Therefore distributors find it more affordable to
transport goods from North America than Jamaica. Additionally shipping
products from Jamaica goes through Miami, therefore takes a longer time.
Direct transport from Jamaica is only offered via air which is highly expensive. A
direct shipment to Barbados from Jamaica could cost the exporter an
additional US$4000.
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution in Barbados is carried out by both manufacturers and distributors. There are
no legislations outlining how distributions should take place. However contractual
arrangements are usually agreed upon between both parties after a verbal agreement
has been made. Distributors may often become limited by contractual agreement and
therefore bound to a certain brand of product.
KEY AGENCIES IN BARBADOS
Information Request
Agencies
Location
Contact Information
Labeling and
Standards listing
Barbados
National
Standards
Institution
Reef Road,
Fontabelle, Ministry
BB-St. Michael
Tel: 246-426-3878
Fax: 246-436-1495
E-mail:
commerce.ps@barbados.go
v.bb
Custom & Excise
Department
Lot # 2nd Floor, West
Wing
Street: Warrens Office
Complex
Tel: 246-310-2300/10
Fax: 246-421-2029
Email:
frank.holder@customs.gov.b
b
Ministry of
Agriculture, Food,
Fisheries, and
Water Resource
Management
Ministry of Health
Graeme Hall
Christ Church
Barbados
Tel: 246-434-5000
www.agriculture.gov.bb/agr
i/index
Frank Walcott Building
Culloden Road, St.
Michael Barbados
Tel: 246-467-9300
Barbados
Manufacturers’
Association
Suite 201, Bldg #8,
Harbour Industrial Estate,
St Michael, BB11142,
Barbados, WI
Tel: 246-426-4474
Fax: 246-436-5182
Email: director@bma.bb
Custom duties and
charges
Sanitary and
Phytosanitary
certificates
Drugs license and
Health Certificates
Listing of
Manufacturers
Listing of Distributors
Legislations
governing taxes
Regional Standards
Barbados
Chamber of
Commerce &
Industry
Government
Printing
Department
2 Braemar Court
Deighton Road, Brittons
Hill
St. Michael Barbados
Bay Street, Bridgetown
Tel: 246-434-4750
Fax: 246-228-2907
Caricom Regional
Organization for
Standards and
Quality (CROSQ)
2nd Floor Nicholas House
29 & 30 Broad Street
Bridgetown, St. Michael
Tel: 246-622-7670
Fax: 246-622-7678
Email:
crosq.caricom@crosq.org
Web: www.crosq.org
Tel: 246-426-4901
Fax: 246-228-5586