TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Trinidad & Tobago
Regulations & Legislations
Full texts of the Food and Drug Act of 1960 and the Food and Drug Regulations 1964 are availble on this page for review and FREE download.
This Act regulates the importation, exportation, storage, manufacture, sale, use and transportation of pesticides and toxic chemicals and provides for the establishment of the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board and for matters incidental thereto.
This Act makes provision for the control of diseases and pests injurious to plants.
https://agriculture.gov.tt/publications/plant-protection-act-63-56/
This Act focuses on the safety, health and welfare of persons at work.
https://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/alphabetical_list/lawspdfs/88.08.pdf
This Act covers the development and control of water supply and sewerage facilities in Trinidad and Tobago and matters of sanitation incidental thereto; the promotion of the conservation and proper use of water resources; and for the establishment of an Authority to administer the several purposes aforesaid and matters connected therewith.
https://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/Alphabetical_List/lawspdfs/54.40.pdf
An Act that guides the collection of duties and the movement of people and goods in and out of Trinidad and Tobago.
Legislation and regulations relating to food, food safety and food hygiene in Guyana are provided on this page.
An Act respecting the sale of Agricultural Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs.
State Agencies
NAMDEVCO is a Statutory body responsible for agricultural marketing in T&T. Some of its core functions include (but not limited to): the development and expansion of markets, marketing opportunities and agribusiness investments; the development and management of a comprehensive Agricultural Market Information System; and the development and expansion of production and investment in Value Added and Primary Food Products.
The Agricultural Development Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (ADB) specializes in development financing for the agricultural sector. Its holistic approach to providing the best financial solutions that nurtures investment and entrepreneurship across the entire agri-food chain and in all aspects of agriculture.
The Plant Quarantine Service provides the first line of defense in pest surveillance that is, preventing the entry of pest into T&T. It protects the country’s borders from the invasion of pests and diseases by the issuing of import permits, inspection of import/export cargo and baggage at ports of entry, seizures of import/export cargo and baggage and the execution of post-entry inspections. This unit is also involved in: surveillance for early detection of exotic fruit flies of plant quarantine importance; compiling the Regulated Pest List for T&T; ensuring compliance with the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures; inspections and audits of farms; and certification of farms as outlined in the farm certification protocol in accord with the Barbados/Trinidad and Tobago Agricultural Trade Protocol of 2001.
https://agriculture.gov.tt/divisions-units/divisions/research/plant-quarantine-service/
ETIS is an arm of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries with the mandate to provide information in aspects of agriculture and related issues with the aim of assisting farmers in increasing efficiency in production and hence increasing profitability. The Division offers services that include: free training courses, on-farm demonstrations, trails. farmer field schools, provision of audio-visual, publications and printed materials and training courses at the Ministry’s office and within the communities.
The Main Library Unit of the Ministry of Food Production, Research Division provides up-to-date and accurate sources of information on everything agriculture related. From production techniques, to management skills and everything in between an extensive collection of material is available to assist your efforts to grow your food and your knowledge.
https://agriculture.gov.tt/divisions-units/divisions/library/
The Research Division of the Ministry of Food Production comprises of three sub-divisions, namely Crop Protection, Crops, and Livestock. It provides free support services to the farming community and general public.
Other services provided include pest and disease diagnostic studies, soil testing, plant tissue analysis, seed testing, provision of planting material, library and information services and the provision of technical information.
https://agriculture.gov.tt/divisions-units/divisions/research/
The EU Delegation has represented the European Union (EU) in Trinidad and Tobago for over 40 years. Its activities encompass development cooperation, trade and other matters.
The EMA facilitates co-operation among persons and manages the environment in a manner, which fosters participation and promotes consensus, including encouraging the use of appropriate means to avoid or expeditiously resolve disputes through mechanisms for alternative dispute resolution. The EMA issues Certificates of Environmental Clearance (CEC) – a permit certifying the environmental acceptability of a proposed activity, provided that all conditions contained in the CEC are fulfilled. Some activities including those related to agriculture/farming require a CEC by law. Detailson the CEC can be found on this page.
TTBizLink is a Single Electronic Window (SEW) that is a secure, user-friendly online interface that gives businesses and individuals 24/7 access to applications for government’s trade and business services including: e-Certificates of Origins, e-Company Registration, e-Fiscal Incentives, e-import/export permits and licences.
CFTDI is a key partner of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries which serves as the training arm of the Fisheries Division. Training programmes are uniquely structured with maritime and seafood technology courses that are tailored to suit the needs of a range of fisheries and related stakeholders as well as educational agencies.
The primary role of the TTBS is to develop, promote and enforce standards, in order to improve the quality and performance of goods produced or used in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; ensure industrial efficiency and development; promote public and industrial welfare, health and safety; and protect the environment. The major objectives of TTBS are to provide: certification, laboratory services; laboratory accreditation; standards information; standards compliance and standards development.
https://gottbs.com/ AND https://www.iso.org/member/2149.html
This standard establishes minimum requirements of good agricultural practices for fresh produce, inclusive of fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices and root crops, at production, harvesting, post-harvest handling, packaging, storage, or transportation stages and where offered for sale or supply for direct consumption or further processing.
The requirements of this standard are generic and apply to all farms and packing facilities, for fresh produce, regardless of the production system, size or complexity of the operations.
Note: This standard does not apply to minimally processed produce such as cut fruits and vegetables.
This standard establishes minimum requirements for a food safety and quality system in food processing, manufacture, handling, packaging, storage, transport or holding, for any sector of the food chain, where food is offered for sale or supply for public consumption. The requirements of this standard are generic and apply to all food establishments involved in the processing or manufacturing of foods regardless of the size or complexity of the operations or whether the output is raw material or final product. This standard does not apply to sectors of the food chain where the output of primary agricultural production is sold whole, directly to consumers and which may include packaging at the point of sale. NOTE: These requirements usually serve as the pre-requisites to a comprehensive food safety management system.
exporTT is the National Export Facilitation Organization of Trinidad and Tobago, charged with generating export growth and diversification in the non-energy goods and services sectors. It caters to the needs of all Exporters by providing support in the following areas: capacity building and programme financing, export promotions, monitoring and research, training and trade certication.
EximBank is the only official Export Credit Agency (ECA) in the T&T offering adviorsy services, raw material financing, asseting financing, forex and factoring and discounting.
The Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division is the arm of the Ministry of Health that ensures safe quality of an equitable standard for use by consumers of food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices; ensures safety in use, the proper management and acceptable standards for pesticides and toxic chemicals; and provides technological and laboratory services in the areas of food, drug, cosmetics, medical devices, pesticides and toxic chemicals.
https://health.gov.tt/services/chemistry-food-and-drugs-division
Information on what are public inpsectors, their services,who can access their services and how their services can be assessed are provided on this page.
TheTLU is responsible for administering the import of goods into and the export of goods out of T&T. Information on import negative list and export negative list are provided on this page.
Information on CARICOM- related trade agreements are provided on this page. These include: CARICOM – Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, CARICOM – Venezuela Agreement on Trade and Investment, CARICOM-Columbia Trade, Economic and Technical Co-operation Agreement and CARICOM-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement.
Useful trade-related couments and resources are listed here. Some of these include: legislation, regulations and SME Manufacturers’ Grant Fund Application.
The TTMA is a state agency with responsibilities that include (but not limited to): promoting, encouraging and assisting the growth and development of manufacturing industries in T&T, generating market expansion both regionally and internationally through the mounting of local, regional and international trade fairs, exhibitions and foreign trade missions, and assisting local manufacturers in the maintenance of required standards of safety, labour relations, wages and benefits, communications, public relations and advertising.
Laboratories
The Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division is the arm of the Ministry of Health that ensures safe quality of an equitable standard for use by consumers of food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices; ensures safety in use, the proper management and acceptable standards for pesticides and toxic chemicals; and provides technological and laboratory services in the areas of food, drug, cosmetics, medical devices, pesticides and toxic chemicals.
https://health.gov.tt/services/chemistry-food-and-drugs-division
KAIZENLab, Analytical Division of Kaizen Environmental Services (Trinidad) Limited is a well-established environmental laboratory with over 20 years of analytical experience, specializing in analytical techniques applied to environmental chemistry for Water and Wastewater analysis, Oil Analysis, Soil and Solid Waste Characterization, Food Chemistry and Microbiology.
This local laboratory offers microbiology and food analysis services including but not limited to: water and wastewater testing, potable/drinking water testing, environmental air and surface water monitoring, food microbiology and chemistry.
Analytical Technologies Limited (ATL) provides a range of scientific testing procedures to business in Trinidad and Tobago. These services include but not limited to: microbiology, food testing and analytical testing services.
Cariri’s state-of-the-art Food & General Microbiology Laboratory specialises in food safety and water quality testing.
https://www.cariri.com/?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=490https://www.atltt.com/
The Environmental Health Laboratory (EHL) located within the EHSD is accredited to ISO 17025 by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation (CALA). The full-service microbiological and analytical laboratory provides environmental analyses, including water quality monitoring, plant, soil and tissue analyses, food microbiological testing, indoor environmental quality monitoring and noise testing.
https://carpha.org/What-We-Do/LABS/Environmental-Health-and-Sustainable-Development
The Trinidad Publich Health Laboratory provides laboratory backup support for the Public Health Inspectorate in the monitoring of food and water quality in Trinidad and Tobago.
https://health.gov.tt/services/trinidad-public-health-laboratory
The Department’s Food Science and Technology Unit (FSTU) offers services through the following laboratories: Quality Control and Sensory, Microbiology and Food Processing.
The Department of Chemistry offers chemical analysis services of food and commerical products.
TTBS offers services such as chemical, microbiological and physical testing, shelf-life studies, sensory evaluation and consumer testing and label review.
https://gottbs.com/chemical-products-laboratory/#.YjeCn-rMJPY