General Standards
Standards organizations
According to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report, Dominica ranks 65 out 183 countries. This relatively high ranking implies that the national regulatory environment encourages the start up and running of businesses. The country is a subscriber member of the International Standards Organization. The national standards body is the Dominica Bureau of Standards (DBOS). The Bureau works under the administration of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. DBOS' primary function is to develop, maintain, promote and enforce standards, so as to improve the quality and performance of goods produced and/or used in Dominica as well as to ensure industrial efficiency and development; promote public and industrial welfare, health and safety; and protect the environment. The Bureau is administered by a 14 member National Standards Council (NSC) appointed by the Minister. In addition, people from government departments and ministries, as well as from the private sector serve voluntarily on Standards Technical Commitees and Working Groups to assist with the National standardization effort. Standards in Dominica are developed in response to market demand, and are based on consensus among the interested parties.
Other major regulatory bodies include the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission, the Independent Regulatory Commission (IRC) and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Dominica.
Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures
The Ministry of Agriculture inspects imports of planting materials, fruit, vegetables, plant products, plant pests, soil or any other related plant articles. On importation, they may require an import license from the Minister of Agriculture and a Phytosanitary certificate provided by the appropriate government agency in the exporting country.
All imports of plants, soil, dung, living insects, non-marine, invertebrate animals, and any accompanying container or wrapping, material must enter Dominica through a designated port of entry and be subject to examination by officers of the Plant Protection Office. The few exceptions to this requirement apply to dry hulled rice, nuts, dried, candied, canned, or other processed fruit and vegetables, roasted coffee, commercial yeast, cooked plant products, and seeds of vegetables or ornamental plants from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Contacts
Dominica Bureau of Standards
E-mail: info@dominicastandards.org
Address: 9 Great Marlborough Street, P.O. Box 1015, Roseau, Dominica
Tel: +1 767 448 1685
Fax: +1 767 449 9217
