Objectives of the Authority

The functions and objectives of the Authority shall include the following– (a) to establish and maintain animal and plant health services; (b) to establish and maintain an animal and plant quarantine service; (c) to establish central and regional laboratories for animal and plant health and other related (d) to establish and maintain veterinary health (e) to strengthen the information systems needed to support an effective agricultural health (f) to prevent and control the introduction of plant and animal diseases and pests into Belize; (g) to monitor and carry out surveillance for animal and plant diseases; (h) to regulate and control the importation and exportation of animal products, biologicals, animal feed and plant products into and out of Belize; (i) to regulate and control the importation of animal and plant products into Belize; (j) to construct and maintain facilities for animal and plant health; 16 (k) to monitor, regulate and control the use, quality and suitability of bio-engineered products, biologicals, agro-chemicals, animal products, animal feed and fertilizers; (l) to maintain contacts and liaise with foreign, regional and international bodies dealing with agricultural health and trade in agricultural products; (m) to co-operate with and assist in the coordination of the work of other institutions in the formulation and implementation of agricultural health policies; (n) to establish and maintain national and international quarantine services for animal and plant diseases and pests; (o) to plan and organize programmes of agricultural health; (p) to develop and promote the participation of private initiatives in agricultural health programmes and activities; (q) to develop and maintain a system of inspection approval and certification for all food processing facilities; (r) to develop and promote private sector participation in the execution of programmes for the prevention, control and eradication of pests and diseases affecting the agricultural sector; (s) to issue import licences, permits and certificates of inspection under this Act; Belize Agricultural Health Authority [CAP. 211 17 (t) to engage in the pre-inspection development and the maintenance of pre-inspection systems, for the export of animal and plant products; (u) to establish and maintain risk analysis and to carry out any other functions assigned to it by or under this Act or any Regulations made thereunder; and (v) to do all other things as are necessary and expedient to secure the proper execution of the purposes of this Act.