Examination of imports

(1) Where goods for which a standard has been declared are produced or manufactured outside Belize, (a) the Bureau may authorise any member of its staff; and (b) the Minister may in writing authorise any public officer or, at a fee to be prescribed, any suitably qualified consultant to assist the staff of the Bureau, to examine the goods upon landing and any customs entries in respect of such goods. (2) A person authorised to examine goods under this section may take samples thereof and submit the samples for analysis or testing. (3) Where the standard declared is compulsory, goods referred to in subsection (1) of this section may be entered for home use, if and only if, (a) upon an examination of samples, it is found that the goods comply with the compulsory standard; or (b) they are accompanied by a certificate of and compliance with the compulsory standard issued by a laboratory 16 or other similar institution in the country of origin recognised by the Bureau. (4) Where imported goods are found to bear any mark so closely resembling the Standard Mark as to be misleading, or which falsely represents a mark of compliance with specifications formulated or adopted elsewhere than in Belize, the goods shall not be entered for home use unless the mark is removed or substantially changed. (5) Where there is reason to believe that goods imported, or about to be imported, into Belize are likely to be a danger to the health or safety of consumers, whether a standard exists for such goods or not, the Bureau may require the importer or vender to submit such goods for testing, and the goods referred to in this section may be entered for home use or sold, if, and only if, (a) upon examination of the samples the goods are found to be safe; or (b) the importer or vendor shows proof, satisfactory to the Bureau, that the goods are safe.