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Veterinary Services Unit

OBJECTIVES:

  • To promote animal health and production through good agricultural practices;

  • To prevent the introduction and spread of animal diseases and alien species;

  • To regulate the trade in animals, animal products and animal related items; and

  • To give effect to the SPS Agreement.

OBLIGATIONS:

  • National

    • Animal Health and Production Act, 2016

    • Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Act, 2016

    • Plant Protection Act, 2016

    • Food Safety and Quality Act, 2016

    • Fisheries Resources, Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act, 1977

    • Marine Mammal Protection Act, 2005

    • Animal Protection and Control Act, 2010

    • Wildlife Conservation and Trade Act,

    • Wild Birds Protection Act, 1952

    • Wild Animals Protection Act,

  • Regional

    • Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (CAHFSA) Agreement

    • CARICOM Chief Veterinary Officers

    • CaribVET

    • Cartagena Convention, Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol

  • International

    • World Trade Organization Agreement on the Application of Sanitary-Phytosanitary Measures (WTO-SPS)

    • United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

    • Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Animals and Plants (CITES)

    • World Trade Organization Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO-TBT)

    • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

    • International Health Regulations (IHR)

    • United Nations Framework Convention on Combatting Climate Change (UNFCCCC)

PROGRAM:

  1. Laboratories-

Objective: to assist in the identification of diseases and pests in order to treat and/or develop control/eradication programs with regards to animal health emergencies effectively.

  1. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory,

  2. Surveillance, and

  3. Response

  1. Sanitary/Phytosanitary Program

Objective: To facilitate the international trade in animals and animal products through the management of animal health issues and risks for the protection of the animals, people and ecosystems of The Bahamas and its trading partners.

  1. Aquatic Animals

Objective: To effectively regulate aquatic animal health at all stages to ensure sustainability of the industry.

  1. Marine mammal facilities

  2. Aquaria

  3. Processing facilities

  4. Critical habitats

  1. Animal Production Food Safety- Food safety extends from the “farm to the fork” for terrestrial species and the ‘boat to the throat” or “bait to the plate” for aquatic species. This involves the responsibilities of many agencies. The Veterinary Services is responsible for the imports of all animals, animal products and animal related items up o the port of entry while for local production it is responsible from the farm or boat to the slaughter/processing facility.

Objective: To establish and manage a system that provides quality assurance based on risk and using international standards for production/slaughter/processing facilities to farmers in order to ensure that all animals and inputs entering the food chain are safe and provided humane and proper slaughter and inspection by animal health experts so that agri-producers and processors can access all local and international markets on an equal basis.

  1. Abattoir (Slaughterhouse)/Processing facilities

  2. Animal Health Extension (New Providence and Family Islands), and

  3. Government Agricultural Research Centers (GRARC & BAMSI)

  1. Veterinary Products and AMR-

a) Veterinary Drugs and Feeds

  1. Animal Welfare-

Objective: to assist with the moderation of the interaction between man and animals for the benefit of all.

  1. Surrey Administration

  2. Animal Control

  1. Wildlife –

Objective: To implement nationally our obligations with regards to the animal health of our biodiversity including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Plants and Animals (CITES) and manage the trade and possession of listed Bahamian wildlife.

a) Management Authority for the Wildlife Conservation and Trade Act

  1. Communication-

a) Training

b) Public Education/Sensitization

  1. Administration

    1. Animal Disease Notification

    2. Planning

    3. Budget


CAPACITY

  • Human Resources
    • Government Veterinarians: Six (6)

      • BAHFSA- Director

      • Department of Agriculture- Four (4) Veterinary Officers

      • BAMSI- One (1) Veterinary Officer

  • Authorized Veterinarians: O

  • Inspectors:
    • Department of Marine Resources

      • DMR Inspectors

    • Department of Agriculture

      • Animal production Extension officers

      • Plant and Animal Health Inspectorate Unit ((PAHIU)

      • Animal Control Wardens

    • Department of Environmental Health Services Inspectors

    • Department of Customs

  • Support Personnel
    • Department of Agriculture-

      • Permit section

      • Plant and Animal Health Inspectorate Unit (PAHIU)

      • Animal Control Wardens

COLLABORATING AGENCIES

  • National

    • Dept. of Environmental Health Services (DEHS)

    • Department of Public Health

    • Department of Marine Resources

    • Department of Agriculture

    • Department of Customs

    • Bahamas Agricultural and marine Science institute (BAMSI)

    • Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ)

    • Bahamas agricultural and Industrial Cooperation (BAIC)

  • Regional

    • Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA)

    • Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA)

    • Caribbean agricultural Research and development institute (CARDI)

    • CaribVET network

    • CARICOM Chief Veterinary Officer (CCVO)

    • Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

  • International
    • WTO - SPS Committee

      • OIE

      • Codex

    • Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

    • World Health organization (WHO)

    • CITES