Trade Facilitation Unit - Animal Skins

The Bahamas currently has conditions to allow the importation of Animal Skins from various countries. Having conducted an import risk analysis (IRA) that considers quarantine risks that may be associated with the importation to The Bahamas of animal skins from any country, the IRA recommends that the importation of animal skins to The Bahamas could be permitted subject to compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures to manage the quarantine risks of a range of significant diseases to a very low level, in line with WOAH guidelines. The IRA assessed all potential disease agents that may be introduced to The Bahamas via the importation of animal skins and SPS measures. These diseases include Foot and Mouth Disease, Rinderpest, and Anthrax.

Based on this risk assessment The Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority (BAHFSA) has developed conditions of import for animal skins consignments. They are outlined below. All consignments of animal skins must:

1. Meet the import conditions for animal skins in Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Conditions for importation of Animal Skins

If a country, zone, or compartment wishes to export:

1. Animal Skins,
   1. an international veterinary certificate is required and must attest that the skin(s):
      1. is/are thoroughly dried;
      2. was/were from animals free of evidence of any disease
      3. is/are free from Foot and Mouth Disease, Rinderpest and Anthrax;
      4. making up the shipment have been derived from animals slaughtered in a government-approved Abattoir;
      5. was/were fumigated with phosphine prior to export