Roadtown, Tortola - In an effort to implement preventative measures to minimise the introduction and spread of exotic animal diseases among the population, Government will enforce the Animal (Importation and Diseases) Ordinance, (Cap. 88) with effect from July 1.

The enforcement of the legislation will require importers to apply for an import certificate and receive approval from the Department of Agriculture before importing meat and its by-products into the Territory.

The ordinance will also enable Government to prohibit the landing of meat and its by-products from countries that are deemed unsafe based on information released by leading World Health and Safety Organizations.

Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Hon. Omar W. Hodge told the Department of Information and Public Relations how important it is for Government to take a stance at this time.

 “Every effort should be made to prevent against the introduction and spread of animal diseases in order to protect the Territory’s investment in our livestock production and people.  Implementing precautionary methods at this time is the only way we can safeguard against these known diseases so as to minimise the endangerment to the lives of the citizens in our Territory,” Hon. Hodge said.

To this end the Department of Agriculture held meetings on Tortola and Virgin Gorda with stakeholder groups to facilitate discussions on the implementation of the legislation.

Present at the meetings were representatives from Road Town Wholesale Trading Limited, Bobby’s Market Place, One Mart Superstore, Pusser’s of the West Indies, Peter Island Resort, Fort Burt Hotel & Restaurant, Supa Valu Ltd., Buck’s Food Market, Village Cay Hotel and Restaurant, Leverick Bay Hotel and Marina, Little Dix Bay Hotel, Bitter End Yacht Club and Hotel and Biras Creek Resort. 

Representatives from other resorts, marinas, hotels and food markets were also in attendance at the June 15 and 16 meetings.

Additionally, the Department of Agriculture held meetings with other government agencies including Her Majesty’s Customs, the Environmental Health Division and BVI Ports Authority to discuss the operation and implementation of the Animal (Importation and Diseases) Ordinance. Importers must be in full compliance by August 1, 2009.

The Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour will be responsible for the administration and enforcement of the ordinance.