BAHA: Say No To Contraband This Easter  

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority, BAHA, is reminding the public that importing agricultural products without the necessary permit is illegal and punishable by law. In an interview with the Technical Director of BAHA’s Quarantine and Inspection Services, Hernan Zetina, he stated that border control will be tight, and fines will be hefty this season to ensure the safety of all Belizeans and animals that unregulated items put at risk. Here’s more on that.

 

On the phone: Hernan Zetina, Technical Director, Quarantine and Inspection Services, BAHA

“The reason why BAHA is very concerned about contraband is that a lot of times these products do not go through the process of risk assessment and therefore they can serve as pathways for plant pests and animal diseases that may be in the region or not in the region, but in other parts of the world, but are not present in Belize and so if these plant pests or animal diseases do come into Belize, they could devastate our agricultural patrimony. There’s also, sometimes people bring food items that may not be wholesome, and so they can pose problems for humans and also for animals, for example, when people bring in contraband feed. So the press release is just a reminder to everyone involved in the importation,  seal distribution of agricultural products that are regulated by BAHA, that it is illegal to import these products without a BAHA permit,  or if you’re found in possession of illegally imported products, then you can face hefty fines and also go to prison if you’re convicted. We’re working along with the other regulatory agencies, such as customs, fisheries department, MIT of the Ministry of National Security. And so, it’s a coordinated effort between different agencies. And we’re also stepping up our border inspection. So, during the Easter period, there’s a lot of traffic that happens through the border. And so, we have included inspection as a priority. So, whenever you’re passing the northern or western borders, you might need to catch long lines and you will see our BAHA officers there doing their inspection to ensure that whatever is imported is imported legally.”