Saint Lucia

5.1 - Notifications for enhanced controls or inspections

Articles	5.1 (a), (b), (c), (d) View measure text
Indicative date of implementation	28 May 2025
Definitive date of implementation	30 June 2027
Deadline for extension request, if required	2 March 2027
Extension of time	Request received 27 August 2025 Original definitive date 31 December 2025 New date requested 30 June 2027 Date approved 30 June 2027 Reason Although some border regulatory agencies have established risk-based frameworks for notification of enhanced controls, other agencies have yet to implement and/or sufficiently strengthen their respective frameworks. Further support is therefore required to develop an agency wide policy framework for enhanced controls. This will include consolidating and documenting existing processes for consistent application and transparency. This assistance is required to ensure full alignment with the measure. Committee approval: Approved Link to notification G/TFA/N/LCA/1/Add.6
Assistance required for implementation	Legal and regulatory assistance: • St. Lucia Animal (National & International Movement & Disease Prevention) Act • Plant Protection Act Business process analysis: • Set up clear areas of responsibility and mechanisms for carrying out related duties and tasks, including confirmatory tests validity across the whole country and process of notification of the component in the exporting country. • Develop and validate a manual on standard operating procedures on import alert/rapid alert, including a proposal for border agency coordination. Disseminate the manual, if possible through a website, the concerned institutions with a view to clarify their respective interventions. Training and capacity building: • Provide training and capacity building for confirmatory testing for products that are the potential subjects of alerts and rapid alerts. Organize seminars for agents on the organization of inspection procedures, for technical staff in the areas of laboratory and laboratory management, rules, practices and equipment use according to international standards. Organize also focused seminars for economic operators. Tags: Information and communication technologies (ICT), Legislative and regulatory framework, Human resources and training
Donor / Agency	World Bank
Progress reported	11 December 2025 — G/TFA/N/LCA/5/Rev.1 Although some border regulatory agencies have established risk-based frameworks for notification of enhanced control, other agencies have yet to implement and/or sufficiently strengthen their respective frameworks. Specifically, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Customs & Excise Department and the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards have established procedures for the notification of enhanced controls based on risk, while, the Ministry of Health is guided by the Public Health Act and there are procedures in place for inspection. In the case of the Ministry of Health, it is anticipated that controls will be further enhanced when modern food safety legislation is enacted. Work in that regard is ongoing. Further support is therefore required to develop an agency wide policy framework for enhanced controls. This will include consolidating and documenting existing processes for consistent application and transparency. It is anticipated that these tasks that will enhance overall consistency and transparency, can be concluded by June 2027.