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3.71. The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Act 2008 contains the main provisions on the registration, import, sale, transport, disposal, control, and inspection of pesticides. The Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board, which functions under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs, is also responsible for, inter alia, considering applications for registration; granting or revoking licences; approving research permits; and certifying pest control operators. Pesticides must be registered; their registration requirements depend on the toxicity level of its active ingredients. Registration costs are XCD 500, and approved registration is valid for three years.

4.1. The agriculture and fisheries sector (...) is vulnerable to natural disasters such as hurricanes.

4.2. At the time of the previous Review, the Government identified agriculture as a focus area with the aim of diversifying the economy. During the review period, government initiatives were focused on increasing the access to water, promoting the efficient use of water resources, and facilitating the access to long term loans for farmers. (...)

4.3. The Government continues to support the backyard garden programme, which promotes the autonomous production of vegetables by households; authorities consider that the programme is an opportunity to promote good health and wellbeing through the consumption of mainly eco friendly produce. (...)

4.4. The Government promotes the sustainable development and the responsible management of fisheries and aquaculture activities. All fishing vessels must be registered and have a valid fishing licence.

4.55. In its Medium Term Strategic Development Plan of Antigua and Barbuda (2016-2020), the Government identified as flagship priorities to use the tourism industry as an economic anchor for its development and to transform the country into a green, low density, and high-end tourism destination by limiting undesirable environmental and socio-cultural consequences. To achieve these objectives, a Green Tourism Initiative is ongoing, covering areas such as energy consumption and efficiency, use of renewable energy, water consumption, waste disposal practices, green building practices, green operations, promotion of the local economy, employee engagement, social responsibility, customer education, and conservation practices.

4.60. (...) In 2021, criteria for the classification of tourist accommodations (class A, class B, and luxury hotels) were published and a tourism guest levy tax was imposed according to the classification and price charged for hotel rooms. All monies collected are transferred to the Climate Resilience Development Fund.

Antigua and Barbuda is a two-island State in the heart of the Caribbean. The islands together measure approximately 170 square miles with a population of approximately 90,000. The country characteristically a small, open, vulnerable economy: high level of imports, narrow production base, and vulnerability to natural disasters and other exogenous shocks.

Furthermore, although Antigua and Barbuda enjoys a high standard of living, its economy like many small vulnerable economies, is fragile and vulnerable to social and environmental issues which includes the impacts of natural disasters, in particular hurricanes and more recently in this period of review, the incidence of drought.

(…) The Antigua and Barbuda Food and Nutrition Security Policy, issued in 2012, identifies the sector's constraints: low productivity; short-term land tenures; inadequate water supply; credit constraints; loss of arable land to housing construction; lack of storage facilities; high energy and labour costs; and over-exploitation of marine food sources . The sector also faces significant risks from natural disasters such as hurricanes. (…)