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4.19. There is an ongoing process with the development of a Draft CARICOM[the Caribbean Community] Regional SWOT Analysis to accompany the seven strategic plans for seven priority sectors, which once approved by the Council for Trade and Economic Development would be used by all stakeholders within the Community, including regional Agencies and Institutions, as the official sub-sector SWOTs when interfacing with international donor partners (IDPs). More recently additional SWOTs for the Renewable Energy and Transportation sub-sectors have been completed.

1.2. The nation is a small, open and vulnerable economy characterized by high level of imports, a narrow productive base, high level of vulnerability to climate change, natural disasters and exogenous shocks. (...)

1.3. To safeguard our survival, sustainability and inclusivity have been introduced as a critical element in our overall development agenda. To date, Antigua and Barbuda has achieved 66% alignment with the sustainable development goals in its development agenda.

1.4. Our sustainable development agenda is guided by several sectoral objectives as indicated by the Ministry of Finance including:
1. Strengthening the macro fiscal foundation of the island state- revitalizing its economy by adopting sound macroeconomic and prudent fiscal management practices and targeting critical sectors that can drive current and/or future economic growth and job creation. This includes a renewed emphasis on the agricultural and fisheries sector, manufacturing, implementing a maritime/blue economy plan, cultural and creative industry (film, music, and arts), building sustainability and resilience within tourism, improving competitiveness, and the enabling environment to attract foreign investments and drive private sector-led growth. (...)
2. Investing in climate resilient infrastructure-Interventions to increase investments in physical infrastructures, such as transport (sea, air, road), water and sanitation, energy and housing, to facilitate the movement of goods and people, business operations, and livelihoods; and digital, technology and innovation infrastructure to introduce efficiencies and new ways of working and producing in the economy. To drive economic growth, Antigua and Barbuda will mobilize resources for the rehabilitation, maintenance, and expansion of its infrastructure assets. This will include innovative financing mechanisms for the development of climate-resilient transport and housing infrastructure and strengthen its digital ecosystem;
(...)
5. Adapting for climate change and environmental sustainability and promoting leadership and partnership throughout society-Environmental sustainability has always been one of the country's key development priorities. Antigua and Barbuda has championed climate change issues, disaster preparedness and resilience building at the regional and international levels. The government has also incorporated climate change mainstreaming in successive development agendas to ensure its limited finances are used effectively to ensure long-term growth, development, and prosperity while building climate resilience. Therefore, interventions to increase renewable energy generation, climate-proof buildings and infrastructure and create the enabling environment for a low carbon development pathway are outlined in the country's National Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change since October 2015.

11.11. (...) On the recommendation of the ABBS[the Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standards], standards may be declared by Order of the Minister to become a technical regulation with the intention to protect the consumer or user against danger to health and safety; (...) to protect the environment; or to generally protect public or industrial health, welfare, or safety. (...)

11.22. As a signatory to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, Antigua and Barbuda does not permit the importation or sale of living modified organisms (LMOs). Imports are allowed if an approval, based on a risk assessment, from the competent national authority was obtained.

11.24. (...) Non-automatic licensing is applied on products subject to tariffication under Article 164 of the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (aerated beverages, beer, stout, ale, porter, pasta, candles, solar water heaters, oxygen in cylinder, carbon dioxide in cylinder, acetylene in cylinder, chairs and other seats of wood and upholstered fabric, other furniture of wood and upholstered fabric, mops); imports of animals, poultry, livestock, and poultry products; plants and plant products; pesticides; drugs and antibiotics; firearms, fireworks, arms and ammunition; and chemicals controlled by the Montreal Protocol.

11.26. (...) For specific goods such as refrigerators, motor vehicles, air conditioning units and other equipment which can operate using Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), a Refrigerant Form must be completed in addition to the Import License Form. The Refrigerant Forms are obtained from the Ozone Unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Trade. (....)

12.3. Following the passage of Hurricane Irma in 2017, which devasted the agriculture sector, there is now renewed focus on improving the resilience of the sector to the impact of natural disasters and climate change. In the case of Barbuda, 1,407 persons were made homeless with the passage of Irma and the agriculture sector completely ruined - crops, livestock, bees, the fishing industry, infrastructure, machinery and equipment were either totally destroyed or significantly damaged. To address these challenges, agriculture (including fisheries) has emerged as a strategic priority of the Government as it is recognized that the sector is key in advancing food and nutrition security, livelihoods, environmental protection and rural economic and social development - including health (support in the fight against NCD).

12.4. (...) Priorities between (2016-20) sought to improve access to and generate water from irrigation, attract new investment in agriculture, reduce vulnerability to disaster and climate change risks and expand and improve agro-processing.