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Box 3.1 Import licensing requirements, 2022
Goods originating outside the OECS and Belize: Curry powder (HS 0910.99.30); wheat flour (HS 1101.00); margarine (HS 1517.10.00); shortening (HS 1517.90.10); pasta products (HS 1902); aerated beverages (HS 2202.10.10); malt (HS 2202.90.20); beer (HS 2203.00.10); stout (HS 2203.00.20); oxygen (HS 2804.40.00); carbon dioxide (HS 2811.21.00); acetylene (HS 2901.00.20); candles (HS 3406.00); toilet paper (HS 4818.10.00); paper bags (HS 4819.30.00-4819.40.00)a; solar water heaters (HS 8419.19.00)a; chairs and other seats (HS 9401.61.00); other furniture of wood and upholstered fabric (HS 9403)a.
(...)

3.50. As listed in Part IV of Schedule III of the Customs Act 2015, exports of narcotic and psychotropic substance; ginger and dry coconuts; bananas; copper; and endangered species of animals, and plants (including live or dead, or their products/derivatives) are restricted, unless the exporters obtain a licence/permit from the relevant authorities.

3.51. As set out in the Import and Export (Control) Regulations, 2008, exports of lobsters (live, fresh, chilled, frozen, prepared or preserved) and conch (fresh or chilled) require an export licence from the Ministry responsible for trade. Prior to applying for a licence, exporters must obtain a permit from the Fisheries Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour. The authorities maintain such requirements on the grounds of wildlife and environmental protection.

3.72. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not have any legal provisions with respect to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or hormone-fed animals.

3.78. (...) As set forth in the Act, the objectives of public procurement regime include promoting transparency and encouraging competition in public procurement; fostering participation in procurement proceedings; ensuring fairness, equitability, and integrity; and promoting sustainable procurement.

4.1. (...) Agriculture in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines faces challenges as land and water resources are scarce. The country has 39,000 hectares (ha) of land, but only 7,000 ha are usable for agriculture. In addition, the agricultural sector is vulnerable to adverse natural conditions such as tropical storms, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions.

4.4. The eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in April 2021 had a devastating impact on the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' agricultural sector. Thick volcano ash blanketed half the country, including some of the best agricultural lands, where approximately 70% of the country's food is normally produced. The volcanic ash destroyed all vegetable crops and 80% of the root crops in the red zone (the most dangerous area) and 75% of the crops overall in the orange zone (dangerous area). As a result of the evacuation order, a significant number of the country's registered farmers were displaced – 2,875 registered farmers and 278 fishers were displaced and evacuated from the red and orange zones.

4.6. The policy objectives of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' agriculture and fisheries sectors include food security, employment creation, and the sustainable use of the country's natural resources. (...)

4.8. In response to farmers' hardship caused by natural disaster (a drought in 2020, and the volcano eruption in 2021), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour provided recovery relief to registered farmers in the form of a cash transfer. Also, through the FSC, farmers have access to support in the form of subsidized agricultural inputs such as feed, seeds, and fertilizers. Between 2020 and 2022, the Government spent XCD 24.7 million on hardship support in response to the drought, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the volcano eruption (Table 4.1).

4.13. With regard to fisheries, the overall policy objective is to maintain "sustainable use of all fisheries resources to maximise benefits to all Vincentians in the present and future", contributing to national food security, and helping alleviate the nation's under-nutrition.