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Import licensing is covered by the Trade Act, Law 4 (1955), and is administered by the Trade Board Limited, under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries (MICAF). The licensing system serves to monitor imports that could have a negative impact on the environment, health, economic activities and security in Jamaica. (...)

Under the Conch (Export Levy) (Special Provision) Act of 2015, exporters pay US$0.50 per pound of conch. The proceeds from the levy go towards the Fisheries Management and Development Fund aimed at the sustainable management and development of the fisheries sector and the reduction of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Certain items are subject to export permits, including queen conch, orchids, dolphins, Caribbean mahogany, Spanish Cedar Lignum Vitae, Jamaican parrots, as well as other live animals and plants subject to CITES, administered by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) in Jamaica. (...)

The Trade Board is responsible for issuing export licences for specific items, the exportation of which may impact negatively on the environmental, social and economic conditions of the country, or which may not be in keeping with international obligations. (...)

Table 3.9 Goods subject to export licensing, 2017
Product Authority
Crocodiles Trade Board Limited with authorization from the National Environment and Planning Agency
Crocodiles eggs Trade Board Limited with authorization from the National Environment and Planning Agency
(...)
Live animals (subject to CITES) Trade Board Limited with authorization from the National Environment and Planning Agency
(...)
Shells (subject to CITES) Trade Board Limited with authorization from the National Environment and Planning Agency
(...)
Dangerous goods Permit from the National Environment and Planning Agency

The Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) issues permits for the transboundary movements of wastes defined as hazardous under the Natural Resources (Hazardous Wastes) (Control of Transboundary Movements) Regulations, 2002. Under these Regulations, the importation of hazardous waste is prohibited, whilst their transit and export are controlled under a permit system.

The Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ), under MICAF, remains the WTO enquiry point for issues related to technical barriers to trade (TBT). The BSJ has responsibility for the promulgation and implementation of standards, and performs trade facilitation, business support, and consumer protection roles through standardization, metrology, technical information, training, energy efficiency evaluation and conformity assessment (inspection, calibration, laboratory testing, product and system certification). (...)

Table 3.10 Compulsory Jamaican Standards, 2011-17
Standard No. Name of Standard
(...)
JS 1 Part 29: 2016 Standard Specification for Labelling; Products and Equipment containing Ozone-depleting Substances and/or their Substitutes

The National Certification Body of Jamaica (NCBJ) is a unit of the BSJ with a mandate to offer management systems certification services to ISO 50001. The NCBJ aims to become the pioneer accredited certification body in the Caribbean to offer certification to ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems, and seeks to guide organizations on how to establish systems and processes to improve their energy performance, inclusive of efficiency and consumption.

Some of Jamaica's RTAs contain provisions on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, for example the CARICOM-Costa Rica FTA and the CARICOM-Dominican Republic FTA. Instructions for the drafting of a Biosafety Bill are pending the approval of Cabinet; the Bill will enable implementation of the Convention's Biosafety Protocol regarding genetically modified organisms. (...)