The Pest Risk Analysis Unit

In fulfillment of Trinidad and Tobago’s obligation as a Member of the WTO and adherence to the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, under the article on Transparency a Pest Risk Analysis Unit was established. This unit provides the first line of defense in preventing the introduction and spread of pest into Trinidad and Tobago.

The unit assesses the pest and disease risk associated with importing commodities from non-traditional sources. The unit conducts pest risk analyses to balance measures of protection to protect/conserve Trinidad and Tobago biodiversity against invasive alien species as mandated by international agreements to which Trinidad and Tobago is signatory (IPPC, CBD and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety) against WTO obligations to minimise negative trade effects. The Unit aims to ensure that measures of protection are based on scientific principles, well informed, transparent and neutral.

It supports to the work of the Plant Quarantine Department in relation to applications to import permits where decisions can then be made on whether or not to import commodities and to frame conditions for imports. The unit also provides information on import requirements to countries desirous of importing products from Trinidad and Tobago.