Bermuda - Trade StandardsBermuda - Trade Standards
Overview
HMS Customs inspects all goods arriving in Bermuda. Standards are based upon the country of origins standards (i.e., U.S. UK, and Canada) and the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations. Existing standards can be found online at www.bermudalaws.bm under the Consumer Protection Act 1999 and the Sales of Goods Act 1978. The Department of Consumer Affairs oversees product standards in Bermuda; see www.ca.gov.bm for information about standards and conformity assessments in Bermuda. Safety standards fall under Bermuda’s Consumer Protection Act. Products must be able to be sold in the U.S., UK or Canada before being sold in Bermuda.
Trade Standards
For information regarding standards in Bermuda, contact the Consumer Affairs office. There is no plan at this time to develop an annual plan of standards.
Consumer Affairs
2nd Floor, Ingham & Wilkinson Building
129 Front Street
Hamilton, HM 12
Bermuda
Phone: (441) 297-7627
Fax: (441) 295-6892
Website: www.ca.gov.bm
Bermuda, as an overseas territory of the U.K., is not a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
NIST Notify U.S. Service
Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to report to the WTO all proposed technical regulations that could affect trade with other Member countries. Notify U.S. is a free, web-based e-mail subscription service that offers an opportunity to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that can affect your access to international markets. Register online at Internet URL: http://www.nist.gov/notifyus/
Publication of technical regulations: See www.bermudalaws.bm for regulations, searching for the appropriate legislation (i.e. food regulations under the Health Act, vehicle regulations under the Motor Car Act).
Conformity Assessment
Bermuda has the same standards as the U.S., UK, and Canada. The National Center for Standards and Certification Information (NCSCI) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of Commerce provides information on U.S. and foreign standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures for non-agricultural products. NCSCI staff responds to requests for information by identifying relevant standards and regulations, and by referral to the appropriate standards-developers or private-sector organizations. Under copyright restrictions, NCSCI cannot provide copies of standards, but NCSCI does provide sources for accessing standards.
Product Certification
Bermuda is guided by the same product safety certification standards as the U.S., Japan, U.K., and Canada. A product sold in Bermuda should have the international symbol indicating that it has been tested to the legal required standard of the fore mentioned countries. The Bermuda Department of Health clears pharmaceutical certifications and tobacco licensing. There are no mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) between Bermuda and any U.S. conformity assessment organizations at this time.
Bermuda follows the same product safety certification standards as the U.S., UK, and Canada but has no legislation in place to enforce product certification. The Ministry of Health and Environment controls the sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and tobacco products, including the registration of tobacco wholesalers and requirements for health warnings on packets and containers. The Ministry also controls the importation, sale, and dispensing of medicinal drugs and poisons. There are no mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) between Bermuda and any U.S. conformity assessment organizations at this time.
Accreditation
No official accreditation bodies exist in Bermuda. Many products and services utilize U.S., UK, or Canadian accreditation bodies. The Bermuda Monetary Authority vets all financial institutions wishing to do business with Bermuda. The Chief Medical Officer at the Bermuda Department of Health keeps a register of clinical laboratories accredited in the U.S., UK, and Canada.
Publication of technical regulations
See www.bermudalaws.bm for regulations, searching for the appropriate legislation (i.e. food regulations under the Health Act, vehicle regulations under the Motor Car Act).
Contact Information
Bermuda Department of Consumer Affairs
2nd Floor, Ingham & Wilkinson Building
129 Front Street
Hamilton, HM 12
Bermuda
Phone: (441) 297-7627
Fax: (441) 295-6892
Website: www.ca.gov.bm
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