Belize Agricultural Health Authority

What Belize Agricultural Health Authority does

Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) is a statutory body of the Government of Belize, established in 2000 under the Belize Agricultural Health Authority Act (Chapter 211 of the Substantive Laws of Belize). It serves as the sole competent authority for agricultural health and food safety, with a mandate spanning plant protection, animal health, food safety, and quarantine inspection. BAHA operates four technical departments — Plant Health, Animal Health, Food Safety, and Quarantine — and administers Belize's Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) enquiry point and Central Investigation Laboratory.

BAHA delivers services through a network of 12+ offices and quarantine stations covering all major ports of entry (the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport, the Port of Belize, Big Creek, Corozal/Santa Elena Northern Border, Benque Viejo Western Border, Punta Gorda, San Pedro, and Jalacte) plus regional offices in Belmopan, Cayo, Belize City, and Orange Walk. Its principal offerings include import/export permits, plant and animal health certifications, food safety inspections, veterinary drug and animal feed registration, pest and disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and training programs for farmers and stakeholders. Notable specialized programs include a Fusarium TR4 prevention initiative coordinated with OIRSA and Taiwan ICDF.

BAHA generates revenue through statutory service fees for permits, inspections, certifications, and laboratory testing as established by statutory instruments (e.g., SI 34 of 2022), supplemented by government budget allocations. Its customer base is highly distributed across Belizean agricultural producers, livestock farmers, importers/exporters, food processors, and pet owners. Strategic partnerships span regional and international bodies including OIRSA, Taiwan ICDF, CARDI, CAHFSA, CaribVET, IICA, WOAH, IPPC, Codex Alimentarius, USDA, STDF, FAO, WTO, and IAEA.

Name

Belize Agricultural Health Authority

Legal name

Belize Agricultural Health Authority

Website

https://baha.org.bz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) is the statutory competent authority for agricultural health and food safety in Belize, delivering plant health, animal health, food safety, and quarantine services through 12+ offices and border stations nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Health Regulation

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAAAO

Agriculture, Fisheries & Food Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Central/Federal Government Administration

SECONDARYBPADANAF

Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) & Food Safety Regulatory Cooperation

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Standards, Policy & Regulatory Cooperation

SECONDARYAFALADAE

Import/Export & Border Compliance Support (FSVP, Prior Notice, Health Certificates)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Regulatory Compliance Testing & Consulting (FDA/USDA/EFSA, HACCP)

Keywords

• Agricultural health regulation
• Sanitary phytosanitary certification
• Animal health inspection
• Plant health compliance
• Food safety testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Belmopan City

HQ country

Belize

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Service Fees and Permits: BAHA charges fees for various services including permit applications, inspections, certifications, and laboratory testing. These fees are outlined in statutory instruments and support operational costs.
2. Regulatory Services: Fees for plant health, food safety, and animal health permits and applications as part of regulatory compliance

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) is the statutory competent authority for agricultural health and food safety in Belize, operating through four technical departments (Plant Health, Animal Health, Food Safety, and Quarantine). It provides import/export permit processing, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) certification, border quarantine inspections, laboratory diagnostics, pest and disease surveillance, and training programs for farmers and trade stakeholders.

Product overview

BAHA is a statutory body that serves as the competent authority for agricultural health and food safety in Belize. The organization operates through four main technical departments: Plant Health, Animal Health, Food Safety, and Quarantine. These departments work together to safeguard Belize's agricultural health, strengthen food security, and facilitate trade. BAHA provides permit and certification services, operates quarantine stations at border crossings, conducts laboratory testing, and delivers training programs for farmers and stakeholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plant Health Services Department responsible for plant health regulations, pest surveillance, and preventing plant pests from affecting Belize's agricultural sector.
• Animal Health Services Department overseeing animal health, disease prevention, control and eradication programs for livestock and other animals in Belize.
• Food Safety Services Department ensuring compliance with Sanitary and Phytosanitary certifications for agricultural products and food commodities traded domestically and internationally.
• Quarantine Services Border control services managing biosecurity risks in agricultural trade, operating quarantine stations at ports of entry including airports, land borders, and seaports throughout Belize.
• Permit Application Services Application processing for import/export permits for plants, plant products, animals, animal products, and food commodities.
• Plant Health Certification Sanitary and Phytosanitary certification for plant and plant products for domestic and international trade.
• Food Safety Certification Certification services ensuring food safety compliance for agricultural products and food commodities.
• Veterinary Drug and Animal Feed Registration Registration and control services for veterinary drugs and animal feed as regulated under Belize Veterinary Drugs Regulations.
• Pet Passport Services Documentation services for pet travel and movement documentation for entry into and exit from Belize.
• Central Investigation Laboratory Services Laboratory testing and analysis services located in Belize City for food safety and agricultural health diagnostics.
• Surveillance and Diagnostics Pest and disease surveillance activities to identify and mitigate potential risks to human, animal and plant health, animal welfare and the environment.
• Training and Education Programs Knowledge and skills development programs for stakeholders and farmers on best agricultural practices, including specialized workshops such as Fusarium TR4 prevention training.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health (OIRSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOIRSA provides technical and financial assistance to member states' Ministries of Agriculture. Established in 1953, OIRSA advances animal health, plant health, quarantine services, and food safety in Central America. BAHA collaborates with OIRSA on the Fusarium TR4 prevention project and other regional agricultural health initiatives.
• Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaiwan ICDF sponsors training programs and technical cooperation with BAHA. Key collaboration includes Fusarium TR4 prevention project, laboratory testing methods training, and E-learning tutorials. Taiwan committed to assist BAHA with laboratory testing methods and can receive specific SPS assistance requests through the Taiwan Embassy in Belize.
• Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARDI focuses on sustainable agriculture through research, technology development, and capacity building in the Caribbean. Addresses challenges in crop and livestock production, crop protection, soil and water management, and climate change adaptation.
• Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized institution focused on agricultural health and food safety in the Caribbean region.
• Caribbean Animal Health Network (CaribVET)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks in collaboration with national surveillance networks to promote international standards and regional harmonisation on animal health and veterinary public health issues in the Caribbean.
• Caribbean Plant Health Directors ForumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration of National Plant Health Services, Regional and International Organizations, Government entities, Universities and Reference Laboratories focused on safeguarding plant resources of the greater Caribbean Region from quarantine pests.
• Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized agency for agriculture of the Inter-American System that supports efforts of Member States to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being.
• World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal authority on animal health. Founded in 1924, focuses on transparently disseminating information on animal diseases and improving animal health globally.
• International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntergovernmental treaty established in 1951 to protect world's plants, agricultural products and natural resources from plant pests. Ratified by 185 contracting parties that collaborate to develop International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs).
• Codex AlimentariusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollection of internationally adopted food standards and related texts that protect consumers' health and ensure fair practices in the food trade.
• US Department of Agriculture (USDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, science, and effective management.
• Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership to facilitate safe trade, contributing to sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction and food security. Promotes improved food safety, animal and plant health capacity in developing countries.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN specialized agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and achieve food security for all.
• World Trade Organization (WTO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal international organization dealing with rules of trade between nations, including SPS Agreement provisions relevant to BAHA's mandate.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntergovernmental forum for scientific and technical cooperation in the nuclear field for safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and EnterprisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government ministry that BAHA works with to provide an environment conducive to increased agricultural production and productivity, promoting investment, and encouraging private sector involvement in agribusiness.
• Ministry of Health and WellnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides quality, affordable, comprehensive health services within a resilient environment that promotes equal health and wellbeing for all Belizeans.
• Belize Livestock Producers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocates for livestock industry stakeholders at national and regional levels; provides farmers with improved access to new and high value markets; disseminates new technologies through technical-led trainings and education initiatives.
• Belize Bureau of StandardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational standards body responsible for promoting efficiency and competitive production in goods and services, with Quality Infrastructure serving as foundation.
• Belize Tourism BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegislated body designed to govern, enhance and promote the Belize tourism product.
• Belize Customs & ExciseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulates and facilitates customs procedures important for agricultural trade and quarantine operations.
• Belize Port AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal Maritime Agency responsible to regulate and develop Belize's Ports, Harbours & Shipping and safety of vessels in territorial waters.
• Belize Wildlife & Referral ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides veterinary care and rehabilitation for injured, neglected, and orphaned wildlife; advocates for humane treatment of animals.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA): Canadian federal agency responsible for food safety, animal health, plant health, and international trade certification. Closely comparable mandate to BAHA across all four departments and serves as a model national competent authority.
• National Plant Protection Organization of Mexico (SENASICA/SAGARPA): Mexican national agricultural health and food safety authority that operates plant health, animal health, food safety, and quarantine programs under a single institutional umbrella, directly analogous to BAHA's structure.
• UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA): UK agency responsible for animal and plant health, SPS certification, and disease surveillance. Mirrors BAHA's integrated plant/animal health and quarantine functions at much greater scale.
• USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service): U.S. federal authority for animal and plant health, SPS certification, and quarantine. Operates at vastly greater scale but performs the same statutory regulatory function as BAHA (plant health, animal health, quarantine) and is named as a partner of BAHA.

Others

• OIRSA (International Regional Organization for Agricultural Health): Regional intergovernmental organization providing technical and financial assistance to nine Central American agricultural health authorities including Belize. Acts as an umbrella/peer network for BAHA's cross-border programs like Fusarium TR4.

Direct peers

• Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA Argentina): Argentine national agricultural health and food safety authority with the same integrated plant health, animal health, food safety, and quarantine mandate as BAHA. A direct functional peer for a national competent authority in a Latin American country.
• Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG Chile): Chile's national agricultural and livestock service responsible for plant health, animal health, and SPS export certification. Same legal-statutory model as BAHA with comparable functions for a mid-sized export-oriented agricultural economy.

Regional players

• Jamaica Veterinary Services Division / Ministry of Agriculture (Plant Quarantine): Caribbean counterpart that performs plant quarantine, animal health, and food safety functions for Jamaica. Comparable scope to BAHA within the same CARICOM/Caribbean regional ecosystem.
• Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency (CAHFSA): Regional institution that coordinates agricultural health and food safety policy across CARICOM states. BAHA is a listed partner, and CAHFSA effectively operates as a regional layer above BAHA's national mandate.
• Trinidad and Tobago Agricultural Health Authority (TTABA, now merged into Ministry): Caribbean national agricultural health function operating within Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Agriculture. Closest geographic and structural peer to BAHA in terms of small-island developing economy regulatory scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/belize-agricultural-health-authority

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Belize Agricultural Health Authority