Overview

Mission

To ensure Barbados maintains a resilient supply of safe food of animal origin while safeguarding the health and welfare of animals and facilitating trade in animal products.

Goals 

• To maintain the good health of the national animal population by preventing the introduction of exotic animal diseases through the enforcement of legislation.
• To control or eradicate animal diseases limiting livestock production and export potential.
• To provide rapid, accurate diagnosis of animal diseases; thereby maximising production of wholesome animal protein.
• To promote the economic development of Barbados by minimising the effects of animal disease to livestock producers, owners of companion animals and exporters of animals, meat and meat products while negating the threat of animal pathogens to human health.

The Veterinary Services Department is responsible for maintaining animal health through surveillance and the control of animal diseases, and by preventing the introduction of exotic diseases. This is done in part by enforcing the laws and regulations governing the importation of animals, animal products and animal by-products. The legal authority for this comes from fifteen (15) Acts of the Government of Barbados and the Regulations made under these Acts.

These regulations allow for rapid response to outbreaks of important animal diseases and ensure that all animals and animal products entering Barbados meet a high level of sanitary standards.

The Veterinary Services Department comprises five sections: 

• Administration
• Veterinary Quarantine
• Veterinary Public Health
• Animal Health and Epidemiology
• Veterinary Services Laboratory