Import pesticides or fertilizer

A pesticide is any substance (including an organism) that directly or indirectly controls, destroys, attracts, or repels any organism or disease that is injurious, noxious, or troublesome to plants or animals. Contact the department at pesticides@gov.bm for more information or for any queries regarding pesticide products, registration of pesticides, pesticide applications or BCD processing.

To import a pesticide into Bermuda, you and the pesticide must be registered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

How to import a pesticide to Bermuda

To import a pesticide into Bermuda:

1. Complete and submit an Application to Import Pesticides to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) along with:
2. a link to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
3. a link to the actual product label (please do not provide the product sheet)
4. You will be invoiced to pay the required fees as per the current Government Fees Amendment Regulations – Head 1 - Agriculture Act 1930.
5. Wait for approval prior to ordering your product. Completed applications are processed within three (3) weeks. Application processing time depends on the active ingredient, prior approvals for similar products, the product formulation and the amount of research required. Every effort will be made to process the application within three (3) weeks, however, delays may occur due to the research required for new active ingredients, new products, and emerging information on existing products which may be linked to various concerns.
6. Once approval has been granted your pesticide can be imported. Approval will be provided in writing from the DENR or Department of Health (DOH) (for all structural, interior and personal insect repellent products).

Applications will not be processed if:

1. payment has not been made,
2. the required documentation is not provided correctly,
3. any fields on the application form which are left blank or field information does not match the product being requested.

Customs Clearance of Pesticides

Submit all Bermuda Customs Declaration (BCD) forms for incoming shipments containing pesticides to the Plant Protection Section (PPS) (pesticides@gov.bm) at the DENR. The BCD will be reviewed for compliance then stamped and signed by the DENR. Fees may apply. The Customs Department will query all BCDs with pesticides that do not have the DENR stamp and signature.

Note:

1. Pesticides imported without approval may be confiscated.
2. Items registered for importation are authorized for use by the applicant only and MUST NOT be sold to, distributed to or used by other individuals or companies without specific consent from the DENR.
3. Once the pesticide has been registered for importation, an importer does not need to reapply unless (1) the concentration, (2) formulation, (3) active ingredient, or (4) the product name has changed. Please contact the DENR – PPS if the importer's information has changed (new company name, sale of company etc.) as new applications may be required.
4. The DENR reserves the right to deny the importation of any pesticide, and authorization may be withdrawn if the pesticide is later determined to be unsuitable for the Bermuda environment or market. Registration may be revoked if the product is found to be used in a manner other than that specified on the application form or if the applicant is found to be applying the product in contravention to the label. Authorization for importation of a pesticide for one importer does not infer authorization for all importers.

Fees are as described within the current Government Fees Amendment Regulations – Head 1 - Agriculture Act 1930.

Importing fertilizers

Currently applications are not required to import fertilizers into Bermuda unless it contains an herbicide component, such as in “weed and feed” products, or microorganisms. However, if a fertilizer is found to have environmental concerns it will be evaluated for suitably of importation and use.

What to do when a shipment of fertilizer arrives in Bermuda

All Bermuda Customs Declarations (BCDs) for shipments containing fertilizers must be submitted by email (pesticides@gov.bm) to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for review prior to submission to the Customs Longroom. Approved BCD’s will be stamped and signed. There is no fee for this service (unless the fertilizer contains pesticides, in which case permission would have to be granted to import the pesticide prior as per the procedures above).