Welcome to the Department of Agriculture

The Department of Agriculture is responsible for the encouragement and development of agriculture in the Islands. This includes not only production of crops and livestock but also biosecurity, protecting Turks and Caicos from serious diseases and pest of animals and plants. The Department is responsible for the facilitation of the safe trade of imported commodities, the protection of public health through veterinary public health measures and a safe food supply chain. As such we have responsibility for the inspection of, the regulation of, and the approval of, food production systems at all levels in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This includes the activities of the Plant Health Services, and the Animal Health Services, within the Department of Agriculture. These two divisions of the Department maintain the agricultural health environment of the Islands.

Services Provided

The Department of Agriculture has responsibility for the inspection of, the regulation of, and the approval of, food production systems at all levels in the Turks and Caicos Islands. We carry out our function through the Animal Health Services, the Plant Health Services and the Government Farm in Kew North Caicos.

Animal Health Services
The Animal Health Services is the division of the Department of Agriculture that is responsible for animal disease surveillance and monitoring, veterinary public health, import and export controls, animal welfare and control. Animal Health Services currently has three units: Import/Export Unit, Animal Welfare Unit and Inspection Unit for Plant and Animal Health (done jointly with Plant Protection Division).
The role of the Division is to protect animal health and welfare as well as public health (through veterinary public health), and to safeguard and promote food security through surveillance and inspection.
Primarily the Division works to prevent and control animal disease across the various islands of the Turks and Caicos by employing measures and activities for farms, and other animal related establishments through constant surveillance and monitoring. We are also responsible for animal control, animal welfare and public policy concerning animal health and animal welfare.

Some of the functions we provide are:

  • Animal Welfare and Control
  • Disease Monitoring and Surveillance
  • Inspection and Certification of Animal Establishments
  • Import and Export Controls
  • Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness Management
  • Quarantine Pre and Post Entry
  • Extension Services for livestock sector
  • Clinical and Surgical Services

The Division is staffed by a dedicated team of professionals who are committed to the highest scientific standards in delivering the services we offer.

Plant Health Services Division

The Plant Health Services Division (PHSD) is a unit within the Department of Agriculture that has specific responsibilities for the management of plant health (protection and quarantine) issues. The main objective of the unit is to introduce policies and programs that are geared towards safeguarding the Turks and Caicos Islands’ agriculture, and general environment from the ingress and spread of economic plant pest and diseases.

Some of the functions we provide are:

  • Plant Protection Services
  • Pest and Disease Monitoring and Surveillance
  • Inspection and Certification of Crop Establishments
  • Import and Export Controls
  • Plant Quarantine
  • Extension Services for crop sector
The Government Farm in Kew North Caicos

To support the proposed agricultural development plan and policy and to directly address some of these issues related to increasing productivity, profitability and know how, it is proposed that the Government Farm in Kew, North Caicos be revitalized and transformed into The Kew Agricultural Station; an agricultural research and demonstration station for crop and livestock production as well as an onfarm teaching facility. It will inter alia work in collaboration with existing and new entrepreneurs. Some of the services presently provided include:

  • Nursery Production
  • Sale of Produce
  • Crop Demonstration
Travelling to TCI with Plants and Animals

Visitors to the TCI should know that there are conditions which must be adhered to by law when bringing in controlled/regulated commodities to the islands.

Animals including Cats and Dogs as well as live Plants and Plant Products e.g. fruits, flowers and seeds are controlled/regulated commodities.

These items may only be imported into the TCI through a port of entry. No controlled/regulated commodity may be imported unless:

  • An import permit has been issued by the Department of Agriculture
  • The Controlled/regulated commodity meets the import conditions of the permit and
  • The controlled/regulated commodity is accompanied by any other documentation required by law

It is the traveler’s responsibility to verify the accuracy and completeness of all import conditions before you arrive into TCI. There are penalties for persons who do not comply with the law.

Thank you for assisting us with keeping TCI beautiful and safe.