Dominican Republic
1.2 Dominican Republic Regulatory Departments and Quality Control
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Overview

Most countries require that exporters and importers include, within their trade documents, attach official documents such as: sanitary, phytosanitary, certificates of no objection, among others. In the case of the Dominican Republic, below are the the main entities involved in the export activity:

National Committee for the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

The committee carries out the following activities:

  • Prepare the standards by which the Committee will be governed; review the laws of matters within its competence, recommend amendments to the Legislative Branch, through the Executive Branch; coordinate and execute the actions required for your fines.
  • Recommend the adaptation of the National Sanitary System of Phyto-zoos and Food Safety to respond to the following needs:
  • Protect the life of humans or animals from the risks derived from the presence of additives, contaminants, toxins or pathogenic organisms in food, beverages and feed.
  • Protect the life of people against diseases transmitted by plants or animals.
  • Protect animal life or preserve plants from pests, diseases or pathogenic organisms.
  • Prevent or limit other damages caused to the country, as a result of the entry, establishment, irradiation or spread of pests.
  • Ensure the sanitary quality of its agricultural exports.
  • Protect the environment.
  • Prevent practices that may be misleading.
  • Protect the health of fish and wildlife.
  • Protect forests and wild flora.
  • Participate in the meetings of the Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the World Trade Organization, and other organisms and events in which, regarding animal and plant health and food safety, the Dominican Republic is a party, observer or guest.
  • Recommend the measures and processes that best adapt to the interests of the Dominican Republic in cases of consultation and resolution of controversies related to the international commercialization of animals, plants, products and by-products of agricultural origin destined for their use; as well as to receive notifications, analyze and process them to the relevant sectors and follow up.
  • Disseminate issues related to the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and technical regulations, standards and guidelines in the national territory to reach all consumers, producers, importers, exporters and merchants in the Dominican Republic.
  • Choose the Designated National Authorities (DNA) to form the Committee's Commissions and Technical Missions and process their accreditations.
  • Serve as a body for consultation and analysis of the implications for national and international trade in the event of agricultural health and food security emergencies and recommend to the National Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Emergencies the establishment of the most appropriate measures and mechanisms to reduce negative impacts of this situation.

Ministry of Agriculture 

The Secretary of State for Agriculture created the Department of Agri-Food Security (DIA), through the Resolution No. 18 of April 18, 2005, as a unit of the Undersecretary for Agricultural Extension and Training of said Secretariat.

The Department of Plant Protection of the Ministry of Agriculture

The department's objective is to prevent the introduction of pests that do not exist in the territory and to control existing ones, to prevent the spread to new areas. It also seeks to control the management and rational use of highly toxic chemicals that pollute the environment through the application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) measures to achieve harmony in Dominican agroecosystems.

General import requirements:

  • General phytosanitary import requirements for the Dominican Republic.
  • Matrix of general import requirements.
  • Imports of regulated goods of agricultural products such as garlic, onion, rice, beans, corn and sugar are protected by the trade agreement with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Decree 114-98 of 16 of March 1998 and must undergo a different application.

Quarantine checkpoints

Quarantine checkpoints are sites for controlling the mobilization and importation of plants, products and by-products of plant origin, in order to prevent the introduction and subsequent spread of pests and diseases from quarantine through the flow of passengers and goods.

The control points of the Dominican Republic are classified as:

  • Border posts (Elías Piña, Jimaní, Dajabón and Pedernales).
  • Maritime ports (Caucedo multimodal, Santo Domingo, eastern Haina, western Haina, Boca Chica, San Pedro de Macorís, Luperón, La Romana, Manzanillo, Puerto Plata, Puerto Viejo, Arroyo Barril and Barahona)
  • International airports (Las Américas, Cibao-Santiago, La Isabela, Gregorio Luperón, La Romana, Catey, Punta Cana).

For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratory contact details, see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.3 Laboratory and Quality Testing Companies Contact List.

Laboratorio Veterinario Central

Monumental Avenue, #52, Los Girasoles,
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel. :(809) 564-7700 | Fax: (809) 560-0469

Dr. William A. Pichardo Santana, General Director.

The Laboratorio Veterinario Central (LAVECEN) is the national reference laboratory that supports the Agricultural Sector and the Ministry of Public Health, specifically with the diagnosis of animal health and zoonotic diseases; quality control of food, fodder, chemical residues in meats, fruits, vegetables, quality of agrochemical formulations, production of various biologicals and antigens for the veterinary industry, which serve as a support for the different health programs in the Dominican Republic.

Special permits for the export - transportation of products of plant and animal origin are processed from this laboratory together with the United States Plant and Animal Health Inspection Division (APPHIS-USDA).

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources

Cayetano Germosén & Gregorio Luperón Av., Ensanche El Pedregal, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Central: (809) 560-4300
WhatsApp: (849) 356-6400  | (809) 200-6400
info@ambiente.gob.do

Sr. Angel Francisco Estevez Bourdierd, Minister. 

They issue environmental permits and certificates for export of hazardous waste, permit for import / export of wood, permit for import of fauna or flora and Certificate of import of chemical substances. Applicable for the following products: Plants, fish, sand, wood, metal waste and metals.

Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance

Dr. Héctor Homero Hérnandez & Tiradentes Av., Ens. La Fe Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Tel: (809) 541-3121 E-mail: info@ministeriodesalud.gob.do  ventanillaunica@ministeriodesalud.gob.do

Dr. Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas, Minister

This institution issues the following permits:


Import Permission for Medicines with Controlled Substances Controlled Chemical Substances Export Permit
Modality Health surveillance Health surveillance
Type of Modality Import Permit Export Permit
Category New New
Service Cost Free Free
Response Time Immediate Immediate
Time of Realization 10 days 10 days
Presentation Channels In person In person
Service Description The processing of import permits for controlled chemical substances to enter the country. The processing of export permits for Controlled Chemical Substances to authorize their exit from the country.
Service Results Import Permit Certificate Export Permit Certificate
Areas of Responsibility Sanitary Inspection Unit | General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products (DIGEMAPS). Sanitary Inspection Unit | General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products (DIGEMAPS)
Who is it for: Private Companies / Legal Entities Private Companies / Legal Entities
Requirements for obtaining the service
  • Copy of the Certificate for Import, Export, Manufacture or Trade of Controlled Drugs (If it is expired or does not have this document, please review the requirements for the Class B Controlled Drugs Registration service (for Private Establishments or for Hospitals or Other Public Institutions).
  • Sealed and signed letter of request or communication from the exporter addressed to the General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products referring:
  • General data of the exporter (Name, address, telephone, email, RNC).
  • General information of the importer (Country, name, address, telephone, email).
  • Name and quantity of the medicine to be imported.
  • Name and quantity of the controlled base substance containing the medicine.
  • Presentation (Ampoule, Blister, Tablets, Tablets, etc.).
  • Drug Registration Health number.
  • Indicate the country of origin of the medicine.
  • Indicate the port of embarkation and disembarkation of the medicine.
  • Indicate the transport route of the medicine (Maritime, air).
  • Copy of the import Proforma or Commercial invoice (Legible and without erasures, in Spanish or translated, Visa by: ARAPF, INFADOMI, etc. (As applicable), sealed and signed by the importing company) that contains the following:
    • Name of the raw material of the controlled substance.
    • Amount of medication.
    • Country of origin.
    • Expiration date.
    • Unit price.
    • Total value.
    • Indicate the transport route of the medicine (Maritime, air).
  • To complete the process and to authorize the customs clearance of the controlled substance, the user must deposit:
    • Copy of the import permit granted by the MSP-DNCD.

 Note: Of all the documents, you must attach four (4) sets of the file.

  • Sealed and signed letter of request or communication from the exporter addressed to the General Directorate of Medicines, Food and Health Products referring:
  • General data of the exporter (Name, address, telephone, email, RNC).
  • General information of the importer (Country, name, address, telephone, email).
  • Name and quantity of the controlled chemical substance to be exported.
  • Indicate the country of origin of the medicine.
  • Indicate the port of embarkation and disembarkation of the medicine.
  • Indicate the transport route of the medicine (Maritime, air).
Procedure

Prepare the documentation referred to in the requirements and then deposit it in the Single Window of Services of the Ministry of Public Health for the purposes of processing the file.


 

Working hours – Contact

Monday to Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

Héctor Homero Hernández &Tiradentes Av., Ens. La Fe, Santo Domingo, D. N.

Coordinates: 18.4893599, -69.9306018

(809) 541-3121, Ext. 1601 / 1602 / 1603

ventanillaunica@ministeriodesalud.gob.do




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