FAOLEX Database

Bahamas - Country Profiles

Bahamas Independence Order 1973.
Date of text: 20 June 1973

Policies

The Bahamas NDC 3.0.
Date of text: 01 October 2025
Bahamas' Updated Nationally Determined Contribution.
Date of text: 01 November 2022
Maritime Security Plan 2021.
Date of text: 2021
The Bahamas National Implementation Plan for the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
Date of text: 2020
Bahamas National Trust Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022.
Date of text: 2018

Legislation

Agricultural and rural development

The Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute Act No. 1 of 2022.
Date of text: 25 February 2022
Agricultural Sales and Services Act No. 38 of 2023.
Date of text: 30 June 2023
Ministry of Agriculture (Incorporation) Act, 1993 (Cap. 241).
Date of text: 30 July 1993
Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation Act (Cap. 358).
Date of text: 30 December 1981 (1992)
Emergency Powers Act (Cap. 34).
Date of text: 08 July 1974

Climate change

Climate Change and Carbon Market Initiatives Act, 2022 (No. 15 of 2022).
Date of text: 20 May 2022
Carbon Credits Trading Act No. 36 of 2022.
Date of text: 11 August 2022

Cultivated plants

Plant Protection Act (No. 6 of 2016).
Date of text: 20 June 2016
Accidental Fires Act (Cap. 74).
Date of text: 31 July 1961
Plant Protection (Fees) Regulations, 2023 (S.I. No. 31 of 2023).
Date of text: 31 March 2023
Plants Protection (Restriction on the Movement of Seeds, Fruits, Plants and other Propagative Materials) (Citrus Canker) Order (Cap. 250).
Date of text: 28 January 2005
Plants Protection (Restriction on Imports of Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers, Plants and other Propagative Materials) (Pink Mealybug) Order, 1997 (Cap. 250).
Date of text: 15 August 1997

Disaster risk management

Disaster Risk Management Act No. 39 of 2022.
Date of text: 09 December 2022
Disaster Reconstruction Authority Act No. 36 of 2019.
Date of text: 29 November 2019
Emergency Relief Guarantee Fund Act, 1999 (Cap. 35).
Date of text: 08 November 1999
Emergency Powers (Covid-19 Pandemic) Regulations, 2020.
Date of text: 29 June 2020
Emergency Relief Guarantee Fund Regulations, 2000 (Cap. 35).
Date of text: 21 January 2000 (2000)

Environment

Environmental Planning and Protection Act No. 40 of 2019.
Date of text: 19 December 2019
Environmental Health Services Act (Cap. 232).
Date of text: 11 May 1987
Environmental Health Services (Collection and Disposal of Waste) Regulations, 2004 (Cap. 232).
Date of text: 31 March 2004
Public Finance Management (Environmental Health Services Levy) (Special Fund) Act, 2025 (No. 40 of 2025).
Date of text: 27 June 2025
Environmental Protection (Control of Plastic Pollution) Act No. 38 of 2019.
Date of text: 19 December 2019

Fisheries and aquaculture

Fisheries Act, 2020 (No. 40 of 2020).
Date of text: 31 December 2020
Commercial Recreational Watercraft Act 2006 (Cap. 278A).
Date of text: 17 July 2006
Boat Registration Act (Cap. 277).
Date of text: 31 July 1961 (2003)
Aliens Restriction Act (Cap. 193).
Date of text: 28 May 1931 (1987)
Fisheries (Seahorse) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 35 of 2022).
Date of text: 17 May 2022

Food and nutrition

Food Safety and Quality Act 2016 (No. 5 of 2016).
Date of text: 20 June 2016
Geographical Indications Act, 2015 (No. 44 of 2015).
Date of text: 10 October 2015
Health promotion and wellness Act, 2025 (No. 69 of 2025).
Date of text: 28 August 2025
Bahamas Agricultural Health and Food Safety Authority Act 2016 (No. 4 of 2016).
Date of text: 20 June 2016
Good Samaritan (Food Donation) Act, 2010 (No. 8 of 2010).
Date of text: 28 June 2010

Forestry

Forestry Act, 2010 (No. 20 of 2010).
Date of text: 01 July 2010
Accidental Fires Act (Cap. 74).
Date of text: 31 July 1961
Forestry Regulations, 2014 (S.I. No. 38 of 2014).
Date of text: 15 May 2014
Forestry (Declaration of Protected Trees) Order (S.I. No. 5 of 2021).
Date of text: 16 February 2021
Forestry Regulations, 2011.
Date of text: 2011

Land and soil

Planning and Subdivision Act, 2010 (No. 4 of 2010).
Date of text: 16 March 2010
Property (Execution of Deeds and Documents) Act, 2020 (No. 37 of 2020).
Date of text: 11 December 2020
Bahamas Spatial Data Infrastructure Act, 2014 (No. 9 of 2014).
Date of text: 01 May 2014
Probate and Administration of Estates Act, 2010.
Date of text: 2010
Wills Act, 2002 (Cap. 115).
Date of text: 31 January 2002

Livestock

Animal Health and Production Act, 2016 (No. 7 of 2016).
Date of text: 20 June 2016
Animal Protection and Control Act, 2010 (No. 19 of 2010).
Date of text: 01 July 2010
Veterinary Surgeons Act (Cap. 245).
Date of text: 12 July 1966 (1974)
Animals (Control of Experiments) Act (Cap. 247).
Date of text: 15 July 1957 (1987)
Animal Protection and Control (Ticket) Regulations, 2023 (S.I. No. 87 of 2023).
Date of text: 21 December 2023

Mineral resources and energy

Natural Gas Act (No. 10 of 2024).
Date of text: 31 March 2024
Petroleum Act, 2016 (No. 2 of 2016).
Date of text: 01 March 2016
Electricity Act No. 48 of 2015.
Date of text: 2015
Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority Act (Cap. 306).
Date of text: 15 June 2009
Utilities Appeal Tribunal Act (Cap. 307).
Date of text: 29 May 2009

Sea

Merchant Shipping Act (No. 33 of 2021).
Date of text: 23 December 2021
Ports Authorities Act (Cap. 269).
Date of text: 23 May 1962 (2003)
Maritime Revenue Unit Act, 2025 (No. 57 of 2025).
Date of text: 27 June 2025
National Maritime Instruction and Training Act (No. 54 of 2024).
Date of text: 26 July 2024
Bahamas Maritime Authority Act, 1995 (Cap. 283).
Date of text: 21 June 1995 (2000)

Water

Water and Sewerage Corporation Act (Cap. 196).
Date of text: 06 July 1976 (1993)
Water Supplies (Out Islands) Act (Cap. 197).
Date of text: 28 May 1953 (1968)
Planning and Subdivision Act, 2010 (No. 4 of 2010).
Date of text: 16 March 2010
Out Islands Utilities Act (Cap. 28).
Date of text: 11 September 1965 (1987)
Freeport Bye-laws Act (Cap. 29).
Date of text: 11 September 1965 (1987)

Wild species and ecosystems

Biological Resources and Traditional Knowledge Act, 2021 (No. 4 of 2021).
Date of text: 08 March 2021
Wildlife Conservation and Trade Act, 2004 (Cap. 250A).
Date of text: 31 December 2004
Bahamas National Trust Act (Cap. 391).
Date of text: 13 July 1959 (1987)
Bahamas Public Parks and Public Beaches Authority Act, 2014 (No. 49 of 2014).
Date of text: 27 November 2014
Bahamas Protected Areas Fund Act, 2014 (No. 28 of 2014).
Date of text: 07 July 2014

Miscellaneous

Public Procurement Act (No. 3 of 2023).
Date of text: 05 April 2023
Penal Code (Cap. 84).
Date of text: 15 May 1924 (1997)
Local Government Act, 2024 (No. 59 of 2024).
Date of text: 18 December 2024
Consumer Protection Act (No. 10 of 2023).
Date of text: 21 November 2023
Co-operative Societies Act (No. 8 of 2015).
Date of text: 12 May 2015

International Agreements

Agreement establishing the Caribbean Community Common Fisheries Policy.
Date of text: 2014
Agreement between the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the Republic of Cuba for the Delimiting Line between their Maritime Zones.
Date of text: 03 October 2011
Economic Partnership Agreement between the CARIFORUM States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part.
Date of text: 15 August 2008

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