International Food Safety Authorities Network

INTERNATIONAL FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITIES NETWORK (INFOSAN)

The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) is a joint FAO/WHO entity
which assists Member States in managing food safety risks and in ensuring rapid sharing of
information during food safety emergencies. The aim is to stop the spread of contaminated food
from one country to another. INFOSAN also facilitates the sharing of experiences and tested
solutions at the national level and between countries in order to optimize future interventions to
protect the health of consumers. National authorities of 188 Member States are part of this

network. The INFOSAN Emergency Contact Point (ECP) is responsible for reporting urgent
food safety events and responding to verification requests from the INFOSAN Secretariat.
INFOSAN Focal Points (FP) work with the INFOSAN ECP on food safety events, share
information and disseminate information from INFOSAN as appropriate. The INFOSAN ECP
for Bhutan is located in the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA),
Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF).
The detail of INFOSAN ECP is as follows;

Ms. Gyem Bidha
Deputy Chief Regulatory and Quarantine Officer
Food Quality and Safety Division
Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA)
Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF)
P.O. Box 1071, Thimphu, Bhutan
Phone: (+975) 232 7031 / 32 5790 / 32 5993
Fax: (+975) 2 32 7032
Email: bafrainfosanfp@gmail.com

SEARCH FOR INFORMATION

SERVICES

Plant and animal quarantine Services

The primary mandates of Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) is to implement effective biosecurity measures to protect the agriculture farming system including animal health, and public health from risks of entry, establishment and spread of exotic and or notifiable pests and diseases. Thus, a major role is placed…more

Import permit and clearance

Import of animals/plants and their products are allowed into the country with prior approval and obtaining Import Permit from BAFRA. At arrival at the point of entry, the consignment intended for import must be accompanied with a Phytosanitary Certificate for plant consignment and Zoo-sanitary Certificate for animal consignment…more

In-country movement permits

Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority implements measures to reduce the transmission of animal or plant, pest and diseases from one dzongkhag to another. Hence In-Country Movement Permits are issued

Export certification

BAFRA facilitates the export of plant and plant products by issuing the certificates as per the requirements of the importing country following the procedure below…more

Food Handlers’ Licensing

BAFRA issues food handlers license after a health interview, training on food safety, and signing an undertaking that the food handler and all those under their supervision avoid themselves from handling food under certain conditions of illness as listed below…mo re

Registration & Licensing Services

A person who intends to operate a food business requires a food safety license from BAFRA. BAFRA issues food safety licence to a food business that complies with BAFRA GHP/GMP Criteria for Licensing of food business. To obtain a food safety licence…more

Food Testing Services

To provide food testing services to the regulators, food businesses and the general public, National Food Testing Laboratory was established, and it has following testing facilities..more

Certification Services

BAFRA provides product certification services to support the farmers, industries and commerce in Bhutan for market access and trade facilitation. BAFRA implements product certification in conformity with ISO IEC 17065:2012 to provide a third party mark of certification. Our certification services will enable you…more

Biosafety (GMO) Services

The Biosafety requirements are implemented as per the Biosafety Act of Bhutan 2015, and Biosafety Rules and Regulations 2018. The objectives of this Act is to protect, conserve and safeguard the biodiversity of Bhutan and also to promote the nation’s food and nutrition security and safeguard the animals and human health from unintended effect of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). Read More…