NOTICE

Notice is hereby given under Section 4(1) of the Standards (Preparation and Declaration) Regulations, 1997 that the Belize Bureau of Standards proposes to recommend to the Standards Advisory Council that the following draft specifications be declared voluntary Belize National Standards or otherwise.

Subject Matter

BBS Assigned Number

 Scope
Belize National Code of Hygienic Practice for Packaged Water BZ CP 4: 2012(Revised) This revised Code of Practice recommends appropriate general techniques for collecting, processing, packaging, storing, transporting, distributing and offering for sale, all bottled or packaged drinking wa ter for direct consumption so as to guarantee a safe, healthy and wholesome product.
Belize National Standard Specification for Packaged Water BZS 10: 2012(Revised) This revised standard specifies requirements for the purity, treatment, bacteriological acceptability, packaging and labelling of all waters that are pre-packaged for sale and used as beverages or in foods
Belize National Code of Hygienic Practice for Packaged Natural Coconut Water BZ CP 6: 2012 This Code of Practice sets out the recommendations for the hygienic preparation of packaged natural coconut water including harvesting, processing, packaging, storing, transporting and distributing.
Belize National Standard Specification for Packaged Natural Coconut Water BZS 36: 2012 This standard applies to packaged natural coconut water, which is offered for consumption. It only applies to coconut water which has been packaged in its natural state without the use of additives.
Belize National Code of Practice for Fish and Fishery Products BZ CP 7: 2012 This Code of practice applies to the growing, harvesting, handling, production, processing, storage transportation and retail sale of fish, shellfish and aquatic invertebrates and products from marine and freshwater sources, which are intended for human consumption.
Belize National Standard Specification for Labelling of Prepackaged Foods BZS 1: Part 3: 2012 (Revised) This revised standard applies to the labelling of all pre-packaged foods to be offered to the consumer or for catering purposes.
Belize National Code of Practice for General Principles of Food Hygiene BZ CP 8: 2012 This Code of Practice details the essential principles of food hygiene within the food chain from primary production to the final consumer, stipulating the acceptable hygienic conditions for producing food that is safe and suitable for consumption.
Belize National Code of Practice for Frozen fruit pulps and purees BZ CP 9: 2012 This Code of Practice gives guidelines for the preparation, processing and packaging of frozen fruit pulps and purées for use in the manufacture of fruit juices and nectars.This Code of Practice is applicable to pulps and purées obtained from edible fruits. It describes the requirements for pulps and purées and the methods of analysis to be used.
Belize National Code of Practice for Wooden craft items BZ CP 10: 2012 This Code of Practice establishes the minimum requirements for the manufacture and production of wooden craft items. The document is more focused on performance than prescriptive requirements for craft items.
Belize National Standard Specification for Inbound tour operators BZ CP 11: 2012 This Code of Practice specifies acceptable guidelines recommended for use as a quality tool by:a)         inbound tour operators;

b)         tourism service providers;

c)         tour parties; and

d)         relevant authorities and agencies responsible for tourism in Belize.
Belize National Standard Specification for Short term vehicle rentals BZS 28: 2012 This standard specifies the minimum requirements for acceptable practices relating to business conduct, physical facilities, vehicle fleet, personnel, customer guidance, contractual agreements, documentation, and handling of complaints for short-term vehicle rental operations.
Belize National Standard Specification for Good Management Practices for Small & Medium Sized Enterprises BZS 25: 2012 This regional standard specifies requirements for a management system where a micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise:(a)        needs to demonstrate its ability to consistently meet applicable requirements for quality,  environmental and occupational safety and health; and

(b)        aims to enhance its performance, through the process of continual improvement, assurance of conformity to applicable quality, environmental and occupational safety and health requirements, and the prevention of non-conformity by the application of this system.
Belize National Standard Specification for Botanical Cosmetics BZS 29: 2012 This standard specifies the general requirements for the manufacture of botanical cosmetic products and is applicable where the term “Botanical Cosmetics” is declared on the package.
Belize National Standard Specification for Gold Articles BZS 24: 2012 This standard specifies:(a)        requirements for the manufacturing, alloying and testing of gold articles of 23, 22, 20, 18, 15, 14, 12, 10 and 9 kt gold;

(b)        requirements for findings and solders to be used in the manufacture of gold articles;

(c)        methods for assaying gold, alloyed gold, solder, findings and gold articles; and

(d)       requirements for marking and labelling of imported gold articles.
Belize National Standard Specification for Cassava Bread BZS 26: 2012 This standard specifies requirements for cassava bread and related products, intended for human consumption, obtained from the processing of bitter cassava.
Belize National Standard Specification for Grades of Fresh Agricultural Produce: Bananas BZS 30: Part 1: 2012 This standard specifies the requirements for bananas grown from Musa spp. (AAA) of the Musaceae family, to be supplied fresh to the consumer, after preparation and packaging. It also specifies the requirements for un-ripened green bananas after preparation and packaging.
Belize National Standard Specification for Grades of Fresh Agricultural Produce: Cabbages BZS 30: Part 2: 2012 This standard applies to commercial varieties of cabbage (Brassica oleracea) to be supplied fresh to the consumer after preparation.
Belize National Standard Specification for Grades of Fresh Agricultural Produce: Grapefruits BZS 30: Part 3: 2012 This standard specifies the quality requirements of commercial varieties of grapefruits grown from Citrus paradisi Macfad. of the Rutaceae family, to be supplied fresh to the consumer, after preparation and packaging.
Belize National Standard Specification for Grades of Fresh Agricultural Produce: Hot Peppers BZS 30: Part 4: 2012 This standard specifies the quality requirements of hot peppers (Capsicum sp.), which are to be supplied fresh to the consumer after preparation and packaging.
Belize National Standard Specification for Grades of Fresh Agricultural Produce: Mangoes BZS 30: Part 5: 2012 This standard specifies the quality requirements for commercial varieties of mangoes grown from Mangifera indica L., of the Anacardiaceae family, to be supplied fresh to the consumer after preparation and packaging.
Belize National Standard Specification for Grades of Fresh Agricultural Produce: Oranges BZS 30: Part 6: 2012 This standard specifies the requirements for commercial varieties of oranges grown from Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck,of the Rutaceae family, to be supplied fresh to the consumer after preparation and packaging.
Belize National Standard Specification for Grades of Fresh Agricultural Produce: Pineapples BZS 30: Part 7: 2012 This standard specifies the requirements for pineapples (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. of the Bromoeliceae family), which are to be supplied fresh to the consumer at the import and export control stage, after preparation and packaging.
Belize National Standard Specification for Grades of Fresh Agricultural Produce: Pumpkins BZS 30: Part 8: 2012 This standard specifies the quality requirements for pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo (Duch. Ex Lam.) to be supplied fresh to the consumer at the preparation and packaging stages.
Belize National Standard Specification for Grades of Fresh Agricultural Produce: Sweet Peppers BZS 30: Part 9: 2012 This standard specifies the requirements of sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum L. var. grossum) which are to be supplied fresh to the consumer market at the export or import control stages, after preparation and packaging.
Belize National Standard Specification for Grades of Fresh Agricultural Produce: Tomatoes BZS 30: Part 10: 2012 This standard specifies the quality requirements of tomatoes of varieties (cultivars) grown from Lycopersicum esculentum Mill. which are to be supplied fresh to the consumer after preparation and packaging.
Belize National Standard Specification for Fruit and vegetable juices and fruit nectars BZS 37: 2012 This standard specifies requirements for juices and drinks derived from edible fruits and vegetables, fruit nectars, as well as non-carbonated beverages, containing no fruit or vegetable solids.
Belize National Standard Specification for Polyethylene garbage bags – high intensity BZS 27: 2012 This regional standard specifies requirements for high-density polyethylene garbage bags, which are normally used for the disposal of domestic and commercial waste. It includes requirements and test methods for impact resistance, bag dimensions, burst resistance, heat seal integrity and leakage.
Belize National Standard Specification for Tourist Accommodation: Part 1: General Requirements BZS 31: 2012 This standard specifies the minimum requirements for any commercial enterprise providing accommodation to tourists.
Belize National Standard Specification for Labelling of Aerosol Insecticides BZS 1: Part 6: 2012 This standard specifies the labelling requirements for aerosol insecticides in pressurized dispensers intended for household use.
Belize National Code of Practice for Tour Guides BZ CP 5: 2012 This Code of Practice establishes the minimum acceptable levels of service for tour guides operating within Belize. It is also intended for use as a quality tool by:a)         tour guides and tourism service providers;

b)         tour parties; and

c)         relevant authorities and agencies responsible for tourism within the CARICOM region.
Belize National Standard Specification for Wooden Furniture BZS 32: 2012 This standard specifies the requirements for the materials, construction, workmanship and finish employed in the manufacture of all types of wooden furniture.
Belize National Standard Specification for Indigenous Furniture (bamboo, rattan, wicker and nibbi) BZS 33: 2012 This standard specifies the requirements for indigenous furniture, namely those made from bamboo, rattan, wicker, tibisiri and nibbi materials.
Belize National Standard Specification for Achar, Amchar and Kuchela BZS 34: 2012 This standard applies to the products known as achar, amchar and kuchela which are prepared from edible fruits such as green or unripe mangoes (Mangifera indica), golden apple (Pommecythere spp), june plum (Spondias spp), tamarind (Tamarindus indica) and chalta or elephant fruit (Dillenia indica), as the predominant ingredients and blended with spices and additives prior to packaging.
Belize National Standard Specification for Spices and Sauces BZS 35: 2012 This standard provides requirements for the identification, composition, purity, hygiene in processing, labelling, sampling and testing of spices and sauces.

Copies or details of these standards are available from the office of the Belize Bureau of Standards located at Ministry of Works Compound, Power Lane, P.O. Box 430, Belmopan City or by submitting request to bbs@btl.net.

Any person having objections to any of the above-cited standards being declared a national standard, as the case may be, should communicate such objections and the reasons therefore in writing or in person to the Director, Belize Bureau of Standards at the below-mentioned address no later than June 20th, 2012 or at bbs@btl.net.

Belize Bureau of Standards

Ministry of Trade, Investment, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection