It is the importer’s responsibility to ensure that each incoming shipment is clean and free of all quarantine risk material prior to arrival in Bermuda. This means being free of:

• live insects
• seeds
• soil, mud, or clay
• animal faeces
• animal material and plant material such as straw, twigs, leaves, roots, or bark
• food refuse
• other debris

These are the minimum standards that must be met for entry. Failure to meet these standards may result in the shipment being rejected and returned to the country of origin at the importer’s expense.

Learn more about importing a vehicle to Bermuda.

Fumigating and steam cleaning used equipment and vehicles

Certain cargoes will be required to be fumigated prior to importation due to the increased number of insect, spider, and soil interceptions found on these items at the ports of entry. Specific cargoes requiring an import permit and fumigation include:

• Used boats, bikes, cars, trucks, tractors, and other vehicles
• Used machinery
• Used construction, landscaping or other outdoor equipment or the storage containers of these items (sheds, shelters, etc.), and
• Used mobile offices, portable toilets/showers or the like.

Certain cargoes will be required to be steam-cleaned prior to importation. Specific cargoes targeted will include:

• Boat trailers and other cradles (excluding ship’s equipment
• Vehicles or items harbouring soil, debris or other contaminants

All fumigation, steam-cleaning or other treatment costs, in the country of origin, or any treatment performed locally will be the responsibility of the importer.

How to get a permit to import used machinery or vehicles to Bermuda

To apply to import used machinery, you will need to make sure you submit the following:

• A completed application form
• A certificate of treatment (fumigation/steam cleaning) carried out within 30 days prior to shipping to Bermuda

Once you have received an import permit from DENR, you must present it, accompanied by the valid fumigation certificate or steam cleaning certificate to the shipping line.

If any cargo is intercepted with pests or soil, or if the shipment’s treatment certificate does not comply with the minimum standards, the cargo will be rejected and re-shipped to origin, at the expense of the owner.

Imported items found to be heavily contaminated with soil or pests may be refused entry, rejected and re-shipped to the country of origin at the importer’s expense. Customs will contact the Plant Protection Section to carry out an inspection of the shipment. An inspection fee of $100 will be incurred.

Small amounts of soil found on an incoming item, may, at the discretion of the Senior Plant Protection Officer, be fumigated or steam cleaned on the dock at the importer’s expense.

Fees

• Processing fee - $65

All expenses incurred during the re-export of any item or shipment which is imported without prior permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Plant Protection Lab) are the sole responsibility of the owner of the shipment.