Commonwealth Trade MSME Exporter Portal

馃嚡馃嚥 Jamaica 路 Category 4 of 9

Packaging and labelling

May be outdated 路 10 Apr 2026

Exported goods, especially food and beverages, must meet Bureau of Standards Jamaica packaging and labelling rules plus the labelling requirements of the destination market.

Overview

Packaging and labelling is where many first-time Jamaican exporters trip up, because you must satisfy two masters: the Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) at home and the rules of the market you are selling into. BSJ administers Jamaican standards on the labelling of pre-packaged goods, covering product name, net contents in metric units, ingredient list, name and address of the manufacturer or exporter, country of origin (Product of Jamaica) and, for food, batch coding and date marking. On top of that, an EU or US buyer will require allergen declarations, nutrition panels and language rules specific to their market. Good export packaging also has to protect the product through a long cold or ambient supply chain: think moisture, heat and stacking. BSJ offers testing and pre-export guidance for processed food, and JAMPRO can help you match your label to your target market before you print a large run.

Key requirements

  1. 1

    Compliant home-market label

    Meet BSJ labelling standards: product name, net metric quantity, ingredients, manufacturer/exporter details, country of origin.

  2. 2

    Food date and batch marking

    Show date marking and batch/lot codes on food and beverages so consignments are traceable and recall-ready.

  3. 3

    Destination-market labelling

    Add allergen, nutrition and language requirements demanded by the EU, UK, US or CARICOM buyer.

  4. 4

    Fit-for-transport packaging

    Use packaging that protects the product against heat, moisture and handling through the whole export journey.

  5. 5

    Accurate, non-misleading claims

    Ensure weights, grades and any 'natural' or origin claims are truthful and verifiable to avoid rejection at the border.

Documents you will need

  • Product label artwork / specification
  • BSJ product certification or test report (where applicable)
  • Ingredient and nutrition data sheet
  • Net-content verification records
  • Packaging specification sheet