Office of The Prime Minister Launches Green Choice Exemption Programme to Promote Energy-Efficient Imports

Nassau, The Bahamas – The National Emissions Registry (NER), a unit within the Office of the Prime Minister, is proud to announce the launch of the Green Choice Exemption Programme – an initiative designed to encourage the importation of energy-efficient cooling and heating appliances across The Bahamas.

The Green Choice Exemption Programme offers duty exemptions on eligible energy-efficient air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, and water heaters to households, non-profit organizations, and commercial entities, including retailers.

Under the programme:

• Households and non-profit organizations may import, annually, up to:
  
  • 4 air conditioners
    
  • 2 refrigerators
    
  • 2 freezers
    
  • 2 water heaters
    
• Commercial entities and retailers may import an unlimited number of eligible appliances for use in their business operations or for resale.
  

To participate:

• Social support organizations (e.g., children’s homes, elderly care facilities, soup kitchens, and churches) must pay a one-time $75 permit fee.
  
• All other households and commercial entities are required to pay an annual permit fee of $100.
  

The programme aims to promote energy efficiency, enabling stakeholders to reduce energy costs, lower their carbon footprint, and support The Bahamas’ national target of reducing emissions by 30% by 2030.

Steps to Apply for the Green Choice Exemption Programme:

1. Review the Specifications Guidelines at ner.bahamas.gov.bs (under the Initiatives/Incentives tab) to confirm appliance eligibility.
   
2. Purchase the eligible appliance(s).
   
3. Visit the MyGateway portal, select Office of the Prime Minister, and choose National Emissions Registry to complete the application.
   
4. The NER will review the submission and, if successful, issue a permit via the MyGateway platform.
   
5. Upload the approved permit to the Customs Click2Clear portal.
   
6. Receive the applicable duty exemption on the energy-efficient appliance(s).
   

The National Emissions Registry was established under the Climate Change and Carbon Markets Initiatives Act, 2022, and is tasked with monitoring, tracking, and recording greenhouse gas emissions in The Bahamas. The Green Choice Exemption Programme is implemented under the Emission Reduction Initiatives and Incentives Regulations, 2025.

For more information, visit ner.bahamas.gov.bs or contact the National Emissions Registry at ner@bahamas.gov.bs.