Supplying Medicines and Supplements to Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is one of the most developed economies in the Caribbean, with a clear registration system. The Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division registers medicines and publishes the list of registered products.

Public supply runs through NIPDEC, which manages it through open tenders, and the health ministry told Parliament in 2024 that it buys only registered medicines. So registration comes first, for private and public supply alike.

Trinidad and Tobago at a glance

How to supply medicines to Trinidad and Tobago

1. Find a local importer. A Trinidadian importer or agent files the registration with the CFDD.
2. Prepare the dossier. A CTD dossier with a CoPP and the plant's GMP evidence.
3. Use the regional route. If the product is approved by a stringent regulator or WHO-prequalified, a recommendation from the Caribbean Regulatory System (CRS), run by CARPHA, can support registration across CARICOM.
4. Supply. Private pharmacies and distributors, or NIPDEC open tenders, which buy only registered medicines.

For a medicine not registered in Trinidad and Tobago, ask your importer whether a special import is possible for your case. See named-patient and special import and government tender supply.

Supplements

Under the Food and Drugs Act, a product sold for a medical purpose counts as a drug, so the claims you make decide how a supplement is handled. Confirm the classification with the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division before you print labels. We help brands get supplements made under their own label by GMP-certified contract manufacturers: see nutraceutical private label.

What people in Trinidad and Tobago search for

Semrush data from October 2026 shows that people in Trinidad and Tobago search most for vitamin D (about 1,600 searches a month), collagen (1,000), vitamin B12 and protein (720 each). Among medicines, ivermectin, metformin, semaglutide, magnesium sulphate and nimesulide are searched often.

People in Trinidad and Tobago search in English. Besides vitamin D, collagen, B12 and protein, they type “vitamin d3” and “vitamin c” (about 590 a month each), “vitamin e” (390) and “protein powder trinidad” (390), and for medicines “prednisone” (320) (Semrush, October 2026).

How importers and distributors in Trinidad and Tobago search

Trade searches barely register: “medication suppliers” and “private label products” each get about 30 a month (Semrush, October 2026).

Originator brands searched by name include Ozempic (semaglutide), Mydocalm (tolperisone), Piriton (chlorphenamine), Augmentin (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid), Lasix (furosemide) and Voltaren (diclofenac). Brand names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify the medicine.

Supplements we can help you make

Often searched medicines include ivermectin, metformin and semaglutide. Some examples we list:

Documents to ask your supplier for

• A Certificate of a Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) in WHO format.
• The plant's GMP evidence, such as a WHO-GMP, EU-GMP or PIC/S certificate, plus any inspection by your regulator.
• The registration dossier (CTD or ACTD), with bioequivalence data for generics where required.
• Stability data for hot climates.
• A Certificate of Analysis for every batch.

Not sure a supplier is genuine? Read how to verify a pharmaceutical supplier. For the neighbouring markets, see our Latin America and Caribbean import guide.

Frequently asked questions