Barbados mandates functional and accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market.

Barbados has only partially appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.

It is reported that the Telecommunications Unit, the executive authority for the supervision and administration of services in the telecommunications sector, is independent from the government in the decision-making process.

Under Section 75.1 of the Income Tax Act 1969, every person carrying on business and every person who is or may be required by the Act to collect or pay a tax or other amount shall keep records and books of account, including an annual inventory, in Barbados, in such form and containing such information as will enable the taxes payable under the Act or the taxes or other amounts that should have been deducted, withheld or collected to be determined.

Barbados is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II).

Barbados is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status.

It is reported that at least 25% of the equity in a telecommunications carrier must be held by Barbadian natural or legal persons. Furthermore, it is indicated that the authorities have noted that mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are also subject to the same ownership structure requirement.

According to Art 17.5 of the Patent Act, an applicant (both foreigner and local) for a patent must be represented by a patent agent in Barbados. In addition, it is reported that to be a patent agent in Barbados, it is mandatory to be an attorney-at-law licensed and registered with the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office.

The Legislative Decree No. 27 generally applies to all businesses carrying out commercial activities in Bahrain, including branches of foreign companies. According to Arts. 8-9 of the Decree, all businesses are required to be registered with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) and appropriately licensed by the relevant regulated body to carry out particular activities. The government's websites report that these activities include the operations of e-marketplaces (ISIC activity 6312) and retail sales via the internet (ISIC activity 4791).
This is also confirmed by Resolution No. 152/2016, which imposes a licensing requirement for the operation of eMarketplaces, defined as online marketplaces where products of other licensed businesses are displayed, listed, or advertised (i.e. the products are not owned by the commercial registration owner of the eMarketplace).

It is reported that the de minimis threshold, that is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties, is USD 790, above the 200 USD threshold recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

Bahrain has a legal framework that applies consumer protection to online transactions. Law No. 35 of 2012 on Consumer Protection governs consumer protection matters in general. In addition, Decree No. 54 of 2018, issuing the Law on Electronic Communications and Transactions, updates a repealed law and expands the range of transactions that may be carried out electronically. Under the the Decree electronic signatures are generally considered valid and binding under the law, but Bahraini authorities have yet to register accredited certification service providers.

Bahrain has signed and ratified the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Bahrain has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.