What are the requirements for clearing a barrel?

Barrels are shipped into Jamaica throughout the year; however, Jamaicans at home and abroad look forward to sending and receiving barrels especially at Christmas time, which is, by far, the busiest period of the year as it relates to clearing these commodities at the ports.

Here are the procedures for clearing a barrel:

1. Collect your shipping documents from the shipping agent and pay the relevant handling and/or freight charges.

2. Proceed to the warehouse where your barrel is stored and pay the relevant handling and storage fees.

3. Present the shipping documents to the security personnel at the warehouse.

4. Once the barrel is located, the customs officer will request that you open the barrel for examination.

5. Following examination, the customs officer will value your goods and advise you to proceed to the customs cashier to pay the applicable duties/fees.

6. Present the Release Order to the warehouse operator who will issue a gate pass.

7. Proceed to the delivery area with your gate pass to collect your barrel.

8. You have successfully cleared your barrel!

Note:

• If you received an unaccompanied baggage declaration (clearance) (C27/yellow form) form at the airport, present it along with your passport and TaxPayer Registration Number (TRN) card to the customs official at the warehouse.

• Barrels containing ‘personal effects’ (eg food, clothes, toiletries, basic household items) or ‘non-commercial’ items attract a minimum charge of $6,500 per barrel.

• If you are clearing a barrel on behalf of a consignee, you must present a letter of authorisation, signed and stamped by a justice of the peace (JP). The consignee’s TRN card and valid passport must be presented to the customs official (photocopied documents must also be signed and stamped by a JP).

For further information contact:

Jamaica Customs Agency,

Myers’ Wharf, Newport East, Kingston 15

Telephone: 922-5140-8

toll free: 1-888-CUSTOMS (1-888-287-8667)

website:

www.jacustoms.gov.jm

e-mail:

public.relations@jacustoms.gov.jm