With Christmas just under a week away and the festivities that mark the season in full gear, the Jamaica Customs Agency (JCA), is reminding all customers/importers to ensure that they comply with regulations governing the importation of restricted goods (meats – such as ham, turkey) and desist from importing prohibited items (such as fire crackers, toy guns).

Goods classified as restricted, require a permit and/or licence in order to be imported, while prohibited goods are not allowed to enter the country.

The JCA further implores its customers to contact the agency or the relevant agency, prior to importing certain goods into the country which may require a permit.

It is important that importers comply with Customs laws and other relevant legislation governing the importation of certain items into Jamaica (such as meats, motor vehicles, pesticides, agricultural produce, human remains, etc).

The following are agencies for which the JCA performs border protection or agency functions.

* The Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA), Ministry of National Security

* The Pesticides Control Authority (PCA),Ministry of Health

* The Plant Quarantine Unit, Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries (MICAF)

* The Veterinary Services Division, MICAF

* Trade Board Limited

* Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA)

* The Public Health Department, Ministry of Health

* Bureau of Standards (MICAF)

* National Compliance and Regulatory Authority (NRCA)

* National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)

* Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ)

* Coconut Industry Board

* Spectrum Management Authority (SMA)

* Department of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies (DCFS)

* The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).

Importers can be sanctioned for failing to obtain the relevant permits when importing certain items. Other reasons for which people can be sanctioned are:

* Under-invoicing

* False declarations

* Undeclared excess goods

* Intellectual property rights violations

* Violations of the requirements of regulatory authorities.

Ensure:

* No excess goods are being shipped and invoices are authentic.

* Supporting documents, such as Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC), Certificate of Registration of Approved Charity, etc are valid

* Documentation for shipments to charitable entities bears the consignee’s name and address.

Reminders

* If the passenger uses a portion or all of the duty-free allowance (US$500), the Customs officer will indicate on the e-Form (C-27 – formerly Yellow Form) that full allowance was given, or the amount of the allowance utilised. Once there is an allowance remaining, the passenger will utilise the balance to clear the unaccompanied baggage

* The C-27 electronic form is valid for clearing goods that arrive in the island two months before, or after the spassenger arrives. This form is completed by the Customs officer

* Goods with a Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of more than US$5000 must be cleared by a licensed Customs broker

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

* If items are being cleared on behalf of a consignee, the representative must present a letter of authorisation, signed and stamped by a Justice of the Peace (JP). The consignee’s Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) card and valid identification must be presented to the Customs official (photocopied documents must also be signed/stamped by a JP).

Documents required for clearing your items:

* Tax Registration Number (TRN)

* Valid identification (driver’s licence, passport or voter’s/national ID).

* Passport/receipt from the kiosk in the immigration hall, if the C27 ‘Yellow Form’ is used

* Invoice

* Bill of lading or air waybill

* C27 (Unaccompanied Declaration Form)

* C86 (Goods Declaration Form).

For further information telephone the JCA at: 876-922-5140-8; Toll free: 888-287-8667.