4/12/12 -CABINET APPROVES CUSTOMS (PROHIBITED IMPORTS AND EXPORTS)(AMENDMENT)(NO.3) REGULATIONS 2012

04/12/2012

Cabinet has endorsed the Customs (Prohibited Imports and Exports) (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 2012.

Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Attorney – General, Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

The Prime Minister in his 2013 Budget address, announced that while there wouldstill be an age limit on second-hand vehicles, allowance would be made for the importation of older vehicles so long as they comply with Euro 4 standards.

The Attorney – General said that amendments to Schedules 2 and 3 of the Regulations allow for the importation of older vehicles as long as they comply with Euro 4 standards.

Furthermore, he said that while the manufacture and importation of non-biodegradable plastics for use in Fiji is prohibited, it has become however necessary to allow an exception to this prohibition to cater for the export market and storage of perishables.

As such, the amendment to Schedule 2 of the Regulations make allowance for the importation of non-biodegradable plastics for the following trading purposes alone: packaging or preserving food and beverages; packaging or preserving medicine and pharmaceutical products; for uses wholly or as components for exports and/or re-exports; and for processing, manufacturing and/or packing of exports and/or re-exports”.

The Customs (Prohibited Imports and Exports) (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 2012 shall be deemed to have come into force on 1 November 2012.

-ENDS-