Export Procedures and Regulations
Export License
Exports do not normally require licenses. However, certain categories of goods
need to meet specific standards and other controls. For these goods, export
authorizations should be obtained; these automatically become export licenses
when all therequirements have been fulfilled.
Categories of goods requiring an authorization are
the following:
• Foodstuffs and chemicals - Authorization is obtained from the Ministry of
Health.
• Agricultural products
- Authorization is obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture
and is valid for a single shipment.
Certificates of Origin
It is necessary to have certificates of origin in order to benefit from preferential
tariff treatment. The trade agreements signed between the PA and the EU,
USA, Canada, and the Arab countries state that exported goods should be accompanied
with a certificate of origin in order to benefit from duty-free and the other
preferential tariff treatments.
Shipping Documents
The clearing agent receives products on behalf of the exporter
and starts the process of transferring goods onto the international
carrier. The international
carrier can be paid either on "Freight Collect" or on "Freight
Prepaid" basis.
The following are the documents to be prepared prior
to shipping:
• Insurance: The most common clauses related to the trader's
liability for the goods are "Free On Board" (FOB) and "Cost, Insurance and
Freight" (CIF).
• Bill of Lading
• Airway Bill
• Invoices (pro-forma and commercial)
• Packing List
Marking and Labeling
Common shipping marks are the identification of the importer, the number of
the packing case, the port of destination, gross and net weights, outside measurements
of the case, the country of origin and cautionary marks if careful handling
is needed. However, rules applying to shipping marks can vary according to
the country of destination.
Labeling requirements vary according to the country
of destination. Normally, detailed rules are applied to foodstuffs,
pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, textile and garments. The importer
provides details on labels according to the requirements in the
country of destination.
Fees & Taxes
There are no taxes, tariffs or duties to pay on exports. The importer will
pay the required duties and taxes at the port of destination. Port fees to
be paid are 1.3% of the value of the shipment.
Transportation
Goods can be transported to the port area in containers or in other transport
cases. In the latter case, the clearing agent, the trucking agency or the
forwarding company may load the container. If the goods are transported in
containers from the warehouse, then the exporter must arrange with the shipping
or forwarding company for the container to be brought and filled at the factory.
Procedure from Gaza to the Port of Embarkation
In case the exporting process starts from the Gaza Strip, goods must be transported
to a crossing point with Israel, using Palestinian trucks. From the crossing
points, the exporter has two options, either using Israeli-licensed trucks
to reach the port area, or using Palestinian-licensed trucks.
Exporting and Re-exporting
In the case of exporting goods which may be re-imported to the country of origin,
there is a special license to be obtained from the Ministry of National Economy.
This license is made available for traders participating in fairs abroad
and for exporters of machines to be repaired abroad.
In the case of foreign trade fairs, tariffs and duties
will be paid only on the items sold abroad, based on counting of
items returned to the West Bank and Gaza as compared to the packing
list. In case machinery is being repaired abroad, only VAT will
be paid on the value of the repair, this value is verified by the
service invoice.
Drawback System
The exporter can apply at the Ministry of National Economy for a license that
allows reimbursement of duties for imports intended for processing and re-export.
The request for this license must articulate the reasons for re-exporting
and contain the following:
• Name and address of the exporter
• Type of products, quantity and the acquisition year
• Origin of the inputs and source of acquisition proved by the purchasing invoice
Re-exporting License
The re-exporting license is used when exporting defects previously imported,
such as motor vehicles, computers or electronic parts.
Please refer to our Business & Industry Database if
you are looking for a shipping or clearing agent. They may have more information
to provide.
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