House of Assembly.

The Customs Tariff Amendment (No. Two) 2000 is a 540-page list of special codes for every imaginable type of product and it provides for Customs officers the rate of duty on the item.

Government will introduce the new harmonised code beginning in September and brings the Island into accordance with much of the western world.

There will be a three month period when the old Customs tariff schedule of 1970 will still be in effect.

The new act does not change the rate of duty, only the classification under which Customs officers log in the transaction.

The harmonised code consists of up to seven digits in heading and tariff code fields and a detailed description of the item to be imported or exported.

It also includes the unit to be used for calculating duty, whether it is the value of the item or its quantity or weight. Some items, like alcohol are calculated by the litre.

CUSTOMS CUS TAXES TAX