to a Bill passed in the House of Assembly this week.

And businesses that have their annual reports printed overseas will have to cough up 15 percent duty on any of the material brought back into Bermuda.

But the changes will be a win for residents receiving gifts in the post or by courier as the duty-free portion that has remained pegged at $20 since 1982 is to rise up to $30.

And the amendment act will also see changes to duty on vehicles or machinery imported for the handicapped as well as other "housekeeping matters'', Finance Minister Eugene Cox told the House.

The Customs Tariff Amendment Act 1999 was given a second and third reading before being passed with no objections late on Monday night.

Mr. Cox explained to the Lower House that the main gist of the new legislation was to reduce the tariffs for materials and equipment needed in the printing industry from 22.25 percent to 15 percent.

That cut would apply on graphic arts film and proofing material, printing plates, printing dampening equipment solution, graphic arts photographic chemistry fixers and developers.

Also slashed back to 15 percent will be the duty on commercial bindery supplies, blanket and roller wash and other chemicals used exclusively by the printing industry.

"This will work to restore the competitiveness of the local printing industry,'' he said.

And he said it was estimated the Government would lose about $90,000 in duties from the slash.

The same concept was behind the introduction of a 15 percent tariff on printed annual reports of business entities resident in Bermuda, he said.

"That is intended to maximise use of the Bermudian printing industry by businesses currently taking advantage of conditions here but having their printing done overseas.'' But he admitted to Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons it was anticipated that that move was likely to raise only $20,000 for the Government.

Mr. Cox said the Bill would also clarify that the zero-duty allowance on machinery or vehicles for the handicapped did not apply for ordinary cars but only on modifications to those cars or special equipment needed.

He said until now the law had been unclear which had allowed some handicapped people to import whole vehicles duty-free when only small changes were needed to make them "handicap-friendly''.

The legislation also cut duty on electric boats down to zero since this would "reduce noise and pollution'', Mr. Cox said.

He said it would also "tidy up'' the schedule of duty so items like paint and varnish appeared in only one section to avoid confusion.

And the changes would outlaw items imported with reduced duties from being sold on to the public or other businesses, rather than being used by the person or company who brought them to Bermuda.