WILLEMSTAD - The Council of Ministers has been informed of the plans of Minister Javier Silvania, as outlined in a memorandum, to make changes to the draft General Lands Ordinance on Customs and Excise (known as Alda in Dutch).
The Alda aims to modernize customs and excise legislation by consolidating various existing lands ordinances related to this matter into one comprehensive lands ordinance. The original draft Alda was submitted to the Parliament (Staten) in 2016.
Minister Silvania has recently decided to complete the process of the Alda, both in the interest of the customs organization and the business community. According to the minister, the Alda complies with the most recent international treaty standards to which Curaçao has committed itself.
Legal Certainty
At the local level, the ministry believes that the Alda represents a significant improvement in legal certainty, both for Customs and the business community. This is due to the fact that rights and obligations will be more clearly defined, ranging from declaration and tax and import duty calculations to objections and appeals.
Additionally, the Alda enhances opportunities for digital communication between Customs and importers, both in terms of declaration and inspection. It proposes the implementation of pre-arrival declarations, making the import process more efficient. Companies with well-managed administration, security, and internal controls will also be eligible for simplified import and export procedures, resulting in cost savings.
Preparations
The proposed amendments to the Alda, as well as the additions in the Amendment Memorandum, serve as a framework for these reforms, says the minister. After approval of this draft in the Parliament, preparations will immediately commence for implementing regulations to ensure the transition to this new lands ordinance and its associated improvements proceeds as smoothly as possible, as promised by Silvania.
Furthermore, this proposal includes the expansion of the zero tariff for import duties on items such as electric vehicles, including pick-ups, buses, and scooters. Finally, the possibility of granting exemptions for donated goods to charitable and sports organizations will be expanded.