The Minister of Finance presented a Memorandum of Amendment to the draft national ordinance General National Ordinance on Customs and Excise Duties (Alda) to the Council of Ministers for presentation to the States.
The Alda modernizes customs and excise legislation and bundles the various applicable national ordinances that relate to this into one general national ordinance. The Alda was originally offered to the States in 2016. Minister Silvania has now decided to complete the Alda route, in the interest of both the customs organization and the business community. The Alda complies with the most recent international standards of treaties to which Curaçao is a member.
Locally, the Alda will be an important improvement in the field of legal certainty, both for the Customs organization and for the business community, because rights and obligations are more clearly defined, from the declaration and calculation of the tax and import duties due to objections and appeals. The Alda also improves the possibilities of digital communication between Customs and importers, both during declarations and inspections, makes it possible to speed up the import process with the help of “pre-arrival” declarations, and makes it possible to designate companies that have their administration, security and internal controls in order, and will therefore be able to import or export goods in a simplified manner, which will lead to cost savings.
The Alda and the adjustments introduced through the Memorandum of Amendment form the framework law for this purpose. Immediately after the consideration and approval of this draft in Parliament, preparation of the implementing regulations will continue so that the transition to this new national ordinance and the improvements it entails will proceed as quickly and smoothly as possible.
Based on this proposal, the existing zero import duty rate for electric cars will also be extended to other electric vehicles such as pick-ups, buses and scooters. Finally, the possibility of granting an exemption for, for example, donated goods for charitable and sports organizations will be expanded.