Cook Islands
Cook Islands Customs Contacts
Website: http://www.customs.govt.nz/Pages/default.aspx
Email: customs.support@cookislands.gov.ck
Address: Cook Islands Customs Service/ Revenue Management Division, P O Box 120, Rarotonga
Telephone: +682 29365
The Cook Islands is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. The Cook Islands' defense and foreign affairs are the responsibility of New Zealand, but they are exercised in consultation with the Cook Islands. The Cook Islands is a member of the WHO and an associate member of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Tariffs
With few exceptions, imports are subject to the 15 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) and is payable at the time of entry. Duty assessment is based on free on board (FOB) value, country of origin and classification of goods.
Product certification, labelling and packaging
Import licenses are not required to import goods into New Zealand and import restrictions or barriers are not imposes to imports for purely trade-related reasons. Although, there are strict health, content, safety and origin labelling rules and stringent restrictions relating to animal and plant health requirements. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) certification is required for endangered plant and animal species and products. Animal remedies and pesticides must be licensed by the New Zealand Animal Remedies Board or the Agricultural Chemicals Board. Animal and Plant products including nursery stock, live animals and food are subject to import health standards issued by Ministry for Primary Industries. A wide range of products are prohibited under biosecurity regulations, while special import requirements apply to weapons and dangerous substances such as chlorofluorocarbons.
Most labels carry the following information: date marking, name or description of the food, name and address of the business, warning and advisory statement, ingredients list, percentage labelling, nutrition information panel, use and storage directions.
Import and export documents
Documents needed for import:
- an airwaybill or bill of lading
- commercial invoices
- packing lists
- insurance certificates.
Clearance via the internet is possible by filling the Online Customs Entry Declaration on the official customs website https://customs.gov.ck/web-bms/pages/login.xhtml
More detailed information about tariffs applied on goods can be found here:
http://www.customs.govt.nz/incommercial/importcharges/dutiesandcharges/Pages/default.aspx
Sources:
http://www.mfem.gov.ck/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=35&Itemid=58
http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/charges/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.customs.govt.nz/features/prohibited/exports/Pages/default.aspx
