Sint Maarten
Customs Service Center
Email: wwicust@sintmaarten.net
Website: http://www.sintmaartengov.org
Address: E.C. Richardson Street # 11B
Phone: +1721 542 1000 / +1721 542-1008 / +1721 542-1009
Fax: +721 542-1001
Sint Maarten has a Duty Free status with no import or export taxes. This allows for the tariff free importation of raw materials for construction and manufacturing as well as tax free exportation of finished goods to be sold in foreign markets. These attributes make Sint Maarten ideal for investment. Furthermore, as an overseas country of the Netherlands, Sint Maarten receives more favorable trade relations with the European Union making exports to that market more viable.
Tariffs
In general, there are no customs duties or import tariffs in Sint Maarten, except for a special import tariff on gasoline. The rate is ANG 29% per hectolitre.
Documentation
Basic import documentation required by the Sint Maarten Customs office includes:
- Import Declaration (prepared and signed by a customs broker);
- Commercial Invoice (original plus four copies to be presented in Dutch/ English);
- Airway Bill;
- Bill of Lading (to be presented in triplicate);
- Commercial license number;
- Phytosanitary Certificate and previous authorization from the Sint Maarten Food Safety Authority;
- Certificate of Free Sale (if required);
- Certificate of Origin (in the case of application for duty free treatment).
Labeling
Sint Maarten accepts international labels and imposes no additional labeling requirements on international products. Currently, labels are accepted in English, Dutch, Papiamento and Spanish. However, authorities are considering changing the requirement to English and Dutch only.
Stick-on-labels are not allowed.
The following information has to be indicated on the label:
- name, trade name or description;
- name and complete address of manufacturer/packer, importer, country of origin of the imported food;
- net weight, number or volume of contents in metric units;
- distinctive batch, lot or code number;
- month and year of manufacture and packaging;
- month and year by which the product is best consumed;
- if food products have been genetically modified (GM) this must be indicated in the label.
Packaging
Sint Maarten does not impose any packaging restrictions on the international food products.
Additional Contacts
Inspectorate of Public Health, Social Services & Labor
Ministry of Health Care, Social Development & Labor
Kanaal Steeg #1
Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
Phone: 011 (599) 542-2079, 542-2059
Fax: 011 (599) 542-2936
E-mail: hygvet@sintmaarten.net
Sources
http://www.sintmaartengov.org/government/Pages/default.aspx
http://taxsummaries.pwc.com/uk/taxsummaries/wwts.nsf/ID/Sint-Maarten-Corporate-Other-taxes
