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The rules of Bonded zones and customs regulations have been modified to benefit importers and exporters in logistics companies, by allowing them to deposit and store their goods without customs duties or taxes. This aims to increase financial liquidity, flexibility, facilitate the movement of goods, and promote trade activities.
Deposit Areas: These are areas where goods are deposited, pending payment of customs duties and taxes. They include one or more warehouses where the activities specified in these rules are carried out, depending on the type of the area. Bonded zones are managed by the operator under the supervision and control of the customs authority.
The application scope of these areas is subject to the requirements and approvals of the authority. If the deposit area is located within or outside the customs zone, it must be approved by the governor of the authority.
After selecting the facility for deposit areas, the facility must obtain licenses according to its activities. Each license permits certain activities:
- Deposit License: Allows storage and handling activities in addition to value-added operations.
- Specialized Deposit Area License: Allows various activities in addition to those allowed by the deposit license, such as e-commerce, maintenance, mixing, and simple assembly operations.
- Storage Deposit Area License: Allows storage of liquid petroleum and petrochemical derivatives, bulk products, mixing, and blending activities. It also allows the activities permitted by the deposit license.
- Temporary Deposit Area License: It is valid for a period not exceeding 6 months, and the licensee is permitted to extend it or convert it into a permanent license. It allows all operations carried out in Bonded zones as determined by the authority.
The license is issued in the name of the facility and is valid for a period of ten years. If the facility wishes to renew the license, it must do so at least ninety days before the expiry of the current license, and the facility is not required to pay any financial dues to the authority. The validity of the license is limited to approved locations by the authority, and after obtaining the licenses, the operator must comply with all the requirements and specifications of the authority.
The licensee can transfer the license, subject to the approval of the authority. The transferred license must be valid for at least six months, and the transferee must comply with the necessary criteria, requirements, and settle all previous financial dues or penalties before the transfer.
The authority has the right to cancel the license in several situations, such as canceling the commercial registration of the licensee or liquidating the company, if the license is transferred without the approval of the authority. The authority can also cancel the license if it is proven that the licensee has committed any violations related to integrity, acceptance of bribes, fraud, or forgery.
Employees, loyal customs visitors, government officials, and vehicles can enter the Bonded zones if they are allowed by the authority. They must cooperate with the procedures of the authority to facilitate their entry.
All goods are allowed unless the authority imposes restrictions or a ban on them. Prohibited goods are strictly prohibited from being present in deposit areas, such as goods imported from countries not allowed for import, narcotics and psychotropic substances, goods associated with intellectual property protection, or any goods prohibited under the provisions. Damaged and spoiled goods, goods subject to restrictions on possession or storage, cannot be removed from the Bonded zones or consumed without the approval of the relevant authorities, such as weapons, ammunition, any explosive materials, medical supplies subject to clearance requirements, radioactive and flammable materials, and hazardous chemicals.
Goods can be transported within the suspended fee areas or even transferred from one warehouse to another within the suspended areas without being subject to customs duties.
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