Syrian Arab Republic - 1.3 Customs Information | Digital Logistics Capacity Assessments

Customs Information

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below:  4.1 Syrian Arab Republic Government Contact List

Emergency Response:

[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to ‘crisis’ times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government.  When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free.]

In the following table, state which of the following agreements and conventions apply to the country and if there are any other existing ones

Agreements / Conventions Description	Ratified by Country? (Yes / No)
WCO (World Customs Organization) member	Yes 03Nov59
Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention	Yes 27Jan06
OCHA Model Agreement	No
Tampere Convention (on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations)	No
Regional Agreements (on emergency/disaster response, but also customs unions, regional integration)	EMOP 10717.0

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

[Note: This section should contain information on the usual duties & taxes exemption regime during non-emergency times, when there is no declared state of emergency and no streamlines process (e.g. regular importations/development/etc.).]

The customs formalities operation are ruled and controlled by Customs law in Syria , in cooperation with other concern authorities ( port Managements , Agriculture departments & internal trade departments ). Customs procedures make sure that all the handled cargo is supported with required doc’s ( BL’s , certificate of origin , packing list, commercial invoice , Etc ). Customs liability is also to make sure that cargo should comply with the Syrian standard specifications and classifying the cargo enable to collect the deserve custom duties indicated up to cargo nature.

(i.e.This means that the nature of the cargo will defined the documentation requirements for example if it is health then you need to obtain approval from Ministry Of Health. If it is food then you need to obtain approval from ministry of agriculture and so on)

Organizational Requirements to obtain Duty Free Status
United Nations Agencies
The law N°9 for year 1965 declared that all the cargo imported by UN agencies whom are active and registered officially in Syria are exempted from all the taxes and duties concerning their operations under the agreed MOU between UN Agencies and Syria Arab Republic.
Non Governmental Organizations
Official exemption is given to NGO’s and INGOs and they apply for the exemption through SARC

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

Duties and Taxes Exemption Application Procedure
Generalities (include a list of necessary documentation)
Syrian Prime Minister is the only authorised party to provide the exemption or to carry out any exemption indicates in the law. (i.e.It means that UN agencies applies for exemption to prime ministry through MOFA and the prime ministry is the only party that is authorised to approve the exemption )
Process to be followed (step by step or flowchart)
The only body who can authorise the exemption in the country is the Syrian prime minister. Therefore, written request should be submitted to H.E. for approval. The letter should indicate if this exemption is supported by legal statement, or it is on exceptional case. The nature of the project, the cargo imported, the entry points and the beneficiaries should be indicated. Upon obtaining such approval, the Prime minister office will send a letter to the concerned ministries to activate and implement the decision taken.

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Duties and Taxes Exemption Certificate Document Requirements (by commodity)
	Food	NFI (Shelter, WASH, Education)	Medicines	Vehicles & Spare Parts	Staff & Office Supplies	Telecoms Equipment
Invoice	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.
AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents	Three originals + 3 copies required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	Three originals + 3 copies required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	Three originals + 3 copies required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	Three originals + 3 copies required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	Three originals + 3 copies required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	Three originals + 3 copies required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.
Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.
Packing Lists	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	One original invoice required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.
Other Documents	1 – Original certificate of origin 2 – Original fumigation certificate 3 – Non-GMO certificate 4 – Phytosanitary Cert – 1 Original, Applies to UN and NGOs	1 – Original certificate of origin 2 – Original fumigation certificate 3 – Non-GMO certificate 4 – Phytosanitary Cert – 1 Original, Applies to UN and NGOs	1 – Original certificate of origin 2 – Original fumigation certificate 3 – Non-GMO certificate 4 – Phytosanitary Cert – 1 Original, Applies to UN and NGOs	Original certificate of origin required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	Original certificate of origin required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.	Original certificate of origin required. This is applied to both UN and NGOs.
Additional Notes
n/a

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Customs Information
Document Requirements	B/L’s, invoices should carry the same consignee
Embargoes	All cargo of Israeli and Turkish origin
Prohibited Items	Specific Drugs, Protected Species & Guns
General Restrictions	GMO commodities are not allowed entry to Syria House BL’s are restricted (i.e.It means the GMO (Genteclly modified Oragns certificate) is not required )

Transit Regime

The customs clearance for cargo in transit is less complicated than the local imported cargo, as the custom authorities responsibility is to make sure of the safe passage of the in transit cargo from the entry point up to the departure point, all cargo in transit is submitted to convoy fees and escort arrange by the customs. The cargo document should indicate clearly the statement of (Cargo in Transit to – name of final destination country).