PANAMA

On January 4, , the National Customs Authority (ANA, in Spanish) published a resolution in the Official Gazette establishing the obligations and procedure for Fast Delivery Companies or Couriers as auxiliaries of the public customs function. Among its provisions, it lists how to classify the goods included under the fast delivery or courier modalities. The regulations will come into force in three months.

Below, you will find the most relevant aspects of the text:

• Within the obligations outlined for fast delivery or courier companies, it is mentioned that they must classify the goods in accordance with certain categories, and they will dispose of six working hours after receiving the transport unit in the authorized facilities to separate the shipments and present the declaration of goods.
• The merchandise must be classified within the following categories: correspondence, documents and other non-adjustable merchandise or merchandise without commercial value; small shipments of merchandise not prohibited or restricted by a consenting body, nor subject to non-tariff regulations; small shipments subject to the payment of taxes; shipments subject to simplified procedures; merchandise destined to a regime different from that of definitive import or export.
• The text outlines the procedure for the definitive import of goods by fast delivery or courier companies. Thus, for example, it indicates that said companies must send an email to [email protected] in advance of the arrival of the goods containing the rapid delivery manifest.
• The resolution lists the information that must be included in the rapid delivery manifest, such as the nationality, the name and the registration number of the means of transport, according to the type of transport involved; document numbers, brands, numbering and quantity of packages.