1 TARIFF MEASURES
Structure of the tariff schedule
Algeria applies the 2002 version of the Harmonized Commodity Description
and Coding System. In addition to the six-digit subheadings of the
Harmonized System, a seventh digit is used for the purpose of the Arab
Maghreb Union and an eighth for national requirements.
Tariff publications
Current information on customs-related matters is available from:
Direction Générale des Douanes
Rue du Docteur Saadane
Alger
The on-line tariff edition provided on the homepage http:www.douanes-cris.dz/
contains information about all ad valorem rates, specific taxes, and special
import procedures.
Tariff rates
| 12 |
Order No. 01.02 of 20 August 2001 established a new customs tariff
in force since 1 January 2002. The customs tariff contains one column
of MFN rates granted to the GATT contracting parties. MFN duty rates
have four levels (0%, 5%, 15%, and 30%) applied on the c.i.f. value.
Low rates apply to unprocessed products, energy and lubricants. High
rates are set on food, beverages, tobacco, and consumer goods. |
| 16 |
Exemption for imported capital goods, products and materials intended
for oil activities is provided by Art. 58 of law No. 86-14 of 19 August
1986, as amended.
Under the 2001 Finance Law (law No. 2000-06 of 23 December 2000),
organic and chemical products used for the production of pharmaceutical
products enter duty-free.
Inputs used for the manufacture of goods intended for export are
admitted free of customs duty in accordance with the 2001 Finance Law (law
No. 2000-06 of 23 December 2000).
The new Investment Code (the Order of 20 August 2001 on the development
of investment) allows for capital goods to be imported at reduced rates
of customs duty. |
| 19.1 |
On 19 February 1997, the Economic Council of the Arab League decided
to establish an Arab free-trade area over a period of ten years starting
from 1 January 1998. During the ten year period, member countries
ought to reduce their respective tariffs by 10% annually. As from
1 January 2007, the free-trade area was scheduled to be fully operational.
Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti and Mauritania did not join the Agreement.
Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen did not start the implementation. |
| 19.2 |
The treaty of 17 February 1989 setting up the Arab Maghreb Union
provides for the eventual introduction of the free movement of goods between
the five countries (Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia) which
are members of the Union. Two conventions have been signed in connection
with the implementation of this objective: (1) the Trade and Tariff Convention
concluded in 1991, which confers exemption from customs duties, taxes and
charges of equivalent effect on all imported products originating in member
countries, and (2) the Convention of 23 July 1990 specifically covering
trade in agricultural products. However, a start has yet not been
made on applying these two conventions. |
| 19.3 |
Bilateral trade agreements with Tunisia, Morocco and Libya provide
for total customs duty exemption for all products originating in these
countries. The Trade and Tariff Convention with Tunisia signed on
9 January 1981 was supplemented by an Additional Protocol of 17 May 1984.
Algeria's trade relations with Morocco are governed by the Trade and Tariff
Convention concluded on 14 March 1989, amending the Convention of 17 March
1973. The Trade and Tariff Convention with Libya was signed on 1
December 1987.
The Trade and Tariff Convention with Mauritania signed on 23 April
1996 provides for the lifting of non-tariff barriers and progressive elimination
of customs duties for originating products on the basis of jointly agreed
lists.
The Tariff Convention with Jordan was signed in 1997. This
convention provides for customs duty exemption for originating products
and is being ratified.
Bilateral trade conventions with Syria, Egypt and Iraq provide for
reciprocal tariff preferences applicable on the basis of lists of import
and export products. Despite the fact that they are still in force,
these three conventions have never been put into effect.
The Trade and Tariff Agreement with Mali signed on 11 July 1996 replaces
the Trade and Tariff Convention of 4 December 1981. However, this
agreement has not yet been ratified.
The Trade Agreement of 7 October 1981 with Senegal has not been applied
as the nature of the products which should enjoy the exemption concerned
has not yet been decided on. |
2 PARA-TARIFF MEASURES
Additional charges
| 22.8 |
A "droit additionel provisoir" (DAP) was introduced under the 2001
Supplementary Finance Law of 19 July 2001 due to be phased out over a period
of five years. A rate of 60% was charged on 300 products for the
year 2001 and will be reduced annually by 12%.
A "taxe à l'abattage" of DA 1 kg is levied on fresh, chilled,
frozen, salted and prepared meat of slaughtered animals. It is paid
into a special fund for the protection of animals.
"Droits de garantie et d'essai" at specific rates are set on articles
of platinum, gold and silver.
A "redevance douanière" is charged at 4 per mill.
A "redevance pour formalités douanières" of 2% of the
customs value is levied on import declarations except those destined for
the Ministry of National Defence, and primary goods which enter duty free.
A "redevance sur l'utilisation de l'infrastructure routière"
applies to foreign registered motor vehicles which transport goods
or persons over national territory. This fee consists of a fixed
and a variable component depending on the type and total laden weight of
the vehicles and the distance to be covered. |
| 23.2 |
The "taxe intérieure de consommation" (TIC) at specific rates
is charged on beer, matches, tobacco and tobacco products. Ad valorem
rates between 10% and 90% apply to salmon, caviar, fruits, coffee, liquors,
worn clothing, off-road and other motor vehicles.
A "taxe sur les produits pétroliers" (TPP) at specific rates
is set on petroleum oils and petroleum gases.
"Droits de circulation sur les alcools" are levied on wines and spirits
at specific rates.
A "taxe additionnelle sur les produits tabagiques" of DA 1 kg has
been introduced by the 2002 Finance Law of 22 December 2001. |
Internal taxes and charges levied
on imports
| 23.1 |
A value added tax is charged at a rate of 17%. Art. 23 of
the turnover Code provides for a reduced rate of 7% applicable to the following
products listed in the 2001 Finance Law of 23 December 2000: live animals,
crustaceans and molluscs, vegetables, dates, cereals, flours, yeast, pharmaceutical
products for veterinary use, insecticides as well as fungicides and herbicides
for agricultural use, newsprint and printed matters, turbines, radar apparatus,
and railway or tramway track fixtures. Special promoted projects
are also liable to the reduced rate of 7%. These include imports
on behalf of SONELGAZ in the energy sector, products for the manufacture
of traditional handicraft, raw or manufactured articles used for construction
and repair of ships and aircraft, and imports in CKD and SKD condition
intended for industries assembling motor vehicles. Exemption from
VAT is provided for non concentrated milk and cream, pharmaceutical products,
fertilizers, capital goods, goods allowed duty-free entry under special
provisions, cereals used for the manufacture of bread flour and semolina
from milled cereal grain, supplies intended for ships or aircraft which
accomplish international shipping or flights, products and materials destined
for the exploitation of hydrocarbons by SONATRACH, special designed motor
vehicles or wheelchairs imported on behalf of disabled people, inputs used
for the manufacture of goods intended for export, barter imports, and products
liable to the "taxe à l'abattage". |
4 FINANCE MEASURES
Finance measures n.e.s.
| 49 |
All imports must be domiciled at a bank in order that trade statistics
and flows of fund may be monitored in accordance with regulation No. 95-07
of 23 December 1995.
Banking domiciliation is the procedure required for access to foreign
exchange.
Proceeds must be repatriated within 120 days. Petroleum companies
are subject to the same rule, but proceeds may be deposited in a guaranteed
account with a foreign correspondent bank of the BOA.
All export proceeds from crude and refined hydrocarbons, by-products
from gas, and mineral products must be surrendered to the BOA. Exporters
of other products must surrender 50 per cent of the proceeds to the interbank
market; the remaining portion may be retained in a foreign currency
account. Exporters may use the funds in these accounts for imports
or other payments pertaining to their business, or they may transfer the
funds to another foreign currency account. Proceeds from exports
of non-hydrocarbons, and non-minerals may be surrendered to commercial
banks and other authorized participants in the interbank foreign exchange
market.
An interbank foreign exchange market was established in the beginning
of January 1996. Under current regulations, export proceeds will
be held entirely in Dinar (i.e. hydrocarbons) or else half in Dinar and
half in foreign exchange (i.e. non-hydrocarbons products). |
6 QUANTITY
CONTROL MEASURES
Licensing under the authority of:
Ministère du Commerce
Rue Dr. Saadane
Alger
Non-automatic licensing
Algeria does not at present have an import licensing system, but
the importation of certain products is made subject to the issue of a prior
authorization by the competent authority. Algeria intends to establish
an import licensing regime during the first quarter of 2003.
| 61.2 |
The 2001 Finance Act and Executive Decree No. 01-397 of 9 December
2001 provides for cigars, cigarettes and other tobacco products to be imported
by legal persons approved as tobacco manufacturers subject to prior authorization. |
| 61.43 |
The Interministerial Order of 14 December 1994 lays down the rules
for barter transactions on the borders with Niger and Mali. The list
of traders responsible for carrying out barter transactions is fixed annually.
There is an established list of goods authorized for barter trade comprising
equipment, raw materials, semi-finished products, spare parts and tools. |
| 61.71 |
Under law No. 85.05 of 16 February 1985 on the Protection and Promotion
of Health, imports of pharmaceutical products, medical supplies, medical
materials, equipment and apparatus require prior authorization from the
Ministry of Public Health and Population.
Consumer goods of a toxic nature or particularly hazardous products
are subject to prior import authorization from the Ministry of Trade.
Details are available in Executive Decree No. 97.254 of 8 July 1997 in
application of Art. 16 of the Consumer Protection (General Provisions)
Act, law No. 89.02 of 7 February 1989 providing a list of toxic and hazardous
products (i.e. cleaning agents and cleaning solvents, polish and products
used for polishing, antifungal products, pesticides for domestic use, matches,
products containing methyl alcohol, fire-extinguishing products, anti-freeze
preparations, caustic products, anti-mist products for linen, sprays (other
than cosmetics), products for children's education and play containing
chemicals or chemistry sets, children's paints and modelling clay, paints
and varnishes, glues and adhesives, and food products containing concentrated
sweeteners).
Algeria has ratified the Washington convention (Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; CITES). As a
party, Algeria maintains import controls on a number of animals and plants,
including their parts and derivatives. |
| 61.78 |
Arms and ammunition not considered to be war material may be imported
subject to prior authorization from the Ministry of Interior after consulting
the Ministry of Defence. Details are available in the order No. 97.06
of 21 January 1997, amended by Executive Decree No. 98.96 of 18 March 1998.
Imports of sensitive equipment such as telescopes, binoculars, and
certain telecommunication require prior authorization in conformity with
the Interministerial Decree of 18 June 1996. Depending on the category
of products, prior authorization is issued by the Ministry of Interior
and Local Authorities, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication or the
Ministry of Transport. Sensitive chemical products require a prior
authorization from the Ministry of Energy and Mining. |
| 61.79 |
With regard to foreign periodical publications containing various
areas of information, the importation of these products is subject to prior
authorization from the Ministry of Communication and Culture, essentially
for religious reasons, particularly public morals pursuant to the Information
Act, law No. 90.07 of 3 April 1990.
Authorization to operate cinematographic films imported from the
USA, France, Egypt, and India is required pursuant to decree No. 88 of
10 October 1988. |
Quotas
| 62.74 |
The release into free circulation of substances (CFCs, halons -
alone or in mixtures) controlled by the Montreal Protocol on Substances
that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1987) and its later amendments and
imported from a State that is a party to the Protocol, is subject to quantitative
limits. |
Prohibitions
Prohibitions are introduced on grounds of public morality, public
order, public safety and protection of the health and life of persons and
animals.
| 63.4 |
The Algerian government may impose temporary prohibitions on animals
or products of animal origin intended for human consumption in order to
protect consumers' health. |
| 63.71 |
Toxic or particular hazardous products importable subject to prior
approval from the competent authority are prohibited if they contain harmful
chemical substances listed in the above legislation. |
| 63.74 |
As a party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer (1987) and its following amendments, Algeria operates a ban
on the import of controlled substances listed in Annex A to the Protocol
(chlorofluorocarbons and halons) from any State not party to this convention. |
| 63.77 |
Motor vehicles must not be older than 3 years at the date of importation.
Under the 2002 Finance Law, this measure was prolongated for another year. |
| 63.78 |
For security reasons, the import of toys imitating handguns is prohibited.
Imports of used tyres are prohibited. |
| 63.8 |
As a member of the League of Arab States, Algeria applies the different
degrees of the embargo decreed by this institution in 1954 with regard
to products originating in Israel. |
7 MONOPOLISTIC MEASURES
Single channel for imports
| 71.1 |
Under decree No. 29/MSP of 6 May, the Ministry of Health reserved
the monopoly to import blood products, narcotics, vaccines and radio pharmaceutical
medicines to state enterprises. |
8 TECHNICAL MEASURES
Technical regulations
Standards are formulated and enforced by:
Institut Algérien de Normalisation
5, Rue Abou Hamou Moussa
1600 Alger
| 81.1 |
Art. 3 of law No. 89.02 on consumer protection provides that any
product to be consumed must meet the approved standards and the legal and
regulatory specifications applicable to it. Law No. 89.23 on standards
provides that Algerian standards include approved standards and registered
standards. Approved standards are compulsory whereas registered standards
are voluntary. The Algerian standardization system is largely based
on international practice.
Under the National Metrology Act, law No. 90-18 of 31 July 1990,
instruments of measurement must conform with a design approved in Algeria.
Pharmaceutical products for use in human medicine must be registered
with the Ministry of Health and Population.
Health derogation from the Ministry of Agriculture is required for
animals, animal products, and products of animal origin. The derogation
is a document certifying that no notifiable disease has been reported in
the exporting country. Details are available in the Veterinary Medicine
and Protection of Animal Health Act, law No. 88-08 of 20 January 1988.
A prior technical authorization is required for seeds and plants.
A prior technical authorization is a document certifying that the plant
material originates in a country officially declared free of harmful organisms
subject to quarantine. Details are available in the Phytosanitary
Protection Act, law No. 87-17 of 1 August 1987.
Industrial products intended for household equipment must be accompanied
by conformity and guarantee certificates, the model and period of validity
of which are laid down in the Order of 10 May 1994.
Algeria applies the principle of equivalence of sanitary and phytosanitary
measures and has a number of bilateral sanitary agreements.
Imports of second-hand clothing require a certificate of disinfection
in conformity with law No. 85.05 of 16 February 1985 on the protection
and promotion of health.
A list of authorized sweeteners in food products is available in
the order of 15 December 1999.
Technical specification requirements are set on milk-powder in conformity
with the order of 27 October 1999, amended by the order of 2 April 2000. |
| 81.2 |
The marking of shelf-life date is mandatory under Executive Decree
No. 96-354. |
| 81.3 |
All imported goods must comply with labelling requirements established
in the decree Nos. 90-366, 90-367, and 90-354.
Tobacco products are subject to labelling requirements indicating
the name of the importer and the country of origin in accordance with the
2001 Finance Law. |
| 81.3/4 |
Pursuant to the order of 26 May 2002, labelling and packaging requirements
are set on poultry imported to be consumed. |
| 81.5 |
Any products with an expiry date must, on the date of inspection,
posses a durability exceeding 80 per cent of its life.
The list of products subject to systematic inspection is annexed
to the Order of 3 January 1998 supplementing that of 3 March 1997.
Priority is given to food, cosmetics and personal hygiene products in view
of their risk for consumer health and safety.
The importation of live animals and products of animal origin is
governed by law No. 88-08 of 26 January 1988 and Executive Decree No. 95-363
of 11 November 1995 on veterinary inspections at border posts.
Phytosanitary and agricultural pesticide controls are based on law
No. 87-17 of 1 August 1987 on phytosanitary protection, amended by decree
No. 93-139 of 14 June 1993.
All plant products included in the schedule attached to Annex II
of decree No. 93-283 of 23 November 1993 are subject to compulsory phytosanitary
inspection.
Order No. 306 SPM of 18 November 1995 lays down specific phytosanitary
requirements for imports of potato tubers.
Plant Protection Law No. 87-17 and decree No. 93-286 institute and
fix official points for the entry of plants and plant products.
Food products are subject to food health safety requirements in respect
of pesticide residues, heavy metals and other contaminants. |
| 81.6 |
Pursuant to law No. 88.08 of 26 January 1988, Algeria established
a list of animal diseases subject to compulsory declaration and the general
measures applicable to them.
Pursuant to Executive Decree No. 95-387 of 28 November 1995, Algeria
established a list of plant pests and the surveillance and control measures
applicable to them. The list comprises two categories:
- List A of harmful organisms that must be combated, and
- List B of agricultural diseases.
The implementation is covered by Phytosanitary Directive No. 388
of 27 May 1996. |
|