Qatar's Government made Amendments to the Qatar Customs Law

Qatar introduced Law No. (13) of 2023, implementing substantial amendments to the Qatar Customs Law (Law No. 40 of 2002) via Official Gazette issue No. 11 of 2023, taking immediate effect.

These amendments are geared towards bolstering trade and streamlining customs processes by centralizing documentation and incorporating technology-based solutions.

 The key highlights of these amendments include:

 1. Non-refundable customs duty on lost or abandoned goods.

2. Possibility of proceeding with customs procedures without mandatory commercial invoices, subject to specific conditions.

3. Expansion of customs duty exemptions, now encompassing security-related imports, rescue materials, temporarily exported and returned goods (with certain conditions), commercial samples within specified value limits, goods for disabled persons or related to disability care, and incoming personal postal parcels excluding specified commodities.

4. Increased penalties for smuggling cases, amounting to three times the duty paid or double the value of related goods.

5.Provision for partial or complete waiver of customs fines and penalties if voluntarily disclosed before their discovery, covering a wide range of violations including temporary admission, re-export, warehouse, declaration, transit, import, and export violations.

6. Qatar Customs aims to facilitate trade by implementing pre-customs clearance procedures to reduce time, costs, and unnecessary delays at ports. Additionally, electronic documents might be accepted for customs clearance under specific conditions ensuring data authenticity and verification.

These amendments signify Qatar Customs' commitment to fostering efficient trade practices while introducing stringent measures to deter violations and enhance transparency in customs procedures.