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Export Procedures and Regulations
Export License
Exports do not normally require licenses. However, certain categories of goods need to meet specific standards and other controls. For these goods, export authorizations should be obtained; these automatically become export licenses when all the requirements have been fulfilled.
Categories of goods requiring an authorization are the following:
• Food stuffs and chemicals - authorization is obtained from the Ministry of Health. 
• Agricultural products - authorization is obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture and is valid for a single shipment.
 
Certificates of Origin
It is necessary to have certificates of origin in order to benefit from preferential tariff treatment. The trade agreements signed between the PA and the EU, USA, Canada, and the Arab countries state that exported goods should be accompanied with a certificate of origin in order to benefit from duty-free and the other preferential tariff treatments.
 
Shipping Documents
The clearing agent receives products on behalf of the exporter and starts the process of transferring goods onto the international carrier. The international carrier can be paid either on "Freight Collect" or on "Freight Prepaid" basis.
The following are the documents to be prepared prior to shipping:
• Insurance: The most common clauses related to the trader's liability for the goods are "Free On Board" (FOB) and "Cost, Insurance and Freight" (CIF). 
• Bill of Lading 
• Airway Bill 
• Invoices (pro-forma and commercial) 
• Packing List

Marking and Labeling
Common shipping marks are the identification of the importer, the number of the packing case, the port of destination, gross and net weights, outside measurements of the case, the country of origin and cautionary marks if careful handling is needed. However, rules applying to shipping marks can vary according to the country of destination.
Labeling requirements vary according to the country of destination. Normally, detailed rules are applied to foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, textile and garments. The importer provides details on labels according to the requirements in the country of destination.
 
Fees & Taxes
There are no taxes, tariffs or duties to pay on exports. The importer will pay the required duties and taxes at the port of destination. Port fees to be paid are 1.3% of the value of the shipment.
 
Transportation
Goods can be transported to the port area in containers or in other transport cases. In the latter case, the clearing agent, the trucking agency or the forwarding company may load the container. If the goods are transported in containers from the warehouse, then the exporter must arrange with the shipping or forwarding company for the container to be brought and filled at the factory.
 
Procedure from Gaza to the Port of Embarkation
In case the exporting process starts from the Gaza Strip, goods must be transported to a crossing point with Israel, using Palestinian trucks. From the crossing points, the exporter has two options, either using Israeli-licensed trucks to reach the port area, or using Palestinian-licensed trucks.
 
Exporting and Re-exporting
In the case of exporting goods which may be re-imported to the country of origin, there is a special license to be obtained from the Ministry of National Economy. This license is made available for traders participating in fairs abroad and for exporters of machines to be repaired abroad.
In the case of foreign trade fairs, tariffs and duties will be paid only on the items sold abroad, based on counting of items returned to the West Bank and Gaza as compared to the packing list. In case machinery is being repaired abroad, only VAT will be paid on the value of the repair, this value is verified by the service invoice.
 
Drawback System
The exporter can apply at the Ministry of National Economy for a license that allows reimbursement of duties for imports intended for processing and re-export. The request for this license must articulate the reasons for re-exporting and contain the following:
• Name and address of the exporter 
• Type of products, quantity and the acquisition year 
• Origin of the inputs and source of acquisition proved by the purchasing invoice
 
Re-exporting License
The re-exporting license is used when exporting defects previously imported, such as motor vehicles, computers or electronic parts.

 

Please refer to our Business & Industry Database if you are looking for a shipping or clearing agent. They may have more information to provide.