Requirements to Export (Belize to other countries)

The major documents that any exporter must become familiar include:

* Export License
* Customs Entry Forms
* Commercial Invoices
* Consular Invoices
* Certificate of Origin
* Certificate of Value
* Health/Sanitary Certificate
* Certificate of Inspection, Analysis or Weight
* Packing List

Not all the above documents are required for all goods by all countries. The exporter must find out which ones are necessary in each case. It is important to know where to obtain the documents needed.

* Export License – This is the first document that an exporter must obtain. The following goods require an export license prior to exportation:

1. Live animals, excluding pets
2. Fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, excluding aquaculture species
3. Logs and lumber (except logs and lumber from Rosewood and Zericote trees, which are wholly prohibited)
4. Sugar
5. Citrus Fruits
6. Beans

Export licenses are issued by the Ministry of Finance, however consultation is conducted with the government body or association responsible for the product before the license is granted. In the case of live animal, it is recommended that the exporter obtain a letter from the Belize Livestock Producers Association or the Belize Poultry Association, recommending the export of the product. For exports of fish and other seafood, the Ministry of Finance will consult the Fisheries Department before granting the license. The Forest Department is consulted for exports of logs and lumber, and the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) for citrus exports. Licensing for beans and sugar are automatic.

* Customs Entry Form – When exporting any type of good from Belize, a Customs Entry Form is required. This document is collected at the port of exit, is used mainly for compiling statistics on the volume and value of a country’s exports. Within Belize, this form is known as the “Customs Declaration (Import/Export) Form C100”. The form must be prepared and
authorized by a licensed customs broker. Four copies are needed whenever a shipment arrives or leaves Belize. The forms can be purchased at major Bookstores in Belize.

* Commercial Invoice – The document gives the information on which duty will be assessed. It can usually be prepared on the exporter’s own form but the contents, must comply with regulations of the importing country. Amounts must be set out clearly and cost of goods shown separately from the cost of transport and insurance. Some commercial invoices must be accompanied by a declaration that the exporter himself prepares and signs. Commercial invoices accompanied by such declarations are known as ‘certified’ commercial invoices.

* Customs Invoices – The custom invoices is usually required by Commonwealth countries, and is a commercial invoice prepared on a special form prescribed by the Customs authorities.

* Consular Invoice – The consular invoice is a specific invoice used by the Consul of the importing country. Many importing countries, mainly less developed countries, have already phased out the use of this invoice. It is used for customs clearance and other purposes, and such any errors or omissions on the invoice may cause problems and fines at customs in the importing country.

In Belize, these forms can be acquired from the Consular office of the importing country, and the Consul must authenticate the forms. When consular invoices need to be validated, a fee is usually charged for the validating service.

* Certificate of Value – The certificate of value is an official declaration stating the value of a shipment of merchandise, and is usually included in the consular invoice. This certificate
must confirm the values shown in the invoices. It will state that the invoice contains a true and full statement of the price paid for the goods, and that there is no other understanding
between the exporter and the importer about the purchases price.

* Certificate of Origin – The main purpose of this document is to establish the right of the product to preferential duties to which it may be entitled in the importing countries. In certain cases it may include such information as the local material and labour contents of the product. Certificates of origin may also be needed to prove that goods do not come from a country against which the importing country has trade restriction. There are several types of certificates of origin, and below is a listing of some of the most common ones.

1. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Form A – Under the GSP, a free or reduced duty is granted by developed countries (country of destination, or “donor country”) to certain manufactured goods from the least developed countries (country of origin, or beneficiary country), in order to help increase exports and economic growth. Countries that accept the GSP Form include the US, UK, Canada and Japan among others.

2. Chamber of Commerce Certificate of Origin – The importer or the importing country may require a specific certificate or origin form issued by the local Chamber of Commerce in the exporting country. The Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) provide this service at a cost of BZ$15.00.

3. Exporter’s Certificate of Origin – Unless the Letter of Credit (L/C) specifies a particular certificate of origin form, the exporter may issue his/her own certificate of origin using the company letterhead. The Exporter’s Certificate of Origin contents includes basically the same data as in the commercial invoice and packing list, with the addition of a declaration which states that the goods in question are manufactured in the exporting country, and that the amount shown on the invoice is the true and correct value.

* Health/Sanitary Certificate – This certificate is required when animals, animal products (zoo-sanitary certificate), or plants and plant products (phyto-sanitary certificate) are shipped. It confirms that the goods are free from disease or insect pests. In the case of food, it may state that the goods have been prepared to meet prescribed
standards, and a Sanitary Certificate is issues. These certificates are issued by the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) at a service fee.

* Certificate of Inspection – The customer sometimes demands a certificate of inspection to ensure that the goods he is buying meet a certain standard. The exporter must arrange beforehand with the customer who is the carry out such an inspection and who is to pay for it. The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) is capable of providing such services for agricultural and food products.

* Packing List – This document is often used and supplements the commercial invoice when numerous units of the same product are being used or when quantities, weight, or contents of individual units in a shipment vary. Generally, a separate list is prepared for each package, showing the weight, measurements, and contents. Customs officials usually
carry out a partial examination by checking a certain number of the cases. If the packing list proves to be accurate for these, the rest of the shipment is assumed to be in order.

Source: Export Manual