Business opportunities
The Opportunities Online website may be a useful addition to your information sources. The database established by Austrade aims to deliver international sales leads ('export opportunities'), including tenders, generated by our overseas network to Australian businesses.
Registering is simple and once this is done you will have the option of accessing a weekly newsletter featuring the most recent opportunities uploaded onto the system in industry sectors of interest to you. Another feature is the ability to view, and also print, the complete page of opportunity details.
For general inquiries concerning Austrade’s services, please contact Austrade Direct on 13 28 78.
Business etiquette
Please note: Bribery of foreign public officials is a crime. Australian individuals and companies can be prosecuted in Australia for bribing foreign officials when overseas. For more information, go to the Attorney General's Department on foreign bribery.
Tariffs and regulations
Import restrictions
Import permits, specifying the annual permitted quantity, are issued to individual importers.
No individual licenses are required. Importers registered in Bermuda obtain general permits which authorise them to import an unlimited value of goods each year. These permits are routinely granted for imports covered by a general or specific import license.
Importers of foodstuffs and general merchandise must be registered.
There is a list of prohibited and restricted imports (see also 'Public health requirements').
Foreign exchange valued in excess of BD$100 requires a permit issued by the Foreign Exchange Control Department.
Tariff
Single-column tariff based on the Harmonised System. Duties may be either ad valorem, assessed on the FOB value, or specific. The majority of duties range from 5 per cent to 35 per cent, and valorem.
A number of items enter duty free, including agricultural products and implements imported with the approval of the Treasurer of Bermuda, aircraft and parts, desalination equipment, books, magazines, packaging materials, fertilisers, insecticides, marine radio equipment, educational equipment and scientific apparatus.
Customs authority contact details:
Collector of Customs
Customs House
Hamilton Hall
40 Front Street
Hamilton HM11
Tel: +809 295 4816
Fax: +809 295 5392
Packing, marking and labelling
Outer containers should carry the consignee's mark and port mark, and should also be numbered (to accord with packing list) unless the shipment is such that their contents can be otherwise readily identified.
Merchandise must bear a mark of origin (eg. 'Made in Australia') whenever English wording appears that could possibly be considered misleading as to the true origin of the goods.
Australian exporters should be guided by the advice of their customers in Bermuda on any relevant packing requirements.
Weights and measures
The metric system. US and imperial systems are still in use.
Insurance
Normal commercial practice.
Methods of quoting and payment
Quotations should be Pound Sterling, CIF. Payment is usually 90 days.
Public health requirements
Fruit, vegetables and all foods are subject to inspection on arrival.
Drugs require prior import approval by the Food and Drug Board.
Exporters should be guided by importers as quarantine, health and similar regulations are subject to frequent change.
Sanitary certificates are required for specified plants and their products (see 'Special certificates').
Seasonal embargoes are placed on imports of fresh cabbage, cauliflower, grapefruit, onions, potatoes and tomatoes.
Documentation
Fax signatures are not permitted.
Commercial invoice
No prescribed form, minimum of four copies required. The following details must be included:
- Name of the exporter and name and address of the consignee
- Detailed description of the goods including marks and numbers
- Country of origin
- Gross and net weights
- Unit and total values, showing shipping and insurance charges separately
Discounts or commission may not be deducted unless shown on the invoice.
Bill of lading
No special requirements. To Order bills acceptable. A minimum of two copies is required.
Certificate of insurance
A minimum of two copies is required.
Packing list
Must be presented to customs with the commercial invoice if there is more than one invoice for one package or shipment must show totals of the invoices and number of packages.
Special certificates
A certificate of age may be required for spirits.
Livestock and meat require sanitary certificates issued by the approved authority in the country of origin; in Australia this is usually the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry-Australia or the relevant state department of agriculture.
All entries and shipping bills must be made on the forms and documents prescribed by the Customs Department. |