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
Most goods are admitted under open general licences. Precious metals, precious stones and jewellery require specific import licences.
No exchange controls exist.
Animals and animal products require import permits.
Plants and produce (fruit and vegetables) and seeds require import permits.
Prohibited or restricted goods include arms and ammunition, alcohol absolute, drugs, explosives, including pyrotechnics, and offensive or obscene goods.
Tariff
Single-column tariff based on the Harmonised System, revised 1996 version. Most duties are ad valorem, assessed on either the current domestic value or the FOB value, whichever is greater.
Specific duties are expressed in Australian dollars per measure. The list includes:
- alcoholic beverages
- tobacco
- rice
- flour
- some chemicals
- petroleum
- cement
- playing cards
- cinematographic film
Customs authority contact details:
Comptroller of Customs
Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning
PO Box 503
Betio, Tarawa
Tel: +686 26 531
Fax: +686 26 532
Telex: K177065 MINFIN
Email: customs@tskl.net.ki
Packing, marking and labelling
Normal commercial practice for packing.
Outer containers should bear the consignee's mark and port mark, and should be numbered (to accord with packing list) unless their contents can be otherwise readily identified.
Each palletised item should bear consignee's mark for LCL shipments, given that if pallets are broken when loaded into containers or during unloading in Tarawa Customs sometimes holds/delays release of unmarked cartons.
Specific regulations cover the carriage and marking of dangerous and hazardous cargoes.
Weights and measures
The metric system.
Insurance
Normal commercial practice.
Methods of quoting and payment
Quotes in Australian dollars FOB and CIF Tarawa. Payment is through usual banking facilities. The Bank of Kiribati is the only bank on Tarawa.
Public health requirements
Plants and seeds, soil, animals (including fish, birds and insects) and certain types of fresh fruit and vegetables are restricted on health grounds. Details may be obtained from the Chief Agricultural Officer, Ministry of Natural Resources Development, Bikenibeu, Tarawa, Kiribati.
Documentation
Particular attention should be given to facilitating fast delivery of documents necessary for clearing goods through Customs in view of the short shipping time between Australia and Kiribati.
Note: Exporters are warned that special precautions should be taken when it is necessary to transship goods to Kiribati through Fiji. An agent should be appointed to the transshipping port to arrange for the goods to be onforwarded.
Commercial invoice
Kiribati customs will accept photocopies of documents. Must be accompanied by a customs invoice.
Customs invoice
A combined invoice and certificate of value and origin (form 27A). Two signed copies are required. Must include:
- Complete description of goods, in ordinary commercial terms (use of brand names or codes without further description must be avoided).
- Current domestic value and selling price of each good.
- Correct country of origin (not to be confused with country of export).
Invoices must show specified quantities in metric units.
Bill of lading
Must state the shipping volume and weight for customs levy purposes.
Certificate of insurance
Normal commercial practice.
Packing list
It is recommended a copy accompany invoice, depending on the importer's and exporter's requirements. Customs and port authorities work from the invoice only.
Special certificates
Brandy, whisky and rum require certificates stating they have been matured in wood for not less than three years.
Plants and plant products, including fruit and vegetables, whether fresh, dried or processed, and animal products both fresh and frozen require phytosanitary certification. |