Import Surveillance Requirements for Plastic Construction Components and Artificial Decorative Articles - Communiqué No: 2026/2

Scope of the Regulation

The surveillance measure applies to two distinct product groups with different commercial characteristics.

Under HS 3925, plastic doors, windows, frames, moldings, and door thresholds are subject to surveillance when declared below USD 5 per kilogram (gross weight). Plastic shutters, vents, and similar construction fittings classified under HS 3925.30 are covered when declared below USD 6 per kilogram.

The regulation also extends surveillance to artificial flowers, foliage, fruits, and similar decorative articles classified under HS 6702. Artificial flowers and foliage, as well as finished decorative articles made from such items, are subject to surveillance when declared below USD 12 per kilogram, while parts and components of these articles fall under surveillance below USD 10 per kilogram.

Only imports declared at or above the applicable reference values may be released without surveillance certification.

Mandatory Surveillance Certificate

Where the declared unit value falls below the relevant reference threshold, importation is permitted only upon presentation of a valid Surveillance Certificate issued by the Ministry of Trade. The certificate must be obtained prior to registration of the customs declaration and must be correctly referenced in the declaration using the assigned document number and issue date.

Failure to present a valid certificate will result in customs clearance being blocked, regardless of the end use or commercial profile of the goods.

Application and Review Process

Applications for Surveillance Certificates are submitted electronically through the national Single Window system using the designated industrial surveillance document type and selecting Communiqué No: 2026/25 as the legal basis. A qualified electronic signature is required, with an alternative submission route available via the national e-government portal.

Where electronic submission is not technically feasible, physical applications may be accepted using the prescribed application form together with corporate registration documentation.

During the review stage, the authority may request original documents, additional explanations, or supplementary information. Any inconsistency, deficiency, or contradiction identified will suspend the issuance process until fully remedied.

Customs Value Clarification and Practical Application

The Communiqué explicitly states, in a separate provision, that the reference values introduced for surveillance purposes do not replace and do not constitute customs value. General customs valuation rules remain fully applicable.

In practice—and specifically for value-based surveillance regimes—it is possible to structure the declared customs value by including legitimate foreign cost elements, such as international freight, insurance, and other overseas charges. By doing so, the final customs value may be increased above the surveillance reference threshold, allowing the import to proceed without a Surveillance Certificate. This approach is accepted by customs authorities, provided that all cost elements are genuine, properly documented, and declared in full compliance with valuation rules.

This practice applies only to value-based surveillance measures and does not extend to quantity-based or non-value surveillance regimes.

Validity and Legal Effect

Surveillance Certificates issued under this Communiqué are valid for six months from the date of issuance. The existence of a certificate does not prevent customs authorities from examining or reassessing the declared value under general valuation principles. Conversely, accurate and well-documented valuation may allow clearance without surveillance certification where thresholds are legitimately exceeded.

Enforcement and Compliance Risk

If inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete information is identified during the application or review stages, issuance of the Surveillance Certificate will be withheld until corrective action is taken. Non-compliance may lead to customs delays, additional storage costs, and increased scrutiny during post-clearance audits.

Repealed Regulation and Entry into Force

With the entry into force of this Communiqué, Communiqué No: 2006/13 has been fully repealed. The new surveillance regime applies to customs declarations registered from the 30th day following publication, making early compliance planning essential for shipments scheduled around the transition period.

Compliance Assessment

From a customs compliance and trade risk management perspective, this regulation targets product groups that are price-sensitive and frequently subject to low-value declarations, particularly in the construction materials and decorative goods sectors. Importers should reassess supplier pricing, cost allocation, and declaration strategies well before shipment.

For value-based surveillance, lawful inclusion of overseas cost components can provide operational flexibility, provided documentation is robust and internally consistent. Importers should evaluate, on a shipment-by-shipment basis, whether surveillance can be avoided through correct valuation or whether proactive application for a Surveillance Certificate offers greater predictability and risk control.

See relevant legislative document.