Import Surveillance Requirements for Plastic Household and Infant Care Articles - Communiqué No: 2026/24

Executive Summary

Import Surveillance Communiqué (No: 2026/24) introduces a value-based import surveillance regime for a broad range of plastic household articles and infant care products, primarily classified under HS headings 3924 and 3926. The regulation establishes minimum unit customs value thresholds calculated on a gross weight basis (USD per metric ton). Imports declared below these thresholds are subject to a mandatory Surveillance Certificate requirement. The Communiqué repeals Communiqué No: 2006/7 and enters into force 30 days after its publication on 31 December 2025.

Scope of the Regulation

The surveillance regime applies to various plastic articles commonly used in daily life and childcare, including feeding and household products.

Under HS 3924.10, plastic baby bottles and training cups are subject to surveillance when declared below USD 3,900 per metric ton, while other plastic tableware and kitchenware under the same heading fall within scope at thresholds ranging from USD 5,000 to USD 6,600 per metric ton, depending on the specific sub-classification.

Additional plastic articles under HS 3924.90 are also covered. Bottle nipples and related components fall under surveillance when declared below USD 2,500 per metric ton, plastic waste bins are covered below USD 3,000 per metric ton, and other residual plastic household articles are subject to surveillance below USD 4,000 per metric ton.

The regulation further extends surveillance to certain decorative or miscellaneous plastic articles classified under HS 3926.40, which are covered when declared below USD 7,000 per metric ton.

Only shipments 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 before registration of the customs declaration and must be properly referenced in the declaration using the assigned document number and issue date.

Absence of a valid certificate will result in customs clearance being blocked, irrespective of the commercial nature or end use 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: 2026/24 as the legal basis. Submission requires a qualified electronic signature, with an alternative filing option available via the national e-government portal.

Where electronic submission is not technically possible, 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, thereby increasing the final customs value above the surveillance reference threshold. This approach is accepted by customs authorities, provided that all cost elements are genuine, properly documented, and declared in full compliance with valuation rules.

Accordingly, imports may proceed without a Surveillance Certificate where the final declared customs value, inclusive of eligible foreign costs, exceeds the applicable reference level. This approach 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. 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 clearance 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: 2006/7 has been fully repealed. The new surveillance regime applies to customs declarations registered from the 30th day following publication, requiring careful transition planning for shipments scheduled around the effective date.

Compliance Assessment

From a customs compliance and risk management perspective, this regulation targets product groups characterized by high-volume, price-sensitive imports, particularly in the infant care and household goods sectors. Importers should reassess supplier pricing, declaration strategies, and cost allocation well in advance of shipment.

For value-based surveillance, lawful inclusion of foreign 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.