Import Surveillance Requirements for Vegetable and Fruit Cutting Appliances - Communiqué No: 2026/22

Scope of the Regulation

The surveillance measure applies to goods classified under HS 8210.00.00.00.12, covering appliances designed for cutting, slicing, chopping vegetables and fruits, as well as devices used to extract juice.

Where the declared unit value of such goods falls below USD 8,000 per metric ton (gross weight), the importation is subject to surveillance control.

Mandatory Surveillance Certificate

Imports falling below the reference value may be released only if a valid Surveillance Certificate has been issued by the Ministry of Trade. The certificate must be obtained before registration of the customs declaration and must be duly referenced in the declaration, including the document number and issue date.

Failure to present a valid Surveillance Certificate will result in customs clearance being blocked, regardless of the physical nature or intended 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: 2026/22 as the legal basis. A qualified electronic signature is required. Applications may alternatively be filed through the national e-government portal.

In cases where electronic submission is technically not possible, physical applications may be accepted using the prescribed application form, accompanied by corporate registration documentation.

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

Customs Value Clarification and Practical Application

The Communiqué explicitly states, in a separate provision, that the reference value introduced for surveillance purposes does not replace and does not constitute customs value. General customs valuation rules continue to apply without restriction.

In practice, and specifically for value-based surveillance measures, it is possible to structure the declared customs value by including additional foreign cost elements—such as international freight, insurance, and other overseas charges—so that the final customs value exceeds the surveillance threshold. This approach is accepted by customs authorities, provided that such costs are legitimate, properly documented, and declared in full compliance with valuation rules.

Accordingly, imports may proceed without a Surveillance Certificate where the final declared customs value, including eligible foreign costs, is brought above the reference level. This practice is applicable only to value-based surveillance regimes and does not apply to quantity-based or non-value surveillance measures.

Validity and Legal Effect

Surveillance Certificates issued under this Communiqué are valid for six months from the date of issuance.

The presence of a certificate does not prevent customs authorities from examining or reassessing the declared value under general valuation principles. Conversely, correct 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.

Failure to comply with surveillance requirements may lead to customs delays, 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: 2004/17, in force since 2004, 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 effective date.

Professional Compliance Assessment

From a trade compliance and customs risk management perspective, this regulation targets a product group frequently associated with low declared unit values and high price dispersion. Importers should reassess supplier pricing, declaration strategies, and cost allocation well in advance of shipment.

For value-based surveillance, lawful inclusion of overseas cost elements may 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 is the more predictable compliance strategy.

See relevant legislative document.