From May 2019, foreign customers will have to declare to local system banks that their funds meet their country's tax requirements.
The Superintendence of Banks of Panama (SBP) approved Agreement 02-2019, which implements the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force, which consists of expanding the required due diligence measures of banks with their customers.
A court ruling has overturned the SAT resolutions authorizing Empresa Portuaria Quetzal y Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal to operate as temporary customs warehouses.
Although the Superintendency of Tax Administration (SAT) has announced that it will be appealing the ruling given by the Second Administrative Appeals Chamber, the reality is that since June 28, the activities of the customs warehouses in Empresa Portuaria Quetzal (EPQ) have been suspended as well as those at the Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal (TCQ)."...The resolution orders that the SAT no longer has the customs service under its administration, which contravenes the Central American Customs Code CAUCA, therefore the Superintendency will file an appeal against the decision made by the Court."
According to the nicaraguan regulator, the increasing amount of regulation and anti-money laundering controls that the US banks are subject to, has led some of them to remove their correspondent agencies from the country.
The president of the Association of Private Banks in Nicaragua (Asobanp), Juan Carlos Arguello, said in an article on Laprensa.com.ni that "...
An announcement has been made that in 2016 an integrated system will be used to to carry out fiscal, safety and phytosanitary controls in a single revision.
The Tax Authority will be responsible for deciding the date of the launch of the new system, which will integrate phytosanitary controls, customs and security in the container terminal of Puerto Quetzal.
A draft bill, if approved, would give the State permission to access confidential information on private companies and create a state company that controls access to the Internet.
Representatives from the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (COSEP) argue that this draft law goes against the "principles of free enterprise," which if approved would become "an anti private investment law".
Approval has been given to the creation of a global system of digital certification to control pests and plant diseases which can spread during international trade.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM), the governing body of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), consisting of 181 countries, has approved the creation of a new global electronic certification system called E-Phyto, which will help stop the spread of pests and diseases via agricultural products transported in international trade, in a way that is safer and cheaper.
The FDA now requires calorie information to be included on menus of restaurants, chain, similar retail food establishments and vending machines with 20 or more locations.
From a statement issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) US:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has finalized two regulations requiring the inclusion of calorie information on menus and menu boards in chain restaurants, similar retail food establishments and vending machines with 20 or more locations, in order to offer consumers greater nutritional information on food eaten outside of the home. The regulations are a requirement of the law on Affordable Health Care and Patient Protection 2010.
As part of the controls to combat smuggling, between May and July 29 companies were suspended from the list of importers, which represents 60% of the total volume of pairs of shoes entering the country.
In order to detect and prevent irregularities in the import of footwear, the General Administration of Federal Tax Audit Tax Administration Service of Mexico carried out 31 audits "...
Due to recent seizures of products attempting to enter the country without health permits, an announced has been made of enhanced controls to prevent the entry of any food that does not have the appropriate certifications.
From a statement issued by the Government of Panama:
Pursuant to the Health Standards and / or phytosanitary and health protection of the population, the Panamanian Authority for Food Safety (AUPSA) reiterates that any food product that does not meet the required provisions will be retained, returned or incinerated if necessary.
Due to the detection of new risks in some plant products coming from Asian countries, increased controls have been placed on foodstuffs entering from abroad.
From statement by the Foreign Trade Promotion Office of Costa Rica (PROCOMER):
In recent weeks, the European Union (EU) has seen the need to increase controls to ensure food security in the EU market.
Exporters are advised to include details of the destination and ultimate consignee in Russia if the merchandise has to transit through Europe in order to avoid being rejected by the Russian customs service.
From a statement issued by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer):
Due to the ban by Russia on food imports from the United States, the European Union and other nations that have joined the sanctions policy of Washington and Brussels; the Office of Trade Promotion PROCOMER located in Germany recommends to the agriculture and food sector with clients in Russia, that when using a port within the European Union as a transshipment port or linking point for multimodal transit, they must ensure that all original documentation clearly indicates the destination and ultimate consignee in Russia, because, otherwise, the load will be rejected at the border by the Russian customs service.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued new phytosanitary requirements for tomato shipments to the country.
From a statement issued by the State Phytosanitary Service, Costa Rica:
The Department of Agriculture (USDA), through Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Service (APHIS) has issued an update on the Federal Order on Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), affecting Costa Rica.
The rule adopted by the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration aims to eliminate border controls and forces companies to give a 15 working days notice for imports and exports.
Crhoy reports that "...Some representatives of the private sector in Central America have criticized a directive which came into effect this month, which imposes new phytosanitary measures for exports and imports, which was approved by the Council of Ministers of Economic Integration (Comieco). ". ..In contrast, Costa Rican exporters "... say they have had no problems at the moment and they are ready, in fact they recognize that it will facilitate trade."
Industrialist point out that the declaration of shortage of grain by the government has failed to solve the problem in the local market, where the price of a kilo has increased by $1.
The National Association of Manufacturers of Beans in Costa Rica (Anifri) argues that the change in the verification of phytosanitary measures by the Ministry of Agriculture is the cause of the grain shortages and price increases in the country.
Costa Rican importers are demanding solutions after health checks prevented the entry of 20 thousand kilos of Nicaraguan red beans because they contained traces of soil.
The Nicaraguan union is complaining that the Costa Rican State Phytosanitary Service banned the entry of about 20 trucks carrying red beans after finding traces of dirt and sticks in the shipments.