Chapter 5: Trade Regulations and Standards
Trade Regulations
Import Tariffs
Customs tariffs currently range between 0 and 17.6% for industrial products with the majority subject to rates of 0 to 10%. The average tariff for industrial goods is about 3% and for agricultural goods 22-24%. Compound duties (ad valorem plus specific custom duty) are applied to a number of agricultural and food products. Maximum ad valorem duty is 64% and, where compound duty is applied, maximum ad valorem component is 15%. Under the WTO umbrella, Croatia is a signatory of the International Technology Agreement that provides for free import of information technology equipment. Import quotas have been phased-out.
Trade Barriers
The American Embassy in Zagreb has received no complaints from U.S. exporters on trade barriers in Croatia nor is it aware of any.
Import Requirements and Documentation
A Croatian importer is responsible for providing the required import documentation, which consists of common trade, transport, and customs documents, as well as certificates required for quality control and licenses where appropriate. The single Administrative Document (SAD) that is used by EU and most other countries is the key customs document in Croatia as well.
Imported products are subject to quality control by market inspection officials. These officials are employed by the State Inspectorate to ensure that imported goods comply with Croatian standards, whether they are appropriately labeled and packed, and whether they have required documentation or quality certificates. The products subject to quality control are those in which improper quality may not be obvious or may be dangerous for the consumer (and include most food and agricultural products, furniture, cement, textile, electric and gas appliances, agricultural equipment, etc. – the detailed list is published in the Decree Specifying Goods for Which a Quality Certificate is Required, (Official Gazette No. 127/99; available on www.nn.hr). These products must pass quality control testing before they are put on the market (i.e. at manufacturer’s or importer’s warehouse). When applicable, products also have to pass sanitary, phytopathologic, or veterinary control. Information on sanitary requirements can be obtained from the Ministry of Health, and information on phytopathologic and veterinary requirements from the Ministry of Agriculture. State Inspectorate officials are also in charge of implementing the Law on Protection of Consumers (Official Gazette No. 96/03; available on www.nn.hr).
U.S. Export Controls
Although many technologies can be exported from the United States to Croatia under general export licenses, some equipment (e.g., dual-use technology) still requires validated export licenses from the Bureau of Export Administration (U.S. Department of Commerce) and/or Department of State. Exporters with valid licenses are no longer prohibited from supplying defense items and services to the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
Temporary Entry
Temporary entry of products into Croatia is regulated in accordance with the EU Customs Code and international customs conventions. Croatia is a party to the Customs Convention on Carnet ATA for Temporary Import of Goods. Presentation of an ATA carnet or TIT carnet facilitates the process. An entry carnet can be obtained from a local chamber of commerce in the United States. Carnets are usually valid for one year and list the products to be entered on a duty-free basis. The carnet must be presented upon entry. Customs will stamp the carnet thereby validating it. Upon departure, the carnet must again be presented for validation, confirming that the product is being transported out of the country. Failure to re-export the goods results in application of the duties.
Labeling and Marking Requirements
Labels must contain the following information: name of the product, full address of the importer and the country of origin, net quantity/weight/volume, ingredients, manner of storage (transport, use or maintenance), and pertinent consumer warnings, including the information on any genetically modified organism (GMO) ingredients as defined by the Law on Genetically Modified Organisms (Official Gazette No. 70/05; available on www.nn.hr). Technically complicated products must be accompanied by instructions on usage, the manufacturer's specifications, a list of authorized maintenance offices, warranty information, warranty period, and other applicable data. All information must be in Croatian and affixed to (or accompanying) each product before it is put on the market.
Prohibited and Restricted Imports
There are no prohibited imports. Import licenses are required for arms/ammunition, military and police equipment, mobile radio sets, drugs, narcotics, antiquities, precious metals, waste, nuclear technology, chemical weapons’ ingredients, and substances harmful to the ozone layer (a detailed list with HS codes is published in a Decree Specifying Goods Subject to Export and Import Licenses, Official Gazette No. 67/03; available on www.nn.hr). Import licenses are required for a few products originating in countries which are not members of the WTO (for iron tubes and bars, and fertilizers). Import licenses are issued by the Ministry of Economy.
Customs Regulations and Contact Information
Most import regulations were translated into English during the WTO accession process and are available from the Ministry of Economy. However, to learn about the customs duties, taxes, and quality requirements for a specific product, U.S. exporters should contact a Croatian freight forwarder. For contact information for Croatian Customs please go to the following website: http://www.carina.hr/engindex.htm.
Standards
Overview
In response to the European Union requirements for technical harmonization and for establishing independent institutions for prescribing and for enforcing technical requirements,the Croatian parliament in 2003 adopted several laws to provide the basis for the final reorganization of the system inherited from the former Yugoslav federation. Pursuant to these laws, in 2005, the former State Office for Standards and Metrology was reorganized in the Croatian Standards Institute, the Croatian Accreditation Agency, and the State Office for Metrology, while the Croatian Metrology Institute is yet to be established.
Standards Organizations
Croatian Standards Institute (Hrvatski zavod za norme) – the institution responsible for preparation, adoption, editing and publication of Croatian standards
Croatian Accreditation Agency (Hrvatska akreditacijska agencija) – the institution responsible for granting accreditation to testing and calibration laboratories, inspection and conformity assessment boards, and to certification boards for products, management system and personnel (such as ISO Standards)
State Office for Metrology (Drzavni zavod za mjeriteljstvo) – the institution responsible for drafting metrology legislation and inspection; also responsible for homologation of vehicles
Croatian Metrology Institute (Hrvatski mjeriteljski institut) – the institution responsible for physical implementation/maintenance of Croatian metrology standards (yet to be established)
NIST Notify U.S. Service
Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to report to the WTO all proposed technical regulations that could affect trade with other Member countries. Notify U.S. is a free, web-based e-mail subscription service that offers an opportunity to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that can affect your access to international markets. Register online at Internet URL: http://www.nist.gov/notifyus/
Conformity Assessment
The list of the institutions authorized by the Croatian Accreditation Agency for testing and conformity assessment is available on its website.
Product Certification
Every certified product must carry a certification marking. The certification marking indicates that the product has been the subject of appropriate testing and that it conforms to the provisions of the relevant regulations.
Accreditation
As mentioned, the rules of the Croatian Accreditation Agency and the list of the accredited institutions are available on its website. Croatia does not automatically recognize mandatory technical/quality tests conducted in other countries, i.e. there are no Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) signed with U.S. organization or any other countries. The state bureaus and ministries in charge of the specific product type (medical, agricultural, transport, etc.) have the authority to fully or partially recognize some foreign tests on a case by case basis, according to relevant legislation.
Publication of Technical Regulations
Technical regulations are published on the Croatian Standards Institute’s website and US entities can comment by contacting this institution. No foreign entities can propose draft standards.
Labeling and Marking
Until 2007, the Croatian symbol "C" was obligatory (granted by a certified testing institution) and CE mark could not act as a substitute. Reportedly, a new regulation that came into power on January 1, 2007 made the CE mark valid in Croatia as well. However, in practice, the legislation that was substantially changed during the past two years is still being fine-tuned, coordinated and enforced.
Contacts
(Hrvatski zavod za norme)
Ulica grada Vukovara 78
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Phone: +385 1 6106095 Fax: +385 1 6109321
E-mail: hzn@hzn.hr
Managing Director: Mr. Dragutin Funda
(Hrvatska akreditacijska agencija)
Ulica grada Vukovara 78
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Phone: +385 1 6106322 Fax: +385 1 6109322
E-mail: akreditacija@akreditacija.hr
Managing Director: Ms. Biserka Bajzek Brezak
(Drzavni zavod za mjeriteljstvo)
Ulica grada Vukovara 78
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Phone: +385 1 6106323 Fax: +385 1 6109323
E-mail: informatika@dzm.hr
Managing Director: Mr. Mirko Vukovic
For further assistance with Croatian technical standards, please contact Damjan Bencic, Senior Commercial Specialist at American Embassy Zagreb at Damjan.Bencic@mail.doc.gov .
Trade Agreements
Free Trade Agreements
Croatia has free trade
agreements with EU, EFTA countries (Norway, Iceland,
Liechtenstein, and Switzerland), and with Albania, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Macedonia, Turkey, and
Moldova.
Trade Relations with the European Union
In October 2001, the European Union and Croatia signed a
Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). Related to the
SAA, an Interim Agreement concerning trade and transport became
effective on January 1, 2002. This agreement includes the
Autonomous Trade Preferences that the EU previously extended to
Croatia, providing all Croatian industrial and most agricultural
products with free access to the EU market. On January 1, 2002,
Croatia also started to extend gradually tariff preferences to
the EU, providing free access to 70% of the value of EU
industrial and agricultural products currently exported to the
Croatian market. Croatia’s formal application for EU
membership has been accepted, and Croatia is now working
diligently on accession
negotiations (that started on October 4, 2005) and on
adjusting its entire legislative and administrative system in
accordance with EU requirements.
Web Resources
Croatian Customs: http://www.carina.hr/engindex.htm
Ministry of Economy: http://www.mingorp.hr/
Official Gazette: http://www.nn.hr/
Croatian Chamber of Economy: http://www.hgk.hr
Quality Superintending Company, Ltd.: http://www.zik.hr/