Trade and Commercial Law Assessment - Honduras - Economic ...

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TRADE AND COMMERCIAL LAW ASSESSMENT DECEMBER 2004 HONDURAS No. Type Recommendation Priority Duration 8. Regional To facilitate the movement of products requiring SPS or food safety regulation and to Harmonization harmonize procedures within the region, the following actions should be initiated: Make OIRSA SEPA services standard throughout Central America. OIRSA personnel, representing a regional body, could perform inspections for all High 18 to 24 regional goods in accordance with each country’s requirements even if not standardized. months Establish a regional coordination and information center where all exporters and public SPS agencies can obtain information as to US import requirements High 12 to 18 and what the public agencies require in the way of technical assistance to meet these standards. This would be supplemented with seminars held throughout Central America by representatives of relevant US and international agencies and associations. months Reengineer SPS and food safety procedures to reduce costs and time to comply while maintaining sufficient controls to safeguard public health, in particular for Medium 12 to 18 international goods. This re-engineering process should include all agencies involved public and private parties. months 9. Customs/Other Establish a special anti-smuggling and fraud unit, using a combination of officers from High 6-12 Agencies/ Customs and the Special Investigations Unit of the National Police to improve months National issues security. This unit would develop a threat assessment and corresponding action plan to combat smuggling and set specific priorities and goals. 10. Customs/Other Streamline Customs Processing and Costs at free trade zones and Bonded Mediu m 12 – 18 Agencies/ Warehouses. Presently, customs officers in these zones are not fully utilized. By months National issues directly linking the warehouses and zones to the Customs operational system, which is anticipated by the end of the year, on-site Customs supervision should be eliminated and Customs adopt a post audit approach to oversight.. Once the operator’s inventory control systems were certified as able to competently perform this function, Customs would be withdrawn from the site. 11. Customs/Other Request participation in the Container Security Initiative at Puerto Cortez once Low 12 to 18 Agencies/ scanning equipment is operational. Presence of a US Customs officer who would months National issues review outbound manifests to the US prior to export and cooperate with local Customs officials to examine any suspicious shipments prior to loading would expedite release of the shipment on arrival in the US and serve as a major selling point in the port’s marketing strategy. Regional support for this initiative should be secured at a minimum from both Nicaragua and El Salvador, significant users of the port. Attachment 1, pg. 10
TRADE AND COMMERCIAL LAW ASSESSMENT DECEMBER 2004 HONDURAS No. Type Recommendation Priority Duration 12. Customs/ Other Eliminate Customs requirements that double the time and cost of delivery of goods to Medium 6 to 12 Agencies/ a bonded warehouse. Customs should implement procedures that require the filing of months National issues only transfer document at point of arrival under which the cargo can proceed directly to warehouse. In addition the informal policy of requiring 30% of all goods arriving at Cortex to be cleared there negatively impacts the business opportunities of the bonded warehouse operator as does the Customs requirement that all Panamanian goods be cle ared at point of arrival. Both of these procedures should be reviewed and alternative measures to control the widespread undervaluation of the latter goods found. Such policies inhibit the importers right to designate clearance location and are inappropriate if not illegal. 13. Customs/Other Upgrade enforcement efforts related to IPR. This would include cooperation of the M edium 12 to 18 Agencies/ business community in the identification of IPR infringements. In this connection, months National issues develop a modern automated system for registration and tracking or for communication with its enforcement entities on IPR issues, using the World Intel lectual Property Organization (WIPO) to assist with design and securing funding. 14. Customs/Other Identify a national authority for quality control standards. This body would assume the Medium 18 to 24 Agencies/ role of identification and codification of industry international standards, assist months National issues producers or sectors in implementation and perform certification of company processes as well as laboratories. Their role would be similar to that of CONACYT, the National Council for Science and Technology, in El Salvador. FLOW OF PEOPLE No. Type Recommendation Priority Duration 1. Training Upgrade the professionalism and modernization of immigration agency by focusing High Medium on the following key areas: term Assist government in implementation of integrity program, including strengthened independent internal affairs. Develop a comprehensive personnel system that would upgrade candidate qualifications, improve recruitment procedures, and establish job-specific performance and evaluation standards. Provide training in document examination, investigative and interviewing techniques. Attachment 1, pg. 11
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