G/TFA/N/COL/2  
30 October  2019 
(19-7270) Page: 1/10 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLES 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2 AND 12.2.2  
OF THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM COLOMBIA  
The following communication, dated 1 5 October 2 019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Colombia for Members' information.  
 
_______________  
 
 
Colombia hereby makes the following notifications in accordance with Articles 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2 
and 12.2.2 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
 
Article 1, paragraph 4  
 
(a) The official place(s) where  the items in subparagraphs 1.1(a) to (j) have been 
published  
 
1.1 (a) Procedures for importation, exportation, and transit (including port, airport, and other 
entry point procedures), and required forms and documents;  
 
Special 
Administrative 
Unit of the 
National 
Customs and 
Excise 
Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co  Customs authority 
home page  
https://www.dian.gov.co/aduanas/Paginas/Importa
cion.aspx  Imports  
https://www.dian.gov.co/aduanas/Paginas/Exporta
cion.aspx  Exports  
https://www.dian.gov.co/aduanas/Paginas/ transito
aduanero.aspx  Customs transit  
https://www.dian.gov.co/atencionciudadano/formul
ariosinstructivos/Paginas/default.aspx  Forms  
https://www.dian.gov.co/Transaccional/Paginas/aut
oasistencia.aspx  Help section - 
guides/manuals on 
customs regimes  
https://www.dian.gov.co/normatividad/Decretos/De
creto_1165_02072019.pdf#search=Decreto%2011
65 Decree No. 1165 of 
2019 on the customs 
regime  
https://www.dian.gov.co/normatividad/Normativida
d/Resoluci%C3%B3n%20000046%20de%2026 -07-
2019.pdf  Resolution No. 46 of 
2019 on customs 
regime regulatio n G/TFA/N/COL/2  
- 2 - 
  Institute for the 
Surveillance of 
Food and Drugs 
(INVIMA)  https://www.invima.gov.co/acceso -a-mercados -
internacionales  Information on import 
and export procedures 
(including port , airport, 
and other entry point 
procedures ) and 
required forms and 
documents can be 
found on this microsite 
under the links 
"Exportaciones " (for 
exports) and 
"Importaciones " (for 
imports).  
Colombian 
Agricultural 
Institute (ICA)  https://www.ica.gov.co/importacion -y-exportacion  Technical inspection 
upon importation of 
agricultural inputs  
Ministry of 
Trade, Industry 
and Tourism  www.vuce.gov.co  The Single Window for 
Foreign Trade (VUCE) 
links 21 State entities.  
It has modules on 
imports, exports, 
registration of 
producers of domestic 
goods, special import -
export systems, 
international traders 
and simultaneous 
inspection.  
 
1.1 (b) Applied rates of duties and taxes of any kind imposed on or in connection with importation 
or exportation;  
 
Special 
Administrative 
Unit of the 
National 
Customs and 
Excise 
Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://muisca.dian.gov.co/WebArancel/DefMenuCo
nsultas.faces  Consultation, by tariff 
subheading, of all 
information related 
there to, including VAT 
and customs duty  
Ministry of 
Trade, Industry 
and Tourism  https://dapre.presidencia.gov.co/normativa/normat
iva/DECRETO%202153%20DEL%2026%20DE%20
DICIEMBRE%20DE %202016.pdf  Decree No. 2153 of 
2016 adopting the 
tariff schedule  
 
1.1 (c) Fees and charges imposed by or for governmental agencies on or in connection with 
importation, exportation or transit;  
 
Institute for the 
Surveillance of 
Food and Drugs 
(INVIMA)  https://www.invima.gov.co/web/guest/tarifas  The fee schedule in 
effect can be found on 
the INVIMA website.  
Colombian 
Agricultural 
Institute (ICA)  https://www.ica.gov.co/servicios_linea/sispap_pri
ncipal.aspx  Resolution 
No. 00040063 of 
20 December 2 018 with 
updated fees  G/TFA/N/COL/2  
- 3 - 
  Colombian 
Agricultural 
Institute (ICA) 
(Cont'd)  https://www.ica.gov.co/getattachment/Oferta -
Institucional/Tarifas/Resolucion -00040063 -tarifas -
2019-1.pdf.aspx?lang=es -CO - Fee for issuing Animal 
Health Import 
Documents . 
- Fee for import and 
export port health 
inspection certificates . 
- Fee for animal health 
export certificates . 
- Fee for listing and 
registration as 
importer/exporter of 
ornamental plant 
species . 
- Fee for  
imports/exports of 
plant material subject 
to phytosanitary 
requirements . 
- Fee for phytosanitary 
inspection at ports of 
imports and exports of 
plant material of 
ornamental and non -
ornamental species . 
- Fee for post -entry 
phytosanitary 
monitoring of import ed 
asexual and sexual 
plant propagation 
material . 
- Fee for post -entry 
phytosanitary 
monitoring of imported 
asexual and sexual 
plant propagation 
material . 
- Fee for registration 
and inspection at ports 
of solid wood packing 
and dunnage destined 
for international trade . 
Ministry of Trade, 
Industry and 
Tourism  http://www.mincit.gov.co/ministerio/normograma
-sig/procesos -misionales/fa cilitacion -del-
comercio -y-defensa -comercial/resoluciones/2004 -
2006/resolucion -1271-de-2005.aspx  Resolutions Nos. 1271 
of 2005 and 2234 of 
2005 setting prices for 
electronic registration 
and software for 
transmitting 
registration forms to 
the Single Window for 
Foreign Trade (VUCE)  
 G/TFA/N/COL/2  
- 4 - 
  1.1 (d) Rules for the classification or valuation of products for customs purposes;  
 
Special 
Administrative 
Unit of the 
National Customs 
and Excise 
Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co/aduanas/aspectecmerca
ncias/valoracion_de_mercancias/Paginas/default.a
spx Valuation of goods  
https://muisca.dian.gov.co/WebArancel/DefMenu
Consultas.faces  Tariff schedule  
https://www.dian.gov.co/aduanas/aspectecmerca
ncias/Paginas/SisResoAnticipada.aspx  Advance rulings and 
tariff classification  
Ministry of Trade, 
Industry and 
Tourism  https://dapre.presidencia.gov.co/normativa/norm
ativa/DECRETO%202153%20DEL%2026%20DE%
20DICIEMBRE%20DE%202016.pdf  Decree No. 2153 of  
2016 adopting the 
tariff schedule  
 
1.1 (e) Laws, regulations, and administrative rulings of general application relating to rules of origin;  
 
Ministry of Trade, 
Industry and 
Tourism  http://www.tlc.gov.co  Trade agreements 
that are in force, have 
been signed, or are 
under  negotiat ion can 
be found on the 
website 
www.tlc.gov.co  - 
chapters on rules and 
procedures o f origin  
Special 
Administrative Unit 
of the National 
Customs and 
Excise Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co/aduanas/aspectecmerca
ncias/Paginas/OrigenMercancias.aspx  Origin of goods  
 
1.1 (f) Import, export or transit restrictions or prohibitions;  
 
Special 
Administrative Unit 
of the National 
Customs and 
Excise Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co/normatividad/Decretos/
Decreto_1165_02072019.pdf  Decree No. 1165 of 
2019 
https://www.dian.gov.co/normatividad/Normativi
dad/Resolución%20000046%20de%2026 -07-
2019.pdf  Resolution No. 46 of 
2019 
Note:  
Restrictions on 
entry of  goods : 
Articles 125, 126, 
127 and 128 of 
Resolution No. 46 of 
2019, in accordance 
with the 
subparagraph under 
Article 75 of Decree 
No. 1165 of 2019  
Restrictions on exit 
of goods : Article 369 
of Resolution No. 46 
of 2019, in 
accordance with 
Article 75 of D ecree 
No. 1165 of 2019  G/TFA/N/COL/2  
- 5 - 
  Special 
Administrative Unit 
of the National 
Customs and 
Excise Directorate 
(DIAN)  (Cont'd)   Transit 
restrictions: Article 
458 of Resolution 
No. 46 of 2019, in 
accordance with the 
first paragraph of 
Article 437 of Decree 
No. 1165 of 2019  
Congress of the 
Republic  https://www.sic.gov.co/recursos_user/documento
s/normatividad/Leyes/1999_Hacia_Atras/Ley_18_
1990.pdf  Law No. 18 of 1990 
banning the 
manufacture , 
importation, 
distribution, sale and 
use of war toys in the 
territory of Colombia  
National 
Constituent 
Assembly  http://www.secretariasenado.go v.co/senado/base
doc/constitucion_politica_1991_pr002.html#81  Ban on the 
manufacture, 
importation, 
possession and use of 
chemical, biological 
and nuclear weapons 
and on the 
introduction into the 
territory of Colombia 
of nuclear or toxic 
waste  
 
1.1 (g) Penalty provisions for breaches of import, export, or transit formalities;  
 
Special 
Administrative Unit 
of the National 
Customs and 
Excise Directora te 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co/normatividad/Decretos/
Decreto_1165_02072019.pdf  Penalty regime : 
Title 14 of Decree 
No. 1165 of 2019  
Institute for the 
Surveillance of 
Food and Drugs 
(INVIMA)  http://normograma.invima.gov.co/normograma/d
ocs/arbol/1000.htm  
https://www.invima.gov.co/documents/20143/43
0795/ley_9_1979.pdf  Under sanitary 
regulations, penalty 
procedures and 
health measures are 
addressed in 
Article  576 et seq. of 
Law No. 9 of 1979.  
Colombian 
Agricultural 
Institute (ICA)  https://www.minagricultura.gov.co/Normatividad/
Paginas/Decreto -1071-2015/CAPITULO -10-De-
las-Sanciones.aspx  Single Regulatory 
Decree for  the 
Agricultural Sector  
Colombian 
Agricultural 
Institute (ICA)  http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/base
doc/ley_1955_2019_pr003.html#156  National 
Development Plan 
2018-2022 - 
sanctioning power of 
the ICA and 
violations  
Colombian 
Agricultural 
Institute (ICA)  http://www.secretariasen ado.gov.co/senado/base
doc/ley_1437_2011_pr001.html#CAP%C3%8DTU
LO%20III -III-I Law No. 1437 of 
2011 - Chapter III : 
Administrative 
Sanctions Procedure  
 G/TFA/N/COL/2  
- 6 - 
  1.1 (h) Procedures for appeal or review;  
 
Special 
Administrative Unit 
of the National 
Customs and 
Excise Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co/normatividad/Decretos/
Decreto_1165_02072019.pdf  Decree No. 1165 of 
2019 / according to 
the procedure  
Institute for the 
Surveillance of 
Food and Drugs 
(INVIMA), 
Colombian 
Agricultural 
Institute (ICA)  http://normograma.invima.gov.co/normograma/d
ocs/ley_1437_2011.htm  
http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/base
doc/ley_1437_2011_pr001.html#CAP%C3%8DTU
LO%20III -III Law No. 1437 of 
2011, Code of 
Administrative 
Procedure and 
Administrative 
Disputes  
 
1.1 (i) Agreements or parts thereof with any country or countries relating to importation, 
exportation, or transit;  
 
Special 
Administrative Unit 
of the National 
Customs and 
Excise Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co/aduanas/aspectecmerca
ncias/Paginas/DocumentosOrigen.aspx  Trade agreements in 
force for the 
Republic of Colombia  
Ministry of Trade, 
Industry and 
Tourism  http://www.tlc.gov.co  Trade agreements 
that are in force, 
have been signed or 
are under  
negotiat ion can be 
found on the website 
www.tlc.gov.co . 
 
1.1 (j) Procedures relating to the administration of tariff quotas;  
 
Special 
Administrative Unit 
of the National 
Customs and 
Excise Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co/normatividad/Normativi
dad/Resolución%20000046%20de%2026 -07-
2019.pdf  Resolution No. 46 of 
2019 
Note:  
Quotas and tariff 
quotas : Article 218 et 
seq. 
 
 G/TFA/N/COL/2  
- 7 - 
  (b) The Uniform Resource Locators of website(s) referred to in paragraph 2.1 of 
Article  1 
 
(a) A description of its procedures for importation, exportation, and transit, including procedures 
for appeal or review, that informs governments, traders, and other interested parties of the 
practical steps needed for importation, exportation,  and transit;  
 
Special 
Administrative 
Unit of the 
National Customs 
and Excise 
Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co  Customs authority 
home page  
https://www.dian.gov.co/aduanas/Paginas/Importa
cion.aspx  Imports  
https://www.dian.gov.co/aduanas/Paginas/Exporta
cion.aspx  Exports  
https://www.dian.gov.co/aduanas/Paginas/t ransito
aduanero.aspx  Customs transit  
https://www.dian.gov.co/atencionciudadano/formul
ariosinstructivos/Paginas/default.aspx  Forms  
https://www.dian.gov.co/Transaccional/Paginas/aut
oasistencia.aspx  Help section - 
guides/manuals on 
customs regimes  
https://www.dian.gov.co/normatividad/Decretos/De
creto_1165_02072019.pdf#search=Decreto%2011
65 Decree No. 1165 of 
2019 on the customs 
regime  
https://www.dian.gov.co/normatividad/Normativida
d/Resoluci%C3%B3n%20000046%20de%2026 -07-
2019.pdf  Resolution No. 46 of 
2019 on customs 
regime regula tion 
Institute for the 
Surveillance of 
Food and Drugs 
(INVIMA)  https://www.invima.gov.co/acceso -a-mercados -
internacionales  Information on import 
and export procedures 
(including port, airport, 
and other entry point 
procedures) and 
required forms and 
documents  can be 
found on this microsite 
under the links 
"Exportacion es" (for 
exports) and 
"Importaciones " (for 
imports).  
Colombian 
Agricultural 
Institute (ICA)  https://www.ica.gov.co/importacion -y-exportacion  Technical inspection 
upon importation of 
agricult ural inputs  
Ministry of 
Trade, Industry 
and Tourism  www.vuce.gov.co  The Single Window for 
Foreign Trade (VUCE) 
links 21 State entities.  
It has modules on 
imports, exports, 
registration of 
producers of domestic 
goods , special import -
export systems, 
international traders 
and simultaneous 
inspection.  
 G/TFA/N/COL/2  
- 8 - 
  (b) The forms and documents required for importation into, exportation from, or transit through the 
territory of that Member;  
 
Special 
Administrative 
Unit of the 
National 
Customs and 
Excise 
Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co/atencionciudadano/formul
ariosinstructivos/Paginas/default.aspx  Forms  
Ministry of 
Trade, Industry 
and Tourism  www.vuce.gov.co  The Single Window for 
Foreign Trade (VUCE) 
links 21 State entities.  
It has modules on 
imports, exports, 
registration of 
producers of domestic 
goods, special import -
export systems, 
international traders 
and simultaneous 
inspection.  
Institute for the 
Surveillance of 
Food and Drugs 
(INVIMA)  https://www.invima.gov.co/acceso -a-mercados -
internacionales  Information on import 
and export procedures 
(including port, airport, 
and other entry point 
procedures) and 
required forms  and 
documents  can be 
found on this microsite 
under the links 
"Exportaciones " (for 
exports) and 
"Importaciones " (for 
imports).  
 
(c) The contact information of the enquiry points referred to in paragraph 3.1.  
 
Special 
Administrative 
Unit of the 
National 
Customs and 
Excise 
Directorate 
(DIAN)  https://www.dian.gov.co/atencionciudadano/contac
tenos/Paginas/PqrsDenuncias.aspx  Online service for 
complaints, claims, 
suggestions and 
questions, with 
glossary and relevant 
laws 
Institute for the 
Surveillance of 
Food and Drugs 
(INVIMA)  Name : Sanitary  Operations Division  
Tel.: + 57 2948700 71071  
Address : Carrera 10 N° 64-28 
Email: Consultaspuertos@invima.gov.co  
ofi-ainternacionales@invima.gov.co  
Website : www.invima.gov.co  Sanitary  Operations 
Division  
Office of International 
Affairs  
https://www.invima.gov.co/web/guest/canales -de-
atencion  Channels for the public 
to contact INVIMA  
Colombian 
Agricultural 
Institute (ICA)  https://www.ica.gov.co/atencion -al-ciudadano  Channels for the public 
to contact ICA  G/TFA/N/COL/2  
- 9 - 
  Article 10, paragraph 4.3  
 
Details of operation of the single window  
 
Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE)  
 
The Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE), the country's main trade facilitation tool, was created 
under Decree No. 4149 of 2004 and is administered by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism . 
It currently offers services covering  ten foreign trade formalities.  
 
Progressive implementation of the VUCE began in 2005 . The foreign trade formalities of 
70,000  users, before 21 State entities, are channelled through various import and export modules 
for clearances, registration of producers of domesti c goods, special import -export systems  and 
international traders, and simultaneous inspection, which eliminates the need for "Letters of 
Responsibility" to be presented to the Anti -Narcotics Police, among other VUCE formalities.  
 
The VUCE has a risk manage ment system that allows for automatic approval in the assessment 
process through risk analysis based on certain variables.  The system currently enables import 
registrations to be approved in three minutes, down from one day, which has led to a reduction in  
the entity's response times.  
 
The ten VUCE modules are : Imports (authorization procedures for 19 entities and registration and 
import licensing procedures), exports (clearances), simultaneous inspection (electronically 
scheduled physical or non -intrusive inspections of export cargo in port), registration of producers of 
domestic goods, registration of exporters and updates for the Anti -Narcotics Police, processing and 
assembly procedures, special import -export systems, international traders, quot as and risk 
management.  
 
For exports, VUCE has a simultaneous inspection system (SIIS) module that coordinates operations 
in ports by electronically scheduling the inspections to be carried out by monitoring bodies, thereby 
reducing inspection times from t hree days to one day and eliminating the need for cargo to be moved 
multiple times.  
 
In addition, software has been developed to allow for exporter registration through the VUCE . 
Enterprises enter their information directly, enabling the Anti -Narcotics Pol ice to carry out risk 
analyses . This standardized information, which can be easily accessed by the various teams involved 
in the analysis, eliminates the need for in -person registration by legal representatives of the 
enterprises and contributes to the pol icy of going paperless.  
 
Interoperability . The simultaneous inspection service is interoperable among VUCE, DIAN and ports.  
 
At the international level, the Single Windows under the Pacific Alliance are interoperable with 
respect to phytosanitary certifica tes. 
 
Website of Colombia's Single Window for Foreign Trade:  www.vuce.gov.co  
 
Article 10, paragraph 6.2  
 
Each Member shall notify the Committee and publish its measures on the use of customs 
brokers.  
 
Colombian law provides for the following with respect to customs brokers:  
 
Under Decree No. 1165 of 2019 (Article 34 et seq.), customs agencies are legal persons authorized 
by the Special Administrative Unit of the National Customs and Excise Directorate ( DIAN) to provide 
customs brokerage services as a commercial activity ancillary to the government customs service 
and aimed at ensuring that the importers and exporters that use their services fulfil existing legal 
requirements re lating to  import ation, expo rtation and customs transit and any customs operation or 
procedure that those activities  entail . 
 G/TFA/N/COL/2  
- 10 - 
  The main purpose of customs agencies is to collaborate with customs authorities in strict application 
of foreign trade -related laws so that customs regimes an d formalities and other activities and 
procedures stemming from them can be properly carried out.  
 
In accordance with Article 33 of the above -mentioned Decree, there is no requirement to use 
customs agencies to carry out customs procedures, as the importer  or exporter can deal directly 
with the Customs Administration, whatever the quantity in question, to proceed with the customs 
formalities involved in the customs regime, procedure or operation at hand.  
 
Article 12, paragraph 2.2  
 
The contact points for th e exchange of customs information are as follows:  
 
Special Administrative Unit 
of the National Customs 
and Excise Directorate 
(DIAN)  Name : Ingrid Magnolia Díaz Rincón  
Tel.: (57+1) 607 99 99  
Address : Carrera 8 Nº 6C - 38, piso 6, 
Edificio San Agustín, Bogotá D.C., 
Colombia  
Email: dir_aduanas@dian.gov.co  
Website: https://www.dian.gov.co  Director of Customs 
Management, Special 
Adminis trative Unit of the 
National Customs and 
Excise Directorate (DIAN)  
Ministry of Trade, Industry 
and Tourism  Name : Luis Fernando Fuentes Ibarra  
Tel.: (57+1) 606 76 76 Ext. 2100  
Address : Calle 28 No. 13A-15, Bogotá 
D.C., Colombia  
Email: lfuentes@mincit.gov.co  
Website: https://www.mincit.gov.co  Director of Foreign 
Trade, Ministry of Trade, 
Industry and Tourism  
 
__________