G/TFA/N/TON/3  
 
 
16 September 2021  
(21-6890) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATIONS UNDER ARTICLES 1.4, 10.4.3 10.6.2 AND 12.2.2  
OF THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM TONGA  
The following communication, dated 20 August 2021 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Tonga. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Tonga hereby makes the following notifications based on Articles 1.4, 10.4.3, 10.6.2 and 12.2.2 of 
the Agreement on Trade Facilitation.  
 
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;  
 
Ministry of R evenue 
and Customs  Customs and Excise Management Act 2007  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -
0004/Customsa ndExciseManagementAct2007_1.pdf  
Customs and Excise Management Regulations  2008 
https://tonga.tradeportal.org/media/CustomsandExci
seManagementRegulations20 08_2_2.pdf  Provides the legal 
framework guiding the 
importation, exportation 
and transit of goods  
Ministry of Agriculture, 
Food and Forests  http://mafff.gov.to/  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/1981/1981 -0024/PlantQuarantineAct_2.pdf  Provides the legal 
framework for importation 
and exportati on of plant 
related products  
Ministry of Fisheries  Fisheries Management (Processing and Export) 
Regulations 2008  
https://www.tongafish.gov.to/images/documents/Le
gislations/Regs/Gaz.Supp.No.24 -2008.pdf  Information on 
requirements for 
processing and 
exportation of fisheries 
goods  
Ports Authority Tonga  www.portsauthoritytonga.com  Provides the necessary 
regulations, forms and 
applications  
Tonga Trade Portal  https://tonga.tradeportal.org/?l=en  Information on 
procedures for 
importation, exportation 
and transit, and on 
required  forms and 
documents  
Registration procedure for 
importer or exporter  
 G/TFA/N/TON/3  
 
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  1.1(b) applied rates of duties and taxes of any kind imposed on or in connection with importation or 
exportation;  
Ministry of Agriculture, 
Food and Forests  http://mafff.gov.to/  
Plant Quarantine Regulations  Fees payable in respect of 
plant quarantine.  
Ministry of Revenue 
and Customs  Customs Act 2007  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -0005/CustomsAct_2.pdf  
Customs Tariff Schedule  
Excise Tax Act 2007  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -0006/ExciseTaxAct_2.pdf  
Excise Tax Schedule  
Customs and Excise Management Act 2007  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -
0004/CustomsandExciseManagementAct_2.pdf  Imposes, as taxes, 
charges relating to the 
export of goods, so far as 
those charges are duties 
of customs  
Imposes, as taxes, 
charges relating to the 
export of goods, so far as 
those charges are duties 
of excise  
Imposes, as taxes, 
charges relating to the 
export of goods, so far as 
those charges are neither 
duties of customs n or 
duties of excise  
 
1.1(c) fees and charges imposed by or for governmental agencies on or in connection with 
importation, exportation or transit;  
Ministry of Revenue 
and Customs  Customs and Excise Management Act 2007  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -
0004/CustomsandExciseManagementAct_2.pdf  
Customs and Excise Management Regulations 2008  
https://tonga.tradeportal.org/media/CustomsandExci
seManagementRegulations2008_2_2.pdf  
Customs Act 2007  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -0005/CustomsAct_2.pdf  
Excise Tax Act 2007  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -0006/ExciseTaxAct_2.pdf  Imposes charges in 
relation to the licensing of 
depots, warehouses and  
customs brokers  
Imposes import 
processing charges in 
respect of certain goods 
imported into Tonga  
Provides for the collection 
of export charges  
Ministry of Agriculture, 
Food and Forests  
Ministry of Fisheries  http://mafff.gov.to/  
http://www.tongafish.gov.to  Fees and charges related 
to provision of import and 
export services for 
agricultural, fishery and 
forestry products  
Tonga Trade Portal  https://tonga.tradeportal.org/?l=en  Procedures include related 
fees 
 
1.1(d) rules for the classification or valuation of products for customs purposes;  
Ministry of Revenue 
and Customs  Customs Act  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -0005/CustomsAct_2.pdf  
Customs Tariff Schedule under the Customs Act 
2007 Interpret ive rules for 
classifying goods and 
valuation of products for 
customs purposes  
 
1.1(e) laws, regulations, and administrative rulings of general application relating to rules of origin;  
Ministry of Revenue 
and Customs  Customs and Excise Management Act 2007  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -
0004/CustomsandExciseManagementAct_2.pdf   G/TFA/N/TON/3  
 
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   Customs and Excise Management Regulations  2008 
https://tonga.tradeportal.org/media/CustomsandExci
seManagementRegulations2008_2_2.pdf  
Customs (PACER Plus) Regulations 2020  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/SUBO
RDINATE/2020/2020 -
0094/CustomsPACERPlusRegulations2020_1.pdf  Regulation 131 provides 
general information on 
applications for written 
administrative rulings  
Form C13 Import Entry 
requires declaration of 
Origin of import goods  
Implementation of PACER 
Plus Rules of Origin  
 
1.1(f) import, export or transit restrictions or prohibitions;  
Ministry of Revenue 
and Customs  Customs and Excise Management Act  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/ 2007-
0004/CustomsandExciseManagementAct_2.pdf  
Customs and Excise Management Act Order 2007  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/SUBO
RDINATE/2007/2007 -
2101/CustomsandExciseManagementActOrder2007_
2.pdf 
Customs and Ex cise Management Act (Amendment) 
Order 2020  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/AMEN
DING/2020/2020 -
2102/CustomsandExc iseManagementActAmendment
Order2020.pdf  
Customs and Excise Management Act (Amendment) 
Order 2021 
https://ago.gov.to/cms/ima ges/LEGISLATION/AMEN
DING/2021/2021 -
0010/CustomsandExciseManagementActAmendment
Order2021.pdf  Section 45 empowers the 
Minister to declare 
prohibited and restricted 
imports for Customs 
purposes  
This Order is a list of 
goods declared as 
prohibited or restricte d 
under Customs law.  
Ministry of 
Meteorology, Energy, 
Information, Disaster 
Management, 
Environment and 
Climate Change  https://tonga.tradeportal.org/media/OzoneLayerProt
ection Act.pdf  Information on the 
restrictions on import or 
export of ozone depleting 
substances and synthetic 
greenhouse gases  
Ministry of Agriculture, 
Food and Forests  https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/1981/1981 -0024/PlantQuarantineAct_2.pdf  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2002/2002 -
0005/AgriculturalCommoditiesExportAct_1.pdf  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/1978/1978 -0027/AnimalDiseasesAct_1.pdf  Information on 
requirements for live 
plant and animal 
specim ens considered to 
be suitable for import into 
Tonga  
Ministry of Fisheries  Tonga Marine Aquarium Fishery Management and 
Development Plan 2017 -2019 
https://www.tongafish.gov.to/images/documents/Ma
nagement Plans/Approved Tonga Marine Aquarium 
Plan Final 2017 -2019.pdf  Information on  restricted 
and prohibited marine 
species for exportation  
 
1.1(g) penalty provisions for breaches of import, export, or transit formalities;  
 
Ministry of Revenue 
and Customs  Customs and Excise Management Act  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -
0004/CustomsandExciseManagementAct_2.pdf  Part 12 of Customs and 
Excise Management Act 
2007 for Customs 
administrative penalties 
and offences  
Section 95 of the Customs 
and Excise Management 
Act 2007 Charges persons 
for importation of   G/TFA/N/TON/3  
 
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    prohibited or restricted 
goods, some other 
legislation also have 
specific offences relatin g 
to goods that they 
regulate. For e.g. the 
Ozone Layer Protection 
Act section 22 contains 
specific offences relating 
to ODS  
 
1.1(h) procedures for appeal or review;  
Ministry of Revenue 
and Customs  https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2007/2007 -
0004/CustomsandExciseManagementAct_2.pdf  
https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINC
IPAL/2002/2002 -
0028/RevenueServicesAdministrationAct_2.pdf  Section 126 gives any 
person t he right to appeal 
to the Tax Tribunal 
against any decision of 
Customs under Customs 
law 
 
1.1(i) agreements or parts thereof with any country or countries relating to importation, exportation,  
or transit; and  
Ministry of Trade and 
Economic Development  https://www.mted.gov.to  Agreements with any 
country relating to 
importation, exportation 
or transit  
 
(j)  procedures relating to the administration of tariff quotas.  
No tariff quotas are being imposed in Tonga.  
 
(b) The Uniform Resource Locators of website(s) referred to in paragraph 2.1  
 
Same as information notified under Article 1.4 (a) above . 
 
(c) The contact information of the enquiry points referred to in paragraph 3.1  
 
Contact information on enquiry point s is: 
 
Ministry of Revenue 
and Customs  
 Mr. Kelemete Vahe  
Chief Executive Officer  
Tel +676 7400650  
Tel +676 7400652  
Email: kelemetev@gmail.com  Import and Export Policy and 
Procedures  
Mr. Michael Cokanasiga  
Deputy Chief Executive Officer  
Tel +676 7400650  
Tel +676 7400653  
Email: michaelc@customs.gov.to  Rules of origin certification  
Mr. Michael Cokanasiga  
Deputy Chief Executive Officer  
Tel +676 7400650  
Tel +676 7400653  
Email: michaelc@cus toms.gov.to  Customs Clearance  
Mr. Sau Niulala  
Deputy Chief Executive Officer  
Tel +676 7400650  
Tel +676 7400654  
Email: saun@customs.gov.to  Inspection of Goods Quality  G/TFA/N/TON/3  
 
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  Mr. Michael Cokanasiga  
Deputy Chief Executive Officer  
Tel +676 7400650  
Tel +676 7400653  
Email: michaelc@customs.gov.to  Tariff Information  
Ministry of 
Agriculture, Food and 
Forest s Chief Executive Officer  
Tel +676 7401115  
Tel +676 7401100  
Email: ceo@mafff.gov.to  
Website: www.mafff.we.bs/  SPS requirements  
 
Ministry of Fisheries  Chief Executive Officer  
Tel +676 7401201  
Email: info@tongafish.gov.to   
Website: http://www.tongafish.gov.to  Import and Export Policy and 
Procedures for Fisheries  
Ministry of Trade and 
Economic 
Development  Chief Executive Officer  
Tel + 676 7400105  
Email:  ceo@mted.gov.to  
Website:  www.mted.gov.to  TBT Enquiry Point  
 
Article 10, paragraph 4.3  
 
This measure has not yet been implemented, Tonga notified this as Category C and will be 
implemented upon receipt of technical assistance.  
 
Article 10, paragraph 6.2  
 
The use of customs brokers is stipulated in the Customs and Excise Management Act 2007 
(https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/2007/2007 -
0004/CustomsandExciseManagementAct_2.pdf ) 
 
Article 12, paragraph 2.2  
 
Notification of details of co ntact point for the exchange of  information  set out in A rticle 12 .6.1 (b) 
and/or (c).  
 
Ministry of Revenue and Customs  Chief Executive Officer  
Tel.: +676 7400652  
E-mail: kelemetev@gmail.com  
 
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