G/TFA/N/DOM/3/Rev.1  
5 June 2020 
(20-4046) Page: 1/7 
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 THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 8 May 2020, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the Dominican Republic  for Members ' information . 
 
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The Dominican Republic hereby updates its notification for the purpose of transparency, in 
accordance with Articles 1.4 and 10.4.3 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).  
This update is being provided in the light of a number of temporary measures adopted by the 
Dominican Republic in response to the C OVID -19 pandemic.  
Revised parts are shown in bold  and refer to measures notified pursuant to Articles 1.4(a) and (e) 
and 10.4 .3 of the TFA.  
The remaining information is the same as that submitted previously in document G/TFA/N/DOM/3.  
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;  
 
Directorate -General of 
Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and other 
related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agricultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do /  
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   G/TFA/N/DOM/3/Rev.1  
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  Trade facilitation measures 
taken due to the C OVID -19 
pandemic  Customs intelligence  
The following measures have been implemented since 
20 March  2020 to mitigate customs risks and maintain trade 
facilitation:  
(1) The risk analysis has focused on items that are of key 
importance in the current circumstances, su ch as medicines and 
medical industry products, with a view to mitigating the risks 
of, inter alia , counterfeits and expired products . The same 
applies to the analysis of imports of high -risk products, such as 
contraband cigarettes.  
(2) An analysis of businesses with low -risk profiles is under way 
in order to speed up the clearance of these businesses' goods, 
so that efforts can be focused on cases of a more sensitive 
nature.  
(3) Through the World Customs Organization's Customs 
Enforcement Network Commu nication Platform, the task force 
is keeping abreast of the various modus operandi  used 
internationally in order to gather information on confiscations 
made by other customs administrations.  
(4) According to information from administrators at each 
border c rossing, the transit of goods is occurring twice a week 
at land border crossing points . The goods in custody are 
clothing, alcohol and juices.  
(5) Vehicle -related applications will be handled remotely . It 
is hoped that the following applications can be rec eived by 
email:  
• applications for payment of tax and clearance of 
vehicles ; 
• applications for the correction of vehicle -related 
manifests or characteristics ; 
• applications for the clearance of buses . 
Preventive measures taken 
by the Directorate -General 
of Customs (DGA) due to 
the COVID -19 pandemic  The DGA has attempted to address the impact of the emergency 
situation due to the COVID -19 pandemic by adopting the 
following measures:  
 (1) Elimination of the surcharge for late declaration (Art. 52 of 
Law No.  3489), through an application submitted to the 
customs administration.  
 (2) The period from Friday, 20  March  2020, until three working 
days after the lifting of the state of emergency will not be 
included when calculating the number of days goods were kept 
at the bonded warehouse for any purpose (fiscal, re -export or 
cargo consolidation).  
 (3) From 24  March, customs administrations will not count the 
days under lockdown in calculating the period of time after 
which goods are declared abandon ed. 
 (4) From 24  March, for procedures involving digital signatures, 
support will be provided via the email address 
firmasdigitales@aduanas.gob.do  and by phone.  
 (5) From 24  March, the following applications can only be submitted 
by email ( info.corresporidenciayarchivo@aduanas.gob.do ): 
applications for the payment of tax under Law No.  253.42, 
applications for exemption f rom the payment of tax under Provision 
No. 7204, and WTO quota authorizations (technical rectifications).  G/TFA/N/DOM/3/Rev.1  
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   (6) From 23  March, the administrations will be open for 
payments until 3 p.m.  Users are therefore invited to make 
payments electronically.  
 (7) The registration of importers/exporters, inclusion of 
administrators and access authorizations may be carried out 
digitally from 23  March, provided that the requirements 
established by the DGA have already been met. Details of these 
requirements can be  found at www.aduanas.gob.do. 
Applications must be sent to unidadregistro@aduanas.gob.do . 
 (8) From 26  March, the administrations will stop clearing 
containers at 5 p.m., due to the curfew imposed by the 
Government.  
 (9) From 2  April and for the duration of the emergency, the 
collection of all import taxes via the Integrated Customs 
Management System will be temporarily suspended on masks, 
clothing, medical protective equipment and devices, machines 
and appliances required to combat the pandemic. This 
suspension of taxes specifically includes customs duty, where 
applicable, and tax on the transfer of goods and services 
(ITBIS).  
 (10) With regard to the clearance of vehicle imports d uring this 
emergency, the DGA, in order to minimize the risk of infection 
from the coronavirus and reduce the presence of persons and 
taxpayers at its facilities in the country's ports, has adopted a 
number of measures to facilitate the import of vehicles that will 
take effect from 20  March.  
 
1.1(b) Applied rates of duties and taxes of any kind imposed on or in connection with importation or 
exportation;  
 
Directorate -General of 
Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and 
other related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agricultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   
 
1.1(c) Fees and charges imposed by or for governmental agencies on or in connection with 
importation, exportation or transit;  
 
Directorate -General of 
Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and other 
relate d pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agricultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   G/TFA/N/DOM/3/Rev.1  
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  1.1(d) Rules for the classification or valuation of products for customs purposes;  
 
Directorate -General of 
Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and other 
related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agri cultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob .do/  
 
1.1(e) Laws, regulations, and administrative rulings of general application relating to rules of origin;  
 
Directorate -General of  
Custom s https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and other 
related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agricultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do /  
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   
Trade facilitation 
measures taken due 
to the C OVID -19 
pandemic  
 Customs administrators have been instructed to authorize , as of 
2 April, the clearance, using tariff preferences, of imports on goods 
from the European Community, without the submission of the EUR.1 
Movement Certificate . This is subject to prior evaluation of the risk 
profile of the taxpayer and the submission of a document in which the 
taxpayer commits to providing said certificate when it is subsequently 
issued.  
 
1.1(f) Import, export or transit restrictions or prohibitions;  
 
Directorate -General of  
Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and 
other related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agricultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   
 G/TFA/N/DOM/3/Rev.1  
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  1.1(g) Penalty provisions for breaches of import, export, or transit formalities;  
 
Directorate -General of  
Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and 
other related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agricultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp. gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   
 
1.1(h) Procedures for appeal or review;  
 
Directorate -General of 
Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and 
other related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agricultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   
 
1.1(i) Agreements or parts thereof with any country or countries relating to importation, exportation, 
or transit ; 
 
Directorate -General of 
Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and other 
related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agricultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   
 
1.1(j) Procedures relating to the administration of tariff quotas ; 
 
Directorate -General of Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and other 
related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agricultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   G/TFA/N/DOM/3/Rev.1  
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  Article 1, paragraph 4  
 
(b) The Uniform Resource Locators of website(s) referred to in paragraph 2.1  
 
(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;  
 
Directorate -General of 
Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and other 
related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agricultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   
 
(b) The forms and documents required for importation into, exportation from, or transit through the 
territory of that Member;  
 
Directorate -General of 
Customs  https://vucerd.gob.do/  
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/  Single enquiry point and other 
related pages  
Ministry of Agriculture  http://agri cultura.gob.do/   
Ministry of Defence  https://www.mide.gob.do/   
Ministry of Public Health  http://www.msp.gob.do/web/   
Ministry of the Environment  https://ambiente.gob.do/   
Ministry of Industry and Trade  https://micm.gob.do/   
Dominican Institute for Quality  https://www.indocal.gob.do/   
 
Article 1 , paragraph 4  
 
(c) The contact information of the enquiry points referred to in paragraph 3.1  
 
Directorate -General of 
Customs  Name : Single Window for Foreign Trade  
Tel.: (+1) 809-547-7070 
Address : Av. Abraham Lincoln 1101, 
Santo Domingo  
Email: gestionyprocesosvuce@dga.gov.do  
Website: https://vucerd.gob.do/  Single enquiry point  
 
Article 10, p aragraph 4.3  
 
https://vucerd.gob.do/  
 
Trade facilitation measures taken due to the C OVID -19 pandemic  
Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE)  
The Single Window for Foreign Trade continues to operate as usual . However, due to C OVID -19 
measures, assistance is being offered remotely as of 2 6 March . G/TFA/N/DOM/3/Rev.1  
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  Institutions are accepting copies of plant and animal health certificates, which are being reviewed 
electronically.  
A number of resources have been created to co ordinate the granting of authorizations in the 
Single  Window for Foreign Trade, which enables importers and exporters to schedule inspections 
(if necessary) and monitor the authorization process at the port.  
Users in need of assistance can call (+1) 809-547-7070, ext. 2662 and 2663, email 
gestiónyprocesosvuce@aduanas.gob.do  or visit the website: www.vucerd.gob.do . 
Article 10, p aragraph 6.2  
Article 159 of Law No. 3489 on customs, in force since 1953, does not require the use of customs 
brokers:  
 
https://www.aduanas.gob.do/media/2182/3489_ley_general_de_aduan as.pdf  
 
Law No. 3489 can be downloaded,  and Articles 153 to 166 viewed at:  
 
https://vucerd.gob.do/normativas -y-acuerdos/normas -y-acuerdos/  
 
Article 12, p aragraph 2.2  
 
The contac t points for the exchange of customs information are as follows:  
 
Directorate -General of 
Customs  Name : Single Window for Foreign Trade  
Tel.: (+1) 809-547-7070 
Address : Av. Abraham Lincoln 1101, 
Santo Domingo  
Email: gestionyprocesosvuce@dga.gov.do  
Website: https://vucerd.gob.do/  Single enquiry point  
 
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