Triple-Duty Fine on Damaged Imports
Syria's General Authority for Land, Sea and Air Ports has issued a decision imposing a fine equal to three times the customs duty on the damaged or unusable portion of goods entered for local consumption. The measure applies to items deemed unfit for human or industrial use.
The decision was not published through official channels but circulated on social media before customs brokers confirmed it had been distributed to customs directorates and border posts.
What Changes for Importers
Under the previous practice, goods that failed to meet Syrian standards were returned to their country of origin, with a fine levied on the trader. The new approach fines the importer without returning the shipment, allowing the goods to enter the country as the importer's property.
Foodstuffs are treated differently: expired products or those proven unfit for human consumption are destroyed, and the importer is fined.
Concern Over Consumer Costs
The head of the Consumer Protection Association questioned the logic of admitting electrical goods classified as low grade. He warned that a trader "will not accept the loss" and may pass the fine to buyers by reselling substandard items as higher grades.
He argued the more appropriate step would be to refuse entry to damaged goods while still fining the importer, rather than letting the merchandise reach the market.
Imports Under Scrutiny
The debate comes amid a growing presence of Chinese goods in the Syrian market. Customs data put total Chinese exports to Syria at $668.1 million over the past year, most of it electrical equipment.
Importers note that some damage occurs beyond their control, through long transit times or shipping accidents, and called for distinguishing deliberate violations from unavoidable losses.
They pointed to shipments that left their origin in good condition but arrived spoiled after months in transit, as well as cases of outright fraud, arguing that penalties should separate such losses from deliberate attempts to bring in substandard goods.