New Measures To Govern Importation Of Motor Vehicles

New measures governing the importation of motor vehicles are being developed by the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, State Minister, Michael Stern, has disclosed.
He said that the measures, to be drafted into a policy, are being developed in conjunction with the modification of other specific guidelines, and would provide a single and comprehensive reference document on Jamaica’s motor vehicle import policy.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Jamaica Used Car Dealers Association (JUCDA), at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on September 11, Mr. Stern said the new policy, which is to be tabled in Parliament soon, would seek to balance several important factors. These, he outlined, include: road safety, consumer choice and protection, fair competition, revenue collection, safeguarding intellectual property rights, and environmental protection.
He noted that since 1989, various policy measures, aimed at liberalising motor vehicle importation, have been introduced, which have been subjected to revisions.
“The review of the existing policy will include consultations with stakeholders in the industry; new provisions as well as amendments to several stipulations in the documentation; approved methods of determining model year; warranty on motor vehicles; mandatory requirements for manuals to be in English; stock and availability of spare parts; certification of new and used car dealers; importation of new cars by used car dealers; importation of cars by individuals and returning residents; procedures for import permits; and importation of damaged vehicles, and racing cars,” Mr. Stern outlined.
The review will also focus on: importation of half cars and clips for repairs, classic and limited edition cars, import documentation, age of imported vehicles, and a stipulation that all documentation for vehicles be in English.
Mr. Stern advised that, once the consultations have taken place, the policy would be tabled in Parliament, for promulgation into law.
“Certified dealers are reminded, that the requirements of this policy will apply to the importer on record, and the user of the sub-dealer or broker, (and) will not exempt the certified dealer from their responsibilities,” he said.