Following two previous amendments, Ministry of Trade Regulation Number 36 of 2023 concerning Import Policies and Conditions ("MOT Regulation 36/2023") is currently undergoing a third amendment in response to issues with container congestion at ports caused by delays in the issuance of import approvals and technical considerations for specific commodities. The Minister of Trade has now decided to issue Ministry of Trade Regulation Number 8 of 2024 as the Third Amendment to Ministry of Trade Regulation 36/2023 in an attempt to address this issue, which will formally go into effect on June 18, 2024.
With the implementation of the Third Amendment, the list of goods owned by migrant workers from Indonesia is now even longer. These goods can now be imported without the relevant parties having to obtain Business Identification Numbers (Nomor Izin Berusaha/NIB), Business Licenses for the import sector, or undergo technical inspections and verifications.
The items listed are:
1. Personal consignment goods
2. Passengers’ personal goods
3. Personal goods of transportation facility crew members
4. Personal goods of border crossers
5. Personal effects of foreign and Indonesian citizens
6. Consignment goods for hajj pilgrims sent through postal organizers
The third amendment also contains certain clauses that simplify the import procedure for particular goods, such as exemptions from obtaining the previously required import clearances. Imports of goods including luggage, valves, beauty products, household healthcare supplies, traditional medicines, and health supplements will now need surveyors’ reports (Laporan Surveyor/LS) to be submitted.
It should be highlighted, although, that some items are subject to verification and technical inspection requirements, such as iron, steel, alloy steel, and their derivatives, textiles, and textile products. On top of that, import permits for the aforementioned goods that were granted before the Third Amendment’s implementation date will continue to be valid until their applicable expiration dates without the need for additional verifications or technical tracing.
Furthermore, the Third Amendment specifically bans the entry of certain personal belongings into free-trade and free-port zones (Kawasan Perdagangan Bebas dan Pelabuhan Bebas/KPBPB) from places outside of the official Indonesian customs areas. These items include mobile phones, tablets, and handheld computers.
Also, the third amendment exempts items like electronics, footwear, clothes, and accessories from the need to get technical assessment from appropriate authorities in order to facilitate more relaxed imports of these items.
