QUOTE :

Dear Colleagues,

We have to inform that starting immediatelly, all cargos that could enter
under the Quarantine Authority MUST HAVE A CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN.
Otherwise it will not be allowed to enter to Panama, not even Colon Free Zone, and will be subject to a fine. A copy of the certificate that you could email us would be enough.

We know this is done in very short notice, but we were also caught by surprise, as we've been cooperating with the authorities for quite a
long time, with absolutelly no incident of any kind. However, some of our colleagues in other companies already suffered this fines, in cases up to USD 2500. We asked for a period of grace for the cntrs already in
the water, but it was denied.

We still had no problems, but is to be expected that we will be asked
for the certificate of origin the next time we move a cntr with such cargo.

FYI, the cargos that fall in this category are:

Food, and food ingredients.
Any agricultural products, raw material and finished.
Seeds.
Veterinary products.
Fumigation products.
Fertilizing products.
If you have any product that you are not sure about, pls, ask us or try to get the certificate of origin from the shpr anyway.

IT IS OF EXTREME IMPORTANCE THAT YOU COOPERATE WITH US IN THIS POINT, in order to avoid fines and delays.

In the meantime, we will try to negociate with the authority to get a special regime for cargos in transit, but so far all the attemps were in vain.

Tks for your kind attn.
UNQUOTE