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Import regulations and customs duties
Regulations
In order to integrate the WTO (entry: November, 2000), Croatia greatly liberalised its economy. For most goods, customs duties are nowadays the only protective measures. There are some exceptions, for instance, qualitative restriction measures as well as quotas authorised by the WTO rules ( in case of a deficit in the balance of payments or in case of a strong threat to the local industry). These quotas (for farm products, above all) are assigned by open tendering. The import of certain goods needs a license, which is delivered by the Ministry of Economy. Finally, the import of second-hand motorcars being more than 7 years old is forbidden in Croatia.
Croatia now uses a single document for customs declarations, on the model of the Single Administrative Document of the European Union ( also used for the transit procedures in the country).
| Product | License | Quotas | | Equipment radio | X | | | Tractors | X | X | | Metals | X | | | Living animals | | X | | Salt | | X |
Customs duties
Croatia applies the Harmonised Customs System. The customs duties are calculated Ad valorem on the CIF value.
Import taxes
There are excise taxes on oil based-products, tobacco, alcohol drinks, soft drinks, coffee, personal cars and luxuries. Some Local Authorities also impose taxes (3% on the selling price of drinks in catering activities, taxes on the advertisement).
Regulations governing payments
There are no exchange controls in Croatia. However operations carried out in foreign currencies can only transit through banks that are authorised by the State to handle foreign currencies.
Distribution
The Business to Consumer (B to C) market
Retailers still prevail in the Croatian distribution landscape, there are about 40,000 of them (mainly owned by independent individuals). However, a internationalisation and concentration tendency recently occured in the sector. This trend will accelerate in the years to come with the development of shopping centres, department stores and the establishment of international chains of hypermarkets, for instance.
In 1998, the distribution sector contributed to 11% of Croatia's GNP.
The Business to Business (B to B) market
The Croatian government promotes the establishment of foreign companies in its territory and created 7 free trade areas mainly in Split and in Zagreb. The sectors with a great potential, targeted by exporters, are telecommunications, banks and pharmaceutical industry.
Transportation of goods
By road
The road network extends over 30,000 km, two thirds of which are tarred. The quantity of goods transported by road was 5 million tons in 1999 which was slightly lesser as compared to 1998 but Croatia is above all a transit ground for goods intended to Central Europe and in 1999 some 18 million tons of goods in transit circulated on the Croatian roads. The Croatian government and international organisations such as the World Bank or the European Bank for the Reconstruction and the Development (BERD), gave financial assistance, under the shape of loans, to accelerate the reconstruction and the modernisation of the Croatian road network.
By rail
The railroad network is 2,700 km and suffered from the conflict. It allowed the routing of 11 million tons of goods in 1999, in regression as compared to 1998. Ambitious projects to repair and modernise the railways as well as the rolling stock are in progress under the supervision of the national company: Croatian Railways.
By sea
Croatia serves as a commercial bridge between Central Europe and the Adriatic Sea. The main port is Rijeka, followed by Sibenik, Split, Zadar, Pula, Ploce and Dubrovnik. There are other ports specialised for industrial equipment, with terminals for oil and gas pipelines, with installations for shipyards. Rijeka, Split and Ploce ports are free zones.
By air
The international airports are located in Zagreb, Pula, Rijeka, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik. The national company Croatia Airlines proposes an excellent European servicing.
Standards
The State Office for Standardisation and Metrology (DZNM) is the body which defines the laws of standardisation and ratification in Croatia. The purpose is to harmonise these standards with the European standards.
The European standards are appreciated.
Patents and brands
The body responsible for industrial property is the State Office for Intellectual Property.
Croatia signed the Agreement of Paris concerning the protection of industrial property and the agreement which establishes the World Intellectual property Organization (WIPO). They are a part of the Agreement of Madrid, on the international register of the trademarks.
| Texts currently applying to patents/brands
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Text |
Date entered into law |
Period of validity |
Comment |
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Patent
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Patent Law
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1999
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Period of validity of 20 years
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Renewable period
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Trademark
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Trademark Law
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1999
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Period of validity of 10 years
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Renewable period
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Design
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Design Law
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1999
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Period of validity of 10 years
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Last modified in
January 2004
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