NO. L/001/03/09

IN CONTINUATION OF OUR THRUST TOWARDS SERVICE IMPROVEMENT, YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED THAT:

1. EFFECTIVE APRIL 01, 2009 THE TRADE BOARD WILL ONLY ISSUE IMPORT PERMITS FOR VEHICLES THAT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE EXISTING MOTOR VEHICLE IMPORTS POLICY (MVIP).  THESE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH INCLUDE AGE LIMITS, ARE SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS FROM TIME TO TIME.

1. IMPORTERS ARE, THEREFORE, URGED TO ADHERE TO THE MVIP PROVISIONS AND IN PARTICULAR PURCHASE VEHICLES OF SUCH AGES THAT GIVE THE RESPECTIVE SHIPPING LEAD TIMES FROM THEIR POINT OF DEPARTURE;  THEY SHOULD NOT ARRIVE IN JAMAICA IN AN “OVER AGED” STATUS. WE FURTHER SUGGEST THAT SINCE IMPORTERS DO NOT HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER THE SHIPPING PROCESS, THEY MAKE ADEQUATE ALLOWANCES FOR UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS ACTS OF GOD, ACCIDENTS AND CONGESTION ON PORTS OF DEPARTURE.

1. SHOULD IMPORTERS BE UNABLE TO IMPLEMENT A CONTINGENCY PROGRAMME AS OUTLINED IN 2, ABOVE, THE TRADE BOARD MAY INSTITUTE A CUT-OFF DATE FOR ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT VEHICLES WILL ARRIVE IN JAMAICA WITHIN THEIR AGE LIMITS. IN THAT CASE, YOU WILL BE ADVISED OF OUR DECISION AND EFFECTIVE DATE THROUGH NOTICES PLACED ON OUR WEBSITE, IN OUR OFFICES AND PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.

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