MARCH 1999

CHAPTER 6: TRADE REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS

6.1 TRADE BARRIERS, INCLUDING TARIFFS AND IMPORT TAXES

Customs Tariffs

All exports from Armenia are duty free. Armenia uses the Harmonized Code System for tariff classification. Tariffs are in ad valorem terms and levied on C.I.F. values. The import tariff schedule has rates of either 0 or 10 percent. The ten percent tariff is levied on items consisting mainly of consumer goods and luxury items.

Customs Tariffs as of GOAM Customs Tariffs Law of May 12, 1997

CODE SHORT DESCRIPTION AND TARIFFS %

01. Live animals 0

02. Meat and meat products 10

03. Fish and crustaceans, mollusks and other aquatic invertebrates 10

0301. Fish, live 0

04. Dairy products; bird's eggs; honey 10

05. Products of animal origin, not specified or included elsewhere 10

06. Live trees, bulbs, other plants, their parts, cut flowers, and decorative greens 10

07. Edible vegetable, and certain roots and tubers 10

08. Edible fruits and nuts; peel of citrus fruits and melons 10

09. Coffee, tea, mate, and spices 10

10. Cereals 0

11. Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; insulin; wheat gluten 0

12. Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds and fruits;

industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder 0

1206 00. Sunflower seeds, whether or not broken 10

13. Gums, resins and other vegetable saps and extracts 0

1302. Vegetable saps and extracts; pectic substances, pectinates and pectates;

agar, and other mucilage and thickeners, whether or not modified,

derived from vegetable products 10

14. Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified

or included 0

15. Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their cleavage products; prepared

edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes 10

16. Preparations of meat, fish, crustaceans, mollusks and other aquatic

invertebrates 0

17. Sugar and sugar confectionery 10

18. Cocoa and cocoa products 10

19. Preparations of cereals, flour, starch or milk; pastrycooks' products 0

1902. Pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed (with meat or other substances) or

otherwise prepared, such as spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, lasagna, gnocchi,

avioli, cannelloni: couscous, whether or not prepared 10

1904. Prepared foods obtained by swelling or roasting of cereals or cereal products

(for example, corn flakes);cereals other than maize (corn), in grain form,

pre-cooked or otherwise prepared. 10

1903. Sweet biscuits: waffles and wafers 10

20. Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts or other parts of plants 10

21. Miscellaneous edible preparations 10

2102. Yeast (active or inactive); other single-sell microorganisms, dead (but not

including vaccines of heading No 3002);prepared baking powders 0

22. Beverages, spirits and vinegar 10

2208.30 .Whiskies 0

23 . Residues and waste from the food industries, prepared animal fodder 0

2309.10. Dog and cat food for retail sale 10

24. Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes 10

2401. Tobacco, unmanufactured; tobacco refuse 0

25. Salts, sulfur; earth and stone; plastering materials, lime, and cement 0

2501 00 910. Salt suitable for human consumption 10

26. Ores, slag and ash 0

27. Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; bituminous

substances; mineral waxes 0

Inorganic chemicals, organic or inorganic compounds of

precious or rare-earth metals; radioactive elements or isotopes 0

29. Organic chemicals 0

30. Pharmaceutical products 0

31. Fertilizers 0

32. Tanning and dyeing extracts, tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments

and other coloring matter; paints and varnishes, putty and other mastics, inks 0 33. Essential oil and resnoids, perfumery, cosmetics and other beauty care products 0

34. Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating

preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scoring preparations,

candles and similar articles, modeling pastes, dental waxes, and dental

preparations based on plaster 0

35. Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes 0

36. Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys, certain

combustible preparations 0

37. Photo and cinematographic goods 0

38. Miscellaneous chemical products 0

39. Plastics and articles thereof 0

40. Rubber and articles thereof 0

4011 10 000. New pneumatic tires, of rubber of a kind used on passenger motor cars 10

4015 10 100. Inner tubes, of rubber of a kind used on passenger motor cars 10

4015 19 100. Gloves, except surgical 10

4015 19 900. Other rubber gloves 10

4015 90 000. Other rubber clothes 10

4016 91 000. Rubber rags, floor coverings and tablecloth 10

4016 92 000. Rubber erasers 10

41. Raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather 0

42. Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags and similar

containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) 10

43. Furskins and artificial fur , manufactures thereof 0

4303. Articles of apparel, clothing accessories and other articles of furskin 10

44. Wood and articles of wood, wood charcoal 0

45. Cork and articles of cork 10.

46. Manufactures of straw, of esparto or of other plaiting materials; basketware and

wicker-work 10

47. Cellulose, paper and paperboard waste or scrap 0

48. Paper and paperboard, articles of paper pulp, of paper or paperboard 0

49. Printer books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing

industry 0

50. Silk and silk products 10

51. Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric 0

52. Cotton 0

53. Other vegetable textile fibers; paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn 0

54. Man-made filaments 0

5407. Woven fabric of synthetic filament yarn 10

5408. Woven fabrics of artificial filament yarn 10

55. Man-made stapel fibers 0

5503. Synthetic stapel fibers, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for spinning 10

56. Wadding, special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables and articles thereof 0

57. Carpets and other textile floor coverings 10

58. Special woven fabrics, tufted textile fabrics; tapestries; lace; trimmings;

embroidery 10

59. Impregnated, coated, covered or laminated textile fabrics, textile articles of a

kind suitable for industrial use 0

5904. Linoleum, whether or not cut to shape; floor coverings consisting of a coating or

covering applied on a textile backing, whether or not cut to shape 10

60. Knitted or crocheted fabric 0

6001. Pile fabrics including "long pile" fabrics and terry fabrics, knitted or crocheted 10

6002. Other knitted or crocheted fabrics 10

61. Apparel articles and accessories, knitted or crocheted 10

62. Apparel articles and accessories, not knitted or crocheted 10

62. Other made-up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags 10

64. Footwear 10

6406. Parts of foot wear 0

65. Headgear and parts thereof 10

66. Umbrellas, canes, whips, and parts thereof 10

67. Downy products, artificial flowers 10

68. Products made from stone, plaster, gypsum, cement, asbestos, mica, etc. 10

6812 90. Other fibers from processed asbestos 0

6813 10. Brake linings and pads 0

6813 90. Other linings and pads from processed asbestos 0

69. Ceramics products 0

70. Glass and glassware 0

7004. Drawn and blown glass, in sheets, whether or not having an absorbent or

reflecting layer, but not otherwise worked 10

7005. Float glass and surface ground or polished glass, in sheets, whether or not

having an absorbent or reflecting layer, but not otherwise worked 10

7009. Glass mirrors, whether or not framed, including rear-view mirrors 10

7013. Glassware for table, kitchen, toilet, office, indoor decoration or similar purposes 10

7016. Paving blocks, slabs, bricks, squares, tiles and other articles of pressed or

molded glass, whether or not wired, of a kind used for building or construction

purposes; glass cubes and other glass smallwares, whether or not on a backing,

or mosaics or similar decorative purposes' leaded lights and the like; multicellular

or foam glass in blocks, panels, plates, shells or similar forms 10

7018. Glass beads, imitation pearls, imitation precious or semiprecious stones and

similar glass smallwares, and articles thereof other than imitation jewelry; glass

eyes other than prosthetic articles; statuettes and other ornaments of

lamp-worked glass, other that imitation jewelry; glass microspheres not

exceeding 1 mm in diameter 10

71. Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious or metals,

metal clad with precious metal, and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin 0

7101. Pearls, natural or cultured, whether or not worked or graded but not strung,

mounted or set; ungraded pearls, natural or cultured, temporarily strung for

convenience of transport 10

7113. Articles of jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with

precious metal 10

7114. Articles of goldsmith' or silversmith' wares and parts thereof, of precious metals

or of metal clad with precious metal 10

7115. Other articles of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal 10

7117. Imitation jewelry 10

7118. Coin 10

72. Iron and steel 0

73. Articles of iron and steel 0

7323. Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, of iron or steel;

iron or steel wool; pot scourers and scouring or polishing pads, gloves and

the like, of iron and steel 10

74. Copper and articles thereof 0

75. Aluminum and articles thereof 0

7615. Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, of aluminum, pot

scourers and scouring pads or polishing pads, gloves and the like, of

aluminum; sanitary ware and parts thereof, of aluminum 10

7616. Other articles of aluminum 10

78. Lead and articles thereof 0

79. Zinc and articles thereof 0

80. Tin and articles thereof 0

81. Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof 0

82. Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of

base metal 0

8215. Spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter-knives,

sugar tongs and similar kitchen or tableware 10

83. Miscellaneous articles of base metal 0

8303. Armored or reinforced safes, strong-boxes and doors and safe deposit lockers

for strong-rooms, cash or deed boxes and the like, of base metal 10

84. Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances; parts thereof 0

8418 21. Refrigerators, household type, compression type 10

8418 22. Refrigerators, household type, absorption type 10

8418 50. Other refrigerating or freezing chests, display counters, showcases and similar

refrigerating or freezing furniture 10

8418 91. Furniture designed to receive refrigerating or freezing equipment 10

8418 99. Other parts for refrigerating or freezing equipment 10

8472. Other office machines (for example, hectograph or stencil duplicating machines,

addressing machines, automatic banknote dispensers, coin-sorting machines,

coin-counting or wrapping machines, pencil-sharpening ,machines, perforating or

stapling machines) 10

85. Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and

reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts

and accessories of such articles 0

8505. Electric accumulators, including separators thereof, whether or not rectangular

(including square) 10

9507 10 100. Lead-acid, of kind used for starting piston engines, for use in civil aircraft 0

9507 20 100. Other lead-acid accumulators for use in civil aircraft 0

8507 30 100. Nickel-cadmium for use in civil aircraft 0

8507 40 100. Nickel-iron for use in civil aircraft 0

8507 80 100. Other accumulators 0

9507 90 100. Parts, for use in civil aircraft 0

8509. Electro-mechanical domestic appliances, with self-contained electric motor 10

8517 10 100. Electrical apparatus for line telephony or line telegraphy, including such

apparatus for carrier-current line system 10

8519. Turntables (record desks), record-players, cassette-players and other sound

reproducing apparatus, not incorporating a sound recording device 10

8520. Magnetic tape recorders and other sound recording apparatus, whether or not

incorporating a sound reproducing device 10

8520 90 100. Magnetic tape recorders and other sound recording apparatus, whether or not

incorporating a sound reproducing device for use in civil aircraft 0

8521. Video recording or reproducing apparatus, whether or not incorporating a video

tuner 10

8521 10 100. Video recording and reproducing apparatus, for use in civil aircraft 0

8523. Prepared unrecorded media for sound recording or similar recording of other

phenomena 10

8524. Records, tapes and other recorded media for sound or other similarly recorded

phenomena including matrices and masters for the production of records 10

8527. Reception apparatus for radio-telephone, radio-telegraphy or

radio-broadcasting, whether or not combined, in the same housing, with sound

recording or reproducing apparatus or a clock 10

8527 90 100. Reception apparatus for radio-telephone, radio-telegraphy or

radio-broadcasting, whether or not combined, in the same housing, with sound

recording or reproducing apparatus or a clock, for use in civil aircraft 0

8528. Television receivers (including video monitors and video projectors), whether

or not incorporating radio-broadcast receivers or sound or video recording

or reproducing apparatus 10

8529. Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading

8527 and 8528

8529 10 100. Aerials and aerial reflectors of all kind, parts suitable for use therewith, for use

in civil aircraft 0

8529 90 100. Other parts for use in civil aircraft 0

8540. Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode valves and tubes (for example

vacuum or vapor or gas filled valves and tubes, mercury arc rectifying valves

and tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes) 10

86. Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or

tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including

electro-mechanical) traffic signaling equipment of all kinds 0

87. Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock, and parts and accessories

thereof 10

8701. Tractors 0

8703 90 100. With electric motors 0

8704. Motor vehicles for the transport of goods 0

8713. Invalid carriages, whether or not motorized or otherwise mechanically propelled 0

8714 20. Parts and accessories for cycles and invalid carriages 0

88. Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof 0

89. Ships, boats and floating structures 0

90. Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision,

medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof 0

9006. Photographic (other than cinematographic) cameras; photographic flashlight

apparatus and flashbulbs other than discharge lamps of heading 8539 10

9009. Photocopying apparatus incorporating an optical system or of the contact type

and thermo-copying apparatus 10

91. Clocks and watches and parts thereof 10

9104 00 100. instrument panel clocks and clocks of a similar type for vehicles, aircraft,

spacecraft or vessels 0

9108-9112. Various parts for clocks and watches 0

9114. Other clock and watch parts

92. Musical instruments, parts and accessories of such articles 0

93. Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof 0

94. Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed

furnishing; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included;

illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like; prefabricated buildings 10

9401 10 100. Seat of kind used for aircraft 0

9402. Medical, surgical, dental or veterinary furniture (for example, operating tables,

examination tables, hospital beds with mechanical fitting, dentist's chairs);

barbers' chairs and similar chairs, having rotating as well as both reclining and

elevating movements; parts of the foregoing articles 0

9403 20 100. Other metal furniture, for use in civil aircraft 0

9405 10 100. Chandeliers and other electric ceiling or wall lighting fittings, excluding those of

a kind used for lighting public open spaces or thoroughfares 0

9405 60 100. Illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like 0

9405 92 100. Lamps parts of plastic 0

9405 99 100. Parts for lamps and lighting fittings 0

9406. Prefabricated buildings 0

95. Toys, games and sports equipment; [arts and accessories thereof 0

9504. Articles for arcade, table or parlor games, including pintables, billiards,

special tables for casino games and automatic bowling alley equipment 10

9506. Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics, athletics,

other sports (including table-tennis) or outdoor games, not specified or included

elsewhere; swimming pools and paddling pools 10

9508 00 000. Roundabouts, swings, shooting galleries and other fairground amusements;

traveling circuses, traveling menageries and traveling theaters 10

96. Miscellaneous manufactured articles 10

97. Works of art, collectors' pieces and antiques 10

There is no limit on hard currency imports to Armenia. The customs processing fee for export/import transfer is currently 0.3 percent of the estimated cost of goods. No fee is collected for deliveries made on credits to the Armenian government, countertrade clearing operations made on the basis of international agreements, or for humanitarian aid.

All Armenian and foreign citizens can import duty free articles with total price not exceeding $500 (except for articles coded 0901 (coffee), 22 (beverages) and 24 (cigarettes) for which quantitative limitations of 1 kg, 2 liters and 50 packs respectively are established). Personal belongings are also imported duty free. The customs will consider an imported article as a "personal belonging" in the following cases:

- when the article has no plant packaging, labeling and is in the person's accompanied luggage.
- the owner wears the article on him/herself
- the imported article was earlier declared by his owner when he was leaving Armenia

Persons arriving to Armenia for permanent residence can import their belongings duty free. Citizens of Armenia can import their inherited property duty free upon presentations of relevant ownership-proving documents to the customs.

For more information on customs tariffs and procedures contact:

Customs Department of Armenia (Chairman - Mr. Husik Gevorgyan), 4 Kochar St., Yerevan 375033, Armenia; Tel: (374-2) 225-636, 50-62-20
Value-Added Tax (VAT) and Excise Tax:

(see para 7.6.).

6.2 CUSTOMS VALUATION

Armenia uses the Harmonized Code System for tariff classification. Tariffs are in ad valorem terms and levied on CIF values. The value of imports is declared by the exporter. The value declared should be based on reliable, countable, documented sources. In the absence of these, the customs may use its own or comparable information sources and GATT valuation methods based on the following:
- value of the particular contract.
- value of the contract for similar imports.
- value of the contract for uniform imports.
- deduction from the cost.
- addition to the cost.
- reserve method.

Since 1996, to fight multiple fraud cases involving undervalued invoices, Armenian customs authorities have been often determining value of imports (mainly foodstuffs and beverages) by using a comparator price list for similar imports. This practice may sometimes affect the cost of imported products even in cases with absolutely legitimate imports, as the customs would not, as a rule, accept any argument if it considered the value in the invoice as being understated, and would insist on applying a comparator price.
International assistance in the area of customs should result in more consistent, predictable practices by better trained customs officials. Recently, the National Assembly's economic committee made a number of recommendations aiming to address the existing problems within the Customs Department.

6.3 IMPORT LICENSES

While most imports are free of prohibitions, quotas, or licensing requirements there are restrictions for health, security, or environmental reasons. These restrictions include required authorization for weapons, components used in the production of weapons, explosives, nuclear materials, poison, narcotics, strong psychotropic substances, devices for use in opium smoking, and pornographic materials. Medicines must be authorized by the Ministry of Health and agricultural chemicals by the Ministry of Agriculture.

6.4 EXPORT CONTROLS

Export Documentation
The Customs Department requires all exporters to present a valid contract, an origin certificate for certain cases, an export license for certain items (see below), and a certificate of conformity for all ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Certificate of origin is needed for exporting products to the countries of Commonwealth of Independent States. An export license is required for the following items: (a) pharmaceutical products and raw materials for pharmaceutical product; (b) textiles and clothing exported to the EU countries; (c) objects of art considered part of the national heritage; and (d) rare plants and animals. A certificate of conformity, to be obtained from the Department for Standardization, Certification, and Metrology of Armenia ("SARM"), is required for exports of metals because the government sets, on quarterly basis, a list of minimum prices to prevent exports at an artificially low cost.

Minimum Export Price Control

The Armenian Customs Department is authorized to control export agreements for a short list of products, to make sure they are not exported from Armenia at prices lower than the minimum export prices set by the Ministry of Finance and Economy. However, these products can be exported at lower prices if the exporter pays the difference to the state budget, or secures a special permit from the Armenian government, or if the exports are made according to international agreements entered by Armenia. The controlled products include:
- non-ferrous metals, including secondary ones; their alloys, powders, oxides, salts, semi-products; scrap and waste; products from non-ferrous metals (except for products manufactured in Armenia): 74.01-74.14, 75, 76.01-76.14, 78, 80, and 81.01-81.13.
- products made from ferrous metals (except for products manufactured in Armenia): code 72.00.
- scrap and waste of ferrous metals (except for of products manufactured in Armenia): code 72.04.

Munitions And Dual-Use Export Control:

Export of the following products must be licensed:
- munitions
- military equipment
- explosives
- nuclear materials, technology and equipment
- specific non-nuclear materials and related services
- sources of ionized radiation
- dual use items.

A special governmental commission chaired by the Prime Minister, and an affiliated council of experts has been created to process export applications for these categories. Exporters are required to provide full technical specifications and supporting documentation with every license application before it is processed. Munitions and dual-use items can be exported only to prescribed destinations. On September 27, 1993, the Armenian government adopted an itemized export control list titled "List of Materials, Substances, Equipment, and Dual-Use Technologies Export of Which Must Be Licensed". The list is accessible to government or non-government exporters together with the details of the procedures to be followed to obtain a license. The export control list includes four main categories of materials, substances, devices and dual-use technologies which may be used in development of the following weapons:
a. Bacteriological and poisonous weapons
b. Nuclear devices
c. Rocket weapons
d. Chemical weapons.

Any unlicensed export of items listed on the export control list will be viewed as illegal and subject to prosecution under criminal laws of Armenia. Penalties range from 3 to 8 years of imprisonment.

Cooperative efforts in export control have been initiated with the USG as well as other bilateral and international partners. Work is continuing on all aspects of export control, including draft legislation, monitoring, training and enforcement.

6.5 IMPORT DOCUMENTATION

A customs declaration form must be presented along with a pro forma invoice or a contract indicating the specifications, quantity, and value of the goods being imported. Currently, certificates of quality/safety issued or accepted by the Department for Standardization, Certification, and Metrology of Armenia ("SARM") are required for tobacco products, alcohol drinks, and oil products. Imported vitamins and other pharmaceutical products are subject to certification by the Ministry of Health of Armenia. According to government decision No. 205 of July 1996, starting January 1, 1997, "SARM" certificates of quality/safety will also be required for most food products.

A complete list of products for which certification will be required is as following:

· meat and meat products
· fish, crustaceans, mollusks and other aquatic invertebrates
· eggs
· natural honey
· vegetable, and other edible root and tuber crops.
· edible fruits and nuts; peel of citrus and vegetables
· fat and oil of animal or vegetable origin; substances produced from them; edible oils, waxes of animal or vegetable origin
· products made from meat, fish crustaceans, mollusks and other aquatic invertebrates
· sugar, confectionery made from sugar, and chewing gum
· food prepared as the result of processing of vegetables, fruits, nuts, or other parts of plants
· alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
· tobacco and its industrial substitutes
· oil products (fuel, etc.)
· vitamins
· pharmaceutical products
· baby's pacifier/nipples.

The safety certification for all the products (except pharmaceuticals) normally takes 2-3 days and may involve a laboratory test and a certain fee. In January 1997, USDA and SARM exchanged letters in which SARM agreed to recognize USDA safety certificates for meat and poultry products and take into consideration manufacturer certificates for other products.

The rules of origin as defined by GATT are for wholly originating products, a change in tariff heading, process criteria, and the value added criterion. Certificates of origin signed by suppliers and verified by "SARM" are required on:

· goods subject to quantitative limitation;
· imports under preferential trading arrangements;
· items used for the protection of the environment, public health and safety, and national security;
· those situations where the authorities have inadequate information as to the product's origin.

For a complete list of products (except pharmaceuticals) subject to certification and certification procedures, contact:

Department for Standardization, Certification, and Metrology
of Armenia ("SARM")
49/2 Komitas Ave.
Yerevan 375051 Armenia
Tel: (374-2) 234-580
Fax: (374-2) 285-620
E-mail: sarm@arminco.com

Mr. Samvel Movsesyan, Director, Certification Dept. (speaks English), tel: (374-2)234-580
Mr. Pap Aslanyan, Director, Foreign Relations (speaks English), tel: (374-2) 234-778

Exports of pharmaceuticals to Armenia require registration(certification) by the Drug and Medical Technology Agency (DMTA) of Armenia. In November 1996, DMTA officials proposed an agreement with U.S.FDA which will allow Armenia to recognize all FDA-certified pharmaceuticals without any additional laboratory examination. The U.S. Embassy's Commercial Section is currently working to facilitate this process. The proposed agreement is similar to one signed by Russia. Meanwhile, applications for registration should be filed by manufacturers. The process may take from a few days to three months (some drugs may require laboratory testing). The registration is valid for 10 years. Exporters are warned that former USSR registrations were valid in Armenia until the end of 1996 only. The registration fees vary from $ 2,000 for absolutely new drugs (just entering international markets. DMTA says they have had no such case), to $1,200 for known drugs, $600 for new forms, and $200 for new dosages. Registration renewals are respectively $600, $300, and $100. DMTA maintains a list of all pharmaceuticals registered in Armenia, as well as The Essential Drugs List which can be requested from DMTA. While DMTA officials believe that the agency should start certifying exports of medical equipment in the near future, no relevant laws and regulations exist. However, the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan suggests that all exports of American medical equipment be accompanied by proper U.S. certification and documentation.

Certification questions related to pharmaceutical products should be addressed to:
Drug and Medical Technology Agency (DMTA)
6 Hekimyan St.
Yerevan Armenia
Tel: (374-2) 533-578, 524-780
Fax: (374-2)151-697, or 527-530
E-mail: gabri@pnas.sci.am
Contact: Dr. Emil Gabrielyan, Director, or
Mr. Vartan Tovmasyan, Head of Registration Department.

6.6 TEMPORARY ENTRY

No customs tariffs are levied on goods imported temporarily under customs control and under an appropriate customs regime. Foreigners who temporarily enter Armenia can bring one vehicle with its trailer duty free on the condition that it must be taken with them when they leave. If the foreigner does not re-export the car, all proper duties must be paid.

The following items can transit Armenia only by special permission of the Armenian government:
- All types of weapons, ammunition, army equipment, components for their production, and explosives.
- Nuclear materials (including those in the form of heat producing materials), and sources of ionized radiation.

Armenian customs is responsible for verifying the contents of transit loads when transit of prohibited items is suspected. Customs has the legal power to inspect and seize suspect transit shipments. Dual-use items require an import certificate from the country of destination to guarantee that the imported items will not be used for military purposes.

6.7 LABELING, MARKING REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS

In 1997, Armenia passed national laws on metrology, certification and standardization. A large part of marking/labeling requirements have yet to be adopted by the Armenian government. Many of the old Soviet regulations still remain in force. Food importers should be aware that products' label must at least have manufacturer's name, contents, weight and best before data. No local language requirement exists, but a possibility of adopting it in the future is not excluded (as happened recently in Russia). In May 1996, Armenia joined EAN. Companies wishing to obtain bar codes for their products should apply to Department for Standardization, Certification, and Metrology (SARM).

In January 1997, Armenia became a member of ISO. The country uses the metric system of weights and measures. While Armenia has inherited the Soviet system of standards, it has begun harmonizing them in compliance with ISO requirements, aiming to complete the transition within next few years. The State Standards Department accepted ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 business management standards. The country also participates in the development of common CIS standards.

On November 13, 1997, the Cabinet approved a list of products for which labeling by registered trademarks will be required starting June 1, 1998. These are:

HS CODE TITLE

0901 coffee
1601-1605 preparations of meat, fish, crustaceans, mollusks and other aquatic
invertebrates
1901 baby food
2001-2008 processed or canned fruit, vegetables
2204-2208 beverages, spirits
2202 non-alcoholic beverages
2203 beer
2201 mineral water
2208 soft drinks
2101-2106, 25 nutrition supplements, additives, salt and spices
2401-2403 tobacco products
3102, 3402 consumer products of chemical nature - detergents, cleaning, polishing, etc substances
3303, 3304 perfumery, cosmetics and other beauty care products
7113-7116. articles of jewelry and parts thereof, of precious metal or of metal clad with
precious metal
9026-9030, 9018 metering devices, including those for electricity, gas and liquid flows, weight
measuring devices, and medical measurement
9502-9503 Plastics and articles thereof
3923-3924, 7417, 7615, 8215 articles in direct contact with food - containers, devices, table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, pot scourers and scouring pads or polishing pads, gloves and the like, sanitary ware and parts thereof, spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, fish-knives, butter-knives, etc.

For more information on current labeling/marking requirements, standards and norms contact:

Department for Standardization, Certification, and Metrology -SARM
(Chief - Mr. Ghukas Mehrabian, Deputy - Mr. Pap Aslanian)
49/2 Komitas Street, Yerevan 375051 Armenia; Tel: (374-2)234-778, Fax: (374-2)285-620.; e-mail: srm@arminco.com.

6.8 PROHIBITED IMPORTS

List of items prohibited for import:
- weapons, explosives, army equipment, components for their production, and army uniforms.
- narcotics, psychotropic substances, devices intended for their use.
Note: importation of the listed items is implemented in compliance with special government regulations.

This report is provided courtesy of the Business Information Service for the Newly Independent States (BISNIS)