Practical Guide  | Export Procedure
  See also
     Saudi Arabia      Bahrain      Egypt
     United Arab Emirates      Kuwait      Oman
     Qatar      Jordan      Lebanon
     Syria      Yemen        
  Bahrain Import Regulations
1. Local representation / agents and distributors agency legislation
2. Exchange controls
3. Import controls
4. Import licensing
5. Standards and technical regulations
6. Labelling and packaging regulations
7. Export controls and licensing
8. Documentation
9. Commercial samples and Temporary Imports
10. Customs duties
  1. Local representation / agents and distributors agency legislation
  Goods are usually sold through a local agent who has exclusive rights to the distribution and sale of the relevant product.
  It is not obligatory to have an agent in order to sell products in Bahrain, although establishing new business works best with a carefully chosen Bahraini partner or advisor, who is able to keep in contact with customers, seek business and provide information on the latest market trends.
 

A 'commercial agency' exists wherever a foreign company appoints a Bahraini agent as the exclusive representative of its product or service.

  This relationship is governed by local law. Detailed investigation by the importer is necessary in order to find a good agent.
  2. Exchange controls
  There are no restrictions on the outward or inward flow of funds for either nationals or locals. There are no exchange control formalities on the investment of foreign capital once the investment has been approved.
  3. Import controls
  Most exports to Bahrain are subject to pre-shipment inspection. Most goods may be imported and exported. However, trade with Israel is banned and an Israel Boycott Office administers the ban.
  Items prohibited for import include irradiated food products, pornography, wild animals, radio-controlled model airplanes, children's toys containing methyl chloride, and foodstuffs containing cyclamate. Drugs and medicines may only be imported by a pharmacy licensed by the Ministry of Health.
  4. Import licensing
  All importers must be registered with the Bahraini Ministry of Finance as well as the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce.
Major companies with Bahrain Government shareholdings, such as Gulf Air and ALBA, may import goods directly.
  Import licenses for items to be sold in Bahrain are issued only to locally-established companies which are 51% Bahraini-owned. Under the Commercial Agency Law, goods manufactured by a firm with a registered agent in Bahrain may only be imported by that agent, or upon payment of 5% commission to the registered agent by a third party.
  Special import licences are required to import alcoholic drinks, ammunition, weapons, pharmaceutical and artificial pearls. Imported foodstuffs are subject to inspection by the Director of Public Health.
  5. Standards and technical regulations
  For food products, shelf-life standards are enforced. Production and expiry dates must be printed on the original label or container.
  Pharmaceutical products must be imported to Bahrain directly from a manufacturer which has a research department. Products must be licensed in at least two other Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, one of which must be Saudi Arabia.
  Bahrain has an ongoing commitment to adopt international standards for manufactured and imported products.
  Imported beef and poultry products require a health certificate from the UE and a halal certificate issued by an approved Islamic centre in the manufacturer country.
  6. Labelling and packaging regulations
  - All labelling must be in Arabic or Arabic/English.
- Stickers are not accepted as adequate labelling.
- Food labels must include: product and brand names, production and expiry dates, country of origin, name of manufacturer; net weight (metric units) and a list of ingredients and additives in descending order of importance.
  7. Export controls and licensing
  The European Government maintains export controls to prevent the export of goods, including technology, for a variety of reasons including:
  • the collective security of the European States and its allies in NATO
  • national security and foreign policy requirements
  • international legal obligations and commitments
  • non-proliferation policy
If goods or technologies are subject to your State export controls, a licence is required to gain the legal authority to export them.
  8. Documentation
  All documentation must be in either Arabic or English.

A certificate of origin, issued by an authorised Chamber of Commerce and verified by an Arab Embassy, is also required. The importer must produce a commercial invoice in duplicate with the supplier's certification of the actual manufacture. Four copies of bills of lading are required, as well as a copy of an insurance policy, if applicable. If the exporter does not have a properly authorised agent in Bahrain, customs officers are at liberty to impound goods and, on occasions, demand the equivalent of the agent's profit or commission.
  Fax signatures are not accepted by customs. Documents, whether originals or duplicates, must all have original signatures.
  9. Commercial samples and Temporary Imports
  There are two free-trade zones which may be used for goods to be re-exported.
  Samples of no commercial value may be imported duty free.

Samples in saleable condition may be imported on a cash deposit of 15% of the normal duty, plus a 50% surcharge. The deposit is repaid when the goods leave Bahrain.
  Small quantities of goods with English-only labels are accepted on a case-by-case basis for use in test marketing.

Jewellery samples Valuable jewellery and precious stones are allowed in on payment of a deposit of 10% of value or against a bank guarantee, provided that one presents a full list, with values, on arrival.
Duty will then be charged only on the items which are actually sold. Cultured pearls are prohibited.
  10. Customs duties
  Customs duties are usually 5% on foodstuffs and necessities.

However, from 1 January 2000, 51 food commodities have been exempted from liability. These include all kinds of meat, fish, diary products, fruit, vegetables, rice, flour, sugar, barley, baby food and sweets, books, newspapers, magazines, unfinished silver, gold, platinum and wheel chairs for the disabled and their parts.

5%-10% on non-essential goods, 20% on motor vehicles.

50% on tobacco and tobacco products.

125% on alcoholic drinks and 20% on fully-processed corn and palm oils.

The cuts in import tariffs stem from the GCC customs union agreed at the 20th GCC summit in Riyadh. Under the new regime, to be fully implemented by March 2005, luxury goods will attract only 7.5% duty compared with 20% at present.
  There are free trade zones : north Sitra, the Mina Sulman port. In these zones, no tax or duty is payable on imports of raw materials or semi-finished goods for manufacture, and imports for development projects, trans-shipment or re-export.