Practical Guide  | Export Procedure   See also      Saudi Arabia      Bahrain      Egypt      United Arab Emirates      Kuwait      Oman      Qatar      Jordan      Lebanon      Syria      Yemen           Kuwait Import Regulation 1. Local representation / agents and distributors agency legislation 2. Standard and technical regulations 3. Labelling and packaging regulations 4. Exchange controls 5. Import controls 6. Export Controls 7. Documentation 8. Customs duties   1. Local representation / agents and distributors agency legislation   Foreign companies should operate in Kuwait through a Kuwaiti agent. Establishing new business works best with a carefully chosen Kuwaiti partner or advisor, who is able to keep in contact with customers, seek business and provide information on the latest market trends.   Agency legislation The laws regulate commercial agents promoting a product or service and negotiating deals, distributors and service agents carrying out government contract work.   For registration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, agency agreements must include: the full range of products/services represented by the agent the nature of the agent's work and responsibilities of both parties the period of the agreement the agent's fees   It is advisable to establish an agreement that is renewed annually and contains escape clauses.   The agent's fees are usually a percentage of contracts awarded. The agreement must be translated into Arabic by an official government translator.   Agency termination can be costly, as it is usually necessary to compensate the agent for investments made and efforts taken in promoting and selling the product/service.   2. Standard and technical regulations   Kuwait has its own standards but also uses other European standards.   Halal certificates for meat products All imported beef and poultry products require a health certificate from the country of origin and a halal slaughter certificate issued by an approved Islamic centre in the country of origin   3. Labelling and packaging regulations   All imported goods must be labelled with the country of origin.   Foodstuffs should have : Arabic or Arabic/English labels ; carry the following information: name of manufacturer, brand name of food product, name of food product, composition, net and gross weight, country of origin production and expiry dates.   Arabic stickers are accepted by Customs provided they do not obscure vital information on the original labelling.   4. Exchange controls   There are no restrictions on foreign exchange transactions   Except that these should not involve Israel.   There is no limit on the amount of any foreign currency imported or exported by individuals.   5. Import controls   All exports to Kuwait are subject to pre-shipment inspection.   Certain items are prohibited by the Kuwaiti Government : Goods may not be imported from Israel. Alcohol, materials for making alcoholic beverages (hops, malt extracts, wine kits) Arms and ammunition Unlicensed drugs and medicines Explosives Pornographic materials Politically subversive materials Pork products Beef and other products from cattle from the UK and the Republic of Ireland are prohibited.   Authority must be obtained from the Ministry of Health for drugs and medicines.   Jewels, precious stones and metals may only be imported subject to approval by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry   6. Export Controls   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.   7. Documentation   An Arab Chamber of Commerce certificate of origin is required for all goods and can be obtained through an authorised Chamber of Commerce.   Bills of lading must show gross weights, linear and cubic dimensions. Three copies are required. At least one copy should show the HIS tariff number.   For goods in transit the original bill of lading should state: '"In transit via Kuwait" with final destination ?'   Certificates of health are required for animals. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) certificates are required for foodstuffs.   The declaration of origin should state: 'We hereby certify that the goods enumerated in this invoice are not of Israeli origin nor do they contain Israeli materials and are not being exported from Israel.'   Invoices, certificates of origin and agreements must be certified by the Arab Chamber of Commerce or any Chamber of Commerce in your country and legalised by the Kuwaiti Embassy. Other documents must be authenticated at the Foreign Ministry and legalised by the Kuwaiti Embassy. Fax signatures are accepted by customs.   A separate packing list must be provided unless the invoice contains all of the required information. British chambers of commerce are able to advise on the format of packing lists.   8. Customs duties   Tariffs are based on the Harmonised International System (HIS) Code for classification of imports and exports.   Household and personal effects, perfume and tobacco may be imported without duty.   A duty of 4% may apply to some items.   For all other imports, duties are charged ad valorem on the cost, insurance, freight (cif) value.   Commercial samples and Temporary Imports Samples of value under KD100 are admitted duty free. Other samples attract duty which is refunded upon re-exportation.