SANITARY REQUIREMENTS AND FOOD LAWS Solomon Islands, together with Santa Cruz and Phoenix, are included under the government of the protectorates of the western Pacific, and the same general regulations for the importation and sale of foodstuffs just given under Gilbert and Ellice Islands apply also in the Solomon group. TERRITORY OF WESTERN SAMOA IMPORT DUTIES AND TAXES Canned and preserved foods are not specified in the customs tariff of British Samoa and are therefore dutiable as "Articles not specified" at the general rate of 2212 per cent of the value, with a preferential rate of 15 per cent ad valorem on imports from the various parts of the British Empire. Duty is assessed upon the invoice price of the goods increased by 10 per cent to cover transportation and insurance costs. Duties are paid in British currency, and foreign merchandise values are converted to sterling at the exchange current at time of importation. There are no customs surtaxes nor sales or other internal-revenue taxes on imports into British Samoa. Ordinary nonmetric units of weight and measure are in use in this area. MARKING DOCUMENTATION It is not necessary to mark merchandise going to British Samoa with an indication of the country of origin. However, if any marks thereon give a false indication of British origin, the goods would probably not be permitted entry. No special labels are required on foodstuffs. Consular documents are not required; the ocean bill of lading and the ordinary commercial invoice (which should be sent separately from the goods) are sufficient. The usual exporter's declaration required by the United States customs regulations on all goods shipped out of the country is necessary. SANITARY REQUIREMENTS AND FOOD LAWS No special laws have been enacted for the British protectorate of Western Samoa governing the importation and sale of foodstuffs. The food laws of New Zealand (see pp. 449 to 474 of this handbook) are operative in this Territory. TONGA OR FRIENDLY ISLANDS IMPORT DUTIES AND TAXES Import duties in the Tonga or Friendly Islands are levied on canned foods at the rate of 1212 per cent ad valorem as "Articles not specified"-based, it is understood, on the c. i. f. value in port of entry. Goods of all origins are subject to the same rates of duty. Sterling is the currency of these islands. There are no customs surtaxes nor sales or other internal-revenue taxes applicable to imported canned foods. British imperial units of measure and nonmetric units of weight are in use. MARKING-DOCUMENTATION It is not necessary to mark merchandise going to the Tonga Islands with an indication of the country of origin. However, if any marks thereon give a false indication of British origin, the goods would probably not be permitted entry. No special labels are required on foodstuffs. Consular documents are not required; the ocean bill of lading and the ordinary commercial invoice (which should be sent separately from the goods) are sufficient. The usual exporter's declaration required by United States customs regulations on all goods shipped out of the country is necessary. SANITARY REQUIREMENTS AND FOOD LAWS Apparently no sanitary regulations have been enacted in the Tonga group governing the importation and sale of foodstuffs. FRENCH OCEANIA There are two general groups of islands classed here under the heading, "French Oceania "-New Caledonia and its dependencies, which include Alofi, Futuna, Huon Islands, Isle of Pines, Loyalty Islands, and Wallis Archipelago; and the French Establishments in Oceania, comprising the Gambier group, the Leeward Islands, Marquezas Islands, Rapa Islands, Society Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, and Tubuai or Austral Islands. Since they are under separate administrations, their import duties and customs, sanitary, and other regulations will be discussed separately. Throughout most of French Oceania there is a normal preference for food products of French origin. Duties and various regulations interfere to a certain extent with the movement of American canned foods to this area. Some tendency toward increase is observable in the shipments; but the market is small, and there is no probability of any large gains in the future. UNITED STATES EXPORTS OF CANNED FOODS TO FRENCH OCEANIA, 1924-1929 1 Includes "Canned fruits for salad," which previous to 1929 were included in United States export statistics under "Other fruit products" and not under "Other canned fruits." FRENCH ESTABLISHMENTS IN OCEANIA Gambier Group, Leeward Islands, Marquezas Islands, Rapa Islands, Society Is'ands, Tuamotu Archipelago, and Tubuai or Austral Islands IMPORT DUTIES AND TAXES Imports of canned foods from France and Algeria are free of duty in the islands composing the Gambier Group and other of the French Establishments in Oceania, but are liable to octroi de mer taxes. Imports from all other countries are subject to the import duties shown below. Both duties and octroi are assessed in French francs (par value, 3.9179 cents United States currency). Specific duties are calculated on the net weight when the rate is over 10 francs per 100 kilos. Ad valorem duties are based upon the invoice value of the goods increased by 25 per cent, estimated to cover insurance and transportation charges. However, ad valorem octroi taxes are calculated on the net invoice value of the goods increased by 25 per cent. There is a surtax of 4 per cent of the net invoice value on all imports of foreign goods. Other than the octroi de mer, no internal taxes are applicable to canned and preserved foods. The metric system is employed for customs and general commercial purposes, although local units of weight and measure are in common use among the people. Meats, in tins, roast or boiled beef, mutton, and similar preparations.. 1 Imports from France and Algeria are free of import duty in these French Establishments. Rates here given do not include octroi de mer taxes, which apply to imports of all origins, nor the customs surtax of 4 per cent of the net invoice price applicable to imports of foreign goods. 2 Converted to American currency at 3.93 cents to the franc. 3 Duties levied on net weight when the rate is over 10 francs per 100 kilos. Octroi de mer taxes.-Octroi de mer taxes, applicable to imports of all origins (including France and Algeria), are assessed on preserved foodstuffs as follows: Preserves and marmalades, 20 francs per 100 kilos, or (at 3.93 Olives in brine, and capers in vinegar, 12 per cent ad valorem ; Vegetables preserved in vinegar; spiced gherkins, pickles, picca- Petit pois au naturel, 15 francs per 100 kilos, or 26.8 cents per 100 Soups, in tins, 15 francs per 100 kilos, or 26.8 cents per 100 Sauces, 20 francs per 100 kilos, or 35.92 cents per 100 pounds; Table fruits preserved in their juice or with sugar, 12 francs per Fruits in vinegar, 12 francs per 100 kilos, or 21.4 cents per 100 Meats, in tins, beef and mutton, roasted, boiled, and similar prepa- Fine meat pastes, in tins, etc., 80 francs per 100 kilos, or $1.44 per Ham and poultry, and ham pastes, in tins, 30 francs per 100 Game, in tins, 40 francs per 100 kilos, or 71.84 cents per 100 Spiced meats, 20 francs per 100 kilos, or 35.94 cents per 100 Sardines in oil, 15 francs per 100 kilos, or 26.4 cents per 100 pounds; Herring paste, caviar, 50 francs per 100 kilos, or 89.3 cents per Pineapples, packed (presse), exempt; Articles not specified, 12 per cent ad valorem. MARKING-DOCUMENTATION The French regulations regarding the marking of products with an indication of the country of origin apply in the French Establishments in Oceania. The same is true in regard to special labels and marks on canned foods. These regulations are given on page 15 of Trade Promotion Series No. 85, Canned Foods in Europe. Imports into these islands are subject to the same requirements as to documents as apply on imports into France. These regulations are found on page 15 of Trade Promotion Series No. 85, Canned Foods in Europe. The usual exporter's declaration required by the United States customs regulations on all goods shipped out of the country is necessary. SANITARY REQUIREMENTS The French pure food laws and special labeling requirements for food products are applicable to imports into the French Establishments in Oceania. A summary of these regulations appears on pages 11 and 12 of Trade Promotion Series No. 85. FRENCH OCEANIA LAWS APPLYING TO CANNED FOODS The texts of the French food laws will also be found in Trade Promotion Series No. 85, on pages 116-136. These laws have been applied to the French Establishments in Oceania by decrees issued from time to time. For an example of these decrees, see the one of August 26, 1926, under French Indo-China, page 95 of this present handbook. CUSTOMS NOTICE OF MAY 4, 1929 CANNED FISH The importation of canned fish, vegetables, and prunes of foreign origin is subject to special conditions regulated by the law of July 11, 1906, made applicable in the French Establishments in Oceania by the decree of August 26, 1926, promulgated by the notice of October 30, 1926. This law provides that canned fish, vegetables, and prunes of foreign origin can not be imported for consumption, for warehousing, for transit and circulation, or exposed or put up for sale, or detained for a commercial use without a mark of origin. The indication of the country of origin must be written on each can containing merchandise by stamping, in relief or sunken, in very plain Roman letters at least 4 millimeters in height in the center of the cover or on the bottom and on a part carrying no other impression. The same indication must be written on cases and shipments for exporting. The importation of canned fish in containers of a weight greater than 1 kilo is prohibited. Canned oysters and other mollusks, lobsters, shrimps, crayfish, and caviar are not included in this law. NEW CALENDONIA AND DEPENDENCIES Isle of Pines, Wallis Archipelago, Loyalty Islands, Huon Islands, and Futuna and Alofi IMPORT DUTIES AND TAXES With the exception of the special duties listed below, the French import rates specified for Algeria on pages 278 and 279 of this present handbook apply in New Caledonia and dependencies. The explanations regarding the application of these rates also are pertinent. The French franc (par, 3.9179 cents United States currency) is the monetary unit of this colony. 1 Special import duties leviable in New Caledonia and dependencies, as exceptions to the French tariff applicable to other items. 2 Converted to American currency at 3.93 cents to the franc. |