Director General of Customs Department Salih Al-Khilaiwe thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for ordering the issuance of a decision by today's Cabinet's session to reduce customs fees on 180 major foodstuffs and some necessary construction and consuming materials for a period of three years. In a statement to SPA, he said the decision comes within the keenness of the monarch to achieve the utmost care and welfare for the people of this country. He explained that the state would bear the difference between the fee category applied under GCC unified customs tariff and the protection fee category currently applied in the Kingdom. This exemption covers the wheat customs protection fees which amount to 22 percent, he said, adding that it is now zero. He said among the items receiving from 20 percent customs fee reductions to 5 percent are chilled or frozen poultry and their products, eggs, cheese, plant oils, macaroni, canned foodstuffs, juice, water, milk, and building materials including gypsum, paints, plastic pipes, doors and electricity appliances, including keys, eclectic plugs, electric cables and prefabs. He added that the list also include some consumer items like soap, detergents, sanitary napkins, children diapers, paper tissues and agricultural product items including fertilizers and protected farms. This move is a continuation to several previous reductions, the customs senior official said, citing the total exemption from customs charges of 664 items including foodstuffs, meat, fish, medicines, education and information technology tools and livestock fodders. He concluded that customs land, sea and air posts were ordered to act accordingly, effective tomorrow.
