Economic Development

World Customs Organization is introducing new bamboo and rattan custom codes on the basis of FAO/INBAR proposal

The World Customs Organization (WCO) has approved a series of new customs codes for bamboo and rattan commodities based on a FAO/INBAR proposal. This historic event will have profound, deep and long-term effects on the global bamboo and rattan production and trade.

Thirteen new six-digit codes were introduced to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) in addition to or for clarification of the existing 12 b&r customs codes. The codes represent a wide range of commodities including bamboo shoots, charcoal, plywood, plaiting materials, basketwork, pulp and paper, furniture and furniture parts. It is expected that codes for bamboo flooring - one of the leading items of b&r global trade - are to be introduced during the coming 2004 WCO HS Committee meeting in Brussels in March in the context of the EC parquet floor proposal.

The significance of the new customs codes for the dynamically growing b&r sector is difficult to overestimate. The new codes will allow levying more preferential tariffs and taxes on b&r commodities for the benefit of developing nations and fair trade. They will also significantly improve collection of trade statistics, which is important for economic analysis and policy making. Harmonized System customs codes are revised only once in 4 to 6 years. The next revision will only start in 2008. The newly introduced codes will take effect in 2007.

INBAR highly appreciates the overall support of its member countries and contributions of all individuals and organizations which for a few years were working together and contributed to the proposal, including FAO (particularly Messrs. Wulf Killmann and Paul Vantomme), European Forest Institute - EFI (particularly Messrs. Philip Wardle and Bruce Michie), International Tropical Timber Organization - ITTO (particularly Messrs. Manoel Sobral Filho and Steve Johnson), Chinese Customs (particularly Ms. Jin Hongman), Customs Organizations of Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines (which provided their comments, statistical data and suggestions), participants of two joint FAO/INBAR Expert Consultations on bamboo and rattan in 2000 and 2002 as well as WCO representatives who were very constructive and cooperative.