CAP. 280, EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE ACT BELIZE
EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE ACT
CHAPTER 280
REVISED EDITION 2000
SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000
This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner
under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize,
Revised Edition 1980 - 1990.
This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3
EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE ACT 4
Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000.
BELIZE
EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE ACT
CHAPTER 280
REVISED EDITION 2000
SHOWING THE LAW AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2000
This is a revised edition of the law, prepared by the Law Revision Commissioner
under the authority of the Law Revision Act, Chapter 3 of the Laws of Belize,
Revised Edition 1980 - 1990.
This edition contains a consolidation of the following laws- Page
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 3
EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE ACT 4
Amendments in force as at 31st December, 2000.
THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF BELIZE REVISED EDITION 2000
Printed by the Government Printer,
No. 1 Power Lane,
Belmopan, by the authority of
the Government of Belize.
Export Processing Zone [CAP. 280
[ ]
3
CHAPTER 280
EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Export Processing Zone Committee.
4. Designation of Export Processing Zones.
5. Export Processing Zone Developers.
6. Powers and responsibilities of Export Processing Zone Developers.
7. Establishment of Export Processing Zone businesses.
8. Activities of EPZ businesses.
9. EPZ imports and exports.
10. Domestic sales to EPZs.
11. EPZ regulatory regime.
12. EPZ tax regime.
13. EPZ labour regime.
14. Enforcement and liabilities.
15. Regulations.
16. Appeal Board.
17. Fees, fines to be paid into Consolidated Revenue Fund.
CHAPTER 280
EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE
[4th June, 1990]
1. This Act may be cited as the Export Processing Zone Act.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-
(a) “domestic Belizean business” means any non-foreign individual,
partnership, corporation or other entity conducting a trade or
business within Belize, which is not an Export Processing Zone
business;
(b) “Export Processing Zone” or “EPZ” means a geographic area
in Belize designated as provided in section 4, outside national
customs territory and duly restricted by controlled access,
wherein the benefits created by this Act for Export Proces-
ing Zones shall apply to a complex of industries, and may
include a single business and its facilities, referred to as a
“Special Export Processing Zone”;
(c) “Export Processing Zone business” or “EPZ business” means
a private party which has been granted a Certificate of Compli-
ance under section 7 and which conducts a trade or business,
CAP. 232 B,
R. E. 1980-1990.
8 of 1990.
23 of 1994.
Short title.
Commencement
[ 4. 6. 1 9 9 0 ]
S. I. 65 of 1990.
Interpretation.
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Export Processing Zone [CAP. 280
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including but not limited to manufacturing, commercial, office,
warehousing, professional or other activity, primarily within the
Export Processing Zones established under this Act. The Ex-
port Processing Zone Developer for an Export Processing Zone
shall be considered an Export Processing Zone business;
(d) “EPZC” means the Export Processing Zone Committee as pro-
vided in section 3;
(e) “Export Processing Zone Developer” or “EPZ Developer”
means a corporation established to administer an Export Pro-
cessing Zone in accordance with section 5, and which has
been found suitable in accordance with section 4 to serve as
such Export Processing Zone Developer;
(f) “Export Processing Zone export” or “EPZ export” means any
export sold by an Export Processing Zone business and origi-
nating in an Export Processing Zone, regardless of whether
such export passes through Belize and departs Belize outside
an Export Processing Zone for shipping or transportation pur-
poses;
(g) “Export Processing Zone import” or “ EPZ import” means any
input or service to be delivered to an Export Processing Zone
business within an Export Processing Zone, whether from out
side or inside the Belizean customs territory;
(h) “infrastructure” means a physical structure which facilitates
economic or other activity, or protects property, such as roads,
bridges, or storm sewers;
(i) “Minister” means the Minister for the time being responsible
for Trade and “the Ministry” shall be construed accordingly;
23 of 1994.
(j) “private party” means any individual, partnership, company.,
corporation, or other entity, domestic or foreign, which is not
a government agency or owned in any part by a government
agency;
(k) “public party” means any agency of the Government of
Belize;
(l) “public service” means any service which has been provided
in Belize by a Government agency;
3.-(1) There is hereby established an Export Processing Zone Committee
which shall be composed of one designated representative from each of the
following:
(a) Ministry of Trade;
(b) Ministry of Labour;
(c) Ministry of Economic Development;
(d) Ministry of Finance;
(e) the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
(f) the small businesses sector;
(g) the EPZ Developers;
(h) the EPZ businesses,
Export Processing
Zone Committee.
23 of 1994.
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Export Processing Zone [CAP. 280
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and two representatives with suitable knowledge and experience from the
industrial sector to be appointed by the Minister in his discretion.
(2) The function of the EPZC shall be to designate Export
Processing businesses in accordance with this Act and any regulations made
thereunder.
(3) The quorum of the EPZC shall be six members.
(4) The decisions of the EPZC shall be by a majority vote.
(5) The Minister shall appoint a suitable person from among the
members of the EPZC to be the Chairman thereof.
(6) The Chairman of the EPZC and the two representatives from
the industrial sector appointed by the Minister shall serve for a period of two
years and shall be eligible for reappointment.
(7) The EPZC may, after consultation with the Minister, make rules
to govern its own procedure.
4.-(1) The EPZC shall establish by regulations a procedure by which public or
private parties may apply for EPZ designation.
(2) The EPZC shall decide whether to designate Export Processing
Zones as requested by application, based on the need for economic development
in the proposed zone area, the likelihood of success of such designation in
stimulating economic development, and other considerations in the public interest.
(3) The EPZC shall designate an EPZ only after the establishment
of a legally constituted EPZ Developer for the Zone as specified in section 5,
which the EPZC finds suitable to serve as such EPZ Developer.
Designation of
Export
Processing
Zones.
23 of 1994.
23 of 1994.
23 of 1994.
23 of 1994.
23 of 1994.
23 of 1994.
(4) Special Export Processing Zones shall adhere to the provisions
established herein for the EPZ businesses, and are not subject to designation
procedures described in subsections (1) to (3).
5.-(1) Each EPZ shall be administered by the Export Processing Zone
Developer established for that Zone.
(2) Each EPZ Developer shall be a separately incorporated
entity.
(3) An EPZ Developer may be established by one or more pri-
vate or public parties.
(4) Each EPZ Developer must either own or have leased all the
land within a proposed zone area.
(5) An EPZ Developer may sell his interest and rights in the zone
to another private or public party after receiving approval for such sale from
the EPZC.
6. The Export Processing Zone Developer for each EPZ shall have the
power and responsibility-
(a) to operate EPZ businesses on real property it owns or has
leased within the zone, after receiving the appropriate Certifi-
cate of Compliance for each business from the Ministry;
(b) to lease or sublease real property it owns or has leased within
the Zone;
(c) to make improvements, construct facilities and develop infra-
structure, including independent utility installations, to enhance
an EPZ’s economic development, provided that before con-
sidering independent utility installations, the EPZ Developer
Powers and
responsibilities of
Export Processing
Zone Developers.
23 of 1994.
Export Processing
Zone Developers.
23 of 1994.
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Export Processing Zone [CAP. 280
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shall offer the existing providers of utility services in Belize,
the option for the provision of such services to the EPZ, based
on quality, competitiveness, the special circumstances of the
EPZ and other relevant considerations;
(d) to provide public or other services or contract for such ser-
vices within the Zone;
(e) to charge fees for any services or facilities it provides within the
Zone, directly to those who use such services or facilities ;
(f) to adopt rules and regulations for businesses within the Zone,
which shall promote the safe, efficient, and successful opera-
tion of the Zone, consistent with this Act and implementing
regulations, and the Laws of Belize and the Belize Constitution;
(g) to promote and advertise the Zone to prospective investors
and business owners and operators;
(h) to report on Zone activities, performance, and developments
to the Ministry on a regular basis, as specified by the Ministry;
and
(i) to conduct other activities authorised by this Act, and all other
legal activities of a private corporation.
7.-(1) Any private or public party, or group of parties, may establish an EPZC
business on property it owns or has leased within the Zone, provided that it has
applied for and obtained a Certificate of Compliance from the EPZC.
(2) The EPZC shall have the sole authority to receive applications
for a Certificate of Compliance and to issue such Certificates, after obtaining
the approval of relevant Government authorities. Upon receipt of an application,
the EPCZ shall review and circulate the application to the Ministry of Finance,
CAP. 4.
Establishment
of Export
Processing
Zone
businesses.
23 of 1994.
23 of 1994.
the Ministry of Economic Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources,
the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Agriculture for their approval.
Approved businesses will receive a Certificate of Compliance allowing them
to do business within an Export Processing Zone. The EPZC shall establish
all necessary procedures by which applications for Certificates of Compliance
may be made.
(3) The EPZC may, with the approval of the Ministries listed in
subsection (2), grant a Certificate of Compliance if the proposed business
enterprise-
(a) will produce goods and/or services solely for export or sale
to buyers who are not residents of Belize, except as provided
in section 8 (3);
(b) will not have a deleterious effect on the environment;
(c) will be conducted in compliance with all applicable legal and
regulatory requirements under the Laws of Belize, and all rules
and regulations of the Zone established by the operating
authority, and the owner or owners of the enterprise have
agreed to maintain such compliance.
(4) Any private or public party with a Certificate of Compliance
may lease property within an EPZ from the EPZ Developer on the terms and
conditions agreed to by the EPZ Developer and the lessee. The EPZ Developer
shall not be required to lease EPZ property to any particular party, including
parties which have been issued a Certificate of Compliance.
(5) An EPZ Developer may lease property within an EPZ to a
non-exporting firm, but only after receiving approval from the EPZC for such
lease. The EPZC shall grant such approval only if the services provided by
the firms are complementary to and enhance Zone business activities. The
lessee may conduct a domestic Belizean business on the leased property under
23 of 1994.
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Export Processing Zone [CAP. 280
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the established Laws of Belize without any of the benefits or advantages created
under this Act for EPZ businesses.
(6) Rent shall be paid to an EPZ Developer in United States of
America dollars or the equivalent in the currency of Belize at the official exchange
rate prevailing at the time of payment.
8.-(1) The Certificate of Compliance for an EPZ business shall state what lines
of business the EPZ business may conduct within the Zone, and the EPZ business
shall be limited to those business lines.
(2) An EPZ business shall conduct its business activities in
accordance with the terms and conditions of section 7. Activities of an EPZ
business shall be conducted within Belize Export Processing Zones or foreign
countries. Activities in Belize outside of an EPZ shall be limited to transportation,
distribution, or business meetings.
(3) An EPZ business shall not sell, lease or transfer any article,
item, goods, or service in Belize outside an EPZ, or to any resident of Belize or
any domestic Belize business enterprise. The EPZ, with the concurrence of the
Ministry, may provide waivers to this restriction upon application at its discretion.
An EPZ business shall be free to sell, lease or transfer any article, item, goods,
or service in an EPZ or outside Belize to other EPZ businesses, to foreign
businesses, or to foreign individuals.
9.-(1) No import licence shall be required for any imports of an EPZ business
into an EPZ.
(2) All imports of an EPZ business into an EPZ, including capital
equipment, service and utility vehicles, office furniture, spare parts, raw materials,
intermediate goods and supplies shall be exempt from all customs duties, tariffs,
consumption taxes, excise taxes, trade turnover taxes, or other taxes. Fuel
entering an EPZ for energy generating purposes shall be included in such
exemption, provided the fuel is not retailed.
EPZ imports and
exports.
23 of 1994.
Activities of EPZ
businesses.
23 of 1994.
(3) No quotas or import prohibitions concerning any article, item,
material or goods shall apply to imports of an EPZ business into an EPZ,
except that firearms, military equipment or material, and illegal drugs under the
Laws of Belize shall not be imported into an EPZ.
(4) The Customs Department shall defer inspection of any imports
to an EPZ until such imports reach the Zone. Such imports must be transferred
from the port of entry in sealed containers. At the Zone, the Customs
Department shall inspect the imports to determine whether they contain any
prohibited articles, items or materials and are in keeping with accompanying
documentation.
(5) No export licence shall be required for any exports of an EPZ
business out of an EPZ.
(6) All exports of an EPZ business out of an EPZ shall be exempt
from all customs duties, tonnage taxes, consumption taxes, excise taxes, trade
turnover taxes, foreign exchange taxes, or other taxes.
(7) No regulatory restriction shall apply to any exports of an EPZ
business out of an EPZ, except that firearms, military equipment or material,
and illegal drugs under the laws of Belize shall not be exported from an EPZ.
(8) The Customs Department shall inspect exports of an EPZ
business at the EPZ to determine whether the exports contain any illegal articles,
items or materials and are in keeping with accompanying documentation.
(9) An import licence shall be required for any imports into Belize
from an EPZ, to be issued under the same rules and procedures as all other
import licences. The standard customs duties, consumption taxes, foreign
exchange taxes, trade turnover taxes, excise taxes, quotas or import prohibitions
under the Laws of Belize shall apply to such imports. The Customs Department
shall inspect such imports upon entry into Belize from the EPZ.
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(10) The Customs Department shall maintain an on-site office at
each EPZ to carry out its responsibilities under this Act, the cost of which shall
be borne by each Zone Developer. Special Export Processing Zones shall be
responsible for maintaining adequate surveillance of their operations and securing
customs supervision for the entry and exit of goods from their facilities.
10.-(1) No licence shall be required for the sale of any article, item, material,
goods or service by a domestic Belizean business to an EPZ business.
(2) The EPZ purchaser shall pay for any such article, item, material
or goods sold under subsection (1) in the currency of Belize.
(3) No price controls shall apply to the sale of any such article,
item, material or goods sold under subsection (1).
(4) Any such article, item, material or goods sold under subsection
(1) shall not be counted as fulfilling any import quota.
(5) The sale of any article, item, material or goods under subsection
(1), shall be treated as an export of the article, item, material or goods under
the Laws of Belize, qualifying the seller for all incentives for domestic Belize
enterprises which apply to exports.
11.-(1) No licence or permit shall be necessary to conduct an EPZ business,
except the Certificate of Compliance under section 7 and the work permits
under section 13. The Trade Licensing Act shall not apply to an EPZ business.
(2) No price controls shall apply to the products or services sold
by an EPZ business. The Supplies (Control) Act shall not apply to an EPZ
business.
(3) No rent controls shall apply to any rental property inside an
EPZ. The Rent Restriction Act shall not apply to EPZ business enterprises or
lessors and lessees of real property within Export Processing Zones.
EPZ regulatory
regime.
CAP. 66.
CAP. 293.
CAP. 195.
Domestic sales to
EPZs.
(4) No regulations, restrictions or prohibitions regarding the sale
or purchase of foreign currencies shall apply to an EPZ business. The Exchange
Control Regulation Act shall not apply to EPZ businesses. EPZ businesses
shall be free to maintain bank deposits in foreign currency in domestic or foreign
banks located in Belize.
(5) EPZ businesses shall, if so requested, report to the Central
Bank of Belize all purchases and sales.
(6) EPZ business enterprises shall not be restricted to purchasing
any goods or service from any particular company or entity or any group of
companies or entities. An exclusive franchise to sell any particular goods or
service shall not be effective within Export Processing Zones.
12.-(1) Each business shall be exempt from income tax, withholding tax,
capital gains tax or any new corporate tax adopted by the Government of
Belize after the commencement of this Act for a minimum of the first twenty
years of operation, with an option to extend the exemption for a further period
of time. Any dividends paid by an EPZ business shall also be exempt from tax
in perpetuity.
(2) EPZ businesses shall be subject to all payroll taxes and other
taxes, as set out in the Labour Act.
(3) If an EPZ business incurs a total net loss over the twenty years
of the tax holiday specified in subsection (1), that loss may be carried forward
and deducted against profits in the years following the tax holiday period.
(4) Any proceeds from the sale of stock or other partial or
complete ownership interest in an EPZ business shall be exempt from any
capital gains tax.
(5) All real property within an EPZ shall be exempt from any
property or lands tax. The Land Tax Act shall not apply to EPZ property.
EPZ tax regime
CAP. 297.
CAP. 58.
CAP. 52.
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Export Processing Zone [CAP. 280
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Any sale of real property within an EPZ shall be exempt from any transfer tax.
(6) All goods or services sold by an EPZ business enterprise outside
the Belize customs territory shall be exempt from any consumption tax, sales
tax, excise tax trade turnover tax or value-added tax.
(7) All purchases or sales of foreign currency by an EPZ business
shall be exempt from any currency export tax or foreign exchange tax.
13.-(1) The provisions of the Labour Act shall apply to the EPZ Developer
and to EPZ businesses.
(2) EPZ Developers and EPZ businesses shall pay their Belizean
workers in the currency of Belize.
(3) A work permit shall be required for any foreign national to
work on a regular basis for an EPZ business.
(4) Applications for work permits may be submitted to the EPZ
office which may process same through the relevant Ministry.
(5) The Immigration Department, on the recommendation of the
Ministry of Labour, may grant work permits to applicants who will serve an
EPZ business in senior management or technical positions and such permits
shall remain in effect until the holders of such work permits cease to work in the
positions for which such work permits have been granted.
(6) In addition to subsection (5), the Immigration Department, on
the recommendation of the Ministry of Labour, may grant work permits for up
to fifteen per centum of the workers of an EPZ business as designated by the
EPZ business.
(7) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Immigration Act or
any other law, no fees shall be payable for work permits issued under this
CAP. 156.
EPZ labour
regime.
CAP. 297.
23 of 1994.
section to EPZ personnel.
14.-(1) The EPZC may assess fines for violations of any requirements under
this Act by an EPZ business or EPZ Developer in accordance with regulations
made under this Act.
(2) If an EPZ business shows a continuing pattern of violations
indicating that it will not reliably comply with applicable requirements, then the
EPZC, after proper notice and hearing, may revoke the Certificate of
Compliance. The enterprise shall then no longer be eligible for any benefits
under this Act.
(3) Where the EPZC determines that a foreign national working
for an EPZ business no longer satisfies the requirements of his work permit,
the EPZC may recommend the revocation of such permit to the Ministries
concerned.
(4) Each EPZ business shall be liable for any damage to persons
or property which may result from any violation of applicable regulatory
requirements by the EPZ business.
(5) The Ministry, the EPZC, and other Belize regulatory authorities
shall have complete authority to inspect any EPZ operations or facilities for
possible violations of applicable requirements.
(6) Each EPZ business shall have the right to sue its EPZ Developer
in the courts of Belize or to submit the matter to arbitration, to enforce its rights
under this Act.
(7) Each EPZ Developer shall have the right to sue the EPZC in
the courts of Belize or to submit the matter to arbitration, to enforce its rights
under this Act.
(8) Each EPZ Developer and EPZ business shall enjoy protection
23 of 1994.
Enforcement and
liabilities.
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Export Processing Zone [CAP. 280
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from deprivation of property in accordance with the fundamental rights
guaranteed under the Belize Constitution.
15.-(1) The EPZC may, after consultation with the Minister, make regulations
for the better carrying out of the provisions of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the EPZC
may, in like manner, make regulations for the following:
(a) prescribing the criteria for obtaining a Certificate of Compli-
ance to establish an EPZ; and
(b) prescribing application fees and administrative fees.
16.-(1) There shall be established an Appeal Board (hereinafter referred to as
“the Board”) which shall comprise three members as follows:
(a) the Solicitor General or his representative;
(b) the President of the University of Belize; and
(c) the President of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Indus
try.
(2) The Minister shall appoint one of the members of the Board to
be the Chairman thereof.
(3) The Chairman of the Board shall serve for a period of one year
and may be reappointed.
(4) An EPZ Developer or an EPZ business may appeal any fine or
revocation of Certificate of Compliance to the Board within twenty-one days
of the decision of the Committee imposing such fine or revoking such Certificate
of Compliance, and such fine or revocation of Certificate of Compliance shall
Regulations.
23 of 1994.
Appeal Board.
23 of 1994.
CAP. 4.
remain in force until such time as a final decision is given by the Board.
(5) Notwithstanding subsection (4), the Board may extend the
time under subsection (4) upon good cause being shown.
(6) The Board shall hear appeals under subsection (4) as far as
practicable within twenty-one days of the appeal.
(7) The Board shall have power to reverse or modify any decision
and such decision shall be final and binding on the parties to the appeal.
(8) The Board may make rules to govern its own procedure.
17. All fees and fines payable under this Act shall be paid into the
Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Fees, fines to be
paid into
Consolidated
Revenue Fund.
23 of 1994.
