Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “CARlCOM Single Market and Economy” or “CSME”” means the regime established by the Treaty for the full integration of the national markets of all Member States of the Community into a single unified and open market and the free movement of goods and services within the market; “Community” means the Caribbean Community established by the Treaty; “Common External tariff’ means the Common External tariff imposed on imports or exports which do not qualify for Community treatment in accordance with this Act and the Customs and Excise Duties Act. “Community treatment” means the access accorded goods, which are of Community origin, to the market of Member States of the Community without application of import duties or quantitative restriction. “Comptroller” means the Comptroller of Customs. THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS of BELIZE 6 “customs duty” includes any duty corresponding to customs duty in any part of the CARICOM Single Market and “officer” means an officer of customs as defined in section 2 of the Customs Regulation Act; “Protocol” means the Protocol to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy regarding the relationship between provisions on the Original Jurisdiction of the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Constitutions of States Parties, (i) that was signed at Paramaribo, Suriname, on the 17th February 2005; (ii) to which Belize is a party; and (iii) the text of which is set out in the Second Schedule thereto. “Treaty” means the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas Establishing the Caribbean Community, including CARICOM (1) (a) that was signed in the Bahamas on the 5th day of July, 2001; (b) to which Belize is a party; and (c) the text of which is set out in the first Schedule. (2) The expression, (a) “imports or exports of Community origin” is a reference to imports or exports the origin of THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS of BELIZE 7 which complies with the Rules of Origin provided for in section 9 of this Act; (b) “customs laws” in the Customs and Excise Duties Act, Cap. 48 and the Customs Regulations Act, Cap. 49 or any other law, includes the following provisions of this Part, and for the purposes of the Act all those provisions shall be deemed to an assigned matter.