There are no quotas. Licences are required however for importing products such as medical equipment, chemicals, cattle, sugar, cereals, meat and flour. All importers need to register with the Uruguay Central Bank and declare all imports.
There are special labeling regulations covering alcoholic beverages, insecticides, pharmaceutical products, veterinary products, foodstuffs and garments.
In general, labels must contain information in Spanish regarding the main ingredients of the product, country of origin, expiry date, net weight and the full name and address of the Uruguayan importer.
Tax
A value added tax has a standard rate of 23 percent for most goods and services. A reduced rate of 14 percent applies to basic foodstuffs, other essential items and flowers and horticultural products.
Opportunities
- New Zealand agricultural science is highly respected in Uruguay. New Zealand livestock has been exported to Uruguay. Other areas of mutual interest include pasture development, herd or bull progeny testing and agricultural training.
- There are opportunities for agricultural machinery which is almost completely supplied by imports. There is also growing use of high-tech equipment, such as global positioning systems, in the agricultural sector.
- Uruguay’s telecommunications network is 100 percent digital and there has been significant growth in mobile phone subscribers and internet users in recent years.
Cultural and business tips
- New Zealanders travelling to Uruguay do not need a visa for visits of up to three months.
- Spanish is the national language and some knowledge of Spanish will be invaluable, although English is spoken by many business people.
