Mauritius: New Regulations for Import of Second-Hand Vehicles

The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection, Cader Sayed-Hossen, recently announced that following numerous complaints and representations made by the Associations of motor car dealers and the general public as regards the importation of damaged and accidented vehicles on the local market, his ministry has amended the Regulations to make it mandatory for every importer of second-hand motor vehicles to submit an auction sheet.

With the new Regulations which will be effective on 1 March 2013, each importation of second-hand motor vehicle should be supported by an auction sheet which will specify the grade of the vehicle which shall not be below 3.5 on a scale of 1 to 5. The auction sheet is an important document which is issued by the auctioneers certifying the details of the vehicle.

Authorised dealers in second-hand motor vehicles will also have to affix the auction sheet and the Pre-Shipment Certificate on the windscreen of each vehicle at their showroom premises together with an explanatory note specifying the grade of the vehicle as per the auction sheet of that particular vehicle. This measure will go a long way in protecting the consumers as they will be more informed as to the exact conditions of the vehicles being purchased.

In the same line, Cader Sayed-Hossen stated that the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection will regulate the importation of second-hand motor vehicles by agents acting on behalf of importers. “It has been noted that over the years that some persons import their vehicles through ‘agents’ who are not recognised by law and act merely as facilitators against payment of fees. This state of affairs has given rise to a number of complaints where individuals have been penalised by unscrupulous ‘agents’”, minister Sayed-Hossen opinioned.

With a view to remedying this situation, the ministry proposes to regulate the sector by introducing new Regulations. The aim is to provide a legal framework to allow the “agent” to operate in a fair and transparent manner while protecting the interests of the consumers. Draft regulations have been prepared and are presently at the State Law Office for vetting and further discussions.