A Surinamese consumer goods importer Hatramij N.V. is calling on national regulatory authorities to deliver urgent clarity on the seizure of a shipping container filled with household insecticide aerosol cans, which has been held by customs for nearly a month without a formal ruling. The shipment, which arrived at the country’s ports in late June, was detained by Surinamese Customs over alleged non-compliance with a newly implemented state decree governing the import of pesticide-containing aerosol products. However, more than three weeks after the seizure took place on June 27, the company has yet to receive an official, formal decision on the case.
In a public statement released this week, Hatramij N.V. explained that immediately following the seizure, it submitted a formal request to authorities to allow the company to take custody of the detained container. The goal of this request, the firm noted, was to mitigate the rapidly accumulating extra costs including port storage fees, vessel demurrage charges and third-party holding expenses that continue to rise as the impasse drags on. As of the company’s latest update, that request has not been answered, and no formal ruling on the seizure has been issued.
The ongoing lack of resolution is creating mounting financial pressure for the firm, Hatramij emphasized, warning that the prolonged uncertainty could disrupt core business operations, compromise the company’s ability to maintain consistent supply chains, and leave retail and consumer customers facing shortages of the popular household product.
Notably, the company stressed that it does not oppose the new regulatory framework governing pesticide imports. In its statement, Hatramij acknowledged that targeted rules to protect public health and consumer safety are a necessary and legitimate requirement for any import market. The firm’s objection centers not on the regulation itself, but on the opaque and unstructured rollout of the new rules.
Hatramij called for new trade regulations to be implemented through a transparent, predictable and equitable process that treats all market participants equally. The company also pushed for timely, proactive information sharing with importers and the implementation of reasonable transition periods to give businesses time to adjust their supply chains and import procedures to align with new requirements.
In closing, the company reiterated its urgent appeal to competent authorities to prioritize the processing of its case and bring clear resolution to the seizure dispute, adding that Hatramij remains fully committed to working constructively with regulators to reach a solution that aligns with both regulatory requirements and the company’s operational needs.