The division Economic Policy Implementation is responsible for developing and implementing policies according to the “Price Ordinance” (Prijzenverordening AB 1991 no. GT 17) particularly in the area of prices and tariffs of goods and services.

In accordance with the Price Ordinance, the government regulates wholesale as well as retail prices for some products pertaining to the basic consumer goods. The control of supermarkets is carried out daily to revise the stipulated prices and price indications. Within these framework inspections are also carried out on the price developments.
Moreover, the division of Economic Policy Implementation regulates the prices for petroleum products and the third-party insurance premium rates for motor vehicles according to the Price Ordinance. Other tariffs could also be controlled by the government.

Besides adequate implementation of the pricing policy, the division is also responsible for the import and export license and the policy on business hours.

Wholesale and retail prices of some products pertaining to the basic consumer goods are determined by the Government based on the Price Ordinance (Prijzenverordening AB 1991 no. GT 17).
The following basic products are regulated:

• Rice
• Baby food
• Baby formula
• Coffee
• Tea
• Corn flour
• Coffee milk
• Powdered milk
• Cooking oil
• Frozen broccoli
• Frozen spinach
• Frozen mixed vegetables
• Dried red beans
• Dried black beans
• Dried lima beans
• Canned tuna fish
• Canned sardines
• Canned salmon
• All purpose flour
• Spaghetti
• Oatmeal
• UHT milk

In addition to the basic products, the consumer prices for chicken eggs and for white bread are also regulated. The Department of Economic Affairs Commerce and Industry (DEACI) adjusts the prices of white bread and chicken eggs on the basis of a request of the concerned party(ies). All required data should be submitted in order to verify if the requested increase is justified. This system is also applicable for the tariffs of the regulated services (f.e. insurance) namely that by means of the submitted data. In addition, the selling prices of fish, chicken eggs and white bread, are also regulated. The ceiling prices of these basic products are calculated by means of the determined margins on the landed cost. The wholesaler through a written request, reports price increases of the regulated basic products. For this, all necessary data should be submitted. Price decreases are, by virtue of the office, immediately implemented. The modified calculated prices are published in the local newspapers every two weeks. The latest published prices is referred to “Maximum price list“.

As a result of COVID-19, disproportionate price increases had been observed in a number of cases for certain hygiene, care and consumer products. As a result, it was decided in March 2020 to temporarily introduce a crisis package consisting of ten products for which the maximum prices would be set by the government by means of the Prices Regulation. The crisis package established by means of a Ministerial Regulation sets the highest permissible wholesale and retail prices for the following category of products:

• Disinfectants for personal use
• Disinfectants for household use
• Electrolyte and mineral drink
• Toilet paper
• Protective equipment
• Baby diapers
• Dried fruits
• Wet baby wipes
• Cornflakes
• Frozen fruit
• Frozen chicken legs and wings

The latest published prices is referred to “crisispakket“.

Complaints about the calculated prices and tariffs can be submitted to DEACI where these are inspected. In addition, control is exercised on the price indication of goods and services. According to the “Regulation price indication goods and services” (Regeling Prijsaanduiding Goederen en Diensten) everyone who offers goods for sale as a retailer is obliged to provide these goods with a clear visible and readable price indication. In case of a cluster of the same article, it is sufficient with one price indication indicating the price of the article. The price indication should be in the Aruban currency. If this condition is met, then the retailer is allowed to show the price indication in another currency on the condition that the foreign currency unit is clearly shown.

The government calculates the prices of the following petroleum products: petrol, gas-oil and kerosene. These fuel prices are calculated based on the average of the Gulf Coast Waterborne daily postings by the S&P Global Platts US Marketscan. The adjusted prices are published monthly on the second Wednesday in the local press. For a list of the last published prices one is referred to “Fuel prices publications” .

In addition, the prices of domestic LPG gas (cooking gas) are also determined by the Government. The prices for this product are adjusted on the basis of a request of the party(ies) concerned. For this, all relevant data should be submitted in order to verify if the requested increase is legitimate. On the other hand, the prices of commercial LPG gas are not regulated. Basically the merchants are free to calculate their own prices.

Goods listed in the “Public Decree, goods’ import license” (Landsbesluit invoervergunningen goederen), for the execution of article 4 of the “Ordinance Import and Export” (Landsverordening In- en Uitvoer) can only be imported by means of an import license. This import license is granted after compliance with the different requirements according to the Ordinance.

The following goods may be only be imported with an import license:

• Rice
• Tea
• Coffee (Powdered coffee)
• Baby food
• Milk powder
• Edible oil (salad oil)
• Margarine
• Canned milk
• Sugar
• Potatoes
• Legumes (W.O. beans and peas), not in air-tight packaging
• Meat, dried, salted or smoked, prepared or preserved in cans or other airtight packaging
• Fish, frozen, prepared or preserved in cans or other air-tight packaging
• Vegetables, frozen, prepared or preserved in cans or other air-tight packaging Medicines (medications)
• Chicken, frozen and/or chilled, whole or in pieces,
• Beef, frozen and/or chilled, in pieces or in parts
• Corn flour (Funchi)

Import license is not required for the import of the goods listed, if they have a C.I.F. value
Maximum of AFL. 100, –per consignment intended not for trading purposes. Please take notice of other import requirements (IMPORT).

The “Decree import prohibition on chicken eggs“, states the prohibition to import chicken eggs in order to protect the locally produced chicken eggs. Exemption on this prohibition is possible if local production is not sufficient to comply with local demand. To be exempted, a written request should be directed to the DEACI, accompanied by one stamp of Afl.4,- and one stamp of Afl.8,-. The exemption is granted by means of a ministerial decision in which different conditions are introduced. The decision can be revoked in case the conditions are not met. The import of chicken eggs from Venezuela is prohibited.

The current ‘Business Hours Policy’ states the following opening hours for stores to open for the public:

• Monday through Saturday from 6.00 hours to 24.00 hours.
• Sundays and national holidays from 9.00 hours to 22.00 hours
• It is prohibited to open on Labor Day.

The “Government Decree Export Ban on Copper and Copper Holding Objects” prohibits the export of copper and copper holding materials. The export ban on copper and copper holding objects, is aimed to prevent the merchantability of such objects.

For the request for exemption from the export ban on copper, the following documents should be submitted to DEACI:

• A written request addressed to the Director of the DEACI with one stamp of AFL. 4,-;
• An extract from the trade Register of the Chamber of Commerce on the applicant;
• A copy of a valid establishment permit provided by DEACI;
• Unless it concerns a Sole Proprietorship of which the applicant is a Dutch citizen born in Aruba, or is a naturalized person in Aruba as a Dutch citizen, who has reached the age of 18, a valid establishment permit of the DEACI is not necessary;
• A description of the applicant’s actual activities, in particular those relating to the purchase and export of copper articles;
• A description of the origin and destination of the copper, including in any case the names, addresses, capacity of the suppliers and the customers of those goods and a single copy of the invoices. In addition, the quantity of copper in kg. should be stated and, if available, the container number and the name of the ship;
• An inventory list of invoices submitted;
• Declaration of Conduct (VOG). This should be specifically requested in connection with the ‘ export ban on copper and copper holding objects ‘ in the Public Prosecutor’s office.

“Macuto di Compras” is a price comparison list of non-regulated products in the supermarkets. The “Macuto di Compras” is published every week on the website  . The publication is aimed at providing the public with the information of which supermarkets offer the cheapest products.

In addition to the publication in the local newspapers, the “Macuto di Compras” is also published on the App “Control di Prijs”, available on ‘Google Play’ and ‘App Store’.

Which products belong to the package of regulated consumer goods?

The following products are regulated: rice, baby food, coffee, tea, corn flour, coffee milk, powdered milk, cooking oil, frozen broccoli, frozen spinach, frozen mixed vegetables, dried red beans, dried black beans, dried lima beans, canned tuna fish, canned sardines, canned salmon, all purpose flour, spaghetti, oatmeal, UHT milk

The current package of regulated consumer goods contains more than 1000 products, divided into different categories, brands, types, packaging and units.

What is the difference between the package of regulated consumer goods and the ‘Macuto di Compras’?

The package of regulated consumer goods are regulated by the government, where ceiling prices per product are determined. The following commodities are regulated: rice, sugar, baby food, baby formula, coffee, tea, margarine, butter, cooking oil, corn and wheat flour, coffee milk, milk powder and liquid coffee milk.
The current package of regulated consumer goods contains more than 1000 products, divided into different categories, brands, types, packaging and units.

‘Macuto di Compras’is a price comparison list of non-regulated products in the supermarkets. The ‘Macuto di Compras’ is published every week on the website and on the App “Control di Prijs”. The publication is aimed at providing the public with the information of which super markets offer the cheapest products.