Regulatory Reference Guide

MONITORING SITE FOR THE REGULATORY REFERENCE GUIDE

Welcome to the online Regulatory Reference Guide (RRG). It offers you the opportunity to search, sort and consult the rules impacting the recreational marine. The ICOMIA Secretariat invites all MIAs to check and update their sections frequently. We are sure that you will appreciate this very informative tool.

To browse the RRG, select a country and/or criteria from the dropdown menus

Australia
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

Restrictions on the following places: pubs, registered and licenced clubs, hotels (excluding accommodation), gyms and indoor sporting venues, cinemas, entertainment venues, casinos, and night clubs. Restaurants and cafes will be restricted to takeaway and/or home delivery.
Advice has now been strengthened reducing it to two persons in public spaces and other areas of gathering. However, each state can have slightly different laws and ways of endorsing this.
Canada
Government support of industry during COVID-19
April 21, 2020

The Federal government has announced some significant measures to help businesses in Canada. Nearly $100 Billion dollars in relief which includes paying wages of staff of SMEs up to 75% up to $58,000Cdn to keep their staff for the next three months. There are also additional employment insurance measures to support Canadians out of work.
Croatia
Government support of industry during COVID-19
April 21, 2020

Croatian Government confirmed set of measures that are aimed at job protection and postponement or relief of taxes to aid the economy.
- The amount of 1.14 bn Euro is dedicated for job retention in March, April, and May. In total, the Croatian government will pay approx. 700 Eur per employee per month.
- All tax payers affected by this crisis will be fully or partially exempt from paying corporate income tax, payroll taxes and salary contributions due in April, May and June 2020. The companies with a drop in revenues between 20% to 50% will have the right to defer taxes and will be able to pay them in 24 monthly annuities with no interest. Businesses with revenue of less than 1 mil. Euro and with a drop in revenue higher than 50% will be fully exempted from corporate income tax, payroll taxes and salary contributions.
- All financial loans and leasing contracts have been suspended for 3 months, with possibility to extend it to 6 or 12 months depending on the development of the situation
- Payment of the value added tax might be deferred until the invoices issued are paid off.
- The deadline for submission of the 2019 annual financial statements is postponed to 30 June and there is no obligation to pay a fee to the Financial Agency (FINA) for their publication.
- In addition, the Government has launched Financial Agency's digital platform to help with the implementation of the Covid-19 measures. This platform enables submitting an application, collecting the information necessary for the decision making and creating a report.
Germany
Government support of industry during COVID-19
April 21, 2020

Kurzarbeitergeld (Reduced hours compensation). A company is able to ask for support for salaries, if the coronavirus crisis is the reason for difficulties. The employee is payed 60% (without children), 67 % (with children) of the last net income by the government. Mostly the companies are paying in addition another 20 % of the loss. This scheme can be used for up to two years. Credits guaranteed by government are available. In the beginning in total 600 billion Euros. Direct help: 50 billion Euros are given to small enterprises up to 10 employees, up to 15.000 Euros/company. This amount doesn’t have to be paid back. Taxes can be paid 3 month later. Insurance for the employees can be paid 3 month later. All states have additional financial and fiscal help.
France
Government support of industry during COVID-19
April 21, 2020

The French government has taken aid measures for both the businesses and the workers. Workers are encouraged to work from home, when possible, but some factories and businesses remain open with sanitary measures. Partial unemployment benefits are now granted to 5,8 million people at the national level (about 25% of the employees) as of 8 April. Freelance workers can also benefit from a monthly subsidy of Euro 1500. Additional measures have been taken to differ repayment of loans and taxes, with the participation of the banks. The regional council administrations are also involved in several actions of support.
Portugal
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

The President has declared the state of emergency on the 19th of March. This has given the power to the Government to take a number of urgent measures. To complete lock down of the country, most businesses had to close, restaurants can operate on take away only, all big events had to be cancelled. The borders with Spain have been closed to avoid contamination.

Marinas and other ports are closed to any boats with foreign flag. They can come in port only for fuel or urgent supplies but the crews are not allowed to come ashore. All boating activities have been forbidden. Almost all commercial activities have been closed in the marinas. Maintenance works are allowed and the marinas are working on reduced schedules, with minimum staff but guaranteeing all services to the boats.

Tourism in Portugal is one of the biggest industries, we are being hit in a very hard way and right when the season was starting.
Poland
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

On Tuesday 31st March, Poland introduced further restrictions. The penalty for violating them is a fine up to a maximum of 30,000 zloty (EU6,600). They include:
- Pedestrians must remain 2 metres apart from one another, even if they are walking together. This includes members of the same family. Exceptions are made for children under 13 or people with disabilities
- Shops can only admit 3 customers at the same time for each cash register they have
- Outdoor markets and post offices will have similar restrictions on customer numbers
- Customers in all shops must wear disposable gloves
- Workplaces must separate work stations by at least 1.5 metres and employees must wear gloves
- Parks, beaches and various other public recreation spaces are closed
- Hotels and other short-term rental accommodation are closed (apart from those for use in quarantine or isolation, or for medical personnel)
- Grocery shops and pharmacies to only serve customers over 65 years old between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. every day
- Anyone living with a person under a legal quarantine order must also be quarantined

As for the yacht industry, companies are still operating. Producers of boats and yachts see the main problems in the supply of various types of components and equipment. That's why two of the largest Polish shipyards Ostroda Yacht and Delphia Yachts, both being part of the Beneteau Group, suspended production for several weeks. This is a big problem for hundreds of small suppliers, for whom these shipyards were the main recipients of their products or services.
Earlier two shipyards have suspended production - Mirage Boats (Norwegian capital and management) and Viking (aluminum fishing boats mainly for the Scandinavian market).
New Zealand
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

The country is under mandatory lockdown. All residents are required to remain in their homes and stay in the same place for at least the next four weeks. Marinas and boatyards have closed, boat owners and the public are not allowed to travel other than to super markets or medical care facilities, so Marinas and Boat Yards are not to be visited. A small number of marinas have retained some live aboard who are under strict controls. People are permitted to exercise by walking around the immediate area around their home, but a visit to the beach for a swim is not permitted. Marinas are permitted to have a security guard but no other staff on site. 
Brazil
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

Brazil is on lockdown for non-essential sectors. Even football matches have been suspended. Yet, given the vastness of the country, measures vary according to regional peculiarities, the denser urban areas are being more restrictive, and the countryside more relaxed. While tourism activities, such as hotels, restaurants, air travel and services in general have been hit very hard, our farming sector (agriculture and livestock) hasn’t been affected much so far.
Some municipalities along the coast have taken drastic measures, suspending the operation permit of non-essential establishments, such as hotels and marinas.
Croatia
COVID-19 Restrictions
April 21, 2020

Since 16th March all schools, universities, bars, restaurants, shops, public transport, banks, markets and all public events are stopped. Open are only supermarkets for food, pharmacies, post offices and petrol stations. All Marina receptions are closed and communication is online. It is allowed to work in the boatyards, services points and in the Marinas outside, but under distance and other protection rules. The authority’s suggestion is to stay at home and not to go outside except going to work or some other justified reason, and only with a special permission document, issued from authorities by company manager or another responsible person.
It is allowed to work in the boatyards, services points and in the Marinas outside, but under distance and other protection rules. The authority’s suggestion is to stay at home and not to go outside except going to work or some other justified reason, and only with a special permission document, issued from authorities by company manager or another responsible person.
Access to all islands is prohibited except for those living on the island, for deliveries, and some special reasons but with a special permission issued by local authorities and under Police strictly controlled access to the Island in Ferryboat harbours. It is not allowed to sail with the boat except the professional's fisherman boats. Ferryboats are operating to the Islands in very reduced timeline, with only 4-5 lines per day.
Maintenance services make the majority of the nautical sector business. A significant drop of income is expected within the charter industry of more than 80 %.