Guatemala

Standards

National standards organizations

Integration in the international standards network

The competent organisation aimed at legally dictating the current standards is the Guatemalan Committee of Standards (COGUANOR). Until now, 670 standards were published, of which 625 are compulsory.
The compulsory standards especially concern food products and often refer to international standards. Furthermore, the import of any food product requires obtaining a sanitary certificate to be asked at the Ministry of health (Recordings and food control Department). It further requires that the labelling of the products be written in Spanish.

Classification of standards

Online consultation of standards

Certification organizations

Legal framework

Independence of justice

The judiciary is not independent in Guatemala. It lacks transparency and accountability.

Equal treatment of nationals and foreigners

Foreign nationals cannot expect a fair trial from country's judicial system.

The language of justice

The judicial language used in the country is Spanish, though there are 23 other officially recognized Amerindian languages.

Sources of the law and legal similarities

Guatemala is a Republic state based on parliamentary democracy with presidential form of government. The country (official name: Republic of Guatemala) has a pluriform multi-party political system, but the tradition of military dominance still continues.
President is both the chief of the state and head of the government. President holds the executive powers which include implementation of the law in the country and running the day-to-day affairs. Both President and Vice-President are elected by popular vote for a four-year term. Council of Ministers (the cabinet) is appointed by the President.
The legislature in Guatemala is unicameral. The parliament called Congress of the Republic has 158 members which are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The country's constitution provides for a separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judiciary. President cannot dissolve the parliament; however the President has the power to veto acts of the parliament which in turn can be overridden by supermajority of legislators. The people of Guatemala have limited political rights.
The judiciary is not independent in Guatemala. It lacks transparency and accountability. The main source of the law is the constitution of 1985 which was amended in 1993. The legal system is based on civil law system and judicial review of various legislative acts. Guatemala has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction. The judicial language used in the country is Spanish, though there are 23 other officially recognized Amerindian languages.
Guatemala is not ruled by law. Guatemala remains one of the most violent countries in Latin America. Foreign nationals cannot expect a fair trial from country's judicial system. A high degree of corruption exists in the country; especially administration, judiciary and corporate sector are plagued with corruption. E fforts to promote transparency have made little progress.

Consulting national laws online

Intellectual Property

National organizations

The organisation in charge of the protection of the intellectual property in Guatemala is the Registro de la Propiedad Industrial.
Guatemala signed the Agreement of Bern and the Treaty of Rome.
According to the agreement of Central America for the protection of industrial property, the preferential registration of a Guatemalan trademark is guaranteed in any country of Central America, during the first 6 months of the recording in Guatemala.

Tax rates

Accounting rules

Tax year

The fiscal year begins on July 1st and ends on June 30 of the next year.
In some cases, a fiscal exercise corresponding to the calendar year can be allowed.

Accounting regulation bodies

Publication

Each company has to publish a balance sheet each year.

Professional accountancy bodies

Accounting news

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