Almost 300 used cars and 6,000 used tyres have been sitting on the wharves for months because they were either damaged or older than the three-year restriction on imported used vehicles.

But yesterday, Industry, Investment and Commerce Minister Karl Samuda announced that he had directed the Trade Board to issue the necessary licences to facilitate the clearance of vehicles and tyres.

However, the tyres will only be released if they are given the necessary clearance by the Bureau of Standards.

Samuda also made it clear that this was a one-off measure expected to improve the efficiency of the wharves.

He said normal customs duties would apply in each case, and that consideration would be given to vehicles and tyres shipped prior to yesterday's announcement.

According to Samuda, once the wharves have been cleared, "the Government will revert to the rigid application of the rules and regulations governing the importation of motor vehicles".

He said the decisions were also made in light of the economic difficulties being faced by many, and in response to numerous appeals to his ministry to consider facilitating clearance for the vehicles which, in some instances, had minimally breached the overage limit.

Samuda further stated that the Bureau of Standards was developing a standards and regulatory framework to govern the importation of used tyres.