Croatia: amendments in force since January 1.

On 1 January 2009 several amendments entered into force in Croatia, which also concern companies.

The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber outlined the most important changes concerning the personal number, the regulations on money laundering and the opening and closing times for shops. According to these changes now every Croatian citizen and every enterprise registered in Croatia receive a so-called OIB (Osobni identifikacijski broj), a personal eleven-digit identification number. This is composed of randomized numbers and no more of the date of birth. This is expected to guarantee more privacy and data security at the same time. In future this OIB will be used as sole identification by authorities (tax payer’s account number, etc).

Due to the new money laundering regulations banks are now liable to collect data about a future customer by means of the new customer information form before entering into business. This is done to fight money laundering and financing terrorism. All data collected are subjected to banker’s discretion and must not be passed on to a third party.  

One of the most important changes refers to the shop opening hours. On Sundays and bank holidays only petrol stations, kiosks, bakeries and smaller shops within airports, railway stations, transit points and ports may be kept open. Larger shops and supermarkets may only open from 7 to 2p.m. between June 1 and October 1, before Christmas and in December respectively.