| Complaint number |
NTB Type
|
Date of incident |
Location |
Reporting country or region (additional) |
Status |
Actions |
|
NTB-000-103 |
5.3. Export taxes |
2009-07-26 |
Namibia: Ministry of Trade |
South Africa |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Namibia imposed export levies on live animals, hides and skins . |
|
|
NTB-000-118 |
1.3. State subsidies, procurement, trading, state ownership |
2009-07-26 |
Seychelles: Seychelles Marketing Board |
Seychelles |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
The State participates in trading through the Seychelles marketing Board. The State Trading Company has an unfair competitive advantage over private traders. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Seychelles reported that SMB no longer in existence. Successor company STC privatised. |
|
|
NTB-000-124 |
2.14. Other |
2009-07-26 |
SADC |
South Africa |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Training of new customs recruits in the region |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Seychelles reported that training of new recruits is a point of concern for Seychelles. Training especially for customs officers, on R.O.O, clearing process, investigation, inspection, to conduct time release study ect...is in progress. |
|
|
NTB-000-130 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
Eswatini: Bordergate |
Eswatini |
Resolved 2011-06-06 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Lack of proper customs procedures and harmonization at the boarder posts. Customs regulations differ per individual officer, per border post , per country. There is no standard procedure of operation which is common to SADC countries |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Swaziland reported that the Swaziland Revenue Authority (SRA) started operating in January 2011 and replaces the Department of Customs and Excise. The organization is therefore fairly new and is still in process of developing appropriate customs clearances procedures which will be uniformly applied at all border posts. This also applies to recruitment and training of staff which is still is ongoing to reach the desired levels which will bring efficiencies in the provision of service at all borders. |
|
|
Products:
|
2004.90: Vegetables and mixtures of vegetables, prepared or preserved otherwise than by vinegar or acetic acid, frozen (excl. preserved by sugar, and tomatoes, mushrooms, truffles and potatoes, unmixed) |
|
|
NTB-000-102 |
1.2. Government monopoly in export/import Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-26 |
Mauritius: Ministry of Agriculture |
South Africa |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Mauritius has single marketing channel for agricultural products |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Mauritius reported that she is a net food importer and therefore state regulated agencies are necessary to coordinate food imports into that country for food security purposes |
|
|
NTB-000-126 |
1.2. Government monopoly in export/import Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-26 |
Eswatini: Ministry of Trade |
Eswatini |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Single channel marketing for sugar and sugar products. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Swaziland reported that the status quo remains because the Sugar Act has not been reviewed. |
|
|
NTB-000-094 |
1.1. Export subsidies B15: Authorization requirements for importers |
2009-07-26 |
South Africa: Ministry of Trade |
Mauritius |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Mauritian exports of canned Tuna are denied entry into South Africa because South Africa does not recognize Ministry of Fisheries in Mauritius as being the regulatory body even though product qualifies for EUR1 certificate and is exported to the EU |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
South Africa reported that all inspections are carried out according to the requirements of the compulsory specification for “The manufacture, production, processing and treatment of canned fish, canned marine molluscs and canned crustaceans”, and these inspections are non-discriminatory. Furthermore, rejections on products are not done by an individual but by a panel and it is important to note that FAI is accredited by SANAS to the requirements of ISO 17020 ( accreditation for inspection bodies) |
|
|
NTB-000-112 |
7.8. Consular and Immigration Issues |
2009-07-26 |
Namibia: Ministry of Home Affairs |
South Africa |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Work permits are required from consultants and business representatives even for one day visits. |
|
|
NTB-000-199 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Revenue Authority |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2011-06-09 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) machines are connected to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe which is linked through the internet to enable them to access approved copies of CDI forms. Serious delays are faced in processing the export documents because the systems are frequently down or unable to connect during working hours. The verification process by RBZ takes too long - up to 3 days. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that there is fallback method in the event that the system is down. The CD1s are processed manually and are captured later in the excel spreadsheet which is then forwarded electronically to RBZ on weekly basis. There is therefore no delay in processing export documents |
|
|
NTB-000-149 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-27 |
Tanzania: Tanzania Revenue Authority |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2011-07-28 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Despite efforts to improve the situation, customs procedures in Tanzania are cumbersome. In most cases, depending on the type of product, there is a long verification chain that involves many steps and numerous documents have to be handled/exchanged in the process of importing. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Tanzania Revenue Authority reported that all customs documentation are now obtained and processed online. Traders engage Clearing Agents for clearing goods who obtain all documents online. |
|
|
NTB-000-205 |
1.1. Export subsidies A82: Testing requirement |
2009-07-27 |
Malawi: Malawi Bureau of Standards |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Delays in obtaining approval of test reports |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Malawi reported that the challenge had been noted by Government and measures are being taken to improve the procedures by the Standards Bureau |
|
|
NTB-000-157 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-27 |
Kenya: Kenya Revenue Authority |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2011-07-28 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Too much time is lost during cross border pre-shipment inspection and certification for Kenyan bound cargo. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
At the NMC meeting held in Nairobi on 29 August 2011, Kenya reported that KRA is currently carrying out time release study to determine time taken at borders.
2. EAC is in the process of introducing OSBP. |
|
|
NTB-000-159 |
4.1. Issues related to sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures A83: Certification requirement |
2009-07-27 |
Tanzania: Ministry of Health |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2011-08-30 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Cumbersome certification procedures for certification of milk inputs.Certification officers are based in Dar es Salaam and going to Tunduma for verification is very cumbersome |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Tanzania Revenue Authority reported that TRA does random physical verification as part of risk management analysis before clearing mainly on textiles motor vehicles. |
|
|
NTB-000-171 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Trade |
Malawi |
Resolved 2010-07-30 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Rice has been turned back from Zimbabwe according to allegations of misuse on Rules of Origin. |
|
|
NTB-000-163 |
2.4. Import licensing Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-27 |
Zambia: Ministry of Trade |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2011-03-04 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Licensing process just too long |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zambia reported that the process only takes 24hours |
|
|
NTB-000-210 |
7.6. Lack of information on procedures (or changes thereof) |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Agriculture |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2010-07-30 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
There is no formal dissemination of information as to which agricultural products require permits. Importers are thus caught unaware and spend time processing documents required. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development is currently working on finalising their website on which such information can be accessed. Also a brochure containing such information is currently being worked on. The Permits office offers advice to clients on walk in basis. |
|
|
NTB-000-139 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-27 |
Malawi: Ministry of Trade |
South Africa |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Malawi controls quantities of imported wheat |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Malawi reported that there is no quantitative control of wheat |
|
|
NTB-000-153 |
1.1. Export subsidies B41: TBT regulations on production processes |
2009-07-27 |
Mauritius: Ministry of Trade |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Mauritius have refused to buy beer from Tanzania on TBT grounds |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Mauritius reported that this is no longer obtaining |
|
|
NTB-000-208 |
2.14. Other |
2009-07-27 |
Malawi: Malawi Revenue Authority |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Requirement by the Malawian authorities for SGS certification. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Malawi reported that the programme phased out in 2006 |
|
|
NTB-000-194 |
2.2. Arbitrary customs classification |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Industry & Commerce |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2011-03-01 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
The Zimbabwe tariff regime has a wide dispersion of import duty rates across the harmonised System. Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and importers are often engaged in disputes over which tariff code to classify certain commodities. Where two tariff codes appear similar, ZIMRA officials would want to maximize revenue and classify commodities according the high revenue earning tariff. At the same time, importers classify commodities according to the lowest tariff rates in order to minimize costs. These tariff classification disputes act as a non tariff barrier which can delay the clearing of goods. Valuation of goods is done by senior Customs (ZIMRA) Officers who are not always available thus causing further delays. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that Clear tariff resolution structures are in place. These start from station level up to National level. Importers of goods may escalate the disputes to Fiscal courts and ZIMRA may also seek the assistance of WCO tariff rulings. |
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