Non-Tariff Barriers

Complaint

Complaint number

NTB-000-528  

NTB Type

8.1. Government Policy and regulations  

Complaint

This complaint is registered by FESARTA.
Port Health at Nyamapanda, Zimbabwe, has issued a notice to the effect that all goods transiting the border are to be inspected, from 10th September.
The inspection in itself is not a problem.
However, a charge is to be levied for this inspection. This is unacceptable.
Port Health is a government department, which has a duty to perform, in the course of its daily work.
This duty is part of Port Health's daily workload and it budgeted for from Central Government.
Health inspections are done in the interests of the country and are not asked for by the transporter.
There should be no extra charge for this.
What would happen if every government department charged citizens for carrying out their daily duties?  

Status note

During the meeting of COMESA Heads of Customs Sub- Committee held in Nairobi on 19-20 June 2015, Zimbabwe reported that the NTB was an internal control measure and what was required was sensitization of stakeholders on various import and export requirements. This was resolved at the 31st COMESA Trade and Customs Committee meeting held on 7-10 September 2015.  

Progress update note

1. During the meeting of COMESA Heads of Customs Sub- Committee held in Nairobi on 19-20 June 2015, Zimbabwe reported that the NTB was an internal control measure and what was required was sensitization of stakeholders on various import and export requirements. The decision of the meeting on this matter was not provided.

2. On 20th July 2013, the SADC Secretariat requested Zimbabwe Focal Point to provide a progress report on this issue. Response is still being awaited.

3. On 19 September 2013, Zimbabwe focal point reported that in their consultations with the Department of Environmental Health, Karoi on 26 September 2012, they were informed that the fees were stipulated in a government circular to charge these inspection fees. A copy of the circular issued by Karoi Office is attached to the response in the system.

Further, Ministry of Health and Child welfare reported that Zimbabwe laws spell out that all the food products or food imports and exports must be pre-shipment inspected so that they conform with national laws. Pre-shipment inspections are not done for free. They attract a charge. The Ministry is currently charging these fees. The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare is empowered to charge user fees along with other government departments. Government departments are not entitled to free services and whatever fees are charged must be receipted.

Inspections involve travelling, fuel, allowances, sampling and all these must be sustained by the employer. The charges are minimal, and users/stakeholders are encouraged to support government efforts to retain skills.  

Policy or regulatory NTB

Yes 

Location

Zimbabwe: Nyamapanda (Border post)  

Reporting Country or Region

Zimbabwe  

Country specific trade issue

No  

Date of incident

2012-09-10  

Status

Resolved  

Date of resolution

2015-06-10  

Product Description

All products

Computer-assisted translation

• English
• Arabic
• French
• Portuguese

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Total value

0  

Date reported

2012-09-13 12:58  

Modified

2016-08-24 17:19