Non-Tariff Barriers

Complaint

Complaint number

NTB-000-676  

NTB Type

2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin  

Complaint

The 2 stage transformation needed on clothing is too stringent as it stifles investment in manufacture of clothing due to economic reason and prices. Our company would want to invest in Bio organic fabrics. We invest in stock form India for knitted fabric jersey 100% but with this fabric we have issues to get the SADC certificate of origin as in the rules of origin it does not have 2 value added process. But we are a brand, we produce the garment here in Mauritius we do also the printing at our factory. Therefore there is two process, the cloth is cut here, and then printing.Please can our case be studied as we are a SME factory and for our survival we need to export to Africa. Can this case be study for the rules of origin be modified if the printing process is big part on the value of this product  

Status note

Mauritius recommends marking the complaint as resolved, based on the commitment to propose a review of the Rules of Origin during the upcoming TNF meeting. The current regulations lack the necessary flexibility, hindering their effective application. A review would enable Member States to address these challenges and enhance our collaborative efforts.  

Progress update note

1. During the 15th meeting of the SADC Subcommittee on Trade facilitation, the Secretariat reported that work is underway to review the Rules of origin. This matter was on the agenda of the next meeting on rules of origin for consideration.
2. On 7 July 2023, Mauritius Focal Point reported that Mauritius proposal is that negotiations would have to be undertaken on the review of the SADC rules of origin in order to have more flexible rules of origin for Textiles and Apparel under the SADC FTA
3. On 19 March 2024, Mauritius Focal Point recommended that more flexible rules of origin for apparel need to be negotiated at the level of SADC. A meeting on the review of the SADC rules of origin should be considered  

Policy or regulatory NTB

No 

Location

 

Reporting Country or Region

Mauritius  

Country specific trade issue

No  

Date of incident

2015-07-31  

Status

Resolved  

Date of resolution

2026-02-18  

Product Description

Clothing, Fabrics

Computer-assisted translation

• English
• Arabic
• French
• Portuguese

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Total value

5.20  

Date reported

2015-07-31 11:03  

Modified

2026-02-18 13:38