Non-Tariff Barriers

Complaint

Complaint number

NTB-000-785  

NTB Type

8.8. Issues related to transit  

Complaint

Haphazard breaking of seals at Beitbridge Border without any proof of authentication. Customs officials are breaking the transit cargo seals on the containers and merely crossing out the seal on the manifest and replacing it with the temporary seal. This has severe implications as these containers have already been fumigated and opening the container compromises the fumigation process and leaves the load susceptible to tobacco beetle cross infestation at the border. As there is no authenticity/customer number/stamp endorsing the seal change it means that anyone could have tampered with the cargo on route and this possess another issue with our customers in the USA as it contravenes their anti terrorism procedures . There was legislation passed by ZIMRA in terms of SI 113 of 2017, the Customs and Excise (General) Regulations, SI 154 of 2001, Section 60 that states no seals should be opened in transit through Zimbabwe in order to improve the management of transit cargo. This new legislation needs to be passed on to the officials at Beitbridge (Zimbabwe side)as they are still breaking seals at the border.  

Status note

During the meeting of the NTBs Focal Points held on 19-21 August 2019, Zimbabwe Focal Point confirmed the ZIMRA report below that, transit trucks which are picked by the system for Physical Examination (P/E) are referred to the container depot for P/E. The majority of these trucks are P/E waived.
 Where a physical examination is conducted broken seals are replaced and the replacing seals are endorsed on the manifest and the office stamps and signs.
 The above is the same procedure on both imports and exports.
 Where trucks are not referred for P/E the trucks are either escorted or sealed with electronic seals.
 When trucks are escorted no seals are broken.
 There are instances when the container has seals on all openings and ZIMRA break the other seal in order to place their electronic seal. In such a case appropriate endorsement is made on the manifest.
 There could be some cases probably where officers have not done this hence the complaint from the client. ZIMRA however does not have a point of reference since a particular case has not been cited.
 ZIMRA management have reminded all officers to ensure that whenever a seal is broken the appropriate endorsement is be done.  

Progress update note

 

Policy or regulatory NTB

No 

Location

Zimbabwe: Beitbridge (Border post)  

Reporting Country or Region

 

Country specific trade issue

No  

Date of incident

2017-10-25  

Status

Resolved  

Date of resolution

2019-08-21  

Product Description

Computer-assisted translation

• English
• Arabic
• French
• Portuguese

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Total value

150.00  

Date reported

2017-10-26 15:18  

Modified

2019-08-21 20:54