Complaint number |
NTB Type
Check allUncheck all |
Date of incident |
Location |
Reporting country or region (additional) |
Status |
Actions |
NTB-000-129 |
2.10. Inadequate or unreasonable customs procedures and charges Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-26 |
Eswatini: Bordergate |
Botswana |
Resolved 2011-06-06 |
View |
Complaint:
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A total lack of consistency in the application of customs procedures at all clearing offices especially with regards to VAT. |
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Resolution status note:
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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. |
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NTB-000-128 |
2.10. Inadequate or unreasonable customs procedures and charges |
2009-07-26 |
Eswatini: Bordergate |
South Africa |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
Complaint:
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Lack of standardization in application of regulations, which currently differ per individual officer, per border post. |
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Resolution status note:
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Swaziland reported that Standards in application of procedures are in place. Where these are not clear officers may use discretion. This results in non uniformity. |
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NTB-000-127 |
1.3. State subsidies, procurement, trading, state ownership Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-26 |
Eswatini: NAMBOARD |
Eswatini |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
Complaint:
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Government owns several parastatals that carry out trade.NAMBOARD receives vegetables on consignment from farmers and sells in hotels etc. If the consignment spoils because it is not bought, the farmer loses. At the same time NAMBOARD issues out licences for importing of similar items to those it trades in. The products affected are maize, rice, wheat, fruits and vegetables, flour, poultry, animal feed. |
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Resolution status note:
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Swaziland reported that NAMBOARD issues import permits for vegetables and wheat as per the infant industry protection provision in the SACU 2002 Agreement. |
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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:
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Single channel marketing for sugar and sugar products. |
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Resolution status note:
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Swaziland reported that the status quo remains because the Sugar Act has not been reviewed. |
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NTB-000-125 |
7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-26 |
Seychelles: Port Victoria |
South Africa |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
Complaint:
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Some businesses complained that port handling facilities at the ports are unable to handle containers that exceed 6methers (20ft) thereby limiting exporters in implementing the most cost effective way of transporting their products. |
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Resolution status note:
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Seychelles reported that a new plan for handling of containers has been designed and is expected to ease the current burden in the handling of containers; however it is not too clear when the renovation project will kick start. |
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NTB-000-124 |
2.14. Other |
2009-07-26 |
SADC |
South Africa |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
Complaint:
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Training of new customs recruits in the region |
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Resolution status note:
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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. |
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NTB-000-123 |
7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure |
2009-07-26 |
Seychelles: Other Seychelles |
South Africa |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
Complaint:
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Inadequate cold room facilities at ports |
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Resolution status note:
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Seychelles reported that having adequate cold storage facility at airport and sea port is considered one future area of development. |
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NTB-000-122 |
2.7. International taxes and charges levied on imports and other tariff measures |
2009-07-26 |
Seychelles: Customs |
Seychelles |
Resolved 2011-06-03 |
View |
Complaint:
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Seychelles has recently imposed a levy on imports of pork and poultry products into that country |
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Resolution status note:
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Seychelles reported that this is no longer the case |
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NTB-000-121 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
Seychelles: Customs |
Eswatini |
Resolved 2011-06-03 |
View |
Complaint:
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There is total lack of consistency in the application of customs procedures at all clearing offices. |
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Resolution status note:
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Seychelles reportd that the situation has much improved with ASYCUDA++ |
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NTB-000-120 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
Seychelles: Ministry of Trade |
Seychelles |
Resolved 2010-07-29 |
View |
Complaint:
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The administrative procedures for issuing import licences require improved efficiency |
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Resolution status note:
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Seychelles reported that Infrastructural and human resources limitations being addressed |
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NTB-000-119 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
Seychelles: Other Seychelles |
Seychelles |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
Complaint:
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Lengthy clearing processes at the Seychelles ports. |
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Resolution status note:
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Seychelles reported that, with the Asycuda system the clearing process can take 24hrs, all transaction can be done on-line. Appointments were given to clear goods to facilitate work of custom officers and avoid congestion Need to confirm current situation |
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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:
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The State participates in trading through the Seychelles marketing Board. The State Trading Company has an unfair competitive advantage over private traders. |
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Resolution status note:
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Seychelles reported that SMB no longer in existence. Successor company STC privatised. |
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NTB-000-117 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-26 |
Kenya: Kenya Revenue Authority |
Mauritius |
Resolved 2011-07-28 |
View |
Complaint:
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Restrictive import permit imposed by Kenya for importation of bread flour. This has been in place for more than ten years now. |
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Products:
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1101.00: Wheat or meslin flour |
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NTB-000-116 |
8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees |
2009-07-26 |
Malawi: Ministry of Transport |
South Africa |
Resolved 2012-04-26 |
View |
Complaint:
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Malawi charges very high road leivies |
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Resolution status note:
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At the 3rd meeting the Tripartite NTBs Focal Points and NMC Chairs,Malawi reported that it was difficult to get further information from the complainant as this was uploaded before the online system allowed complainants to provide their contact details. However, Malawi would consult with the Ministry of Transport to gather all the transport related charges and upload them on the NTB website, for transparency. It was resolved that this NTB could not be processed for now until such time South Africa provides adequate information on the complaint. In the meantime, the NTB would be considered resolved, until the agreed information is made available. South Africa requested that the NTB be transffered to the section for resolved NTBs of policy and regulatory nature since the regulations are in place in Malawi. |
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NTB-000-115 |
8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-26 |
Botswana: Ministry of Transport |
South Africa |
Resolved 2011-01-10 |
View |
Complaint:
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Botswana charges very high road levies. |
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Resolution status note:
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Botswana reported that Botswana charges road levies on entry to Botswana at the border only. Road levies are used for road maintenance in Botswana, and are only paid once at entry point. |
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NTB-000-113 |
7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure |
2009-07-26 |
Tanzania: Dar-es-Salaam Port |
South Africa |
Resolved 2011-05-23 |
View |
Complaint:
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Periodic port congestion in Tanzania makes logistical planning near impossible , which impact negatively on perishable exports. |
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Resolution status note:
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Tanzania reported that by July 2010, the import container dwell time had been reduced to 10 days, ship waiting time from 13 days to 4 days and ship turnaround time from 19 days to 3 days. This improvement has been attributable to additional investment to increase handling capacity which involved reorganisation of the port area (additional capacity of 14,000 TEU's) and opening of new ICD (additional capacity of 10,000 TEU's). This is complimented by supportive tariff for ICD and punitive tariff for overstayed containers within the port. New customs procedures which include online submission of declarations and supporting documents, reduced percentage of physical verifications, partial submission of manifest all have contributed positively to reduce dwell time. Efforts are now geared towards implementing a single window port community system PCS TO FURTHER REDUCE CONTAINER DWELL TIME TO 5 DAYS.
Establishment of ICD was meant to create additional space of approximately 10,000 TEU's as pointed out earlier.
All transit containers were excluded in the process of being sent to ICD in order to reduce the inconvenience to the customers and also get rid of the double handling that would be created by sending the transit containers to ICD.
ICD are currently working as an extension of the port and hence monitoring of transit containers not sent to ICD will be easily monitored. Therefore this will not be subjected to any charges since all transit containers will be stationed at the port. |
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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:
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Work permits are required from consultants and business representatives even for one day visits. |
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NTB-000-108 |
7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure |
2009-07-26 |
Angola: Telecommunications Department |
South Africa |
Resolved 2011-11-30 |
View |
Complaint:
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Angola postal and delivery services are unrelaible |
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Resolution status note:
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During the NTB workshop held in Luanda on 30 November 2011, Angola reported that postal services have been improved significantly in the last few years. DHL, and other services are now available in post offices. The NTB is therefore resolved. |
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NTB-000-106 |
2.7. International taxes and charges levied on imports and other tariff measures |
2009-07-26 |
Eswatini: Ministry of Trade |
South Africa |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
Complaint:
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Swaziland imposed import levy for dairy products. |
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Resolution status note:
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Swaziland reported that there is an import levy on dairy products imposed and collected by Swaziland Dairy Board |
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NTB-000-105 |
2.7. International taxes and charges levied on imports and other tariff measures Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-26 |
Malawi: Malawi Revenue Authority |
South Africa |
Resolved 2012-04-26 |
View |
Complaint:
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Malawi imposed 20%surcharge on all imports of chicken and eggs. |
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Resolution status note:
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At the 3rd meeting the Tripartite NTBs Focal Points and NMC Chairs, Malawi reported that they are still charging the 20% excise duty as indicated by the complainant. They indicated that this is in their regulation and there are no indications that the situation might change soon. South Africa pointed out that this is a NTB and Malawi should endeavour to remove it. SA also requested Malawi to upload the regulation on the NTB website as a comment to this complaint, and post the relevant regulation on the website under “notifications”. It was therefore resolved that this NTB be transferred to the section for Resolved NTBs of regulatory nature for further consideration since no action can be taken immediately. |
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