| Complaint number |
NTB Type
|
Date of incident |
Location |
Reporting country or region (additional) |
Status |
Actions |
|
NTB-000-175 |
1.1. Export subsidies
B6: Product identity requirement |
2009-07-27 |
Zambia: Bureau of Standards |
Malawi |
Resolved
2011-03-04 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Zambia has placed standards requirements that sugar from Malawi be fortified with Vitamin A. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zambia reported that all sugar for domestic consumption, be it imported or manufactured locally is supposed to be fortified with vitamin A. |
|
|
NTB-000-142 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Industry and Commerce |
South Africa |
Resolved
2011-06-09 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Zimbabwe imposes restrictions on imports of maize meal |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that there are no more quotas on importation of mealie-meal .Anyone .i.e individuals or companies can import any quantity as long as all the requirements are met. |
|
|
NTB-000-142 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Industry and Commerce |
South Africa |
Resolved
2011-06-09 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Zimbabwe imposes restrictions on imports of maize meal |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that there are no more quotas on importation of mealie-meal .Anyone .i.e individuals or companies can import any quantity as long as all the requirements are met. |
|
|
NTB-000-143 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Industry and Commerce |
South Africa |
Resolved
2011-03-04 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Zimbabwe imposes import restrictions on flour |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that there are no more quotas on importation of flour .Anyone .i.e individuals or companies can import any quantity as long as all the requirements are met. |
|
|
NTB-000-144 |
1.8. Import bans |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Industry & Commerce |
South Africa |
Resolved
2011-03-04 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
An import ban has been put in place for poultry products |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that the ban has since been lifted on poultry and its products. |
|
|
NTB-000-145 |
2.7. International taxes and charges levied on imports and other tariff measures |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Agriculture |
South Africa |
Resolved
2011-06-09 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
A 10% import levy is imposed on all agricultural products. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that import levy has been suspended on all basic commodities most of which are agricultural in nature. |
|
|
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-000-189 |
2.11. Lack of control in Customs infrastructure |
2009-07-27 |
South Africa: Beit Bridge |
Malawi |
Resolved
2012-04-26 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Pilferage of goods and the opening of sealed containers at the South African side of the Beitbridge border post |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
At the 3rd meeting the Tripartite NTBs Focal Points and NMC Chairs held in Dar -es-Salaam on 19-20 April 2012,South Africa reported that they would consult SARS to provide an explanation of how the border process works and on measures put in place to prevent the incident re-occurring. Once this information was received from SARS, it wiould be uploaded to the online system. It was therefore agreed to have this NTB resolved as this could have been a once off incident. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
NTB-000-195 |
2.10. Inadequate or unreasonable customs procedures and charges |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Revenue Authority |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2011-03-01 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
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 an office specifically dealing with valuation matters is now in place at Beitbridge and is headed by a senior officer. |
|
|
NTB-000-196 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin
Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-27 |
SADC |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2011-11-10 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Delays in communicating signatories that verify certificates of origin. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
SADC Secretariat reported that,in accordance to rule 9 of Annex I of the SADC Protocol on Trade, “Member States shall deposit with the Secretariat the names of Departments and Agencies authorized to issue the certificates required […],specimen signatures of officials authorized to sign the certificates and the impressions of the official stamps to be used for that purpose, and those shall be circulated to Member States by the Secretariat.” SADC Secretariat circulates all the documentary evidence to Member States immediately upon receipt. In addition, the SADC Customs Unit is working in a user-friendly customs related link in the SADC Secretariat’s website to accommodate not only issues related to documentary evidence for the processing of SADC RoO, but also all the binding documentation that enhances trade in the Region. |
|
|
NTB-000-200 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Trade |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2010-07-30 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Licences for importing cooking oil are only issued in times of shortages. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that trade in cooking oil has been liberalised. This requirement is no longer obtaining. |
|
|
NTB-000-209 |
3. Technical barriers to trade (TBT)
B33: Packaging requirements |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Health |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2011-06-10 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
The health and phytosanitary regulations states that, "no person shall import into Zimbabwe any bottle, can, jar or other receptacle which has been used solely for storing or transporting honey or unprocessed royal jelly which honey or jelly was manufactured or produced in any country other than a specified[1] country unless such bottle, can jar or other receptacle has been sterilized after such use. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zimbabwe reported that regulations were put in place to protect the environment. |
|
|
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-000-211 |
2.4. Import licensing |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Agriculture |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2013-05-23 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Restrictions on agricultural goods. Some officials at the border posts are not fully aware of the implications and objectives of requiring permits for agriculture. Thus some consignments are allowed to be imported without import permits.Issuing of permits is centralized to Ministry of Agriculture Head Office, in Harare which is costly and inconvenient for those living out of Harare |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
At the 10th meeting of the SADC Sub Committee on Trade Facilitation held on 14-15 June 2012, Zimbabwe reported that it was working towards decentralization of issuance of permits. The process was already ongoing and some towns had already been given authority to issue permits.
At their 11th meeting held on 23 may 2013 in Gaborone, SADC Committee on Trade Facilitation noted that draft legislation has been developed and therefore this NTB could be marked resolved since it is receiving appropriate attention to improve the issuance of permits |
|
|
NTB-000-215 |
2.4. Import licensing |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Trade |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2010-07-30 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Cooking oil can only be exported after obtaining a license from the Ministry of Industry and International trade |
|
|
NTB-000-150 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin |
2009-07-27 |
Kenya: Kenya Revenue Authority |
Tanzania |
Resolved
2011-08-29 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
In some instances, Kenya customs demands that Tanzania exporters wishing to pernetrate the Kenyan market have to produce an EA certificate of origin or alternatively an international certificate of origin. An EA certificate of origin does not exist yet, since the EA countries are using the COMESA certificate of origin until they develope their own. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
At the NMC meeting held in Naifrobi on 29 August 2011, Kenya reported that there is an EAC certificate of origin currently issued by Confederation of Tanzania Industries (CTI) . |
|
|
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-000-146 |
1.8. Import bans |
2009-07-27 |
Rwanda: Ministry of Agriculture |
Rwanda |
Resolved
2010-07-30 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
An import ban on wheat flour has been imposed |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Rwanda reported that the issue was resolved internally |
|
|
NTB-000-204 |
1.1. Export subsidies
B41: TBT regulations on production processes |
2009-07-27 |
SADC |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Non recognition given of ZIMBABWE standards as having equivalent outcomes by SADC countries Authorities |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
SADC Secretariat advised that there is no obligation for any country to recognize another country’s national standard in SADC. However if a standard has been harmonized at regional level, all SADC countries are expected to adopt and recognize that standard. Many national standards bodies adopt international standards as their national standards. It would be highly unusual and unexpected for one country not to recognize a national standard - which is an adoption of an international standard - of a second country |
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