Resolved complaints

Showing items 1 to 20 of 855
Complaint number NTB Type
Category 1. Government participation in trade & restrictive practices tolerated by governments
Category 2. Customs and administrative entry procedures
Category 5. Specific limitations
Category 6. Charges on imports
Category 7. Other procedural problems
Category 8. Transport, Clearing and Forwarding
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Date of incident Location
COMESA
EAC
SADC
Reporting country or region (additional)
COMESA
EAC
SADC
Status Actions
NTB-000-042 5.2. Exchange controls 2004-01-27 Zambia: Zambia Bureau of Standards Zimbabwe Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: TBT Exchange Rates  
NTB-000-061 8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees
Policy/Regulatory
2009-07-22 Zambia: Ministry of Transport Zimbabwe Resolved
2011-05-23
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Complaint: Zambia has increased its carbon tax and is now charging US$40 per trip instead of US$40 per annum  
Resolution status note: Zambia reported that she does not charge US$ 40 per trip but charges US$40 per every three (3) months and during that period payment is made only once regards less of how many trips are made until the three months expires.  
NTB-000-056 2.4. Import licensing 2009-02-09 Zambia: Ministry of Trade Zimbabwe Resolved
2011-03-04
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Complaint: Zimbabwe reported that Zambia is not issuing permits for the importaion of sterilized milk from Zimbabwe  
Resolution status note: Zambia reported that The Ban was lifted and reported during the COMESA Twenty Ninth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee – December, 2010  
NTB-000-199 2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures 2009-07-27 Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Revenue Authority Zimbabwe Resolved
2011-06-09
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Complaint: Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) machines are connected to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe which is linked through the internet to enable them to access approved copies of CDI forms. Serious delays are faced in processing the export documents because the systems are frequently down or unable to connect during working hours. The verification process by RBZ takes too long - up to 3 days.  
Resolution status note: Zimbabwe reported that there is fallback method in the event that the system is down. The CD1s are processed manually and are captured later in the excel spreadsheet which is then forwarded electronically to RBZ on weekly basis. There is therefore no delay in processing export documents  
NTB-000-182 5.1. Quantitative restrictions 2009-07-27 Malawi: Ministry of Trade Zimbabwe Resolved
2012-04-26
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Complaint: Restriction on importation of tobacco leaf from SADC countries  
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, Malawi submitted that importation of tobacco was not restricted. As a matter of fact Malawi imports tobacco from Tanzania Zambia for processing at Malawi companies. The tobacco is re-exported after processing. The meeting was also informed that the companies buying tobacco in the region are the same.  
NTB-000-216 8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees 2009-07-27 SADC Zimbabwe Resolved
2016-10-07
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Complaint: Toll fees variation within the region hampers smooth transit of goods. Toll fees should be rationalised.  
Resolution status note: FESARTA reported that the NTB does not exist at present.  
NTB-000-374 2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures 2010-02-10 COMESA Zimbabwe Resolved
2019-10-12
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Complaint: Lack of a SADC simplified trading regime hampers small traders from doing business with their SADC counterparts.  
Resolution status note: During the national Workshop to launch SMS tool for Zimbabwe and training on online system, held on 10- 12 October 2019, Zimbabwe reviewed all outstanding NTBs and reported that SADC had made progress in developing the SADC STR and therefore this resolves the issue.  
NTB-000-375 2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin 2010-02-10 SADC Zimbabwe Resolved
2011-11-10
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Complaint: There is lack of clarity and information on the authorities issuing and processing SADC certificates of origin in Member states.  
Resolution status note: SADC secretariat reported that : as stated in rule 9 of the 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 reception. Additionally, 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 process of SADC RoO, but also all the binding documentation that enhances trade in the Region.  
NTB-000-212 1.1. Export subsidies
A9: SPS measures n.e.s.
2009-07-27 Lesotho: Ministry of Trade Zimbabwe Resolved
2011-07-28
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Complaint: Unreasonable SPS requirements with no scientific basis or excessively averse to risk  
Resolution status note: Lesotho reported that the import license for agricultural products is required to ensure food safety and to prevent the spread of diseases and insects. It takes a day for a license to be issued, at the Department of Agriculture. Information on SPS requirements is readily available from the Department of Agriculture.  
NTB-000-213 1.1. Export subsidies
A14: Authorization requirement for sanitary and phytosanitary reasons for importing certain products
2009-07-27 Lesotho: Ministry of Agriculture Zimbabwe Resolved
2011-07-28
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Complaint: delays in getting SPS approvals  
Resolution status note: Lesotho reported that the import license for agricultural products is required to ensure food safety and to prevent the spread of diseases and insects. It takes one day for a license to be issued, at the Department of Agriculture. Information on SPS requirements is readily available from the Department of Agriculture  
NTB-000-214 1.1. Export subsidies
A9: SPS measures n.e.s.
2009-07-27 Lesotho: Ministry of Agriculture Zimbabwe Resolved
2011-07-28
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Complaint: Difficulty in accessing information onSPS requirements  
Resolution status note: During the workshop establishing NMC for Lesotho held on 09 August 2011 in Maseru, it was confirmed that information on SPS requirements is available from the Ministry of Agriculture and that arrangements are in place to upload this information onto the website of the TMinistry of Trade & Industry Cooperation & Marketing.  
NTB-000-381 7.1. Arbitrariness
Policy/Regulatory
2010-06-08 Mozambique: Posto Fiscal de Cobue Zimbabwe Resolved
2012-03-27
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Complaint: Mozambique police are charging fines to transporters although their Registration Books have been notarised by the Mozambique Embassy. Notarised Documents are acceptable throughout Mozambique except in other areas particularly the Beira region. Transporters from Malawi and Zimbabwe entering through Mulange/Muloza ; Forbes/Machipanda; Nyamapanda/Cuchamano; Dedza/Calomue and Mwanza/Zobue border posts are affected by these fines. Authorities in these corridors do not accept certified copies of the documents.  
Resolution status note: Mozambique reported that the Interior Ministry advised that the Road Traffic Code states that the circulation within Mozambican territory with a photocopied document is illegal. Article 42 ( 2) of the Road Traffic Code and Article 7 (2) of Decree no. 68/2008 of 30th December. The fine is set at 200,00 Mts and not 2000,00Mts as was reportedly charged.
2. In a meeting held between SADC secretariat and Mozambique focal [points on 19 September 2011, it was agreed that the SADC secretariat would facilitate consultations between reporting and imposing country on this matter.
3. On 27 March 2012, Mozambique reiterated its position that , the road code in Mozambique states clearly that the driving is subject to an original valid driving license only.

Certified copies of driving licenses are not allowed. Following NTB mission in September, 2011 this complain is resolved.
 
NTB-000-062 8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees
Policy/Regulatory
2009-07-22 Zambia: Ministry of Transport Zimbabwe Resolved
2011-02-05
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Complaint: Zambia is now demanding a carbon tax of US$40 per trip instead of the previously charged US$40 per annum.  
Resolution status note: Zambia does not charge US$ 40 per trip but charges US$40 per every three (3) months and during that period payment is made only once regards less of how many trips are made until the three months expires.  
NTB-000-194 2.2. Arbitrary customs classification 2009-07-27 Zimbabwe: Ministry of Industry & Commerce Zimbabwe Resolved
2011-03-01
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
 
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