| Complaint number |
NTB Type
|
Date of incident |
Location |
Reporting country or region (additional) |
Status |
Actions |
|
NTB-000-230 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-28 |
Namibia: Namibia Revenue Authority |
Namibia |
Resolved
2011-03-09 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Border delays due to documentation and customs procedures. |
|
|
NTB-000-219 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin |
2009-07-28 |
South Africa: South Africa Revenue Services |
Zambia |
Resolved
2010-07-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
SARS is issuing a blue colour SADC certificate of origin with wrong specifications instead of the approved Yellow certificate which is in accordance to the SADC specifications. Zambia Revenue Authority has rejected the blue certificates and demanded that Zambian importers pay full duties as deposits in order to clear their cargo which would have qualified under the SADC rules of origin had a proper certificate been issued. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
South Afric areported that SARS corrected the anomally and are noiw issuing correct colour certificate of origin |
|
|
NTB-000-228 |
5.3. Export taxes |
2009-07-28 |
South Africa: Ministry of Trade |
Botswana |
Resolved
2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
In South Africa, Minister can impose export tax under the Livestock and meat industries Act |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
South Africa reported that this act is in Botswana not SA. SA has an ‘Animal Health Act and the Meat Safety Act’, there are no export taxes under this act. |
|
|
NTB-000-225 |
8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees
Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-28 |
Zambia: Zambia Revenue Authority |
Zambia |
Resolved
2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
An Escort fee of either K900 000.00 or K800 000.00 depending on the route is charged. The escort charge covers the expenses for the customs officials who accompany the commercial transit traffic from port of entry to port of exit. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zambia reported that, under normal circumstances, Customs officers do not accompany commercial transit traffic. If motor vehicles such as trucks need to be escorted they use private escorts who charge them accordingly. These are purely private commercial arrangements between transporters and private escorters. However, if such goods in transit are deemed risky by Customs Officers, then Customs Officers would escort such trucks/vehicles. In such cases, the Zambian law requires that an escort fee be paid to Customs Officers by the transporter, and the fee is dependent on the distance to be covered |
|
|
NTB-000-223 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-28 |
Zambia: Ministry of Trade |
Zambia |
Resolved
2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Restricted importation of fruits and vegetables |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zambia reported that she does not restrict the importation of fruits and vegetables as long as they fulfill the necessary import requirements. |
|
|
NTB-000-220 |
2.2. Arbitrary customs classification |
2009-07-28 |
Zambia: Zambia Revenue Authority |
Zambia |
Resolved
2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
The valuation of imported goods carried by Small cross border traders is not transparent. Customs officials rely on power to impound imported goods to make small scale cross border traders pay rather suspicious duties. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Zambia reported that she is using the WTO Customs Valuation procedure, and has an appeals mechanism to address complaints from the traders |
|
|
NTB-000-224 |
5.4. Quotas
Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-28 |
SADC |
Zambia |
Resolved
2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Import Quotas into SACU member states for sugar |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Botswana reported that this is a SACU wide policy decision. |
|
|
NTB-000-221 |
1.1. Export subsidies
B31: Labelling requirements |
2009-07-28 |
South Africa: SANAS |
Zambia |
Resolved
2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Restrictions of exports on account of standards and provision of user instructions in specified local languages.Restriction of coffee exports and exports of paste detergents to South Africa and Zimbabwe |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
South Africa reported that SADC is in the process of implementing the TBT annex and establishing the necessary regional institutions to create a regional accreditation system. Until the structures are developed and operational, South Africa will continue to request that products which are not accredited by recognized international accreditation bodies be retested by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). This exercise is not meant to deny SA trading counterpart’s access to the South African market, but simply to protect South African consumers. |
|
|
NTB-000-238 |
7.6. Lack of information on procedures (or changes thereof) |
2009-08-13 |
SADC |
Mozambique |
Resolved
2011-02-06 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Mozambique is experiencing difficulties using the NTBs online reporting system because it does not have a portuguese version. It is not enough to translate the user guide because users need to intract with the system itself. The secretariat should urgently look into this issue to enable Portuguese speaking countries to utilise the system. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Website has been translated into French and Portuguese languages |
|
|
NTB-000-248 |
1.14. Lack of coordination between government institutions |
2009-09-08 |
Namibia: Ministry of Trade |
Namibia |
Resolved
2011-02-08 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
In Namibia the same information has to be provided and captured more than once in the import and export supply chain, e.g. Namport, Custom & Excise, MoF, MTI, NCCI, Carriers and Agents on imports of fuel from RSA. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
This NTB has been resolved |
|
|
NTB-000-292 |
2.10. Inadequate or unreasonable customs procedures and charges
Policy/Regulatory |
2009-09-08 |
SADC |
Namibia |
Resolved
2011-11-10 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Empty space on trucks cannot be utilized due to the 'Third Country' rules. This law should be abolished within SADC |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
SADC Secretariat reported that, reducing costs of doing business in the region is one of the key objectives of the SADC Secretariat. However, some interventions of the Secretariat are bound by its regional economic integration process. SADC FTA enables goods originating in Member States applying the FTA to enter duty free and quota free under provisions in the SADC Protocol on Trade. For this economic activity, economic operators are not obliged to be registered as economic operators in the countries where goods are delivered if only they are delivering goods. A deeper regional economic integration would be needed in order to allow foreign economic operators to engage in business activities in Member States, benefit from local business opportunities but also meeting fiscal obligations arising from such operations. This is a level of economic integration closer to common market and which forms SADC long term vision. |
|
|
NTB-000-246 |
7.7. Complex variety of documentation required |
2009-09-08 |
Namibia: Revenue Authority |
Namibia |
Resolved
2012-04-26 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Procedures for VAT (claim back) in Namibia are too complicated |
|
|
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, Namibia reported that customs only processess those refund applications accompanied by relevant documentation. The documents required are a completed NA66, a proof of export (SAD 500 that has been dully proceeded at the point of export) and the invoice that the goods have been obtained. This process was to verify that the goods are indeed obtained and exported. If any of these documents are outstanding customs has the right to refuse such payment.
The Ministry of Finance, Customs Division was in the process of reviewing customs procedures and once this exercise is finalized the revised procedures will be posted on the customs website and will be made available to the public. The meeting accepted Namibia’s submission to resolve this NTB |
|
|
NTB-000-263 |
1.14. Lack of coordination between government institutions |
2009-09-08 |
Namibia: Ministry of Trade |
Namibia |
Resolved
2012-04-26 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
There are no less than six ministries, the Namibian police, two Marketing Boards and a Statutory Board involved in the management of imports and exports. The onus is upon the applicant to collect all relevant permits/ certificates from line ministries and other bodies, before a commercial import/ export permit application can be made to MTI. For certain goods, up to three different points of control apply. |
|
|
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, Namibia reported that the Ministry of Trade and Industry would only require authorised or a clearance certificate when a client is importing or exporting a controlled product that needs verification to determine the value for tax purposes and subsequent issuance of the permit by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The meeting accepted Namibia’s submission to resolve this NTB |
|
|
NTB-000-279 |
5.6. Proportion restrictions of foreign to domestic goods (local content requirement)
Policy/Regulatory |
2009-09-08 |
Namibia: Ministry of Agriculture |
Namibia |
Resolved
2011-05-11 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
3% of the horticulture produce purchases in Namibia need to be locally sourced before any imports are allowed (as from October 2004) |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Namibia explained that this is a trade measure and not NTB. The resolution is that only 25% of all horticulture produce has to be sourced in Namibia; however, this figure is determined by the industry themselves. |
|
|
NTB-000-253 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-09-08 |
Angola: Ondjiva Customs |
Namibia |
Resolved
2011-11-30 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Clearance of goods by the Ondjiva customs at the Oshikango/Santa Clara border post is too time consuming (red tape/inefficient bureaucracy). |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
During the NTBs national workshop held in Angola on 30 November 2011, Angola reported that its Customs service underwent a structural reform and modernisation resulting in the simplification and harmonisation of customs procedures. Clearance of goods takes maximum 48 hours, if documentation is properly submitted. |
|
|
NTB-000-259 |
7.6. Lack of information on procedures (or changes thereof) |
2009-09-08 |
Angola: Ondjiva Customs |
Namibia |
Resolved
2011-11-30 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Angola effects random increases in excise duties without notifying traders in advance. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
During the NTBs national workshop held in Angola on 30 November 2011, it was reported that all tariffs and other related fees and charges are gazetted and therefore not charged in ad hoc manner. The Angola Tariff Book is published and available on Angola Customs website (www.alfandegas.gv.ao). |
|
|
NTB-000-252 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-09-08 |
Namibia: Revenue Authority |
Namibia |
Resolved
2011-05-11 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Customs Clearing process at the Oshikango/Santa Clara border is very long. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
The Ministry of Finance recruited 41 staff members as of January 2011 in an effort to clear up the Customs Clearance process. |
|
|
NTB-000-247 |
1.14. Lack of coordination between government institutions |
2009-09-08 |
Namibia: Ministry of Trade |
Namibia |
Resolved
2011-05-11 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
In Namibia the same information has to be provided and captured more than once in the import and export supply chain, e.g. Namport, Custom & Excise, MoF, MTI, NCCI, Carriers and Agents on imports of copper concentrate from DRC and RSA which becomes cumbersome. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Namibia reported that Copper is a controlled product that needs verification to determine the value for tax purposes and subsequent issuance of permit by he Ministry of Trade and Industry. |
|
|
NTB-000-249 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-09-08 |
Namibia: Ministry of Trade |
Namibia |
Resolved
2012-04-26 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
In Namibia the same information has to be provided and captured more than once in the import and export supply chain, e.g. Namport, Custom & Excise, MoF, MTI, NCCI, Carriers and Agents on exports of salt to West Africa and RSA,. |
|
|
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, Namibia reported that, a client can obtain an import or export permit in one hour at the Ministry of Trade and Industry if all the required documents are provided. With regard to the export permit the delay comes in when the product is a controlled product where the client is expected to obtain a clearance certificate from the relevant Ministry for tax purposes or when the importing country policies and regulations requires that the imported product be accompanied by authorised documents from the relevant authorities. The meeting accepted Namibia’s submission to resolve this NTB |
|
|
NTB-000-298 |
8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees |
2009-09-08 |
SADC |
Namibia |
Resolved
2012-06-15 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Bond registration fees are generally high in all SADC countries |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
The 10th meeting of SADC Committee on Trade facilitation held on 14-15 June 2012 noted that the issue of bonds is normally managed by private sector, mostly banks therefore commercial rates would prevail. It was also noted that
within the SADC Customs work programme, there is work to facilitate single transit bond, the result of which should be
ready by March 2013. This NTB was therefore considered resolved on grounds that bond registration fees are cahrged at market rates. |
|
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