Resolved complaints

Showing items 221 to 240 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-000-175 1.1. Export subsidies
B6: Product identity requirement
2009-07-27 Zambia: Bureau of Standards Malawi Resolved
2011-03-04
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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-000-175 1.1. Export subsidies
B6: Product identity requirement
2009-07-27 Zambia: Bureau of Standards Malawi Resolved
2011-03-04
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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-000-270 1.1. Export subsidies
A9: SPS measures n.e.s.
2009-09-08 Zambia: Ministry of Agriculture Namibia Resolved
2011-03-04
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Complaint: Issuance of Phytosanitary Certificates by Zambian Authorities on exports of molasses, from Zambia, is too slow.  
Resolution status note: Zambia reported that for molasses, the issuance is almost instant as this by product is not fumigated.  
NTB-000-386 1.1. Export subsidies
A83: Certification requirement
Policy/Regulatory
2010-10-15 Zambia: Ministry of Health Tanzania Resolved
2011-05-23
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Complaint: The Ministry of health in Zambia issued a notice under Food and Drugs Act Cap 303 of the Laws of Zambia for all importers of food products into Zambia and those transiting to other countries to obtain Health insuarance certificates. All transit trucks loaded with food stuff and beverarages must obtain this permit which is only issued in Lusaka and takes upto 10 days. This short notice has resulted in all the trucks carrying this kind of cargo getting stuck in Nakonde adding to more delays than what already being experienced at Nakonde . What is odd is that why should transit trucks have to obtain these permits ? Can something be done about this urgently to avoid huge pile ups of trucks at Nakonde please ?  
Resolution status note: Zambia reported that there is no Health insurance certificates but health clearance certificate under cap 303 and this requirement has always been there except Nakonde border post previously was operating without following these requirements until recently when they are working towards normalizing its operations.
These certificates are only issued in Lusaka but efforts are being made to build capacity at provincial levels so that the system can be decentralized. This is in the plan for this year, 2011.
 
NTB-000-204 1.1. Export subsidies
B41: TBT regulations on production processes
2009-07-27 SADC Zimbabwe Resolved
2010-11-22
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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  
NTB-000-177 1.1. Export subsidies
A11: Prohibitions for sanitary and phytosanitary reasons
2009-07-27 Malawi: Ministry of Trade South Africa Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: Ban on imports of fresh meat products from South Africa and Zimbabwe  
Resolution status note: Malawi reported that there is no ban on meat imports but licensing measures were introduced when there was an outbreak of foot and mouth and bird flu diseases  
NTB-000-179 1.1. Export subsidies
E313: Temporary prohibition, including suspension of issuance of licences
2009-07-27 Malawi: Ministry of Trade Malawi Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: Restriction on importation of Eggs of poultry, whether in shell, pulp or dried forms; eggs of wild birds  
Resolution status note: Malawi reported that there is no ban on meat imports but licensing measures were introduced when there was an outbreak of foot and mouth and bird flu diseases  
NTB-000-205 1.1. Export subsidies
A82: Testing requirement
2009-07-27 Malawi: Malawi Bureau of Standards Zimbabwe Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: Delays in obtaining approval of test reports  
Resolution status note: Malawi reported that the challenge had been noted by Government and measures are being taken to improve the procedures by the Standards Bureau  
NTB-000-207 1.1. Export subsidies
A84: Inspection requirement
2009-07-27 Malawi: Ministry of Trade Zimbabwe Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: Cumbersome export certification procedures. The delays in going through the inspection process and approval process which takes a minimum of three working days, can be costly to exporters particularly for perishables. the process is that the Malawian importer seeks approval from ITS Malawi for inspection. ITS Malawi notifies ITS head office, which is in South Africa. Head office instructs ITS Zimbabwe and gives them authority to carry out the inspection at the Malawian Company's expense.  
Resolution status note: Malawi reported that these procedures are no longer applicable, phased out with PSI in 2007  
NTB-000-153 1.1. Export subsidies
B41: TBT regulations on production processes
2009-07-27 Mauritius: Ministry of Trade Tanzania Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: Mauritius have refused to buy beer from Tanzania on TBT grounds  
Resolution status note: Mauritius reported that this is no longer obtaining  
NTB-000-206 1.1. Export subsidies
A82: Testing requirement
2009-07-27 Mozambique: Mozambique Bureau of Standards Zimbabwe Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: Delays in obtaining approval of test reports  
Resolution status note: Mozambique reported that , in Mozambique there are many laboratories with the specific subject to deal with such tests and under the various Ministries as well the Universities.  
NTB-000-076 1.1. Export subsidies
Policy/Regulatory
2009-07-23 South Africa: Ministry of Trade South Africa Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: South Africa offers a large number of export incentives for to promote locally produced exports.  
Resolution status note: South Africa reported that export incentives are offered to promote manufactured exports and exports in general  
NTB-000-078 1.1. Export subsidies
B41: TBT regulations on production processes
2009-07-23 South Africa: SANAS Angola Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: South Africa does not accept standards from other SADC Member States except SABS  
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-000-081 1.1. Export subsidies
B14: Authorization requirements for importing certain products
2009-07-23 South Africa: Ministry of Trade Tanzania Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: South Africa places adhoc requirements on the importation of perishable goods in the form of standards  
Resolution status note: Soth Africa reported that compulsory specifications for perishable goods are aimed at ensuring the health and safety of the consumer and fair trading practices. The relevant internationally recognised Codex Standards and Codes of Practice are used as a basis for these compulsory specifications. Documents from Codex are specifically referenced by the WTO-SPS Agreement.  
NTB-000-094 1.1. Export subsidies
B15: Authorization requirements for importers
2009-07-26 South Africa: Ministry of Trade Mauritius Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: Mauritian exports of canned Tuna are denied entry into South Africa because South Africa does not recognize Ministry of Fisheries in Mauritius as being the regulatory body even though product qualifies for EUR1 certificate and is exported to the EU  
Resolution status note: South Africa reported that all inspections are carried out according to the requirements of the compulsory specification for “The manufacture, production, processing and treatment of canned fish, canned marine molluscs and canned crustaceans”, and these inspections are non-discriminatory. Furthermore, rejections on products are not done by an individual but by a panel and it is important to note that FAI is accredited by SANAS to the requirements of ISO 17020 ( accreditation for inspection bodies)  
NTB-000-221 1.1. Export subsidies
B31: Labelling requirements
2009-07-28 South Africa: SANAS Zambia Resolved
2010-11-22
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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-000-369 1.1. Export subsidies
A84: Inspection requirement
Policy/Regulatory
2010-02-10 South Africa: Ministry of Agriculture Zambia Resolved
2011-11-22
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Complaint: South Africa is not facilitating inspection of production areas for issuance of PQPS certificate for exports of fruits to Zambia as per requirement by the Ministry of Agriculture in Zambia.  
Resolution status note: South Africa reported that Zambia needs to send information needed to evaluate their plant disease situation, legislation, standards and other requirements to the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries . PQPS certificates can not be issued if the above information is not known.  
NTB-000-369 1.1. Export subsidies
A84: Inspection requirement
Policy/Regulatory
2010-02-10 South Africa: Ministry of Agriculture Zambia Resolved
2011-11-22
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Complaint: South Africa is not facilitating inspection of production areas for issuance of PQPS certificate for exports of fruits to Zambia as per requirement by the Ministry of Agriculture in Zambia.  
Resolution status note: On 1 June 2011 , South Afric areported that Zambia was not able to send information needed to evaluate their plant disease situation, legislation, standards and other requirements. PQPS certificates can therefore not be issued if the above information is not known  
NTB-000-272 1.1. Export subsidies
A9: SPS measures n.e.s.
2009-09-08 Zambia: Other Zambia Namibia Resolved
2010-11-22
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Complaint: Issuing of Phytosanitary Certificates for exports of cotton cake to Namibia by Zambian Authorities is too slow.  
Resolution status note: Zambian reported that authorities process the above certificates as quickly as possible. The only time there is a delay is when the client does not have the right documentation, or has missing documentation  
NTB-000-394 1.1. Export subsidies
A84: Inspection requirement
Policy/Regulatory
2011-01-15 Angola: At the point of offloading. South Africa Resolved
2015-04-07
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Complaint: Ministry of Agriculture in Angola has implemented decree Nr 02/08. This decree requires the inspector to be present at the time of offloading, and to draw samples per load, line item and batch. As there are on average over 100 lines per container and more than one batch per line, this can result in as many as 300 samples being drawn per container. The remaining items will need to be placed in quarantine until testing is finalized and release given.
Given that on average 3 containers arrive in Luanda daily, more than 900 items from Shoprite alone will create a problem for the Lab. Their turn around time of 3 days will be impossible to maintain.
Many of the products are also time sensitive, which means that by the time final release is given, there may be very little shelf life left, if at all.
Then there is also the cost to consider. Sampling and testing is part and parcel of the business but taken to the extreme as is the case here, it becomes a very costly and ultimately damaging excercise both to the Business and the end consumer (reduced shelf life, less choice).

Suggestions:

1. Allow a South African authority (SABS, NRCS) to sample and inspect the goods before dispatching and issue a certificate against the findings, to accompany the load.

2. Allow Shoprite to send samples of the goods onboard via courier company so that the inspection can commence and thus be completed and the certificates issued by the time that the load arrives at the store level. The batch number can be verified by an independant body.
 
Resolution status note: On 7th April 2015, South Africa Focal Point reported that they had received confirmation from the complainant that NTB 394, reported by SA against Angola should be recorded as 'resolved' because what was complained about had not been enforced  
Products: 0401.10: Milk and cream of a fat content by weight of <= 1%, not concentrated nor containing added sugar or other sweetening matter and 1601.00: Sausages and similar products, of meat, offal or blood; food preparations based on these products  
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