| Complaint number |
NTB Type
|
Date of incident |
Location |
Reporting country or region (additional) |
Status |
Actions |
|
NTB-000-202 |
7.6. Lack of information on procedures (or changes thereof) |
2009-07-27 |
Botswana: Botswana Bureau of Standards |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Difficulty in getting copies of relevant Standards |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Botswana reported that Botswana standards are accessible and available through Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS). ISO, EN, BS and other standards from SADC member states and other regions are obtainable through BOBS. Anyone can access or obtain standards through BOBS at a fee. |
|
|
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-000-251 |
7.6. Lack of information on procedures (or changes thereof) |
2009-09-08 |
Namibia: Namibia Revenue Authority |
Namibia |
Resolved
2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Customs documentation not stamped on export of pharmaceuticals to RSA, Angola and Botswana,is left behind and delivered late resulting in late claim or no claim of VAT. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Namibia reported that, procedurally no parcels are allowed to leave the Border with out the accompanying documentation. The same procedures are expected to apply at the border of the receiving country otherwise the items cannot be cleared |
|
|
NTB-000-203 |
7.6. Lack of information on procedures (or changes thereof) |
2009-07-27 |
Mozambique: Mozambique Bureau of Standards |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2010-11-22 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Difficulty in getting copies of relevant Standards |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Mozambique reported that the question reported that INNOQ ( Mozambique national Institute of standards) there are many many – Brochures for the relevant standards |
|
|
NTB-000-533 |
7.6. Lack of information on procedures (or changes thereof) |
2012-09-24 |
Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2013-06-30 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
We are importing fuel tankers from South Africa to Zambia. The trailers are SA Registered (Valid licence and Registration Plates - deregistered once in Zambia). The Truck Tractors are from our Zambian Fleet. On arrival at Beit Bridge, the documents are accepted by ZIMRA as trailers being exported to Zambia, drawn on their own wheels, in transit across Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls. The act of exporting the trailers on their own wheels is thus condoned by ZIMRA at Beit Bridge.
When we get to Victoria Falls, we are then told by ZIMRA that exported motorised vehicles must be carried on the back of a flat deck trailer. A statutory instrument is eluded to, but we have yet to see this.
Our arguement is as follows. The trailers have valid registrations and licences (not to mention all the Police Clearances for export), they are not motorised (self propelled), ZIMRA Beit Bridge has condoned the export on wheels and we are actually presenting ourselves at Vic Falls and have not disappeared with the units illegally into Zimbabwe.
Placing these units on flat decks is prohibitively expensive. We are not transporting imported cars from overseas that are deregistered and for which we understand the need to be transported whilst in transit across Zimbabwe on a flat deck etc.
There is no clear statutory instrument that we have seen on exports of this nature eg licenced trailers |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
On 30 June 2013, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority reported that the treatment by Beitbridge to allow the trailers on their wheels when transiting through Zimbabwe for re-exports to Zambia was the correct treatment. The legislation on movement of goods in transit through Zimbabwe is in terms of Section 234(3) of the Zimbabwe Customs and Excise Act (Chapter 23:02) which reads "Where the goods in transit concerned are motor vehicles, no such motor vehicle shall be driven on any road in Zimbabwe but shall be transported on a long-haul motor vehicle carrier". This requirement was inserted by Act 3 of 2010 and was with effect from 1 November 2010. The requirement only affects motor vehicles and does not affect trailers as they cannot be driven but are rather pulled by mechanical horses. This interpretation had been discussed with the Station Manager Victoria Falls who shared the same view and assured that there would be no issues raised in this regard on trailers being re-exported to Zambia. |
|
|
NTB-000-172 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-27 |
Malawi: Dedza |
Malawi |
Resolved
2016-08-24 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
cumbersome and bureaucratic delays encountered in the processing of documentation and clearing of goods at the border posts. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Malawi reported that she had established trade facilitation tools e.g. Development of OSBPs with Zambia,( Muchinji/Mwami) and Tanzania. Draft agreements have been Mozambique and Malawi were now awaiting Official signing at Ministerial level. Malawi has also developed a one stop Malawi Trade portal with all legal regulations and procedures for all institutions in Malawi that deal with trade in goods. All trade and business related forms and procedures for the respective institutions can be dowloaded from the trade portal. |
|
|
NTB-000-199 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Revenue Authority |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2011-06-09 |
View |
|
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-000-149 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-27 |
Tanzania: Tanzania Revenue Authority |
Tanzania |
Resolved
2011-07-28 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Despite efforts to improve the situation, customs procedures in Tanzania are cumbersome. In most cases, depending on the type of product, there is a long verification chain that involves many steps and numerous documents have to be handled/exchanged in the process of importing. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Tanzania Revenue Authority reported that all customs documentation are now obtained and processed online. Traders engage Clearing Agents for clearing goods who obtain all documents online. |
|
|
NTB-000-132 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures
Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-26 |
South Africa: South Africa Revenue Services |
Eswatini |
Resolved
2012-04-26 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
South Africa is charging a fine of E1000.0 per set of customs documents for documents not acquitted within a month. |
|
|
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 this is a standing transit regulation. Swaziland and South Africa agreed that South Africa would provide the regulation for distribution to stakeholders. It was therefore resolved that the NTB be considered resolved. |
|
|
NTB-000-374 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2010-02-10 |
COMESA |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved
2019-10-12 |
View |
|
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-000-120 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
Seychelles: Ministry of Trade |
Seychelles |
Resolved
2010-07-29 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
The administrative procedures for issuing import licences require improved efficiency |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Seychelles reported that Infrastructural and human resources limitations being addressed |
|
|
NTB-000-356 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2010-02-10 |
Tanzania: Tanzania Revenue Authority |
Tanzania |
Resolved
2011-07-28 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Customs officers arbitrarily verify goods in transit at various check points and break seals for 100% physical verification leading to delays, breakages for goods thinly packed in the container etc. Customs could communicate with the next customs point at the border for verification to avoid 100% verification along the way. In some instances, the verification would have taken place at the point of loading the goods. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Tanzania Revenue Authority reported that there are only two check points in Misubusubu and at Makambako to check only the if truck abides by transit time and transit route. TRA does not break any seals. If any seal is tempered with transporter is supposed to notify TRA office, transit check point or the nearest police station. All transit check points are automated under asycuda so they can be monitored in the system. TRA is in the process of acquiring electronic cargo tracking system hence check points will go away. |
|
|
NTB-000-352 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures
Policy/Regulatory |
2010-02-10 |
SADC |
Namibia |
Resolved
2011-11-10 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
The cabotage law applied by SADC Member states contributes to high transport costs. The law does not allow an empty truck to carry back a load from a third country. For example, a South African truck dropping off a load in Namibia cannot pick up a load in Namibia destined for Botswana even though this truck is using trans Kalahari Highway linking the two countries |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
SADC secretariat responded that : the customs term cabotage as stated in Specific Annex E, Chapter 3 of the revised Kyoto Convention, is applied for imported goods that have not been declared under the condition that they must be transported in a vessel other than the importing vessel in which they arrived in the Customs territory are loaded on board a vessel at a place in the Customs territory and are transported to another place in the same Customs territory where they are then unloaded and cleared. The term can also be used for the same purposes for air transportation (domestic flights).
Looking to the complaint technically, one of the SADC Secretariat key objectives is to reduce the costs of doing business in the region. However, some interventions of the Secretariat are bounded by its regional economic integration process. SADC is currently a FTA among its 11 Member States, enabling goods originating in Member States applying the FTA to enter duty free and quota free under certain conditions stated in the SADC Protocol on Trade. For this economic activity, economic operators are not obliged to be registered as economic operators in the countries were goods are delivered. A deeper regional economic integration would be needed in order to allow foreign economic operators to engage in business activities in Member States, benefiting from local business opportunities but also fiscal obligations. This is a level of economic integration closer to common market and which unfortunately, the SADC Protocol on Trade does not provide for. |
|
|
NTB-000-328 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures
Policy/Regulatory |
2009-09-09 |
Eswatini: Revenue Authority |
Eswatini |
Resolved
2011-06-06 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
The customs declaration system linking Swaziland Borders is not automated. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
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. |
|
|
NTB-000-121 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
Seychelles: Customs |
Eswatini |
Resolved
2011-06-03 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
There is total lack of consistency in the application of customs procedures at all clearing offices. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Seychelles reportd that the situation has much improved with ASYCUDA++ |
|
|
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-000-230 |
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. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Namibia reported that the Ministry of Finance have so far appointed 61 entry level staff and interviews are still ongoing senior positions up to April 2011
|
|
|
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-000-092 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
Tanzania: Dar-es-Salaam Port |
Mauritius |
Resolved
2011-05-23 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
Tanzania demands pre-shipment inspection for exports from Mauritius. The lack of appointed inspection company in Mauritius makes abiding to the requirements of pre-inspection difficult. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
Tanzania reported that there is no pre-shipment inspection for exports from Mauritius. |
|
|
NTB-000-090 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-26 |
South Africa: SouthAfrica Revenue Services |
Mauritius |
Resolved
2011-03-09 |
View |
|
Complaint:
|
There are delays in VAT refunds for Mauritian importers of South African goods. It is also not clear whether the VAT refunds re only for those companies that use South African imports. |
|
|
Resolution status note:
|
South Africa reported that this is no longer existing |
|
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