| Complaint number |
NTB Type
Check allUncheck all |
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 |
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Complaint:
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Border delays due to documentation and customs procedures. |
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Resolution status note:
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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
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NTB-000-230 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-28 |
Namibia: Namibia Revenue Authority |
Namibia |
Resolved 2011-03-09 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Border delays due to documentation and customs procedures. |
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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 |
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Complaint:
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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. |
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Resolution status note:
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South Afric areported that SARS corrected the anomally and are noiw issuing correct colour certificate of origin |
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NTB-000-228 |
5.3. Export taxes |
2009-07-28 |
South Africa: Ministry of Trade |
Botswana |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
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Complaint:
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In South Africa, Minister can impose export tax under the Livestock and meat industries Act |
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Resolution status note:
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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. |
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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 |
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Complaint:
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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. |
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Resolution status note:
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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 |
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NTB-000-223 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-28 |
Zambia: Ministry of Trade |
Zambia |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Restricted importation of fruits and vegetables |
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Resolution status note:
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Zambia reported that she does not restrict the importation of fruits and vegetables as long as they fulfill the necessary import requirements. |
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NTB-000-220 |
2.2. Arbitrary customs classification |
2009-07-28 |
Zambia: Zambia Revenue Authority |
Zambia |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
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Complaint:
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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. |
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Resolution status note:
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Zambia reported that she is using the WTO Customs Valuation procedure, and has an appeals mechanism to address complaints from the traders |
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NTB-000-224 |
5.4. Quotas Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-28 |
SADC |
Zambia |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Import Quotas into SACU member states for sugar |
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Resolution status note:
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Botswana reported that this is a SACU wide policy decision. |
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NTB-000-221 |
1.1. Export subsidies B31: Labelling requirements |
2009-07-28 |
South Africa: SANAS |
Zambia |
Resolved 2010-11-22 |
View |
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Complaint:
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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 |
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Resolution status note:
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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. |
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NTB-000-172 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-27 |
Malawi: Dedza |
Malawi |
Resolved 2016-08-24 |
View |
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Complaint:
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cumbersome and bureaucratic delays encountered in the processing of documentation and clearing of goods at the border posts. |
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Resolution status note:
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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. |
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NTB-000-199 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Revenue Authority |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2011-06-09 |
View |
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Complaint:
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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. |
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Resolution status note:
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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 |
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NTB-000-149 |
2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures |
2009-07-27 |
Tanzania: Tanzania Revenue Authority |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2011-07-28 |
View |
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Complaint:
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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. |
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Resolution status note:
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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. |
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NTB-000-136 |
2.7. International taxes and charges levied on imports and other tariff measures Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-27 |
Botswana: Ministry of Agriculture |
South Africa |
Resolved 2012-05-03 |
View |
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Complaint:
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An import levy of 15% is charged on wheat flour |
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Resolution status note:
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Botswana reporte4d that she does not impose levy on wheat |
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NTB-000-136 |
2.7. International taxes and charges levied on imports and other tariff measures Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-27 |
Botswana: Ministry of Agriculture |
South Africa |
Resolved 2012-05-03 |
View |
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Complaint:
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An import levy of 15% is charged on wheat flour |
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Resolution status note:
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Botswana reported that she does not impose levy on wheat imports. Botswana is imposing the 15% levy on wheat flour.The wheat flour Levy was introduced in 2003, through the Control of Goods, Prices and other charges Act Chapter 43 section 8 Subsection 3 which restrict importation on wheat flour, thereby encouraging the protection of industries in Botswana. The ACt is still under review. The 15% levy is intended as protection for millers in Botswana and is also designed to support value addition. Consultations are in progress with relevant Ministry. Botswana indicated that resolution of this complaint is dependent on the results of the review of the “Control of Goods, Prices and Other Charges Act” which has been stalled pending the establishment of a National Body. A study to assess the relevance of the levy on wheat flour is still being planned. This NTB is of regulatory nature and therefore it is resolved that the NTB be transferred to section of 'Resolved NTBs of policy and regulatory nature' for further consideration. |
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NTB-000-216 |
8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees |
2009-07-27 |
SADC |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2016-10-07 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Toll fees variation within the region hampers smooth transit of goods. Toll fees should be rationalised. |
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Resolution status note:
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FESARTA reported that the NTB does not exist at present. |
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NTB-000-175 |
1.1. Export subsidies B6: Product identity requirement |
2009-07-27 |
Zambia: Bureau of Standards |
Malawi |
Resolved 2011-03-04 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Zambia has placed standards requirements that sugar from Malawi be fortified with Vitamin A. |
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Resolution status note:
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Zambia reported that all sugar for domestic consumption, be it imported or manufactured locally is supposed to be fortified with vitamin A.
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NTB-000-186 |
7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure |
2009-07-27 |
Mozambique: Beira Port |
Malawi |
Resolved 2012-04-26 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Poor infrastructure. Many delays at Beira and Nacala docks due to heavy traffic and no security available |
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Resolution status note:
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At the 3rd Tripartite NTBs Focal Point point meeting Malawi registered that the issue be resolved considering the submission from Mozambique that the delays, were as a result of procedural matters between the clearing agents and their respective clients and not the Beira Port authorities per se. |
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NTB-000-175 |
1.1. Export subsidies B6: Product identity requirement |
2009-07-27 |
Zambia: Bureau of Standards |
Malawi |
Resolved 2011-03-04 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Zambia has placed standards requirements that sugar from Malawi be fortified with Vitamin A. |
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Resolution status note:
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Zambia reported that all sugar for domestic consumption, be it imported or manufactured locally is supposed to be fortified with vitamin A. |
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NTB-000-168 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-27 |
Mauritius: Ministry of Trade |
Malawi |
Resolved 2012-03-30 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Import restrictions on sugar |
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Resolution status note:
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At the last NTB meeting in March 2011, Mauritius informed the meeting that import restrictions on sugar in Mauritius have been lifted |
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NTB-000-159 |
4.1. Issues related to sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures A83: Certification requirement |
2009-07-27 |
Tanzania: Ministry of Health |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2011-08-30 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Cumbersome certification procedures for certification of milk inputs.Certification officers are based in Dar es Salaam and going to Tunduma for verification is very cumbersome |
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Resolution status note:
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Tanzania Revenue Authority reported that TRA does random physical verification as part of risk management analysis before clearing mainly on textiles motor vehicles. |
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