Resolved complaints

Showing items 61 to 80 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-000-348 5.1. Quantitative restrictions 2010-02-09 Botswana: Ministry of Trade Botswana Resolved
2011-07-22
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Complaint: Botswana regulates importation and pricing of petroleum products  
Resolution status note: On 22 July 2011, Botswana reported that petroleum products are not regulated  
NTB-000-352 2.8. Lengthy and costly customs clearance procedures
Policy/Regulatory
2010-02-10 SADC Namibia Resolved
2011-11-10
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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-000-353 7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure 2010-02-10 SADC Namibia Resolved
2016-10-07
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Complaint: A truck legally loaded in Namibia may not be legally loaded in another SADC country due to lack of uniform loads and Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) standards in SADC. There is need to standardize the axle loads  
Resolution status note: FESARTA reported that this NTB was no longer in place  
NTB-000-355 8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees 2010-02-10 SADC Namibia Resolved
2012-06-15
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Complaint: Bond registration fees are excessively high in all SADC countries. Especially when cargo transits in two countries the bond registration fees become a constraint.  
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.
 
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-000-596 8.6. Vehicle standards
Policy/Regulatory
2013-06-19 Mozambique: Dondo , Beira Malawi Resolved
2014-11-20
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Complaint: Mozambique Police at Dondo, Beira have fined a Malawian truck belonging to ZAGAF Transport, truck number ZA8837/BN4273 because of the blue line on the colour of the trailer which is recorded as White in the blue book. White is the primary colour. The trailer has a small blue line and the police are demanding that this should be indicated in the blue book too. The blue book conforms to Malawi vehicle registration requirements where only the primary colour is indicated in the blue book.  
Resolution status note: On 20th November 2014, Malawi focal point reported that Malawi transporters were no longer experiencing this problem in Mozambique. This NTB was therefore resolved.  
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-000-070 2.10. Inadequate or unreasonable customs procedures and charges 2009-07-23 Lesotho: Maseru Bridge Lesotho Resolved
2011-07-28
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Complaint: VAT clearance procedures at the border posts are open to corruption.  
Resolution status note: The Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) reported that they have all the necessary measures to combat corruption for all customs procedures and there is a high intolerance for corruption as there is a Corruption Investigation Unit within the LRA. LRA are in the process of introducing an automated system.  
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-000-299 5.12. Export restraint arrangements
Policy/Regulatory
2009-09-09 Madagascar: Ministry of Trade Madagascar Resolved
2011-03-11
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Complaint: Government imposes export constraints on the exportation of wood  
Resolution status note: This is a measure to safeguard the environment. The elimination of non-tariff barriers will be done gradually.
 
NTB-000-300 5.12. Export restraint arrangements
Policy/Regulatory
2009-09-09 Madagascar: Ministry of Trade Madagascar Resolved
2010-07-26
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Complaint: Government imposes export constraints on the exportation of wood  
NTB-000-301 5.3. Export taxes
Policy/Regulatory
2009-09-09 Madagascar: Department of Customs Madagascar Resolved
2010-07-26
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Complaint: Royalty levy of 1,5% is charged exports of transformed wood  
Resolution status note: This is a measure to safeguard the environment. The elimination of non-tariff barriers will be done gradually.
 
NTB-000-192 7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure
Policy/Regulatory
2009-07-27 Mozambique: Beira Port Malawi Resolved
2011-09-23
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Complaint: Inefficient loading and unloading facilities at Nacala and Beira ports in Mozambique resulting in time delays and occasionally additional warehousing costs.  
Resolution status note: In consultations with the Beira Port Authorities, namely, Cornelder, on the 22nd of September 2011, at the Beira Port, Cornelder informed that indeed during the dredging process the Beira port faced a lot of delays but that aspect has been overcome now that the dredging process is over.  
NTB-000-186 7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure 2009-07-27 Mozambique: Beira Port Malawi Resolved
2012-04-26
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Complaint: Poor infrastructure. Many delays at Beira and Nacala docks due to heavy traffic and no security available  
Resolution status note: 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.  
NTB-000-339 2.13. Issues related to Pre-Shipment Inspections
Policy/Regulatory
2009-12-10 Mozambique: Mozambique Customs Mozambique Resolved
2010-07-28
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Complaint: Importers of medicine experience delays in clearance because pre-inspection certificates are not issued on time.  
NTB-000-350 7.6. Lack of information on procedures (or changes thereof) 2010-02-10 Mozambique: Ministry of Trade Mozambique Resolved
2011-06-08
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Complaint: Mozambique private sector do not have information regarding tariffs obtaining in the SADC FTA. They are also not conversant with the SADC certificate of origin  
Resolution status note: Mozambique, reported that there exists a confederation of association of the private sector (CTA) in which there is a working group that deals with customs matters, which participates in all meetings and events related to the subject.  
NTB-000-372 7.1. Arbitrariness
Policy/Regulatory
2010-02-10 Mozambique: Beira Port Zambia Resolved
2011-08-23
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Complaint: Beira port authority arbitrarily assign security escort for randomly selected containers and charge US$150 without the knowledge of the importer.  
Resolution status note: During the 8th meeting of the SADC Sub Committee on Trade Facilitation ,Mozambique reported that the US$150 is a scanning charge gazette and information available to port users. Security is not assigned arbitrarily.  
NTB-000-372 7.1. Arbitrariness
Policy/Regulatory
2010-02-10 Mozambique: Beira Port Zambia Resolved
2011-08-23
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Complaint: Beira port authority arbitrarily assign security escort for randomly selected containers and charge US$150 without the knowledge of the importer.  
Resolution status note: Mozambique advised that consultations with the CORNELDER - the Company responsible for the Beira Port had been completed and that the issue had been resolved  
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