| Complaint number |
NTB Type
Check allUncheck all |
Date of incident |
Location |
Reporting country or region (additional) |
Status |
Actions |
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NTB-000-209 |
3. Technical barriers to trade (TBT) B33: Packaging requirements |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Health |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2011-06-10 |
View |
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Complaint:
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The health and phytosanitary regulations states that, "no person shall import into Zimbabwe any bottle, can, jar or other receptacle which has been used solely for storing or transporting honey or unprocessed royal jelly which honey or jelly was manufactured or produced in any country other than a specified[1] country unless such bottle, can jar or other receptacle has been sterilized after such use. |
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Resolution status note:
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Zimbabwe reported that regulations were put in place to protect the environment. |
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NTB-000-189 |
2.11. Lack of control in Customs infrastructure |
2009-07-27 |
South Africa: Beit Bridge |
Malawi |
Resolved 2012-04-26 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Pilferage of goods and the opening of sealed containers at the South African side of the Beitbridge border post |
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Resolution status note:
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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 they would consult SARS to provide an explanation of how the border process works and on measures put in place to prevent the incident re-occurring. Once this information was received from SARS, it wiould be uploaded to the online system. It was therefore agreed to have this NTB resolved as this could have been a once off incident. |
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NTB-000-171 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Trade |
Malawi |
Resolved 2010-07-30 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Rice has been turned back from Zimbabwe according to allegations of misuse on Rules of Origin. |
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NTB-000-200 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Trade |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2010-07-30 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Licences for importing cooking oil are only issued in times of shortages. |
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Resolution status note:
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Zimbabwe reported that trade in cooking oil has been liberalised. This requirement is no longer obtaining. |
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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 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Difficulty in accessing information onSPS requirements |
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Resolution status note:
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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. |
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NTB-000-163 |
2.4. Import licensing Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-27 |
Zambia: Ministry of Trade |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2011-03-04 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Licensing process just too long |
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Resolution status note:
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Zambia reported that the process only takes 24hours |
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NTB-000-182 |
5.1. Quantitative restrictions |
2009-07-27 |
Malawi: Ministry of Trade |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2012-04-26 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Restriction on importation of tobacco leaf from SADC countries |
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Resolution status note:
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At the 3rd meeting the Tripartite NTBs Focal Points and NMC Chairs held in Dar -es-Salaam on 19-20 April 2012, Malawi submitted that importation of tobacco was not restricted. As a matter of fact Malawi imports tobacco from Tanzania Zambia for processing at Malawi companies. The tobacco is re-exported after processing. The meeting was also informed that the companies buying tobacco in the region are the same. |
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NTB-000-145 |
2.7. International taxes and charges levied on imports and other tariff measures |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Agriculture |
South Africa |
Resolved 2011-06-09 |
View |
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Complaint:
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A 10% import levy is imposed on all agricultural products. |
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Resolution status note:
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Zimbabwe reported that import levy has been suspended on all basic commodities most of which are agricultural in nature. |
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NTB-000-158 |
1.1. Export subsidies A82: Testing requirement |
2009-07-27 |
Tanzania: Ministry of Agriculture |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2016-05-18 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Cumbersome procedures for , SPS certificates and the permits.The Ministry utilitises its own laboratories in Dar es Salaam with support from Tropical Pesticide Research Institute in Arusha which takes even more time. |
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Resolution status note:
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The procedures are being streamlined |
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NTB-000-196 |
2.3. Issues related to the rules of origin Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-27 |
SADC |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2011-11-10 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Delays in communicating signatories that verify certificates of origin. |
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Resolution status note:
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SADC Secretariat reported that,in accordance to rule 9 of 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 receipt. In addition, 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 processing of SADC RoO, but also all the binding documentation that enhances trade in the Region. |
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NTB-000-135 |
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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Botswana imposes ad- hoc import levies on fresh produce |
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Resolution status note:
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Botswana reported that the levies are no longer obtaining |
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NTB-000-135 |
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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Botswana imposes ad- hoc import levies on fresh produce |
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Resolution status note:
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Botswana indicated that she did not charge levies but closed borders whenever local produce was enough to supply local demand. The Ministry of Agriculture has advised that the dates for border closure and opening are set by a committee composed of traders and producers. The Ministry notes that sufficient time is allowed for traders to notify their external suppliers on time. While the study on Agricultural NTBs recommended gradual elimination of some NTBs, it recommended that others could only be eliminated after provision of adequate alternative support systems. 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-000-215 |
2.4. Import licensing |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Trade |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2010-07-30 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Cooking oil can only be exported after obtaining a license from the Ministry of Industry and International trade |
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NTB-000-162 |
8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees |
2009-07-27 |
Tanzania: Ministry of Transport |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2011-07-28 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Registration and accreditation of transporters is too high, (Charge is USD 10,000 per company so that only capable and serious transporters are registered) |
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Resolution status note:
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Tanzania Revenue Authority reported that TRA is responsible for issuing the transporter license and that the fees is only Ks 20 000. |
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NTB-000-156 |
7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure |
2009-07-27 |
Tanzania: Along major highways |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2012-06-15 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Weighing equipment in some stations is sometimes faulty, meaning that even when a truck has a proper seal, weight readings at different stations vary. Also, there are numerous stations along the major highways, which do not respect seals even when it is clear that such seals have not been tempered with. The most notorious stations are along Moshi and Kibaha on Nairobi-Dar-es-salaam highway. |
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Resolution status note:
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The 10th meeting of SADC Committee on Trade Facilitation accepted Tanzania's explaination that problem arose due to packaging and loading of containers at the port. If containers are not properly packed, goods move while on transit and affect weigh on an axle. Distribution of weight on an axle may be correct at point of departure, but after some distance, it may change as cargo moves. Since weighing is on axles not cargo, different numbers may be recorded at
a weigh bridge. It was reported that sensitization was already being undertaken to alert traders to reduce the possibility of movement of goods inside containers while in transit by packing properly. The meeting therefore agreed to consider the NTB resolved. |
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NTB-000-144 |
1.8. Import bans |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Industry & Commerce |
South Africa |
Resolved 2011-03-04 |
View |
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Complaint:
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An import ban has been put in place for poultry products |
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Resolution status note:
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Zimbabwe reported that the ban has since been lifted on poultry and its products. |
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NTB-000-211 |
2.4. Import licensing |
2009-07-27 |
Zimbabwe: Ministry of Agriculture |
Zimbabwe |
Resolved 2013-05-23 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Restrictions on agricultural goods. Some officials at the border posts are not fully aware of the implications and objectives of requiring permits for agriculture. Thus some consignments are allowed to be imported without import permits.Issuing of permits is centralized to Ministry of Agriculture Head Office, in Harare which is costly and inconvenient for those living out of Harare |
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Resolution status note:
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At the 10th meeting of the SADC Sub Committee on Trade Facilitation held on 14-15 June 2012, Zimbabwe reported that it was working towards decentralization of issuance of permits. The process was already ongoing and some towns had already been given authority to issue permits.
At their 11th meeting held on 23 may 2013 in Gaborone, SADC Committee on Trade Facilitation noted that draft legislation has been developed and therefore this NTB could be marked resolved since it is receiving appropriate attention to improve the issuance of permits |
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NTB-000-190 |
7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure Policy/Regulatory |
2009-07-27 |
SADC |
Malawi |
Resolved 2011-01-10 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Inconsistency of road traffic laws, and their application in SADC. |
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Resolution status note:
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Botswana reported that ahe is in the process of harmonizing traffic laws with SADC traffic laws; however, there are some traffic laws that have been harmonized e.g. road signs etc. |
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NTB-000-167 |
7.9. Inadequate trade related infrastructure |
2009-07-27 |
Malawi: Malawi Revenue Authority |
Malawi |
Resolved 2010-07-22 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Border delays including irregular border hours |
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Resolution status note:
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Malawi reported that border operating hours are now harmonized and synchronized across borders in Malawi. Malawi now moving to 24hrs. |
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NTB-000-165 |
8.7. Costly Road user charges /fees |
2009-07-27 |
Tanzania: Dar-es-Salaam Port |
Tanzania |
Resolved 2012-06-15 |
View |
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Complaint:
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Dar es Salaam port charges are considered high although it is one of the best ports in the region. Registration and accreditation of transporters is high, In addition to the charges and logistics, transit bonds are bureaucratic and are treated differently in other SADC countries. |
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Resolution status note:
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The 10th meeting of SADC Committee on Trade facilitaion agreed that the NTB was outdated & also that ‘charges’ had to be unpacked to enable comparison of all types of charges imposed at the port. It was noted that Dar es Salaam Port has special dispensations for transit cargo, which are not offered to cargo destined to Tanzania. According to the latest study by Tanzania, the Dar es Salaam port is the cheapest in the Region therefore this NTB was considered resolved. |
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