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COMESA Simplified Trade Regime

CLP COMESA Simplified Trade Regime

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39 views4 pages

COMESA Simplified Trade Regime

CLP COMESA Simplified Trade Regime

Uploaded by

Nessa Nessa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COMESA Simplified Trade Regime

COMESA has come up with a simplified Customs Clearance procedure for its
Member States that would be used by small scale cross border traders to
facilitate easy import and export of their goods.

The simplified clearance procedure under COMESA is called the COMESA


Simplified Trade Regime (STR).

Why is it necessary to implement the STR?

The COMESA Simplified Trade Regime has been introduced to solve the
problems faced by small scale cross border traders such as:

 Lack of knowledge and information on the benefits of trading with other


COMESA countries
 Complex documents and complicated processes of filling the current
forms
 Increased clearance costs
 Delays in the clearing of goods and processing of tax refunds

The STR intends to overcome the above challenges by simplifying the whole
process of clearing goods for small scale cross border traders by way of
introducing:

 A simplified certificate of origin which should be signed and stamped by


a ZIMRA official at the border post for all goods that appear on the
Common List.
 A simplified customs document – traders are supposed to declare goods
that appear on the Common List and duty is not payable on the declared
goods.
 A common list of qualifying goods - The Common List will be gazetted
by each member state and notified to the general public. Once gazetted,
the Common List will also be displayed at all border posts within
COMESA.

Who can use the STR?

It is used by small scale cross border traders importing or exporting goods


from one COMESA Member State to the other. Travellers who do not have
goods for sale should not use the Simplified Trade Regime.

When can it be used?

1
Where a small scale cross border trader is exporting goods valued at
US$2,000.00 or less per consignment he or she can use the STR. The goods
should be listed on the COMESA STR Common List and should be for re-sale
or use in the business.

How is it used?

In addition to the necessary travel documents the small scale cross border
trader should possess the following documents:-

a. COMESA Simplified Certificate of Origin


b. Invoices of the goods
c. Import or export permits for certain agricultural goods and animal
products

For goods that have been grown or wholly produced in the COMESA Region
and appear on the Common List, the trader will complete a Customs Document
(declaration form) and a simplified COMESA Certificate of Origin. These
documents are filled in at the border post by the trader and are stamped and
certified by a customs official.

If the trader is carrying chemicals, agricultural foods, plant and animal


products such as pesticides, oranges, bananas, milk, eggs, fish, meat or
chicken, report to the offices of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of
Agriculture or the Environmental Management Agency to stamp any imports
and export permits and certify that the goods imported or exported comply
with food safety, plant and animal health regulations including environmental
protection. This is important to guard against the spread of pests and diseases
and to protect human lives as well as the environment.

The trader should ensure that the exported goods are separated into the
following categories:-

a. Goods produced in the COMESA Region that are prescribed on the


Common List on which no duty is payable.
b. Goods produced in the COMESA Region that do not appear on the
Common List on which duty may be payable.
c. Goods produced in non-COMESA member states on which duty must be
paid

Some of the goods appearing on the Common list that qualify for preferential
treatment are shown in the tables below;
2
Examples of eligible products Zimbabwe and Zambia

Product HS Code
Potatoes 0701
Tomatoes 0702
Dried Beans 0713
Oranges 0805
Soya bean Oil 1507
Margarine 1517
Peanut butter 2008
Yeast 2102
Cement 2523
Freezit making machines 833880
Candle making machines 841989
Ploughs and plough parts 843210 and 843290
Peanut butter making machines 843780

Examples of eligible products Zimbabwe - Malawi

Product HS Code
Live animals Chapter 1 inclusive
Birds‟ eggs, in shell, fresh, preserved or cooked 0407
(or for hatching)
Potatoes, fresh or chilled 0701
Tomatoes, fresh or chilled 0702
Onions, shallots, garlic, leeks 0703
Cabbages, cauliflowers, etc. 0704
Lettuce 0705
Carrots, turnips, salad beetroot, and other edible 0706
roots

3
Cucumbers and gherkins 0707
Peas, beans and other legumes, fresh or chilled 0708
Other vegetables (asparagus, eggplant, celery, 0709
mushrooms, other)
Dried vegetables (incl. mushrooms, wood ears, 0712
jelly fungi)
Dried beans, chickpeas, lentils, including seeds 0713
for sowing(EXCLUDING SEEDS FOR SOWING)
Seeds 0713
Bananas 0803

What are the advantages?

1. COMESA rates of customs duty are applied on clearance of the goods.


2. Fast clearance at the border posts.
3. Reduced clearance costs.
4. No need to smuggle your goods risking your life and goods.

Border Posts where STR is being implemented


1. Victoria Falls
2. Kariba
3. Chirundu
4. Nyamapanda

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