Managing import-export gate

the European Communities.
Zimbabwe is currently representing our region on the World Customs Organisation Council. Naturally, it has an important role to play both for Zimbabwe’s benefit and that of the region as whole. In that regard, ZimBrussels applauds Zimra for working closely with the WCO and would like to urge it to continue enhancing this relationship, in order to strengthen its pivotal role in helping producers understand the conditions of the market, be it domestic or external.
The capacity building would take the form of assistance inter alia through seminars and publications exposing Zimbabwean exporters to Customs requirements for our exports, relating to the documentation, packaging, labelling, health certificates, etc. Therefore, ZimBrussels sees Zimra’s role extending not only to that of informing Zimbabwe’s prospective exporters on what is expected of them at home, but also on what the receiving country or the EU Customs regulations demand.
These include the regular updates and policy adjustments. In that regard, Zimra’s important role of ensuring that companies exports scrupulously comply with the correct labelling and other standards that would facilitate their entry into foreign markets, should be fully appreciated and supported by all. Suffice to note that while there are internationally agreed standards, the euro- zone has from time to time instituted and tightened its own conditions over and above the agreed ones.
To fully address this issue in Zimbabwe, many other key players, for instance, the ministries of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Industry and Commerce and Regional Integration and International Co-operation, ZimTrade, the Public Laboratory, Standards Association, producers’ associations, national research and development institutions, other line ministries and indeed Zimbabwe’s embassies in Europe, should work hand in glove with Zimra – the gatekeeper.
First and foremost, Zimra protects the domestic market from dumping and manages the import-export gate while creating opportunities for the local industry. This relationship has always existed, be it latently. Increasingly, accountability is zeroing in on all the points in the food chain, the producers included.
Whereas in the past the producers could have taken a back seat, today the tables have turned. From experience, producers either access the external market on their own, if they can meet the criteria, or they lose if part or all the produce is rejected.
A case in point is the recent outbreak of e-coli that affected all vegetable producers in Europe, leading to countries such as Spain incurring heavy losses since it was initially fingered as the source. Though this was later cleared, the damage had been done.
This year alone, ZimBrussels regrets to recall that some consignments of Zimbabwean animal products, tilapia and horticulture have been blocked or returned for compliance reasons. The Zimbabwe Mission envisages more challenges of this nature, particularly in cases where the produce is repackaged elsewhere, for instance in South Africa, without fully reflecting the information on the rules of origin and the cumulation data. This demonstrates the sensitivity of the export markets.
It is very difficult for new farmers and new agro-industrial concerns to fully appreciate the intricacies of this elusive but lucrative market without the support of the key players in the value chain, in which Zimra among others offer an olive branch. Even traditional exporters have to continually keep abreast with the ever-changing export requirements, which if not complied with, become barriers in themselves to the normal flow of trade; and the EU market can be lucrative once one breaks the code, but the amount of research and vigilance required may be beyond the means of individual producers and exporters.
This is why it is important for producers to fully understand and appreciate the role of intermediary organisations such as Zimra that could herald new opportunities while ensuring that their market share is maintained domestically.
Current negotiations in the EPAs (being spearheaded by the Industry and Commerce) on among other issues, rules of origin and in cumulation – value addition, require a closer working relationship between the producers, manufacturers, other partners and indeed Zimra. Examples have been drawn mostly from agriculture because it currently exports different products to the EU market, but issues of RoO and cumulation also pertain in all sectors.
Agriculture is more involving because of its products. For producers, it is important to understand the value chain before venturing into a given line of production. In some cases, the producers may be required to register even before they begin producing. They need to know who their consumers will be whether they are in the domestic or foreign market. What conditions do they need to meet? They all invariably have some basic requirements.
While domestic markets may be satisfied with good hygienic standards and labelling of the date by which the produce should be consumed, foreign markets not only demand stringent sanitary standards, but also certain quality, packaging, colouring conditions and sensitivity to the issues of the environment.
Zimra and other intermediary organisations will continue with the midwifery role to ensure that Zimbabwe’s exports enter foreign markets.
In this regard, ZimBrussels would like to urge a closer working relationship between the producers in all sectors and their intermediary organisations and determination of a clear breakdown of the stages in the value chain, so as to determine the assistance required and from what source.
The WCO has assured ZimBrussels that it stands ready to work with Zimra in consolidating a healthy working rapport. They have undertaken to organise training workshops on international and EU Customs regulations on import and exports, should a request be submitted through Zimra.
l Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Legal and Corporate Services Division, 6th Floor, ZB Centre, Cnr First Street/Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, PO Box 4360, Harare, Tel: 04-798 879/751624/775332/781345, Fax: 04- 774087, e-mail: [email protected], Website: www.zimra.co.zw