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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Government has deferred until January next year the implementation of the new pre-shipment regulations under the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) programme.
The regulations. which saw new goods listed on those requiring pre-shipment inspections were supposed to have started on Friday last week.
However, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce revised its position after an engagement with the Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe.
SFAAZ had raised concern that the new regulations had not taken into account goods already having been purchased or those already in transit.
The secretary for Industry and Commerce, Dr Thomas Utete Ushe has since communicated the new position in a letter addressed to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) commissioner general, Ms Regina Chinamasa which was seen by this publication.
“Please be advised that SI 132 of 2015, and SI 124 of 2020 which govern the implementation of the consignment based assessment (CBCA) will now be implemented by the new SI 186 of 2023 and 187 of 2023,” said Dr Utete Ushe in the letter.
“However, being cognisant that some importers had already placed orders for the affected goods, and that other goods may be in transit, the ministry wishes to advise of a transitional period from 21 October 2023 to 31 December 2023, before the full enforcement. The new statutory instrument takes effect on the 1st of January 2024.”
Government introduced the CBCA regulations that were on December 18, 2015, which requires goods to be tested for conformity with required standards prior importation into Zimbabwe.
It is understood that the programme was adopted to reduce hazardous and substandard imported products and improve customs duty collection.
Bureau Veritas was appointed by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for the verification and the assessment of conformity of goods in exporting countries.
Online Reporter