Pre-shipment inspection begins next month

Business Editor
THE government will begin the pre-shipment inspection on imported goods on November 1, 2015 after the proposal had been put on hold to consider reservations from the business community.

A French international firm, Bureau Veritas has been contracted to spearhead the process, which is meant to curb the influx of cheap substandard products into the country as part of measures to enhance domestic competitiveness.

The move was expected to begin in August but stopped after businesses raised concerns over its “hasty” implementation.

Importers argued the pre-shipment process would inflate their costs on goods and consequently burden the already distressed consumers.

Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa said the process would start next month on specified items from different source countries.

“That will take effect from the 1st of November. As you may be aware, the contract was signed by the government and the inspections were meant to start as early as August but, due to the results of consultative processes that were conducted by the Ministry, we found it in place for us to firstly address the issues that were raised,” said Deputy Minister Mabuwa while responding to a question in Parliament.

“Having addressed those issues that were raised, we also sent our cleaned up version of how the operations will take place through to Cabinet, which has since been approved.”

The Deputy Minister said the reservations raised, mainly those related to the cost of the services that will ultimately be borne by the importers and local firms, have been rectified.

“We’ve revisited these and consulted with Bureau Veritas. The costs have been matched with other receiving countries that have contracted Bureau Veritas in the region,” she said.

“We’ve also attempted to address all the issues, but what will ultimately happen is that, at the end of the day, the country will not be used as a dumping ground for inferior products.

“That’s the benefit that we’re going to take and I imagine we’re all on board now.”

Deputy Minister Mabuwa called upon members of the National Assembly to also submit their suggestions and questions on the process before its final implementation.

Bureau Veritas operates in more than 150 countries and boasts of vast experience in pre-shipment.