Zim, Botswana amend Customs pact

agreement to amend previous agreements pub­lished in Federal Government Notice 156 of 1956 and Statutory Instrument 192 of 1988.
The amended agreement repeals the words “Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland” and “Bechuanaland Protec­torate” with Zimbabwe and Botswana respectively.
The agreement will exempt goods wholly produced in the two countries from any import or export restrictions imposed directly or indirectly.
These goods include minerals, veg­etables, animals and animal products, products obtained from hunting and fishing, forestry products, and waste and scrap products.
The agreement also compels Cus­toms authorities from the two countries to consult regularly on procedures relat­ing to the Certificate of Origin issued under the agreement.
The agreement also allows any of the two countries to impose export restric­tions to prevent or relieve critical short­ages of foodstuffs or other products essential to the exporting country.
Import and export restrictions may also be imposed for the application of standards or regulation for the classifi­cation, grading or marketing of com­modities. Restrictions may also be temporarily imposed to protect any of the two coun­tries’ external financial position and its balance of payments taking into account the trading position existing between the contracting parties.
The restrictions will however, not be permanent and shall be discontinued once the cause which gave rise to them has been overcome.