G/TFA/N/VUT/1 /Add.1  
 
2 March 2020  
(20-1565) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM VANUATU  
Addendum  
The following communica tion, of which the first draft was received  20 February 2020 , is being 
circulated at the request of the delegation of Vanuatu  for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up from the notification dated 10 January 2018, Vanuatu  hereby makes the following 
notifications : 
 
(1) Shifting of categories; (2) defi nitive implementation dates for category B and C designations; 
(3) designation of additional category A commitments ; and (4) technical assistance and support for 
capacity building needs for category C commitments . 
 
(1) Vanuatu hereby notifies that the foll owing provisions have been shifted between categories  in 
response to Article 19 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931) . 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category previously 
notified as  Category shifted to  
Article 1.1  Publication  C B 
Article 1.2  Information Available through 
Internet  C B 
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  C B 
Article 5.2  Detention  C B 
 
(2) Vanuatu hereby notifies its definitive dates for its category B and C commitments  in response to 
Article 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Definitive date of 
Implementation  
Article 1.1  Publication  31 December 2020  
Article 1.2  Information Available through 
Internet  31 December 2020  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  31 December 2020  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls 
or Inspections  31 December 2020  
Article 5.2  Detention  31 December 2025  
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  31 December 2030  
Article 6.1  General Disciplines on Fees and 
Charges Imposed on or in 
connection with importation and 
exportation  31 December 2021  
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  31 December 2021  
Article 7.4  Risk Management  31 December 2030  
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of 
Average Release Times  31 December 2023  G/TFA/N/VUT/1 /Add.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Provision  Heading/Description  Definitive date of 
Implementation  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for 
Authorized Operators  31 December 2025  
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  31 December 2022  
Article 10.4  Single Window  31 December 2023  
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  31 December 2022  
 
(3) Vanuatu wishes to notify that Articles 1.4 (Notification), 2.2 (Consultation), 3 (Advance Rulings), 
7.1 (Pre -arrival Processing), 7.5 (Post–clearance Audit), 7.8 (Expedited Shipments), 8 (Border 
Agency Cooperation) , 9 (Movement of Goods Intended for Import under Customs Control) , 10.1 
(Formalities and Documentation Requirements), and (10.2) (Acceptance of Copies)  are now being 
designated  under category A.  
 
For ease of reference, the Vanuatu' s full list of category commitments are summarized in the table 
as attached herewith.  
 
  
  G/TFA/N/VUT/1 /Add.1  
 
- 3 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Article 1  Publication and Availability of Information  
   Article 1.1  Publication  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2020  - 
   Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2020  - 
   Article 1.3  Enquiry Points B 31 December 2020  31 December 2020  - 
   Article 1.4  Notification  A - - - 
Article 2  Opportunity  to Comment, Information before Entry into Force and Consultations   
   Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and Information 
Before Entry into Force  A - - - 
   Article 2.2  Consultations  A - - - 
Article 3       Advance Rulings  
 A - - - 
Article 4       Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 A - - - 
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
   Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2020  - 
   Article 5.2  Detention  B 31 December 2022  31 December 2025   
   Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2030  Legal/Policy : Improve/Develop relevant 
regulations and policies to guide the Vanuatu 
Bureau of Standards VBS Laboratory and 
Biosecurity Vanuatu (BV)  
Develop/improve regulations on the process/ 
procedures of traded goods in question that 
need further testing and or verification.  
Capacity Building: Appropriate Capacity 
building for testing requirements for all border 
agencies  
Facility/Infrastructure/Equipment : 
Assist with the accreditation of VBS 
Laboratory to carry out secondary testing.  
Proper equipment needed to carry out 
secondary testing.  
Article 6  Disciplines on Fees and Charges Imposed on or in Connection with Importation and Exportation and Penalties  
   Article 6.1  General Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
Imposed on or in Connection with 
Importation and Exportation  B 31 December  2020 31 December 2 021 -  
  G/TFA/N/VUT/1 /Add.1  
 
- 4 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
   Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
for Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  A - - - 
   Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  A - - - 
Article 7       Release and Clearance of Goods  
   Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  A   - 
   Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  B 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  - 
   Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  A - - - 
   Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 31 December 2020  31 December 2030  Legal/Policy : Assistance to develop and 
establish mechanism to ensure enhanced 
coordination and collaboration between 
border agencies on risk identification and 
application of risk management.  
Procedures : Risk management syst em 
procedures are needed to be developed.  
Human Resources/Training : training 
provided to border agencies in implementing 
risk management system.  
Infrastructure/Equipment : assistance to 
have relevant technology such as x -ray 
machines, scanners, laboratory testing 
facilities in order to implement a proper risk 
management system.  
   Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  A - - - 
   Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2020  31 December 2023  Procedures : Publication of average release 
time is yet to be implemented. Need 
assistance to implement the controls and 
procedures to meet the FTA requirements to 
regularly measure the publish average 
release times.  
Human Resource Training : Needs more 
assistance on training and capacity building  
ICT/Equipment : Further assistance on ICT 
to link the system to the time release for 
regular monitoring.   
  G/TFA/N/VUT/1 /Add.1  
 
- 5 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
   Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  C 31 December 2020  31 December 2025  Legal/Policy : Assistance required to develop 
a legal framework for AO.  
Procedures : Assistance required to 
implement procedures and controls in place to 
manage the AO in compliant with the relevant 
laws within DCIR and other Boarder agencies.  
Human Resource /Training : Training and 
capacity building is required for Customs & 
Inland Revenue and all other border agencies 
to enforce compliance.  
   Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  A - - - 
   Article 7.9  Perishable G oods A - - - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 A - - - 
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for I mport  under Customs Control  
 A - - - 
Article 10     Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
   Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  A - - - 
   Article 10.2  Acceptance of Copies  A - - - 
   Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 31 December 2022  31 December 202 2 Human Resource/Training  
Need Capacity building to understand the use 
of international standards  
   Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2020  31 December 2023  Legal/Policy : All the policy mandate and 
legal requirements for a Vanuatu Electronic 
Single Window System have been identified in 
the prior and during the current phase of the 
Project.  
Procedures : Implement the 
recommendations of the Inspection Report. 
Needed detailed documentation to be 
prepared during the course of the second 
phase of the Project.  
Human Resource/Training : Technical 
Capacity Building trading should continue to 
be delivered to Board er Agencies, Customs 
officials and Business users.  
Information and Communication 
Technology (ICT)   
  G/TFA/N/VUT/1 /Add.1  
 
- 6 - Provision  Heading/Description  Category  Indicative date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Definitive date for 
implementation  
(for categories  
B and C)  Assistance and Support for Capacity 
Building Required for Implementation  
(for category C)  
Funding is required to fund the development 
of the identified modules and requirements in 
the second phase of the Project.  
Infrastructure/Equipment : The Vanua tu 
Electronic Single Window system is being 
housed in the Government’s state of the art 
ICT infrastructure. Funds will only be required 
to boost additional resources since the base is 
already taken care of.  
   Article 10.5  Pre-shipment Inspection  A - - - 
   Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  A - - - 
   Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  A - - - 
   Article 10.8  Rejected G oods A - - - 
   Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward 
and Outward Processing  A - - - 
Article 11 Freedom of Transit  
 B 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  - 
Article 12  Customs C ooperation  
 A - - - 
 
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