G/TFA/N/SLB/1/Add.2  
 
19 August  2022 
(22-6329) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS  
Addendum  
The following communica tion, dated 19 August 2022 , is being circulated at th e request of the 
delegation of  Solomon Islands for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up from the notification dated 9 July 2020  (G/TFA/N/SLB/1 /Add.1 ), Solomon Island s 
hereby notifie s its definitive implementation dates for category C designations as set out in Article  16 
of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931) : 
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Definitive Date of 
Implementation  
Article 3  Advance Rulings  31 December 2040  
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  31 December 2040  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or Inspections  31 December 2040  
Article 5.2  Detention  31 December 2040  
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  31 December 2040  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  31 December 2036  
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final Determination of Customs Duties, 
Taxes, Fees and Charges  31 December 2036  
Article 7.4  Risk Management  31 December 2036  
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average Release Times  31 December 2036  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized Operators  31 December 2040  
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  31 December 2040  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation R equirements  31 December 2040  
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  31 December 2040  
Article 10.4  Single Window  31 December 2050  
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  31 December 2040  
 
For ease of reference, Solomon Islands' full list of category commitments can be found in the table 
attached herewith.  
  
  G/TFA/N/SLB/1/Add.2  
 
- 2 - 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 July 2022  31 July 2022  - 
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  B 31 July 2022  31 July 2022  - 
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  A - - - 
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  B 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  - 
Article 2.2  Consultations  B 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  - 
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 C 22 February 2022  31 December 2040  • Institutional Procedures:  
To implement advanced rulings procedures, if 
an appropriate body is required to be set up. 
Advanced rulings contained in legislation but 
require support to implement necessary steps.  
• Human Resources and Training:  
To enable adequate provision of necessary 
information by local customs staff and training 
on complex HS and customs valuation issues.  
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 C 22 February 2022  31 December 2040  • Institutional Procedures:  
To set up complaints and appeals review 
process. BSI has a unit that deals with review 
procedures, but wider support required to 
improve functioning.  
• Human Resources and Training:  
To manage appeals board.  
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  C 31 December 2025  31 December 2040  • Biosecurity to develop risk management manual 
for all products with the eventual thinking of 
incorporating it to the upgraded version of 
Asycuda World. We review our Needs 
assessment on this measure and the World 
Bank Group report indicated then that 
Biose curity needs to have a pure foods act and 
that biosecurity also needs to develop their risk 
management manual to be able to comply with 
the measure. During the assessment we were 
still using PC trade.   
  G/TFA/N/SLB/1/Add.2  
 
- 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 5.2  Detention  C 22 February 2027  31 December 2040  • Infrastructure support:  
Required to build detention facility as part of the 
wider testing facility required under Art. 5.3.  
• Diagnostic and Needs Assessment:  
To determine what infrastructure is required for 
testing and detention facilities to ensure 
compliance.  
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 22 February 2027  31 December 2040  • Infrastructure and equipment:  
Support to build a testing facility to carry out 
inspections at border posts.  
• Institutional Procedures:  
Once infrastructure provided, required to set up 
and manage testing facility.  
• Human Resources and Training:  
Of personnel working in the National Public  
Health Laboratory and other labs to carry out 
tests on imported and exported food products 
for nutrient content and other risk factors.  
Skill development for Environmental Health 
Officers to inspect and detect high risk food.  
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 2024  31 December 2024  - 
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
for Customs Processing Imposed on or 
in Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  B 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  - 
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  B 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  - 
Article 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  C 22 February 2022  31 December 2036  • ICT: 
For setting up electronic submission facilities for 
pre-arrival processing equipment and to 
improve clearance times in Customs and other 
agencies.  
• Human Resources and Training:  
To handle submission and processing of 
documentation in electronic format.  
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  B 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  -  
  G/TFA/N/SLB/1/Add.2  
 
- 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 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, 
Taxes, Fees and Charges  C 22 February 2020  31 December 2036  • Technical Assistance needed.  
• Customs is doing it on a case -by-case basis.  
• Potential high risk of revenue evasion using this 
procedure.  
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 22 February 2022  31 December 2036  • ICT/Legislative and Regulatory Framework:  
To upgrade current system of control to 
effectively manage risk, minimise freight costs 
and identify which management controls should 
be maintained, for imports going through 
customs procedures.  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  A - - - 
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of 
Average Release Times  C 22 February 2022  31 December 2036  • Regulatory Framework:  
To enable the monitoring and measurement of 
performance.  
• Human Resources and Training:  
Support to publish release times and other 
necessary information to comply with this article.  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for 
Authorized Operators  C 22 February 20 24 31 December 2040  • Legislative and Regulatory Framework:  
Support to amend relevant regulation to enable 
compliance and to set up functions for special 
treatment for authorised operators.  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  A - - - 
Article 7.9  Perishable Goods  A - - - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 22 February 2022  31 December 2040  • Legislative and Regulatory Framework:  
Requires a MoU to be implemented (currently a 
draft between BSI and SICED) to establish 
effective interagency cooperation.  
• Establish arrangements to cooperate and 
coordinate through formal legislation/admin 
framework; incorporate agreed procedure into 
current clearance processes.  
• Capacity building:  
On new coordination approach and publication 
of procedures.  
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for Import under Customs Control  
 A - - - 
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  C 22 February 2020  31 December 2040  • TA to develop Business Process Reengineering 
(BPR)  
Article 10.2  Acceptance of Copies  A - - -  
  G/TFA/N/SLB/1/Add.2  
 
- 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 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 22 February 2024  31 December 2040  • Human Resources and Training:  
To train relevant officials on the use of 
international standards and determine their 
implications on traders.  
• Diagnostic and Needs Assessment:  
To identify appropriate infrastructure needed to 
ensure continued compliance with international 
standards is required. Support to understand 
importing co untries' market access rules from 
an environmental health perspective.  
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 22 February 2027  31 December 2050  • Capacity building:  
Required to understand, implement and manage 
single window operations for local staff.  
• Diagnostic and Needs Assessment:  
For feasibility study; then determine if TA and 
capacity building required for implementing and 
managing single window.  
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 Goods  A - - - 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and 
Inward and Outward Processing  A - - - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
 A - - - 
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  
 C 22 February 2022  31 December 2040  • Technical Assistance  
• Sensitisation – for compliance  
• Compliance management – awareness  
 
__________