G/TFA/N/ZWE/1  
 
16 September 2019  
(19-5926) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM ZIMBABWE  
The following communica tion, of which the first draft was received 19 August 20 19, is being 
circulated at th e request of the delegation of  Zimbabwe for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up from the notification dated 27 October 2016 (WT/PCTF/N/ZWE/1), Zimbabwe hereby 
makes the following notifications in response to  Articles 15 and 16 of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement (WT/L/931).  
 
  
  G/TFA/N/ZWE/1  
 
- 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 December 2020  31 December 2022  - 
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2025  • Training of staff to prepare and keep up 
to date practical guides for imports; 
exports and transit procedures  
• Technical assistance in the modernization 
of the National Trade Portal and portals 
for the different agencies  
• Training of staff in continuously updating 
and maintaining websites for the different 
agencies  
• Financial assistance in the modernization 
of the National Trade Portal and portals 
for the different  agencies  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points C 31 December 2023  31 December 2025  • Technical assistance in drafting the 
standard operating procedures for the 
enquiry points and their coordination  
• Training for all focal persons on 
undertaking enquiry point functions  
• Investment in the necessary hardware 
and software infrastructure  
Article 1.4  Notification  B 31 December 2019  31 December 2020  - 
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 2019  31 December 2021  - 
Article 2.2  Consultations  B 31 December 2019  31 December 2021  - 
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 B 31 December 2019  31 December 2020  - 
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 B 31 December 2019  31 December 2020  - 
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  B 31 December 2019  31 December 2021  - 
Article 5.2  Detention  B 31 December 2019  31 December 2020  - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2025  31 December 2026  • Technical assistance to review legislative 
framework & procedure for referral of 
second tests  
• Formulate implementation work plan   
  G/TFA/N/ZWE/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)  
• Financial and technical assistance in 
setting up a customs laboratory at 
defined & specified border posts  
• Human resource capacity building for 
staff manning t he customs laboratory  
• Laboratory facilities  
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  A - - - 
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  B 31 December 2019  31 December 2020  - 
Article 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2021  - 
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  B 31 December 2019  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 2021  31 December 2023  • Capacity Building on Risk Management 
and establishment of the risk 
management framework and strategy in 
all the agencies.  
• Technical assistance in enhancing the 
operation of the existing risk 
management system and extending it to 
other organisations in terms of:  
− Legislation;  
− Standard operating procedures;  
− Gap analysis;  
− Information/intelligent gathering;  
− Data analysis;  
− Risk profiling;  
− Coordinated approach to Risk 
Management amongst all 
Government Agencies that govern 
import, export and transit of goods.  
• Financial assistance to procure:   
  G/TFA/N/ZWE/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)  
− Risk Management System and 
equipment ; 
− Analytical tools for data analysis ; 
− Funds for benchmarking exercise ; 
− Funds for the offences module.  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2027  • Training on audit skills and techniques  
• Training on case selection for post 
clearance audit  
• Training on accounting and other 
computer systems used in the 
importation and exportation of goods  
• Financial assistance to procure 
computers  
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2027  • Assistance in the formulation of the TRS 
legislation  
• Capacity building to enable officers to 
conduct and evaluate the TRS  
• Comprehensive training on the TRS 
techniques and tools  
• Technical assistance in the publication of 
the results of the TRS  
• Funding and assistance to undertake the 
initial TRS  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  B 30 April 2020  30 April 2022  - 
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  B 31 December 2019  31 December 2022  - 
Article 7.9  Perishable G oods C 31 December 2025  31 December 2028  • Adequate storage and physical 
examination facilities  
• Assistance in developing the Standards 
Operating Procedures (SOPs)  
• Legislation , procedure  and guideline 
formulation (involving all relevant 
stakeholders)  
• Having adequate storage & incineration 
facilities  
• Human resource capacity build ing on 
proposed legislative & procedural 
changes  
• Cold rooms at state -warehouses for 
proper storage of perishables  
• Destruction facilities e.g. incinerators   
  G/TFA/N/ZWE/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 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
   Article 8.1   A - - - 
   Article 8.2   C 31 December 2023 31 December 2026  • Assistance to develop Legal framework to 
coordinate border agencies  
• Capacity building on coordinated border 
management principles and border 
agency cooperation  
• Human resources capacity building on 
coordinated border management  
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  B 30 April 2020  30 April 2021 - 
Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies B 31 August 2020  31 August 2022  - 
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  A - - - 
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2029  • Capacity Building on the Single Window 
Concept  
• Setting up of the legal framework on 
Single Window  
• Development of an implementation 
program & Gantt Chart  
• Capacity Building for ICT personnel in the 
configuration and maintenance of the 
Single Window  
• Capacity building for all agencies using 
Single Window  
• Financial assis tance in procuring 
infrastructure and equipment for 
implementing Single Window  
• Review of clearance process to facilitate 
the implementation of the Single Window  
• Server to host the Single Window 
platform  
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 - - -  
  G/TFA/N/ZWE/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)  
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
 B 31 December 2019  31 December 2020  - 
Article 12  Customs C ooperation  
 A - - - 
 
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