G/TFA/N/BDI/1/Add.1  
 
2 March 2021  
(21-1773) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM  BURUNDI  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated 22 February  2021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Burundi for Members' information . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Further to the notification dated 19 February  2020 (G/TFA/N/BDI/1), Burundi  hereby makes the 
following  notifications : 
1. Burundi notifies the definitive dates for the implementation of its category  C provisions 
relating to Article  16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement  (WT/L/931).  
Provision  Heading/Description  Definitive date for the 
implementation of category C  
Article 1 .1 Publication  31 December  2026 
Article 1 .2 Information Available through Internet  31 December  2028 
Article 1 .3 Enquiry P oints 31 December  2027 
Article 3  Advance Rulings  31 December  2027 
Article 5 .1 Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  31 December  2027 
Article 5 .3 Test Procedures  31 December  2029 
Article 6 .1 General Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
Imposed on or in Connection with 
Importation and Exportation  31 December  2028 
Article 6 .2 Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges for 
Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  31 December  2026 
Article 7 .1 Pre-arrival Processing  31 December  2027 
Article 7 .2 Electronic Payment  31 December  2028 
Article 7 .4 Risk Management  31 December  2029 
Article 7 .5 Post-clearance Audit  31 December  2029 
Article 7 .6 Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  31 December  2027 
Article 7 .9 Perishable Goods  31 December  2029 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  31 December  2029 
Article 10 .1 Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  31 December  2027 
Article 10 .3 Use of International Standards  31 December  2027 
Article 10 .4 Single Window  31 December  2029 
 
2. Burundi also notifie s its technical assistance and capacity  building support needs for its 
category  C provisions . 
3. For ease of reference , Burundi's full list of category commitments can be found in the table 
attached herewith .   
  G/TFA/N/ BDI/1/Add.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  C 31 December 2023  
 
 
 31 December 2026  • Establishment  of a legal and 
organizational framework to  
supervise  the maint enance  of 
information  
• Establishment of single office 
responsible for collecting , 
centralizing and disseminating 
trade -related information  
• Training of staff from the above -
mentioned office on information 
and communication  
• Translation of legislation published 
in Kirundi, French a nd English  
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2028  • Recru itment of a consultant to 
develop training material and 
provide  training for staff 
responsible for collecting , 
processing and publishing 
information  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2027  • Establishment of a single enquiry 
point 
• Provision of e quipment and 
training for staff from the enquiry 
point 
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 2022  31 December 2022  - 
Article 2.2  Consultations  B 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  - 
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 C 31 December  2024 31 December  2027 • Creation  of a service responsible 
for advance rulings at the Burundi 
Revenue Authority  (OBR), in order 
to improve the implementation of 
advance rulings  
• Training of staff and adoption of  
international best practices, with a 
view to building institutional 
capacity in the area of valuation 
and rules of origin    
  G/TFA/N/BDI/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)  
• Establishment  of a legal framework 
for advance rulings  
• Implementation of mechanisms 
and procedures for rulings aligned 
with East Afric an Community 
(EAC)  and TFA legislation  
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 B 31 December  2022 31 December  2022 - 
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2027  • Recru itment of  a consultant to 
conduct a study analysing the time 
required for verification so that 
delays  may be reduced  
Article 5.2  Detention  A - - - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2024  31 December 2029  • Establishment of a legal framework 
for test procedures  
• Provision of s ufficient equipment 
for the laboratories of the Burundi 
Bureau of Standards and Quality 
Control (BBN) , the Ministry of 
Agriculture, and transit centres  
• Creation of a system for the 
management of all laboratories 
responsible for tests  
• Capacity building for staff 
responsible for test procedures  
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  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2028  • Recruitment of a consultant to 
conduct a study assessing the 
impact of the harmonization of 
taxes at the regional and 
international level  
• Equip ment of cross -border posts  
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
for Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2026  • Recruitment of a consultant to 
conduct a study assessing the 
impact of the harmonization of 
taxes at the regional and 
international level  
• Equip ment of cross -border posts    
  G/TFA/N/BDI/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)  
• Organ ization of information 
campa igns when new import or 
export taxes or charges are 
introduced  
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 31 December 2022  31 December 2027  • Equip ment of technical  services  
• Establishment of a single window 
for foreign trade  
• Constru ction and computerization 
of one-stop offices at all border 
crossings for goods  
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2028  • Establishment of a legal framework  
• Organi zation of workshops for 
economic operators  on electronic 
payment  
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  B 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  - 
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 31 December 2024  31 December 2029  • Equip ment of  the OBR technical 
services  
• Training staff responsible for risk 
management  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 31 December 2024  31 December 2029  • Equip ment of  the OBR technical 
services  
• Recru itment of a national 
consultant to train audit staff  
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2027  • Enhancement of the post -
clearance  audit mechanism  
• Organi zation of training and 
awareness -raising workshops for 
border  officials  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for 
Authorized Operators  B 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  - 
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  A - - - 
Article 7.9  Perishable Goods  C 31 December 2024  31 December 2029  • Establishment of  a cold storage 
facility and training of the staff 
concerned  
• Promo tion of the methods for 
protecting perishable goods    
  G/TFA/N/BDI/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 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 31 December  2024 31 December  2029 • Strengthening  border agency 
cooperation  
• Renovation , construction and 
equip ment of customs offices at all 
borders  
• Enhancement  of the collection  and 
processing of statistical data, in 
order to prepare a computerized  
database  on all of the country's 
borders  
• Monitoring and regular outreach to 
speed up the movement of goods  
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 31 December 2022  31 December 2027  • Organi zation of awareness -raising 
workshops for economic operators 
on the importance of the required 
document ation 
• Training of staff 
Article 10.2  Acceptance of Copies  B 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  - 
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2027  • Equip ment of the  BBN 
• Training  of staff 
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2024  31 December 2029  • Establishment  of the single 
window, providing it with the 
means to reduce the time required 
for formalities  for the import and 
export of products  
• Capacity building for staff 
responsible for running the single 
window once implemented  
• Provision of IT equipment for  
border post offices  
• Ensuring interconnectivity among  
cross-border posts through 
broadband internet  
• Constru ction of one -stop offices at 
all borders  
• Ongoing  training of staff  
Article 10.5  Pre-shipment Inspection  A - - -   
  G/TFA/N/BDI/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)  
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  
 B 31 December  2022 31 December  2022 - 
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  
 A - - - 
 
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