G/TFA/N/NAM/1  
 
10 September 2019  
(19-5789) Page: 1/11 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM NAMIBIA  
The following communica tion, dated  22 August 2019 , is being circulated at th e request of the 
delegation of  Namibia  for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Namibia  hereby makes the following notifications in response to  Articles 15 and 16 of the Trade 
Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).  
  
  G/TFA/N/NAM/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 2021  31 December 2021  - 
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  • Technical assistance to develop website 
for dissemination of information ; 
• Technical Assistance to collect, 
disseminate and publish information on 
the internet ; 
• Capacity building of staff . Assistance to 
prepare description of practical steps for 
import/export/transit/appeal procedures 
for import, export, and transit for each 
relevant border agency. And to identify 
all required forms and documents ; 
• Technical a ssistance (funding) to 
establish  functioning trade information 
portal ; 
• Identify a central body to monitor and 
coordinate the publication of 
information, as well as the adoption of 
best practices (Can be same body for 
Article 1.1) Appropriate equipment and 
software systems for border agen cies; 
• Relevant training for border agencies and 
users ; 
• Public awareness on information 
available online . 
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  • Assistance to assess and set -up 
information flows to focal points and to 
assess and establish sustainable enquiry 
points ; 
• Establishing standards and procedures of 
quality control including fixed timelines ; 
• Capacity building /training of train staff, 
in particular potential focal points ; 
• Setting up guidelines to cover the entire 
procedure (from receipt of request to the 
dispatching of the responses to the 
requesting party) ; 
• Development and use of communication 
templates ;  
  G/TFA/N/NAM/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)  
• Establishing standards and procedures of 
quality control, including fixed timelines 
for answers ; 
• Acquisition of  ICT and other equipment ; 
• Assistance and support for trainings and 
capacity building for the preparation of 
notifications in accordance with the WTO 
rules; 
• Conduct awareness sessions for all 
relevant border agencies on procedures 
for notifications and info rmation to be 
notified . 
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  
 C 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  • Procedures: Technical assistance to 
develop specific and clear guidelines on 
procedures to implement and undertake 
advance rulings ; 
• Capacity building and technical 
assistance to set -up institutional 
arrangements for necessary information 
flows on advance ruling, i.e. 
dissemination of knowledge and 
information ; 
• Human Resource/Training: Training of 
Customs Staff, Brokers and Importers on  
the procedures for advance ruling and its 
importance as well as how it will be 
implemented ; 
• Training in Tariff Classification, Rules of 
Origin and Valuation for Customs 
Officers ; 
• ICT: Provide ICT infrastructure; or 
• Technical Assistance to integrate 
advance ruling into customs automated 
system.   
  G/TFA/N/NAM/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)  
• Develop public education campaigns for 
Training on advance ruling techniques 
and best practices.  Legal/Policy : 
Technical assistance to develop 
legislation and policies to effectively 
administer and implement advance 
rulings ; 
• Stakeholder  engagement.  
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  A - - - 
Article 5.2  Detention  A - - - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  A - - - 
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 2021  31 December 2021  • Develop competence in using 
methodologies to quantify costs in order 
to justify fees and charges;  
• Develop c omprehensive training 
programme to periodically assess 
existing and new fees and charges ; 
• Develop and publish a single schedule of 
all fees and charges related to imports 
and exports ; 
• Technical Assistance for mapping and 
costing the services rendered by 
Customs including the development of a 
fair and transparent Fee Structure.  
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  A - - - 
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, Fees 
and Charges  A - - -  
  G/TFA/N/NAM/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 7.4  Risk Management  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  • Review existing legislation ; 
• Assistance to develop a risk 
management strategy with target 
percentages of low/high risk cargo ; 
• Assistance to establish operating 
procedures ; 
• Train Customs and Quarantine staff on 
analysing available transaction data from 
CMS and ide ntifying criteria for high risk 
cargo ; 
• Assistance in areas of risk management 
analysis in data gathering and criteria 
building ; 
• Technical assistance and capacity 
building to assist with National 
Agriculture Quarantine Inspection 
Authority ; 
• Develop risk pro files using available 
transaction data ; 
• A sound compliance management regime 
needs to be implemented, including with 
respect to ASYCUDA inspection reporting 
module ; 
• Technical assistance for refinement and 
development of integrated risk 
management system an d procedures ; 
• Technical assistance and capacity 
building on Artificial Intelligence (AI) 
management ; 
• Capacity building and training of staff 
involved in risk management.   
  G/TFA/N/NAM/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 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  • Develop procedures incorporating the 
connectivity with risk management ; 
• Develop a training plan/module to train 
Customs officials and agents and train 
the target groups ; 
• Human Resources/Training: Capacity 
building and training for Customs officials 
to conduct Post  Clearance Audit ; 
• Develop data analysis skills and 
knowledge for Customs and border 
agencies officials. Capacity building and 
training for Customs. PCA officials on 
auditing techniques and methodology ; 
• Enhance technological capacity of Border 
agencies nece ssary to implement PCA 
and incorporate into risk management 
program ; 
• Provision of appropriate technology and 
equipment to help implement PCA ; 
• Draft and implement an awareness 
program to educate the trading 
community on the role of PCA and 
legislative requirements related to PCA . 
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Technical and financial assistance to 
conduct a time release studies ; 
• Technical and financial to assistance to 
set-up time integrated release studies 
and training of staff ; 
• Assistance need to put in place systems 
to meet TFA requirements to be able to 
regularly measure and publish average 
release times ; 
• Assistance to develop procedures to be 
followed for the regular publication and 
measurement of the average release 
times ; 
• Creation of a committee comprising 
several agencies to measure the average 
release time of goods ; 
• Training in designing, planning, 
conducting and analysing a TRS for 
Customs and othe r border agencies ;  
  G/TFA/N/NAM/1  
 
- 7 - 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)  
• Sensitization of border agency officials 
for cooperation during and after the 
exercise of conducting the Time Release 
Study ; 
• Provide training and capacity building to 
staff/agencies of the concerned agencies 
and to economic operators on the 
interpretation of the study results ; 
• Require assistance to develop and 
implement automated system to 
eliminate inaccuracies in the 
measurement of time taken for 
processes . 
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Technical assistance for the development 
of a system and validation for Authorized 
Operators ; 
• Capacity building and training of staff 
involved in Authorized Operator 
management ; 
• Technical assistance for develop ment of 
AO manual ; 
• Assistance (funding) to provide training 
for private sector stakeholders in AO 
approval and compliance ; 
• Assistance (funding) to provide training 
on regional schemes. Develop relevant 
legislation and policies to allow the setup 
of an Auth orised Operators (AO) 
program ; 
• Develop proper procedures and criteria 
for the assessment of authorised 
operators that meet specified criteria in 
the AO program ; 
• Capacity building for all border agencies 
is needed to ensure full compliance with 
this measure ; 
• Develop a monitoring framework through 
which Customs can establish and monitor 
operators' compliance;  
• Support for design and implementation 
of an appropriate system for Authorised 
Economic Operator;   
  G/TFA/N/NAM/1  
 
- 8 - 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)  
• Training of Customs Officers and relevant 
stakeholders to facilitate the 
establishment and smooth 
implementation of Authorised Economic 
Operator.  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2022  • Develop relevant legislation and policies ; 
• Review/update Standard Operating 
Procedures ; 
• Technical Assistance for the establishment 
of a procedure for expedited shipments.  
• Assistance on training of private sector 
operators approved for expedited 
shipment ; 
• Assistance on training of staff ; 
• Develop instructions/SOPs ; 
• Training of Customs and Borde r agency 
officials on clearance of commercial cargo 
at the airports.  
Article 7.9  Perishable Goods  A - - - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  • Assistance to provide awareness creation 
and training for the roll-out of OSBPs 
(funding) and other bilateral border 
agency collaboration mechanisms ; 
• Review border procedures and operations 
cross borders to assess current situation ; 
• Review and create if necessary, MOU 
between border agencies ; 
• Harmonisation of differe nt systems 
between bordering countries ; 
• For both national and cross border 
cooperation:  
• Enactment of the relevant procedures 
regulations to guide operations ; 
• Review and reform as necessary, 
regulations and policy ; 
• Technical assistance for the establishment 
of agency coordination and collaboration 
at national level ; 
• Increased institutional capacity ;  
  G/TFA/N/NAM/1  
 
- 9 - 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)  
• Review and if necessary, improve 
infrastructure and equipment ; 
• Training/capacity building for staff of the 
various regulatory agencies at the border ; 
• Consultation with stakeholders ; 
• Awareness campaign of changes . 
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  A - - - 
Article 10.2  Acceptance of Copies  A - - - 
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  A - - - 
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  • Assistance in design, establishment 
(funding) and roll -out of ESW and 
training of staff and users of ESW ; 
• Development of an appropriate IT 
system ; 
• Training of officials overseeing 
establishment of and using single 
window ; 
• Training of other stakeholders ; 
• Awareness campaign . 
Article 10.5  Pre-shipment Inspection  A - - - 
Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  • Review licensing requirements to ensure 
that they are objective and transparent ; 
• Training on publication requirements ; 
• Technical assistance in design and 
development of a system integrated 
profiling mechanism for brokers ; 
• Assistance for awareness creation and 
training for the roll -out of new system ; 
• Technical assistance (funding) to train 
brokers on customs procedures.  Develop 
policy/procedures/monitoring to ensure 
that procedures are applied uniformly 
throughout the country ; 
• Technical assistance and support to 
streamline and optimize border processes 
and procedures with all institutions in 
order to ensure improved controls,  
  G/TFA/N/NAM/1  
 
- 10 - 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)  
eliminat e unnecessary formalities and 
harmonize requirements for safeguarding 
international good practices.  
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  
   Article 11.1   C 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  • Technical assistance on policy 
formulation, design, establishment and 
funding of transit infrastructure. Review, 
and amend if necessary,  laws, 
regulations, procedures, and 
documentation requirements ; 
• Review transit fees to ensure they reflect 
the cost of services rendered ; 
• Assist ance to assess the impact of 
measures applied to transit traffic 
(charges, regulations, formalities) ; 
• Technical and financial assistance for 
capacity for officers on transit procedures 
and guarantee systems, including at 
regional level ; 
• Technical assistanc e in developin g 
technical of regulations and  procedures ; 
• Financial assistance on providing public 
awareness campaigns and roll out to 
customs and stakeholders ; 
• and ensure that the objectives are 
legitimate and that the least trade -
restrictive options are a pplied ; 
• Review, improve, amend procedures for 
management of guarantees ; 
• Review/update automated systems to 
ensure tools for control of transit 
operations and management of transit 
guarantees ; 
• Training of all stakeholders ; 
• Training/capacity building of transit 
coordinator .    Article 11.2  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  
   Article 11.3  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  
   Article 11.4  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  
   Article 11.5  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  
   Article 11.6  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  
   Article 11.7  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  
   Article 11.8  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  
   Article 11.9  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  
   Article 11.10  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  
   Article 11.11  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  
   Article 11.12  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  
   Article 11.13  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  
   Article 11.14  C 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  
   Article 11.15  C 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  
   Article 11.16  C 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  
   Article 11.17  C 31 December 2019  31 December 2019   
  G/TFA/N/NAM/1  
 
- 11 - 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 12  Customs Cooperation  
 A - - - 
 
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