G/TFA/N/NPL/1/Add.2  
 
24 February 202 1 
(21-1569) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM NEPAL  
Addendum  
The following communica tion, dated  19 February 202 1, is being circulated at th e request of the 
delegation of  Nepal  for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up from the notification dated 26 February 2020 (G/TFA/N/NPL/1/Add.1), Nepal hereby 
makes the following notifications:  
 
1. Nepal hereby notifies that the following provisions have been shifted between categor ies, in 
response to Article 19 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).  
 
 
2. At the same time, Nepal hereby notifies the definitive dates of those additional category B 
designations, in response to Article 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).  
 
Provision  Heading/description  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 3 Advance Rulings  31 December 2022  
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges for Customs Processing 
Imposed on or in Connection with Importation and Exportation  31 December 2025  
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  31 December 2025  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  31 December 2027  Provision  Heading/Description  Category 
previously 
notified as  Category 
shifted to  
Article 3 Advance Rulings  C B 
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges for 
Customs Processing Imposed on or in Connection 
with Importation and Exportation  C B 
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  C B 
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  C B 
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  C B 
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final Determination of 
Customs Duties, Taxes, Fees and Charges  C B 
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C B 
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average Release 
Times  C B 
Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  C B 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward and 
Outward Processing  C B 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  C B G/TFA/N/NPL/1/Add.2  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Provision  Heading/description  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  31 December 2025  
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final Determination of Customs 
Duties, Taxes, Fees and Charges  31 December 2023  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  31 December 2023  
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average Release Times  31 December 2025  
Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform Documentation 
Requirements  31 December 2027  
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward and Outward 
Processing  31 December 2025  
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  31 December 2032  
 
3. Furthermore, Nepal hereby notifies the indicative dates of its category C commitments, in 
response to Article 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).  
 
Provision  Heading/description  Indicative date for 
implementation  
Article 1.2 Information Available through Internet  31 December 2025  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  31 December 2025  
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and Information Before Entry into 
Force  31 December 2023  
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  30 June 2025  
Article 5.1 Notification for Enhanced Controls or Inspections  31 December 2025  
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  31 December 2027  
Article 7.4  Risk Management  31 December 2027  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized Operators  31 December 2027  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  31 December 2027  
Article 8 Border Agency Cooperation  31 December 2027  
Article 9 Movement of Goods Intended for Import under Customs Control  31 December 2027  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation Requirements  31 December 2025  
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  31 December 2029  
Article 10.4  Single Window  31 December 2032  
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  31 December 2029  
 
4. For ease of reference, the  Nepal' s full list of category commitments are summarized in the 
table as attached herewith.  
  
  G/TFA/N/NPL/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 1  Publication and Availability of Information  
Article 1.1  Publication  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2023  - 
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2025  To be determined  • Review existing publications of all core 
implementation agencies, find gaps in the 
available information,  and publish the 
missing information as per requirements of 
Article 1.2  
• Map existing IT infrastructure in all core 
agencies and identify the gaps for moving 
on to a fully functional, IT -enabled system 
and processes for TFA implementation  
• Upgrade ICT infrastructure and software, 
and technical support to maintain and 
update the ICT platforms  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points C 31 December 2025  To be determined  • Prepare the enquiry point(s) management 
system, protocols for enquiry points 
management (mandate, fees, procedures), 
FAQs, and documents for the enquiry 
point(s) to be provided to the businesses  
• Training of staff in operating, managing,  
and main taining the enquiry point(s)  
• ICT infrastructure and technology to 
operate the enquiry point(s)  
Article 1.4  Notification  B 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  - 
Article 2  Opportunity  to Comment, Information before Entry into Force and Consultations   
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and Information 
Before Entry into Force  C 31 December 2023  To be determined  • Train staff on the new processes in each 
agency pertaining to the public consultation  
• Devise new IT -enabled systems for public 
consultation in the NTFC Secretariat and 
core agencies  
• Cross -country experience sharing and its 
replication in Nepal's context  
• Train staff on the use of the IT systems in 
NTFC Secretariat and eac h agency  
Article 2.2  Consultations  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2023  - 
Article 3  Advance Rulings  
 B 31 December 2022  31 December 2022  - 
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 C 30 June 2025  To be determined  • Draft the law, subsidiary rules,  and 
regulations.   
  G/TFA/N/NPL/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)  
• Design the structure of the new forum for 
appeals and review along with the new 
workflow processes  
• Training and capacity building of the 
Customs staff  
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notification for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  C 31 December 2025  To be determined  • Review all relevant laws and rules to 
incorporate provisions for immediate 
termination of enhanced control s when risk 
is neutralized  
• IT infrastructure for establishing and 
running automated controls system  
• Training of staff of core agencies for 
implementing risk -based system and for 
implementation of enhanced controls  
• Cross -country experience sharing and its 
replication in Nepal's context  
• Support to design of the monitoring 
mechanism and linkage with IT -enabled 
system  
Article 5.2  Detention  B 31 December 2020  31 December 2024  - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2027  To be determined  • Conduct gap analysis in the laws and the IT 
infrastructure in each agency  
• Develop risk -based system with the 
issuance of notices and reports for test 
procedures  
• Strengthen laboratories and prepare a 
consolidated database for the laboratories  
• Review the scope of labora tories and cross -
country experience sharing and its 
replication in Nepal's context  
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 2022  - 
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
for Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  B 31 December 2025  31 December 2025  - 
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  B 31 December 2025  31 December 2025  -  
  G/TFA/N/NPL/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 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  B 31 December 2027  31 December 2027  - 
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  B 31 December 2025  31 December 2025  - 
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  B 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  - 
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 31 December 2027  To be determined  • Draft the relevant provisions in the legal 
documents/policies/SOPs for risk -based 
profiling, selection, feedback loops  
• Automate implementation of risk 
management system and link all 
implementing agencies for risk 
management implementation  
• Establish integrated risk management 
system  
• Establish a post entry quarantine facility  
• Staff training and capacity -building in ris k 
assessment, risk -based inspection, pest risk 
analysis and risk -based management of 
import and export goods  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  B 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  - 
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  B 31 December 2025  31 December 2025  - 
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for Authorized 
Operators  C 31 December 2027  To be determined  • Amend the legal provisions in line with the 
requirements of the TFA  
• Set up processes for online application for 
authorized operator and devise the selection 
criteria  
• Cross -country experience sharing and its 
replication in Nepal's context  
• Staff training and capacity building  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  C 31 December 2027  To be determined  • Review the legal provision for expedited 
shipments for qualifying goods  
• ICT infrastructure and software to automate 
the processes for online processing of 
requests for expedited shipments  
Article 7.9  Perishable G oods B 31 December 2020  31 December 2025  -  
  G/TFA/N/NPL/1/Add.2  
 
- 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 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 31 December 2027  To be determined  • Establish functional mechanisms (including 
MoUs) between/among agencies  
• Prepare a master plan for common facilities 
and develop SOPs for border agency 
cooperation  
• Designing mechanisms for sharing of data 
and information  
• Capacity building and staff training on 
border agency cooperation and international 
best practices  
• Cross -country experience sharing and its 
replication in Nepal's context  
• ICT support to engineer new business 
processes  
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for I mport  under Customs Control  
 C 31 December 2027  To be determined  • Introduce automated tracking of 
consignments within Customs authorities 
from end to end  
• Staff training and capacity building for the 
usage of the new systems and processes  
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  C 31 December 2025  To be determined  • Review document and formalities across all 
agencies and suggest simplification, 
standardization, and harmonization  
• Develop a system for periodic review  
• Staff training and capacity building  
Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies B 31 December 2020  31 December 2024  - 
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 31 December 2029  To be determined  • Conduct periodic review of international 
standards and lessons learned for 
implementation  
• Conduct regular gap analysis, review of the 
processes, forms and documents required to 
align with international standards  
• Revise systems and processes based on the 
lessons learned  
• Training and capacity building of staff on 
international standards requirements and 
use of new business processes as well as IT 
enabled systems and processes   
  G/TFA/N/NPL/1/Add.2  
 
- 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)  
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2032  To be determined  • Support to review legal provisions on 
customs law and requisite subsidiary 
legislation in place for consistent 
implementation across multiple agencies  
• Staff training and capacity building  
• Awareness raising and capacity building of 
private sectors on use and benefits of 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  B 31 December 2027  31 December 2027  - 
Article 10.8  Rejected G oods B 31 December 2020  31 December 2025  - 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward 
and Outward Processing  B 31 December 2025  31 December 2025  - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
 B 31 December 2032  31 December 2032  - 
Article 12  Customs C ooperation  
 C 31 December 2029  To be determined  • Cross country experience sharing and 
compliance regime  
• Training and capacity building  
 
 
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