G/TFA/N/SLB/1/Add.1  
 
9 July 2020  
(20-4719) Page: 1/7 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS  
Addendum  
The following communica tion, of which the first draft was received 2 July 2020 , is being circulated 
at the request of the delegation of  Solomon Islands for Members' informa tion. 
 
_______________  
 
 
Following up from the notification dated 20 February 2020 (G/TFA/N/SLB/1), Solomon Island s 
hereby makes the following notifications : 
 
(1) Shifting of categories; (2) definitive implementation dates for category B designations; and 
(3) designation of  an additional category A commitment.  
 
1. Solomon Islands hereby notifies that the following provisions have been shifted between 
categories.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Category 
previously 
notified as  Category 
shifted to  
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  B C 
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  B C 
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  C B 
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  B C 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  B C 
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  B C 
Article 12  Customs cooperation  B C 
 
2. Solomon Islands hereby makes the following notifications of its definitive dates for 
implementation of its category B commitments.  
 
Provision  Heading/Description  Definitive Date of 
Implementation  
Article 1.1  Publication  31 July 2022  
Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  31 July 2022  
Article 2.1  Opportunity to Comment and Information Before 
Entry into Force  31 December 2023  
Article 2.2  Consultations  31 December 2023  
Article 6.1  General Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
Imposed on or in Connection with Importation 
and Exportation  31 December 2024  G/TFA/N/SLB/1/Add.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Provision  Heading/Description  Definitive Date of 
Implementation  
Article 6.2  Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges for 
Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and Exportation  31 December 2021  
Article 6.3  Penalty Disciplines  31 December 2021  
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  31 December 2021  
 
3. Solomon Islands also wishes to notify that Article  11 (Freedom of Transit) is now being  
designated  as category A.  
 
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.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)  
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  To be determined  • 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  To be determined  • 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 b oard. 
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  • 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 Biosecurity 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  
  G/TFA/N/SLB/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)  
the assessment we were still using PC 
trade.  
Article 5.2  Detention  C 22 February 2027  To be determined  • 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  To be determined  • 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  To be determined  • 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:   
  G/TFA/N/SLB/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)  
To handle submission and processing of 
documentation in electronic format.  
Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  B 31 December 2021  31 December 2021  - 
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  C 22 February 2020  To be determined  • 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  To be determined  • 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  To be determined  • 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 To be determined  • 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 G oods A - - - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 22 February 2022  To be determined  • 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 .  
  G/TFA/N/SLB/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)  
• Capacity building:  
On new coordination approach and 
publication of procedures.  
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  C 22 February 2020  To be determined  • TA to develop Business Process 
Reengineering (BPR)  
Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies A - - - 
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 22 February 2024  To be determined  • 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  To be determined  • 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 G oods A - - - 
Article 10.9  Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward 
and Outward Processing  A - - - 
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
 A - - -  
  G/TFA/N/SLB/1/Add.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)  
Article 12  Customs C ooperation  
 C 22 February 2022  To be determined  • Technical Assistance  
• Sensitisation – for compliance  
• Compliance management – awareness  
 
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