G/TFA/N/GIN/1  
13 February  2020 
(20-1164) Page: 1/10 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS UND ER 
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM G UINEA  
The following communication, dated 7 February 2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Guinea for Members' information.  
 
_______________  
 
 
The Republic of Guinea hereby makes the following notifications in accordance with Articles 15 
and 16 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WT/L/931).    
  G/TFA/N/GIN/1  
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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 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Reviewing and improving the 
existing legal framework . 
• Training all relevant border agency 
officials to have a better 
understanding of international 
obligations, relevant domestic 
laws and roles and identification of 
the type of information that 
agencies need to publish.  
• Developing standard operating 
procedures (SOPs) for publication . 
• Setting up or identifyi ng a central 
body to monitor and coordinate 
the publication of information and 
updates and the adoption of best 
practices.  
• Developing and establishing a 
trade portal for publishing all 
information.  
Article 1.2  Information Available Through Internet  C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Preparing a manual of  
import/export/transit/appeal 
procedures for each relevant 
border agency , designing 
information forms and identifying 
the required documents.  
• Identifying a central body to 
monitor and coordinate the 
publication of information and the 
adoption of best practices (may be 
the same body as for Article 1.1).  
• IT Training for staff of the central 
body responsible for designing, 
developing and maintainin g the 
websites that publish the 
information.  
• Installing appropriate equipment 
and software systems for border 
agencies.  
• Providing relevant training for 
border agencies and users.    
  G/TFA/N/GIN/1  
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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)  
• Producing a practical guide on 
import, export and transit 
procedures , and mobilizing 
resources to translate such 
procedures into the 
WTO languages and publish them 
online.  
• Installing ICT infrastructure and 
providing ICT material, including 
website development and agency 
linkages.  
• Raising public awareness of 
information avai lable online.  
• Developing a trade portal for 
publishing all information.  
• Strengthening institutional 
capacities.  
• Stakeholder consultations on the 
potential trade portal.  
Article 1.3  Enquiry Points  B 22 February 2024  22 February 2024  - 
Article 1.4  Notification  B 22 February 2025  22 February 2025  - 
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 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Developing specific and clear 
guidelines on procedures to 
implement and undertake advance 
rulings.  
• Training customs staff, brokers 
and importers on the procedures 
for advance ruling and its 
importance as well as how it will 
be implemented.  
• Acquiring ICT infrastructure.  
• Integrating advance rulings into 
automated customs systems.  
• Raising awareness of the decision 
maker internally and externally.    
  G/TFA/N/GIN/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)  
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 A - - - 
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1  Notifications for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  C 31 December 2023  To be determined  • Legal and regulatory review to 
determine compliance with the 
provision.  
• Analysing the business process: 
establishing roles and 
responsibilities for each structure 
and for all mechanisms used to 
carry out tasks, including the 
validity of confirmatory tests 
across the  whole country and the 
process of notifying the 
component in the exporting 
country.  
• Developing and validating a 
manual on standard operating 
procedures and making the 
manual available to the concerned 
institutions through a website with 
a view to clarifying their respective 
interventions.  
• Training staff in the management 
of the formal notification system, 
including national and 
international best practices.  
• Organizing focused seminars for 
economic operators.  
• Building a globally accessible, 
instanta neous, ICT -based 
communication system linking the 
food safety authority, the National 
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection 
Authority and border posts 
(Ministries of Agriculture, Trade, 
Health, Livestock, Fisheries and 
the E nvironment , and customs 
authorities, etc.) that can be used 
to send notifications in the form of 
warnings and information alerts.    
  G/TFA/N/GIN/1  
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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)  
• Strengthening mechanisms for 
achieving the right to an appeal or 
review.  
• Managing risk and developing 
quality metrology infrastructure 
and conformity assessment and 
test procedures.  
• Capacity building  with regard to 
standardization.  
• Strengthening risk assessment 
bodies . 
• Equipping the notification 
authority and the enquiry points 
with material information 
resources.  
Article 5.2  Detention  A - - - 
Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 31 December 2024  To be determined  • Improving accreditation criteria 
and/or identifying labs with the 
capacity to conduct relevant test 
procedures.  
• Capacity building for  relevant 
border agencies, laboratory 
technicians and traders.  
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 22 February 2023  22 February 2023  - 
Article 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Drawing up and publishing the 
procedure for pre -arrival 
processing.  
• Holding workshops on pre -arrival 
processing for stakeholders.  
• Setting up a mechanism to provide 
advance passenger information 
(API/PNR).    
  G/TFA/N/GIN/1  
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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 7.2  Electronic Payment  B 31 December 2023  31 December 2023  - 
Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  A - - - 
Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Developing a risk management 
strategy with target percentages 
of low/high risk cargo.  
• Establishing risk management 
operational procedures . 
• Analysing and managing risk in 
data gathering and criteria 
building.  
• Training customs agents in 
targeting and risk profiling.  
• Building and enhancing the 
technological capacity of border 
agencies involved  in risk 
management.  
Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Strengthening the legal 
framework and reorganizing post -
clearance audit.  
• Connecting the post -clearance 
audit structures in the risk 
management system.  
• Training customs agents 
responsible for post -clearance 
audit.  
• Enhancing the technological 
capacity of border agencies that 
implement post -clearance audit 
and incorporating them into risk 
management programmes.  
Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Putting in place systems to meet 
Trade Facilitation Agreement 
requirements to be able to 
regularly measure and publish 
average release times.  
• Developing procedures for 
regularly publi shing and 
measuring average release times.    
  G/TFA/N/GIN/1  
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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)  
• Conducting the Time Release 
Study and publishing the results.  
• Holding a training workshop for 
the Time Release Study with all 
border agencies.  
Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for 
Authorized Operators  C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Developing relevant legislation 
and policies to allow the setup of 
an Authorized Operators 
programme.  
• Developing proper procedures and 
criteria for assessing Authorized 
Operators that meet specified 
criteria in the Authorized 
Operators programme.  
• Holding a training workshop with 
all stakeholders on the concept of 
Authorized Operators.  
• Designing and implementing an 
appropriate system for Authorized 
Economic Operators.  
Article 7.8  Expedited Shipments  C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Creating a regulatory and 
legislative framework for the 
sending of cargo, parcels and 
express mail in line with the 
provisions of the Universal Postal 
Convention.  
• Creating an information form 
required for relea sing goods as 
soon as they reach an airport.  
• Setting up premises (depots or 
terminals) for express mail.  
• Training customs and border 
agency officials in clearing 
commercial cargo at airports.  
Article 7.9  Perishable Goods  C 31 December 2025  To be determined  • Setting up suitable facilities for 
storing perishable goods until they 
are released.  
• Training customs and other border 
agency officials in the procedures 
for the release and expedited 
clearance of perishable goods.    
  G/TFA/N/GIN/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)  
Article 8  Border Agency Coope ration  
 C 31 December 2024  To be determined  • Reviewing the legal framework for 
cooperation among border 
agencies.  
• Connecting the information 
systems for the different agencies.  
• Holding a workshop to raise 
awareness among agencies 
involved in cooperation among 
border agencies.  
• Providing training on inter -agency 
cooperation procedures.  
Article 9  Movement of Goods Intended for Import under Customs Control  
 B 22 February 2023  22 February 2023  - 
Article 10  Formalities Connected with Importation, Exportation and Transit  
Article 10.1  Formalities and Documentation 
Requirements  B 22 February 2023  22 February 2023  - 
Article 10.2  Acceptance of Copies  C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Introducing legislation authorizing 
the customs authorities and other 
agencies to accept copies of 
supporting documents required for 
import, export and transit 
formalities in place of the 
originals, subject to any justifiable 
exemptions or conditions.  
• Training the customs authorities 
and other b order agencies on the 
new regulations governing the 
acceptance of copies.  
Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  C 31 December 2025  To be determined  • Reviewing procedures, rules and 
regulations and bringing them into 
line with international conventions 
(regional and multilateral 
framework).  
• Participating in meetings on the 
development and updating of 
international standards.  
• Transposing international 
standards into domestic 
legislation.    
  G/TFA/N/GIN/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)  
Article 10.4  Single Window  C 31 December 2025  To be determined  • Creating a legal and regulatory 
framework for implementing the 
Single Window for Foreign Trade.  
• Installing IT equipment.  
Article 10.5  Preshipment Inspection  A - - - 
Article 10.6  Use of Customs Brokers  B 22 February 2023  22 February 2023  - 
Article 10.7  Common Border Procedures and Uniform 
Documentation Requirements  B 22 February 2024  22 February 2024  - 
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 -
11.3  C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Review, and amend if necessary, 
laws, regulations, procedures, and 
documentation requirements.  
• Assessing the impact of measures 
applied to transit traffic (charges, 
regulations, formalities) and 
ensuring that the objectives are 
legitimate and that pro -trade 
solutions are applied.  
• Training all stakeholders.  
   Article 11.4   C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Reviewing all transit fees to 
ensure they reflect the cost of 
services rendered.  
• Strengthening the legal 
framework for inspecting means of 
transport in transit and goods in 
transit.  
   Article 11.5 -
11.10   C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Reviewing and updating 
automated systems to ensure 
there are tools for inspecting 
transit operations and managing 
transit guarantees.  
• Training stakeholders on the 
World Customs Organization 
directives on transit.    
  G/TFA/N/GIN/1  
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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 11.11 -
11.15   C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Creating guarantee systems and 
implementing relevant procedures 
and tools for supervising transit 
operations and managing transit 
guarantees.  
   Article 11.16 -
11.17   C 22 February 2025  To be determined  • Implementing World Customs 
Organization directives on transit 
facilitation.  
Article 12  Customs Cooperation  
 B 22 February 2023  22 February 2023  - 
 
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