G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
23 February  2021 
(21-1487) Page: 1/14 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF CATEGORY COMMITMENTS UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRADE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM BURKINA FASO  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated 19 February 2 021, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Burkina Faso for Members' information . 
 
_______________  
 
 
Further to  the notification dated 20 February 2 020 (G/TFA/N/BFA/1 /Add.2 ), Burkina Faso  hereby 
notifies its definitive implementation dates for the following category B designations , in accordance 
with Article 16 of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation (WT/L/931) . 
 
Provisio n Heading /Description  Definitive date for 
implementation  
Article 1 .4 Notification  31 December 2 025 
Article 2 .1 Opportunity to Comment and Information Before Entry 
into Force  31 December 2 022 
Article 3  Advance Rulings  31 December 2 021 
Article 6 .3 Penalty Disciplines  31 December 2 025 
Article 7 .9 Perishable Goods  31 December 2 022 
Article 10 .9 Temporary Admission of Goods and Inward and Outward 
Processing  31 December 2 021 
 
For ease of reference, the full list of Burkina Faso's category commitments is summarized in the 
table attached herewith.  
 
   
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
- 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 2 024 To be determined  • Review existing legislation  
• Training for all relevant border 
agency officials in order  to ensure a 
better understanding of international 
obligations, relevant domestic laws , 
and the role and type s of information 
that agencies need to publish . This 
includes other provisions of the TFA, 
e.g. A rticle 6 disciplines on fees and 
charges  
• Develop competencies of relevant 
units responsible for the publication 
of information  
• Develop standard operating 
procedures (SOP) for publication  
• Provide ICT infrastructure, including 
website development and agency 
linkages  
Article 1 .2 Information Available through Internet  C 31 December 2 024 To be determined  • Conduct a  study to take stock of the 
range of publications produced by 
border agencies and assess gaps  
• Develop and implement policy 
guidelines and SOPs for the 
publication of trade -related 
information  
• Assistance to prepare description of 
practical steps for 
import/ export/transit/appeal 
procedures for import, export and 
transit for each relevant border 
agency  
• Assistance to identify all required 
forms and documents  
• Appropriate equipment and software 
systems for border agencies  
• Relevant training for border agencies 
and users  
• Raise public awareness of 
information available online    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
- 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 .3 Enquiry Points  C 31 December 2 024 To be determined  • Designate appropriate agenc ies or 
department s 
• Train staff (including cross -training) 
on core competencies  
• Train personnel on service delivery  
• Train staff on enquiry point 
management  
• Establish quality control standards 
and procedures , including fixed 
timelines  
• Develop  guidelines to cover the 
entire procedure (from the receipt of 
the request t hrough t o the 
dispatching of responses to the 
requesting party ) 
• Development and use of 
communication templates  
• Establis hing quality control standards 
and procedures, including fixed 
timelines for replies  
• Acquisition of ICT and other 
equipment  
Article 1 .4 Notification  B 31 December 2 025 31 December 2 025 - 
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 2 021 31 December 2 022 - 
Article 2 .2 Consultations  C 31 December 2 021 To be determined  • Assistance to establish a legal 
framework for consultation purposes  
• Provision of an expert to conduct a 
diagnosis of existing domestic and 
regional regulations, share best 
practices and build the capacity of the 
agencies involved  
• Preparation of implementation 
procedures for all the agencies 
involved  
• Sharing and dissemination of these 
new provisions  
• Training of the relevant human 
resources in government agencies    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
- 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 3  Advance Rulings  
 B 31 December 2 020 31 December 2 021 - 
Article 4  Procedures for Appeal or Review  
 C 31 December 2 022 To be determined  • Assistance to develop an appeal 
policy and relevant procedures 
and/or to review the existing policy 
and procedures  
• Technical assistance to develop 
policies to ensure effective appeal 
and review procedures  
• Assistance to develop appeal 
procedures and to ensure that such 
procedures are shared with the 
business community  
• Technical assistance to develop 
standard operating procedures  
− Human resources/training : 
• Technical assistance to develop and 
build the capacity of key stakeholders 
(border agencies) so as to ensure a 
better understanding of appeal and 
review procedures . Training for 
Appeals Committee Members, 
specialized judges , etc.  
• Financial and technical resources for 
equipment and software , and 
expertise for developing an efficient 
electronic filing system  
Article 5  Other Measures to Enhance Impartiality, Non -Discrimination and Transparency  
Article 5.1 Notifications for Enhanced Controls or 
Inspections  C 31 December 2 024 To be determined  • Legal and regulatory review to 
determine compliance with this 
provision  
− Business process analysis : 
• Establish clear areas of responsibility 
and mechanisms for carrying ou t 
related duties and tasks, including in 
relation to the validity of 
confirmatory tests throughout the 
country and the procedure for 
notification of the component in the 
exporting country    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
- 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)  
• Develop and validat e a manual on 
standard operating procedures  
• Disse minat e the manual to the 
institutions concerned, if possible 
online, with a view to clarifying their 
respective interventions  
• Staff training on the management of 
the formal notification system, and 
on national and international best 
practices  
• Organization of focused seminars for 
economic operators  
• Build a globally accessible, 
instantaneous, ICT -based 
communication system for alert and 
information notifications, linking the 
food safety authority, the Na tional 
Agricultural Quarantine Inspection 
Authority and border posts  
• Strengthen mechanisms for ensuring 
the right to appeal or review  
Article 5 .2 Detention  A - - - 
Article 5 .3 Test Procedures  C 31 December 2 024 To be determined  • Amend relevant laws/regulations and 
ensure  traders have access to a 
second test  
• Assistance to develop accreditation 
criteria and/or to identify laboratories 
with the capacity to conduct relevant 
test procedures  
• Development of standard operating 
procedures,  including with regard to 
appropriate sampling techniques and 
the manner in which conflicting 
results from second tests are to be 
handled  
− Huma n resources /training : 
• Capacity building for relevant border 
agencies, laboratory technicians and 
traders    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
- 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 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 2 024 To be determined  • Develop competence in using 
methodologies to quantify costs in 
order to justify fees and charges  
• Develop a comprehensive training 
programme to periodically assess 
existing and new fees and charges  
• Develop and publi sh a single list of all 
fees and charges related to imports 
and exports  
Article 6 .2 Specific Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
for Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  C 31 December 2 025 To be determined  • Technical assistance for mapping and 
costing the services rendered by 
Customs, and for developing  a fair 
and transparent fee structure  
Article 6 .3 Penalty Disciplines  B 31 December 2 025 31 December 2 025 - 
Article 7  Release and Clearance of Goods  
Article 7 .1 Pre-arrival Processing  C 31 December 2 023 To be determined  • Review existing legislation applicable 
to this Article  
• Develop and publi sh procedures  
• Consultations with stakeholders 
through workshops, seminars and 
round table meetings  
• Training  
• Capacity building for all border 
authorities  
Article 7 .2 Electronic Payment  C 31 December 2 025 To be determined  • Review existing systems and policies 
and determin e the feasibility of, and 
resources required to set up and 
operate , an electronic payment 
system  
• Preparation of a strategy document 
for the development of e -payment  
• Development of e -payment solutions 
(all banks)  
• Drafting/amendment of all electronic 
versions of laws and the Finance Act 
in order to implement  an electronic 
payment  system    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
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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)  
• Procedures - Assistance to develop 
relevant procedures in order to 
implement an electronic payment 
system and ensure it is used 
effectively  
• Enhance the technological capacity of 
border and government agencies 
with a view to implem enting an 
electronic payment system  
• Development, set -up and installation 
of appropriate technology and 
equipment to put in place an 
electronic payment system  
Article 7 .3 Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  A - - - 
Article 7 .4 Risk Management  C 31 December 2 022 To be determined  • Review existing legislation  
• Assistance to develop a risk 
management strategy with target 
percentages of low/high risk cargo  
• Assistance to establish operating 
procedures  
• Drafting of risk management 
committee terms of reference  
•  Drafting of position description for 
staff involved in risk management 
and creation of a risk management 
unit 
• Train customs and quarantine staff to 
analyse  available transaction data 
from CMS, and to identify  criteria for 
high-risk cargo  
• Assistance in areas of risk 
management analysis with regard to 
data-gathering and criteria  building  
• Technical assistance and capacity 
building for the National Agriculture 
Quarantine Inspection Authority  
• Develop risk profiles using available 
transaction data    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
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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)  
• A sound compliance management 
regime needs to be implemented, 
including with respect to the 
ASYCUDA inspection reporting 
module  
• The customs service requires 
technical assistance for training on 
targeting and risk -profiling  
• Technical assistance to develop the 
capacity of relevant border agencies, 
so that they fully understand the risk 
management system and are able to 
apply it  
• ICT assistance requi red to acquire 
and enhance the technological skills 
required to conduct a proper risk 
management process  
Article 7 .5 Post-clearance Audit  C 31 December 2 026 To be determined  − Legal : 
• Develo p/review relevant legislation 
and policies for post -clearance audit 
(PCA)  
• Develop procedures incorporating 
connectivity with risk management  
• Develop a training plan/module for 
customs officials and agents and 
target groups  
• Human resources/training : Capacity 
building and training for customs 
officials on post-clearance audit  
procedures  
• Develop  the data-analysis skills and 
knowledge of customs and border 
agency officials . Capacity building 
and training for customs PCA  officials 
on auditing techniques and 
methodology  
• Technological capacity building for 
border agencies with a view to PCA 
implementation and the 
incorporation of PCA into risk 
management programmes    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
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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)  
• Provision of appropriate technology 
and equipment to help i mplement 
PCA 
• Draft and implement a programme to 
raise the trading community's 
awareness of the role of PCA and 
PCA-related regulatory requirements  
Article 7 .6 Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 31 December 2 020 To be determined  • Assistance needed to set up  systems 
to meet TFA requirements regarding 
the regular measurement and 
publication of average release times  
• Assistance to develop procedures for 
the regular publication and 
measurement of average release 
times  
• Creation of a committee comprising 
several agencies to measure the 
average release time for goods  
• Training on designing, planning, 
conducting and analysing a T ime 
Release Study  for Customs and other 
border agencies  
• Raise border agency officials' 
awareness of the need for 
cooperation during and after the 
Time Release Study  
• Training and capacity building for 
staff/officials of the agencies 
concerned and economic operators 
on the interpretation of study results  
• Assistance to develop and implement 
an 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 2 023 To be determined  • Develop  relevant legislation and 
policies that will allow for the creation 
of an authori zed operators (AO) 
program me   
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
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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)  
• Develop proper procedures and 
criteria for the assessment of 
authorized operators that meet 
specified criteria within the 
framework of the AO prog ramme  
• 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' complianc e 
• Support for the design and 
implementation of an appro priate 
system for authorized economic 
operators  
• Training of customs officers and 
relevant stakeholders in order to  
facilitate the establishment and 
smooth implementation of the 
authorized economic operator 
programme  
Article 7 .8 Expedited Shipments  C 31 December 2 023 To be determined  • Develop relevant legislation and 
policies  
• Review/updat e standard operating 
procedures (SOPs)  
• Develop instructions/SOPs  
• Training for customs and border 
agency officials on clearance of 
commercial cargo at airports  
Article 7 .9 Perishable Goods  B 31 December 2 022 31 December 2 022 - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 C 31 December 2 028 To be determined  • Review  and amend , if necessary , 
relevant legislation  
• Review and create, if necessary, MOU 
between border agencies  
• Review border procedures and cross -
border operations in order to assess 
current situation  
• Harmonization of different systems 
between bordering countries    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
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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)  
− For both national and cross -border 
cooperation : 
• Enactment of the relevant procedural 
regulations to guide operations  
• Increased  institutional capacity  
• Review and, if necessary, improve  
infrastructure and equipment  
• Training/capacity building for st aff of 
the various regulatory agencies at 
borders  
• Consultations with stakeholders  
• Campaign to raise awareness 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  C 31 December 2 025 To be determined  • Review/develop  a legislative or 
administrative framework for periodic 
reviews  
• Develop procedures and policies for 
reviews of formalities and 
documentation requirements  
• Develop capacity in respect of the 
analysis of trade formalities and 
documentation and the impact of 
such formalities and documentation  
• Establish consultation mechanism 
with all stakeholders (government 
and private sector)  
• Programme to raise awareness of 
changes  
Article 10 .2 Acceptance of Copies  C 31 December 2 024 To be determined  • Review and amend legislation if 
necessary  
• Develo p regulations and instructions  
• Training for officials  
• Programme to raise awareness of 
changes    
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
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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 10 .3 Use of International Standards  C 31 December 2 025 To be determined  • Training and awareness -raising 
activities for customs officers on the 
use of WCO instruments and tools for 
the uniform implementation of the 
TFA by the customs administration  
• Support to attend standard -setting 
meetings  
• Training on existing international 
standards and related legal 
instruments ( e.g. E COWAS, WCO and 
ISO standards ) 
• Assistance to develop a coherent and 
consistent national policy for 
adopting and implementing 
international standards  
Article 10 .4 Single Window  C 31 December 2 028 To be determined  • Develop entire government single 
window policy/strategy  
• Conduct  feasibility study  
• Review and updat e relevant 
legislative, institutional and 
regulatory framework of relevant 
agencies  
• Analys e and harmoniz e business 
processes and data/documenta tion 
requirements for the import, export 
or transit of goods  
• Development of an appropriate IT 
system  
• Training for officials overseeing the 
establishment of , and using , the 
single window  
• Training for other stakeholders  
• Awareness -raising campaign  
Article 10 .5 Preshipment 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 Goods  A - - - 
Article 10 .9 Temporary Admission of Goods and 
Inward and Outward Processing  B 31 December 2 020 31 December 2 021 -   
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
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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  Freedom of Transit  
 Article 11 .1-
11.10  C 31 December 2 023 To be determined  • Review and amend , if necessary, 
laws, regulations, procedures, and 
documentation requirements  
• Review any transit fees to ensure 
they reflect the cost of services 
rendered  
• Assistance to assess the impact of 
measures applied to transit traffic 
(charges, regulations, formalities) 
and to ensure that objectives are 
legitimate and that the least trade -
restrictive options are applied  
• Review, improve and amen d 
procedures for managing guarantees  
• Review/updat e automated systems 
to ensure the availability of tools for 
the control of transit operations and 
the management of transit 
guarantees  
• Training for all stakeholders  
• Training/capacity building for transit 
coordinator  
 Article 11 .11-
11.17  A - - -   
  G/TFA/N/BFA/1/Add.3  
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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 12  Customs Cooperation  
 C 31 December 2 026 To be determined  • Review/amen d laws, regulations and 
instructions  
• Develop procedures  
• Establis h an institutional framework , 
clearly defining  the role and authority 
of the contact point  
• Training/capacity building for all 
relevant officials/stakeholders  
• Examine the possibility of a customs 
information system to verity 
declarations  
• Monitor practice s concerning  
protection and confidentiality, the 
provision of information , and the 
postponement or refusal of a request  
 
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