G/TFA/N/SYC/1  
 
25 July 2017 
(17-4096) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Trade Facilitation  Original: English  
 
 NOTIFICATION OF CATE GORY COMMITMENTS  UNDER  
THE AGREEMENT ON TRA DE FACILITATION  
COMMUNICATION FROM SEYCHELLES  
The following communica tion, dated 25 July 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Seychelles  for Members' informa tion. 
 
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Following up on the notification dated 9 September 2015  (WT/PCTF/N/ SYC/1), in which the 
Government of Seychelles  indicated its category A commitments, Seychelles  hereby makes the 
following additional notifications  in accordance with Articles 15 and 16 of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement (WT/L/931).  
  
  G/TFA/N/SYC/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 1 January 2017  To be determined  - 
   Article 1.2  Information Available through Internet  B 30 September 2017  To be determined  - 
   Article 1.3  Enquiry Points B 1 January 2017  To be determined  - 
   Article 1.4  Notification  B 1 January 2017  To be determined  - 
Article 2  Opportunity  to Comment, Information before Entry into Force and Consultations   
   Article 2.1  Oppor tunity to Comment and 
Information Before Entry into Force  A - - - 
   Article 2.2  Consultations  A - - - 
Article 3       Advance Rulings  
 C 1 January 2018  To be determined  1. Seeking support for technical 
assistance and capacity building to 
develop advance v aluation ruling . 
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  C 1 January 2021  To be det ermined  1. Funding for infrastructure 
development, accreditation formalities, 
procurement of testing& metrology and 
other laboratory related equipment and  
consumables;  
2. Support to build up capacity for 
testing, inspection and metrology,  
equipment and training in metrology. 
Reviewing the legal framework and   
procedures (SOPs) for analysis of 
various parameters;  
3. Technical support to help develop and 
build capacity of Customs officers and 
staff of other relevant agencies;  
4. Technical Assistance and Capacity 
Buildin g to facilitate notification for 
enhanced controls or inspections . 
   Article 5.2  Detention  A - - - 
   Article 5.3  Test Procedures  C 1 January 2020  To be determined  1. Seeking technical support for the 
development of relevant legislation and 
standard operat ing procedures (SOPs) ; 
2. Seeking funding for:  
i. infrastructure development and 
procurement of labor atory  
  G/TFA/N/SYC/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)  
equipment and consumables;  
ii. the evaluation of all Quantity 
Management System (QMS) 
documents and support to 
develop any missing documents 
as per the standard ISO/IEC 
17025:2005 for testing 
laboratories;  
iii. accreditation process, testing, 
inspection, metrology and 
standardization ; and 
iv. legal expert to draft contract with 
SADCAS for the continuous 
assessment for 5 years ; 
3. Technical assistance and capacity 
building to facilitate staff development 
to improve testing capabilities and 
development of laboratory protocols;  
4. Development of protocols to facilitate 
the servicing of new market access and 
new products.  
Article 6  Disciplines on Fees and Ch arges 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 March 2018  To be determined  - 
   Article 6.2  Specifi c Disciplines on Fees and Charges 
for Customs Processing Imposed on or in 
Connection with Importation and 
Exportation  B 1 January 2019  To be determined  - 
   Article 6.3 .1-
6.3.4 Penalty Disciplines  A - - - 
   Article 6.3.5   B 1 January 2018  To be determi ned - 
   Article 6.3.6 -
6.3.7  A - - - 
Article 7       Release and Clearance of Goods  
   Article 7.1  Pre-arrival Processing  A - - - 
   Article 7.2  Electronic Payment  C 1 January 2018  To be determined  1. Seeking the support from UNCTAD for 
technical assista nce and capacity 
building to incorporate Electronic 
Payment into the ASYCUDA World and 
to link it to Seychelles Electronic Funds  
  G/TFA/N/SYC/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)  
Transfer (SEFT) which is the new 
payment platform being developed by 
the Central Bank of Seychelles (CBS).  
   Article 7.3  Separation of Release from Final 
Determination of Customs Duties, Taxes, 
Fees and Charges  A - - - 
   Article 7.4  Risk Management  C 1 January 2018  To be determined  1. Funding for the procurement of WCO 
Cargo Targeting System (CTS)which 
can be integrated with A SYCUDA 
World ; 
2. Technical support from UNCTAD and 
WCO to work together on the 
integration of the  system once funding 
is secured;  
3. Capacity building to develop a pool of 
staff to maintain the system once it has 
been developed.  
   Article 7.5  Post-clearance Audit  C 1 January 2019  To be determined  1. Funding to improve the ASYCUDA 
World reporting functionality to support 
Post Clearance Audit (PCA).  
   Article 7.6  Establishment and Publication of Average 
Release Times  C 1 January 2019  To be determined  1. Technic al Assistance and Capacity 
Building to develop the required 
techniques to enable officers to 
conduct time release study.  
   Article 7.7  Trade Facilitation Measures for 
Authorized Operators  C 1 January 2019  To be determined  1. Technical assistance to draft  
legislations to provide Customs with 
the appropriate mandate to afford 
qualifying traders with additional 
facilitation in connection with trade ; 
2. Develop a monitoring framework 
through which Customs can establish 
and monitor operators ' compliance;  
3. Support for design and implementation 
of an appropriate system f or 
Authorised Economic Operator;  
4. Training of Customs Officers and 
relevant stakeholders to facilitate the 
establishment and smooth 
implementation of Authorised 
Economic Operator.  
   Article 7.8 Expedited Shipments  C 1 January 2019  To be determined  1. Seeking funding and technical support  
  G/TFA/N/SYC/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 conduct a feasibility study to assess 
the possibility of the implementation of 
the Expedited Shipments.  
   Article 7.9  Perishable G oods A - - - 
Article 8  Border Agency Cooperation  
 A - - - 
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  A - - - 
   Article 10.2  Acceptance of C opies A - - - 
   Article 10.3  Use of International Standards  A - - - 
   Article 10.4  Single Window  C 1 January 2019  To be determined  1. Drafting of legislation, pol icy 
framework, strategy and TOR;  
2. Conduct Feasi bility study for AW based 
Single Window ; 
3. Design, implementation  and operation 
of single window;  
4. Training of all stakeholders ; 
5. Funding to acquire the relevant 
equipment and software ; 
6. Implementation of the integrated IT 
infrastructure which will connect to the 
existing system/ or activate the 
ASYCUDA SINGLE WINDOW MODULE.  
   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 C 1 January 2019  To be determined  1. Sourcing funding for the procurement 
of equipment (such as incinerator) and 
consumables for testing purposes;  
2. Support for accreditation formalities to 
help improve capacity and  standard of 
laboratory to conduct test on goods 
prior to rejection;  
3. Technical assistance and capacity 
building to facilitate staff development;  
4. Support for the development of 
national policy guidelines and standard  
  G/TFA/N/SYC/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)  
operation procedures (SOPs) for re -
export and/or destruction of rejected 
goods;  
5. Development of appropriate protocols 
governing and the proper handling and 
transportation of rejected/confiscated 
goods.  
   Article 10.9 .1 Temporary Admission of Goods  A - - - 
   Article 10.9.2  Inward and Outward Processing  C 1 January 2018  To be determined  1. Seeking support to de velop Regulations 
and standard operating procedures 
(SOPs) to facilitate the implementation 
of the provisions ; 
2. Technical assistance and capacity 
building to configure the ASYCUDA 
World system . 
3. Training of Customs officers to 
facilitate the establishment and 
implementation of inward and outward 
processing  
Article 11  Freedom of Transit  
 A - - - 
Article 12  Customs C ooperation  
 A - - - 
 
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