The ManicaPost
THE Common Market for East and Southern Africa (Comesa) Simplified Trade Regime (STR) has been introduced to expedite clearances for small scale cross border traders.
The STR may be used by small scale cross border traders who are importing or exporting goods worth $1 000 or less per consignment; with goods that are listed on the Common List that qualifies under the Comesa STR; and small scale traders with goods for resale.
The Comesa STR is used under following conditions: –
The goods will be sold in the country of final destination and not in transit country
The goods are worth $1 000 or less
The goods appear on the Common List of goods
Traders with goods that have been grown or made in the Comesa region and appear on the Common List will need to complete the Simplified Certificate of Origin.
The Simplified Certificate of Origin enables the trader to enjoy duty and quota free entry of their goods, provided these goods appear on the
Common List.
It must be submitted together with the Comesa Simplified Customs Document, which should be completed by the trader at the border post and certified or stamped by a Zimra official at the border post.
The Simplified Certificate of Origin is for use by the small scale cross border traders with consignments of $1 000 or less. Please note that the amount of $1 000 should include the cost of transporting the goods and insurance from the country of export to the border post.
If the values are not available, Zimra will add the cost of freight and insurance at 6 percent of the cost of the item.
Traders handling larger consignments who wish to benefit from duty free entry of their goods must use the normal Comesa Certificate of Origin.
In addition to the necessary travel documents, the small scale cross border trader should possess the following documents: –
Comesa Simplified Certificate of Origin
Invoices of the goods
Import or export permits for certain agricultural goods and animal products.
When traders reach the border post, they should make sure that they separate goods that appear on the Common List from those that do not. For goods that appear on the Common List, the trader should fill in the Simplified Certificate of Origin which will be certified and stamped by Zimra officials at the border post.
Disclaimer
This article was compiled by the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority for information purposes only. Zimra shall not accept responsibility for loss or damage arising from use of material in this article and no liability will attach to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
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