Consumer Protection (Safety Requirements) Regulations 2014

24 September 2015

Proposed Customs Clearance Procedures

Giandeo MungrooTeam Leader

Tariff Information Unit

Scope of Presentation

Clearance of Electrical Appliances:

• As-Is procedure

• To-Be process flow

Implementation approach

Relationship with Single Window

Implementation Approach

Technical Committee chaired by rep. of Min. of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED)

Parties:

Min. of Finance and Economic Development

Min. of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection

Mauritius Standards Bureau (MSB)

MRA Customs

Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)

Objectives:

To examine how to make the link between products identified by Commerce/MSB and Customs so as to facilitate the implementation of the regulations

Controlled goods and the applicable safety standards

Part 1Domestic or household appliances

and similar electrical appliances

70 products are concerned

Implementation Approach

The regulations cannot be implemented for all products in one go viewed the complexity in identifying the product at import.

A Phase approach to implementation is agreed

A list of twenty (20) products having specific headings have been identified and agreed for implementation for the first phase.

Implementation Approach

Extract of the 20 products having specific headings in the Harmonised System (HS) Nomenclature Version 2012

Product HS Code

Hair Dryers 8516.31

Microwave Oven 8516.50

Coffee or tea maker 8516.71

Lamp holders 8536.61

……….. ………….

Clearance of Electrical Appliances

As-Is Situation

There is no control on these goods at import

The implementation of the safety regulations should not:

Cargo clearance dwell time

Operational costs (e.g. demurrage)

MRA Customs is proposing to adopt the same principle as for the clearance of:

•Iron bars

•Refrigerated goods

•Films

In the absence of the “certificate of conformity” goods listed in the Schedule of the Consumer Protection (Safety Requirements) Regulations 2014, will be cleared from Customs and delivered to the Consumer Protection Unit (CPU) under seal.

Clearance of Electrical Appliances

To-Be Process Flow

CMS

Customs Declaratio

n

• Validation and payment (if any) effected

Compliance

• Declaration is assigned a yellow channel

Certificate of conformity

duly certified by MSB /

test report attached ?

Yes

Goods released to importer/Consignee

No

Goods released to CPU under seal

Clearance of Electrical Appliances

Relationship with Single Window

Project is in progress

The steering committee is exploring different alternatives

The Single Window is geared towards managing import permits and not test certificate

o Split HS Code which is the last resort as it is internationally not recommended

o Use of a product code to cater for commodity falling under safety regulations

THANK YOUTHANK YOU