Download - Pre-Export Verification Of Conformity to Standards A government program to protect Zambians
Pre-Export Verification Of Conformity to Standards
A government program to protect Zambians
Danger from sub standard goods
Melted charger
Historical Background Changes in the economic policy of Zambia led to introduction of an
open market economy around 1992. Resulted in an influx of different products on the Zambian market
from all over the world. No scheme in place to check the quality of imported products until
April 2003 The absence of procedures to check the quality and safety of
imports resulted in the presence of inferior quality and un-safe products on the local market.
Introduction of the Import Quality Monitoring Scheme• The scheme was introduced in April 2003 under Statutory Instrument No.
41/2003• Targeted selected imports due to limitations on testing capacity• Involves inspection of goods at points of entry• Scheme not effective in controlling the quality and safety of imports
Objectives and benefits for Zambia
Prevent the importation of products not meeting quality and / or safety standards
Prevent the importation of counterfeit products Protecting consumers and the interests of importers Supporting local producers against unfair competition and
deceptive practices Facilitate the clearance process by eliminating bottlenecks
caused by the verification performed on arrival at entry points
Promote exports and the quality image of the country products (via compliance)
Why PVoC? It is very difficult to professionally verify goods at border points
Limited capabilities of ZABS (necessary to keep product experts at every border point);
Verification opportunity is limited by the need to discharge and re-load goods in containers;
Testing capabilities are limited; Testing and assessment takes time, during
which goods are stored, this incurs direct storage costs (costs can
be significant), and increase working capital cost.
It is even more difficult to track sub-standard products when in the market
HIT RATIO
Number of products in hypermarket is about 10,000. It will take one person about 1 week to estimate only correctness of labeling and expiry dates.
Inspectors stand very little chance to chase all sub-standard products in the market.
Solution: PVoC – Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards
Products are verified before they come to Zambia by qualified personnel of well established independent international companies.
The verification process consists of the following modules: physical inspection sampling and testing document verification factory assessment (for certified products)
To verify products in this way the following is required: international office network international experts international laboratory network experience and track record in similar projects
ALTERNATIVES TO PVoC Keep the status quo by not accurately checking the bulk
of imported goods and thus continue with importation of sub-standard goods onto the Zambian market (the situation today);
Increase several-fold capabilities of ZABS (large budget increase) to check on reasonable proportion of imported goods. ZABS will strive for that but it will take time and require heavy investment from the Government.
Withdraw counterfeit and sub-standard goods from the market: requires sizeable workforce and a reinforcement regime, etc. Prevention is better than cure.
HOW IS THIS PROBLEM SOLVED IN OTHER COUNTRIES: DEVELOPED WORLD
Options Analysis
Option 1 Self declaration of conformity supported by 3rd party test reports, audit reports, design approval etc. Market surveillance.
Requires mature market and very well developed function of market surveillance. Not yet an option for Zambia.
HOW IS THIS PROBLEM SOLVED IN OTHER COUNTRIES: DEVELOPED WORLD
Options Analysis
Option 2 Certification of products by state accredited private certification body (function exercised today by ZABS).
Requires full fledged National Quality Infrastructure in the country (not in place today) and Very well developed network of product specific focused laboratories and product certification bodies To have it in place calls for developed R&D for every product type in the market, plus extensive standards library. Both are inadequate in Zambia, and the process of developing them is quite slow.
HOW IS THIS PROBLEM SOLVED IN OTHER COUNTRIES: DEVELOPING WORLD
Option 1 Regulator focuses on a limited number of goods. Limited means
a couple of dozen (e.g. The Philippines). Not suitable for Zambia, since there are a significantnumber of critical goods and the local production is faroutweighed by imported goods
Option 2 Leave everything to market.The current situation in Zambia, current regulation on importquality not very effective
Option 3 Regulator exercises full control (South Africa). Cannot be implemented in Zambia currently as this requiresa heavy financial and human resource investment byGovernment.
Option 4 PVoC (Kenya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Kuwait, Syria,
more).
VARIOUS CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMMES IN AFRICA AND MIDDLE
EAST
Saudi Arabia
Kenya(Since
2005)
Egypt(Since
2001)
Nigeria
Kuwait
Algeria
UgandaSince 2010
Tanzania (coming soon)
Iraq Since 2011
Lebanon Iran
FEE STRUCTURE
Route A 0.450% of the FOB Value of the goods imported Minimum fee per shipment: USD 350 (shipments up to USD77,700 FOB value) Maximum fee per shipment: USD 7500
Route B 0.400% of the FOB Value of the goods imported Minimum fee per shipment: USD 290 (shipments up to USD72,500 FOB value) Maximum fee per shipment: USD 7000 subject to applicable commercial rates at the port of loading
Route C USD350 (three hundred and fifty US Dollars)
Coverage and conditions The above fees cover the documentary verification and the physical inspection of goods,
The above fees do not include the following activities: Testing: to be quoted on a case by case basis Containers sealing (if requested): to be quoted on a case
by case basis Product Registration: to be quoted on a case by case basis Manufacturer licensing: to be quoted on a case by case
basis Additional fees where goods or facilities are not ready or
available at the time the supplier has advised and therefore an additional inspection visit is required.
Contractors Contact Details
Bureau Veritas:
SGS : Flat No. 2, Plot No. 32254, Thabo Mbeki Road, Lusaka, ZambiaEmail: [email protected]
Phone: +260 966 999 459 +260 967 770 874 +260 967 770 875
Enquiries:[email protected]
Conclusion Benefits
Protect Consumer and Local Industry, Reduce Fraudulent Transactions, Fight against Counterfeit products Prevent Unfair Competition, Simplify Procedures and Faster Customs Clearance,, Pre-export Verification avoids re-export of non compliant goods (protects
the local importer)
CONSUMER PROTECTION: Consumers and Importers lose income because of too many non
conforming products in the market Even when they turn to branded products, they will face counterfeit
products with non conformity risk being even higher.
CONFORMED PRODUCTS AT LOWER PRICE PVoC program does not increase the price of the products PVoC program encourages serious importers to select reliable suppliers
which can provide available conformed products at reduced price
WHY PVoC IS NOT A PSI The purpose of PSI is to improve revenue collection by
ZRA by means of Correct classification of goods Correct valuation of goods Verification of packing list and quantity of shipment PSI was administered under the Ministry of Finance
The purpose of PVoC is to ensure conformity of good to standards, mainly in terms of
health, safety and environment protection
Quantity is not essential
Sampling, testing, analyzing of data sheets, risk assessment are critical activities
The PVoC will be administered by a statutory body (ZABS) under the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry
Zambian Legislation Standards Act, Cap 416 of the Laws of Zambia
Under Part II Section 5 of the Act, the functions of the Bureau are specified and two of these include:
(a) To promote and require the adoption of standards in industry and commerce with a view to improving quality of commodities, industrial efficiency and productivity and after sale support services and all aspects of quality assurance of commodities
(b) To make arrangements or provide facilities for the examination and testing of: (i) commodities to which standards apply; and(ii) The material or substance from which a commodity may be
produced, manufactured, processed, treated or finished
Import Quality Monitoring Regulation The current regulation on import quality monitoring, SI 41 of
2003 is being amended to facilitate implementation of the PVoC program
Conformity assessment
ZABS PVoC Process
What is conformity assessment?
Conformity verification is essentially risk assessment of the exporter/manufacturer’s statement that their goods conform to agreed set of requirements
Consists of the following modules
Physical pre-shipment
Inspection
Documentary check of
conformity
Sampling and testing
Factory or logistics centre
assessment
Verification of conformity
Conformity assessment is essentially a risk management system
Takes into account the safety hazards inherent to the specific product (such as
mechanical, electrical, thermal, fire or explosion, chemical,
biological or radiation hazards)
the severity of hazards
the homogeneity of the consignment
the reliability of the manufacturer / exporter
the final buyer and end use
FORMS OF CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT
Voluntary Conformity Assessment
Systems of Voluntary Certification,
Mandatory Certification
Systems of Mandatory Certification
Declaration of Conformity
Declaration based on own proofs
Equal Legal authority
Declaration based on 3rd Party documents (certificates and Test reports)
Mandatory Conformity Assessment
Depending on the risk of the product
Voluntary Conformity Assessment
Systems of Voluntary Certification
Mandatory Certification
Systems of Mandatory Certification
Declaration of Conformity
Declaration based on own proofs
Declaration based on 3rd Party documents (certifica and Test reports)
Mandatory Conformity Assessment
ISO 9001, 14000…BRC
FI, SE, NE, DE…CSA
PVoCSASO
GOST R CE, GOST R
FLOW CHART FOR PVoCGEOGRAPHIC PROCESS
ZAMBIA
EXPORTING COUNTRY
Importer
ExporterPVoC Agents
PVoC Agents
PVoC:• Inspection,• Testing,• Audit,• Documentary
verification• …
certificate
Clearance
Co
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lian
t G
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ROUTE A: applicable to any goods and any trader ROUTE B:
Recommended for frequent exporter with homogeneous products, Self-declaration of compliance supported by substantiated evidence (test
reports, certificates, etc.), Registration is renewable annually, subject to continual compliance.
ROUTE C Only for manufacturers; certain distributors may qualify as well! Consistent shipment compliance: Evaluation of test reports and additional testing to demonstrate full
compliance with the Standards; Audit of the manufacturing facility & subsequent surveillance visits: Process closely follows ISO / IEC Guide 28 – General Rules for a
model 3rd party Certification Systems for products Licensing is renewable annually, subject to continual compliance.
There are THREE ROUTES of verification of goods
HERE THEY ARE
Inspection
Testing / test report
Satisfactory? CertificateGoods
Non conformity report
registered goods
Review of registration
Risk assessment
Based on the risk Assessment: • documentary review• Inspection• Testing
ROUTE B
ROUTE A
Licensed goods
Random inspection
ROUTE C
Yes
No
FLOW CHART FOR PVOCROUTE A
Inspection
Testing / test report
Satisfactory? CertificateGoods
Non conformity report
Yes
No
FLOW CHART FOR PVOCFACILITATION PROCESS -
ROUTE B
Satisfactory? Certificate
Non conformity report
registered goods
Review of registration
Risk assessment
Based on the risk Assessment: • documentary review• Inspection• Testing
ROUTE B
Yes
No
FLOW CHART FOR PVOCFACILITATION PROCESS -
ROUTE C
Satisfactory? Certificate
Non conformity report
Licensed goods
Random inspection
ROUTE C
Yes
No
Still, how does it work?
BASICS OF BUSINESS PROCESS
Application (RFC+PI)
Registration Offer to exporterAssigning Standards
(classification)
Writing instruction to exporter&
inspector
Receipt of acceptance,
invoicing
Scheduling inspection
Analysing supporting documents
InspectionIssuance of CoCReviewing
results
Testing
BASICS OF BUSINESS PROCESS – GOOD REGISTERED
Application (RFC+PI+IDF)
Registration Offer to exporterAssigning Standards
(classification)
Writing instruction to exporter&
inspector
Receipt of acceptance,
invoicing
Scheduling inspection
Analysing supporting documents
InspectionIssuance of CoCReviewing
results
Testing
OR LICENSED
WHERE DOES IT BREAK
Application (RFC+PI)
Registration Offer to exporterAssigning Standards
(classification)
Writing instruction to exporter&
inspector
Receipt of acceptance,
invoicing
Scheduling inspection
Analysing supporting documents
InspectionIssuance of CoCReviewing
results
Testing
Payment delays
Verification Of Conformity certificate
One document: Issued by a competent and authorized company Required for each shipment and for customs clearance Printed on safety paper or electronic format
Used products without standards
One document: Inspection Report
Only Route A will be used as consistency in quality cannot be assured