Consumer Protection Safety Requirements Regulations 2014 Proposed Customs

Consumer Protection (Safety Requirements) Regulations 2014 Proposed Customs Clearance Procedures Giandeo Mungroo Team Leader Tariff Information Unit 24 September 2015

Scope of Presentation q Implementation approach q Clearance of Electrical Appliances: • As-Is procedure • To-Be process flow q Relationship with Single Window

Implementation Approach Technical Committee chaired by rep. of Min. of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) Parties: Ø Min. of Finance and Economic Development Ø Min. of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection Ø Mauritius Standards Bureau (MSB) Ø MRA Customs Ø 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

Implementation Approach Controlled goods and the applicable safety standards Part 1 Domestic or household appliances and similar electrical appliances 70 products are concerned 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)

Clearance of Electrical Appliances 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 Customs Declaration CMS • Validation and payment (if any) effected • Declaration is assigned a yellow channel Compliance Goods released to CPU under seal Certificate of conformity duly certified by MSB / test report attached ? Yes Goods released to importer/Consignee No

Relationship with Single Window q Project is in progress q The Single Window is geared towards managing import permits and not test certificate q The steering committee is exploring different alternatives 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

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