As shipping companies are facing limited stuffing areas within the terminal.
For this reason, stuffing performed externally is permitted, provided that the
following legal conditions and procedures are respected:
1. The presence of a customs officer is mandatory
during the container stuffing process, otherwise the container will be subject
to examination by customs authorities.
2. The container must be sealed with a shipping company’s seal at the
stuffing site.
3. The seal must be identifiable with a specific number.
4. If the seal is not in the same condition upon arrival at the terminal, the
container will be examined.
The Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme [NESS] has been enlarged to
include oil and gas exports with effect from 1st February, 2007. A public announcement
was issued in 'The Punch' click here for
details.
Nigerian FG Introduces
Destination Inspection From 1st January 2006
The Nigerian Federal Government [FG] has released guidelines for the implementation
of Destination Inspection [DI], which is to replace Pre-Shipment Inspection
[PSI] on January 1, 2006. Please find two documents attached.
Under the new scheme, goods destined for Nigeria's ports are inspected at the
point of entry rather than at the point of shipment, which was hitherto the
practice. The scheme will be carried out by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS),
as well as three firms that will act as Destination Inspection Service Providers
that will provide scanning services at the ports.
The guideline, which was signed by the Director of Home Finance, Ministry of
Finance, Alhaji Jubril Zarewa, gives details of import procedures, import duty
payment procedures, documentation requirements and processes and flow chart
of clearance procedure under the new inspection scheme.
Please note the guide outlines that all Forms M opened in 2005 with goods
still outstanding will be cancelled at the end of March 2006. All Forms M
raised
in 2006 will be claused for Destination Inspection.
For assistance please contact Cotecna
Cotecna Destination Inspection (Head Office)
Oyo State House, 4th Floor, Ralph Shodehine Street, Central Business District,
ABUJA
Main Phone +234 9 234 58 54
Main Fax +234 9 234 30 70
Main Email: abubakar.mujeli@cotecna.ch
Website: www.cotecna.com
Liaison Office Manager : Mr A.G. MUJELI
Intertek has been appointed to operate the
new Nigerian Product Conformity Assessment Programme [SONCAP]. The work shall be
carried out for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria [SON] on a sole-mandate
basis. SONCAP was implemented from 01 March 2005 with a self-declaration
period
until 30 April 2005 after which the full processes will be applied.
The Government of Nigeria has implemented this programme to:
1) Prevent the importation and dumping of unsafe, sub-standard and counterfeit
products
2) Prevent the loss of foreign exchange spent in importing these items in
the past.
Products concerned are the following:
1. All electrical and electronic products (household appliances, IT products,
communication products, lighting products, audio-visual products, etc...)
2. Motor vehicle tyres
3. Automotive glass
4. Vehicle spare parts
5. Motor vehicle batteries
6. Gas Appliances
7. Toys
8. Certain galvanised steel products
Demonstrating compliance with SONCAP is a two stage process:
The first stage, Product Certification, is applicable only the first time that
you wish to export a particular type or model of product. A Product Certificate
will be issued after the submission of an acceptable Test Report to the local
SON Country Office. The resulting Product Certificate can be valid for up
to three years but is dependent upon the age of the Test Report.
The second stage, Shipment Certification, is applicable on a shipment by shipment
basis.
OTAL will not be held liable for the exporter's non-compliance with SONCAP.
For further information on this issue please contact one of the country offices
to receive detailed guidelines, for the product specifications under this programme
and to arrange the necessary work to be carried out. Alternatively visit the
programme website at www.soncap.com
Intertek in Nigeria
Intertek has operated in Nigeria since 1984 operating through a local affiliate
- Swede Control Intertek Limited.
For products falling within its scope, the SONCAP is applicable in addition
to and is independent of the Pre-shipment Inspection Programme in Nigeria.
Programme Management - Contact Details Nigeria
Northern Business District
Plot 13/14
Victoria Arobieke Street
Off Admiralty Way, Lekki Peninsula
Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria
Website: www.soncap.com
Email: info@soncap.com
Global Programme Management
Intertek International Ltd (Dubai Branch)
Al Moosa tower II, 25th Floor
Sheikh Zayed Road
P.O. Box 26290
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4 3312440 / Fax: +971 4 3316735
E-mail: info@soncap.com
Head Office of Intertek International Ltd.
Academy Place,
1-9 Brook Street,
Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5NQ,
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1277 223400 Fax: +44 1277 220127
E-mail: info.fts@intertek.com
Clarification on export of processed woods
products and furniture components - 17/02/05
Nigeria Customs Circular No. 57/2004 of 2nd December, 2004 gives clarification
on export of processed woods products and furniture components:
Nigeria Customs Service - NCS/T&T/I&E/038/S.17/T
2nd December, 2004
CLARIFICATION ON EXPORT OF PROCESSED WOODS, PRODUCTS AND FURNITURE COMPONENTS.
With reference to Federal Ministry of Finance letter No. BD.12237/S.63/IX/DII/120
of 25th June, 2004 and further to Circular No. 031/2004 of 20th July, 2004,
I am directed to inform you that the Honourable Minister of Finance, in a
letter reference No. BD12011/S.22.II/236 date 23rd November, 2004 has clarified
that only exporters of furniture and furniture components would be required
to assemble units of each particular furniture from the assembled components
din the presence of officials of the Pre-shipment Inspection Agents and Nigeria
Customs Service at the port of Loading. This is to ensure strict compliance
with Government. Policy on the export of furniture and furniture components.
On the other hand, exporters of processed wood in semi or full finished products
are exempted from the assembling process applicable to exporters of furniture
and furniture components. This is because the products are not exportable in
Complete-Knock-Down [CKD] components.
You are hereby directed to allow exporters of furniture components and those
of processed wood products to export their products as clarified above and
in total compliance with extant export policy guidelines. However, you are
to ensure that prohibited items of wood are not exported under the guise of
furniture components or processed wood. Ensure strict compliance, please.
Clearance Procedure - General (Imports) - 03/12/04
Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) has announced new set of
clearance procedure for imports vide Customs Circular No. 38/2004 of 24th August,
2004. Please
find a copy below. At this stage we do not see that clearance time will be
affected. Please click here the view the clearance procedure circular.
Please be informed that Customs Headquarters has suspended the acceptance
of all Duty payment transactions based on Negotiable Duty Credit Certificate
(NDCC). We hereby provide you with Customs Circular No. 037/2004 of 9th August,
2004 on the Subject.
To: ALL DEPUTY COMPTROLLER-GENERAL /ZONAL COORDINATORS / CUSTOMS AREA CONTROLLERS
/ HEADS OF UNITS
CIRCULAR NO. 37/2004SUSPENSION OF NDCC TRANSACTIONS
I AM DIRECTED TO INFORM YOU THAT ACCEPTANCE OF ALL DUTY PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS
BASED ON NEGOTIABLE DUTY CREDIT CERTIFICATE [NDCC] IS SUSPENDED WITH IMMEDIATE
EFFECT.
(Signed)KPAGIH, B. L.
ACG [TARIFF & TRADE]
FOR: COMPTROLLER-GENERAL OF CUSTOMS
Nigerian Government to stop
collection of cargo Levies at Ports - 03/12/04
This is rumoured to be linked to a recent World Bank report stating that the
levies were making the Nigerian ports uncompetitive throughout the sub-region.
Specifically the World Bank advised the Nigerian Government to discontinue
the collection of 4% freight charges and the further 5% development charges
on goods with Nigeria as final destination.
The World bank also recommended the abolishment of the Maritime Labour Act
... it said that after the port concessioning programme the private terminal
operators should be allowed to recruit their own dockworkers.
Following recommendations by the presidential
committee set up to re-examine the contract granted to Cotecna for inspection
of goods at all entry points into Nigeria, a new bidding process has commenced
in which SGS, Control Union, Cotecna, Global Scan, Contec Global and Jerrob
Inspection are all reported to be interested. The presidential committee, led
by the Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo, is reported to have divided
the various entry points into three lots, and to be offering contracts on the
basis of build, own, operate and transfer over a period of seven years, during
which the owners are expected to have recouped their investment. At the end
of seven years the scanners would become the property of the Federal Government.
Successful bidders will be required to execute their contracts with at least
25% Nigerian participation.
Nigerian signed up
to the IPPC effective from
30/09/04 - 22/09/04
The Nigerian Government according to the attached
document has signed up to the IPPC effective from 30/09/04. This means
that ALL solid wood packing materials (SWPM) going into Nigeria must be treated
and certificated. If any SWPM does not conform after this date the consignee
could be fined and can expect serious delays in obtaining their cargo.
Concession
On Clearance Of Goods Imported Without Clean Report Of Inspection
(CRI) - 15/04/04
Following the concession granted importers on the clearance of goods imported
without Clean Report of Inspection (CRI) via Customs Circular No.06/2004 of
16th February, 2004, Customs Circular 007/2004 of 27th, February, 2004 (reproduced
below) has clarified that clearance of such non-CRI goods must include 50%
of the Assessed Duty as penalty and not 50% of the assessed FOB.
However, media reports informed that the Federal Government has recently slashed
the penalty down from 50% to 20% of duty payable with immediate effect. Although
there is no official circular to that effect at the moment.
Concession of Clearance of Goods Imported Without Clean Report of Inspection
Circular No. 007/2004 - NCS/DCG/T&T/ABJ/O 18/S .4/VOL.XI - 27th February,
2004
Further to my circular No. 6/2004 of 16th February, 2004, I am directed to
inform you that all CRls to be issued pertaining to the concession on Clearance
of Goods imported without Clean Report of Inspection must include 50% of the
ASSESSED DUTY as penalty surcharge and NOT 50% of the assessed FOB value as
earlier stated.
Signed NWAIWU, J. [DR.], DEPUTY COMPTROLLER-GENERAL
[T&T]
Inspection and
Certification of Artefacts and Solid Wood Packing Materials
(SWPM) For Export And Import
At Tincan Island Port
- 15/04/04
The Plant Quarantine Service, Department of Agriculture of the Federal Ministry
of Agriculture and Natural Resources has issued a new directive on solid
wood packing materials for both import and export. Please see below circular
from the Area Coordinating Officer, Tin Can Island Port.
Plant Quarantine Service - Inspection & Certification - 30/03/2004
In line with requirements and guidelines for regulating wood packaging material
in international trade approved by the International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC), it is now mandatory for all consignees using solid wood and other
packaging materials, including pallets, dunnage, crating, packing blocks,
drums,cases, collars and skids, to obtain import permit from the Nigerian
Plant Quarantine Service, (where conditions of importation) will be stated
before embarking on such importation.
The same applies for export, all solid wood packaging materials and others
specified above must be subjected to plant Quarantine Inspection on arrival
at Tin Can Island port.
Signed Dr O O Ige, Area Coordinating Officer, Tin Can Island Port
Suspension of Swede Control Intertek Lifted -
Assignment of the Countries they Cover - March 2004
Central Bank of Nigeria Ref: TED/AD/128/2003
The suspension order placed on Swede Control Intertek by the Federal Ministry
of Finance on October 29th 2003 (Ref: TED/A/109/2003) has been lifted. Consequently
the following countries recently shared between SGS and Cotecna have been reverted
to Swede Control's jurisdiction:
Export Expansion
Grant on Cotton Lint and Textile Products - March 2004
A special concession has been granted to the textile industry.
Ref NCS/DCG/T&T/024/S.12/Vol.II/119
The Nigerian President has approved and directed implementation of the following
Fiscal Policy Measures with effect from 22nd December 2003
Cotton lint being a raw material is entitled to 5% Export Expansion Grant (EEG)
All textile products such as yarn, cloth,polyester,made-ups and garments are
entitled to 40% Export Expansion Grant (EEG)
All restriction currently imposed on the importation of textiles would contain
to remain in force
Details of implementation to ensure that cheating and fraudulent claims are
avoided should be worked out
Note that the decisions above will remain in force for the duration of this
administration i.e. till 2007
This is a special concession granted to the textile industry to, among others,
save the rapidly declining textile sector, saving thousands of jobs, help the
sector to recapitalize and improve technology. The concession is also to enable
the textile industry meet up with the challenge of attaining a US$ 1 Billion
export target by the year 2006.
Nigerian
Customs - Clean Report of Findings - February 2004
The Government has announced an exemption for goods imported into Nigeria without
a Clean Report of Findings which had been expected to be imported under the new
Destination Inspection Scheme. Announcing a two month period of grace, the new
Acting Comptroller of the Customs has said that all affected imports will be
subject to a 50% F.O.B. penalty and that importers should include them together
with a combined certificate of Value and Origin, bills of lading and other documents
to the pre-shipment inspection companies in the country of origin. The goods
concerned will then be subject to a 100% physical examination in Nigeria before
being given clearance.
There has been a marked increase in the level of Custom raids since the New Year
which have been widely reported and which include containers seized at Apapa
which held 3 new Lexus cars and 3 BMWs, as well as textiles and new refrigerators
all of which are prohibited imports.
One of the hardest tasks facing the Government is to
convert Nigerians to the belief that locally manufactured goods are
of a high standard and more acceptable than imports. The textile industry
in particular has experienced major problems over the years as it competes
with smuggled goods which have been widely available in local markets,
leading to over 100,000 workers losing their jobs. The President of
the Manufacturers Association was quoted recently as saying that import
duty in 2003 should have been as high as US$4 billion compared to the
revenue of US$2 billion that was actually collected. Counterfeit goods,
particularly from South East Asia have long been a problem and it is
hoped that the Destination Inspection will lead to a substantial decline.
Please click
here to view the official letter from the
Nigerian Customs Department Ref NCS/DCG/T&T/ABJ/018/S.4/Vol.XI
Destination Inspection At Ports
Begin- January 2004
The new regime of destination inspection of imported goods at the seaports
finally took off skeletally following the arrival of two mobile scanners,
at the Roll On/Roll Off (RORO) port in Lagos.
The scanners are worth $8 million and were imported by Cotecna Destination
Inspection Ltd. The remaining machines are being expected on or before
the end of January 2004.
Mr. Jennings Dermont, the Regional Vice President
of Cotecna, explained that with the scanner, it would be easier to
ascertain the quality,
description, packing and the density of goods in a container. Adding
that the scanners could handle a 20-foot container in 30 seconds and
40-foot container in 55 seconds. He said, "the benefit is that
you can move it (scanner) around. It can also adapt to and there is
provision for gaps and good tracks (dedicated work area)."
Please click
here to view the official letter from the
Central Bank of Nigeria Ref TED/AD/16/2004
