Gambain PSI will go ahead but has been postponed by 1 month to 1st
November. Most statements made have been unclear and traders are holding
back on receiving cargo until November.
PSI of Imports to Gambia
The information given in this document has been given
in good faith and believed to be correct at the time of writing. Please
verify these facts with other relevant sources before using this as
the basis of any action taken as we regret we cannot accept liability
for an consequences due to inaccuracies in this information.
The Government of The Republic of The Gambia hereby notifies
all importers, exporters and the general public of the introduction
of a "PRE-SHIPMENT INSPECTION PROGRAMME" in respect of all
eligible imports/exports to and from the Gambia. The inspection company
appointed by Government in this regard is BUREAU VERITAS BIVAC BV (BIVAC).
BIVAC shall carry out quality and quantity inspection and valuation
of goods in the country of export and classification under The Gambia's
import Tariff based on the Harmonised System Code. Duties and taxes
will be calculated accordingly.
This programme has been designed with the following main objectives
in mind:
As an aid to Government in ensuring that goods and products imported
comply with specified standards in respect of their quality, quantity
and price.
To enhance the standing and quality of our produce/products in
the International Marketplace.
To assist Government in the collection of correct duties and taxes
on The Gambia's International trade and The Customs and Excise Department
in the clearance and release of consignments.
The following regulations shall come into force on the 1 October
1999 and shall cover all goods imported/exported against a contract
supply/sale, tender, confirmation, advice, and letter of credit established
on or after this date.
For transactions entered into before this date the latest
shipment date to and from The Gambia as evidenced by the relevant transport
document shall be 31 October 1999.
Import Procedure
All imports irrespective of their category, value and source of
funding must be registered with BIVAC's liaison office in Banjul.
Importers shall obtain and complete a pre-shipment inspection order
(pio) and deliver same together with the following documents to the
liaison office of bivac, whose address, telephone and fax numbers
will be advised by newspaper publication in good time prior to the
commencement of the programme
A) Clear, legible copy of sellers itemised proforma invoice, numbered,
dated and showing unit prices, FOB, freight, CFR/CIF.
B) Copy of letter of credit where applicable.
C) Any other document as may be required in respect of any specific
importation.
At the time of submission of the PIO and supporting documents for
goods subject to pre-shipment inspection a fee of 1.40% (one point
four zero percent) of the declared fob value as stated in the proforma
invoice is payable in dollars to BIVAC or US$250 (two hunderd and
fifty) which ever is the greater.
The PIO and supporting documents in respect of items appearing
hereafter under the goods exempted from PSI section shall be examined
and if appropriate certified as being eligible for exemption from
the pre-shipment inspection process.
The complete inspection order
shall be electronically transmitted to the bivac office in the
country of supply and importers
must ensure
that their seller/exporter responds immediately to bivac’s
request for information concerning pricing, technical details etc.
Necessary for inspection and valuation. The seller / exporter must
prepare the goods at his own expense for inspection in the country
of supply and give ten working days notice to bivac prior to shipment.
In order to aviod delays and subseouent extra costs to the importer
and ultimately the gambian consumer, importers are urged to advise
their seller/exporter to provide the relevant inspection company's
office with the required final documentation within the shortest
possible time after satisfactory inspection and valuation. This will
enable the bivac office in the country of supply to transmit the
clean report of findings (crf) to the liaison office in banjul in
time for import entry and subsequent clearance through customs.
Importers or their authorised
clearing agent are advised to contact bivac’s liaison office
in order to obtain the required original clean report of findings
at the appropriate
time.
The original clean report of findings or in its absence the document
described in 1.4 above shall be mandatory documents necessary to
support declarations made in the relevant import entry declaration
which should make reference to same in box 29.
Payment for Imports
Banks are advised to ensure that no payment for any import transaction
subject to the pre-shipment inspection process is made unless:
The original seller's final invoice is attested by bivac, its agents
or affiliates in the country of supply or where applicable the nominated
bivac office confirming that a clean report of findings has been issued.
Details of the clean report of findings shall be stated and security
(hologram) label affixed to the original invoice.
Goods Exempted from Pre-Shipment Inspection.
16 items exempted can be viewed at the customs and excise department
and BIVAC's liaison office in Banjul. (this list will follow when
available).
Where the total order value as stated in the relevant contract/proforma
invoice is below usd 1,000 fob (onethousand us dollars) or its equivalent.
Export Procedure
All eligible exports must be registered witii bivac's liaison office
Banjul
Exporters shall complete a pre-shipment inspection order (PIO)
and submit same together with the following documents:
A) Clear legible copy of contract/agreement/buyer's order/acceptance
of offer.
B) Copy of letter of credit
C) Any other document as may be required
in respect of any specific exportation.
The pre-shipment inspection fee shall be as per imports
procedures section.
The exporter shall give bivac reasonable notice prior to the proposed
date of inspection of'f the goods and shall supply a packing list
and any other document deemed necessary for carrying out the inspection.
The exporter shall make arrangements for handling, presentation,
sampling, shop testing of the goods at his own cost for purpose of
inspection. The stuffing and sealing of all containers must be witnessed
and performed by bivac inspectors. The exporter must undertake to
rectify any discrepancies brought to his attention by bivac.
On satisfactory inspection and valuation the exporter
shall submit two copies of the final invoice and the transport document
to bivac
to facilitate the issuance of the mandatory clean report of findings.
Exports exempted from pre-shipment inspection
As
per imports under goods exempted from PSI section above.
Penalty
Appropriate penalties shall be imposed for any material breach of
the regulations covering the pre-shipment inspection programme
Notwithstanding the above point, imports and exports subject to pre-shipment
inspection under this programme arriving in or leaving the gambia without
having undergone the requisite inspection shall attract a penalty equal
to 30% (thirty percen'i') of their verified value.
The information given in this document has
been given in good faith and believed to be correct at the time of
writing. Please verify these facts with other relevant sources before
using this as the basis of any action taken as we regret we cannot
accept liability for an consequences due to inaccuracies in this information.
"THE CARRIER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISSING
OR INCORRECT IDR/CRI NUMBERS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY REMAINS WITH THE
MERCHANT. ANY FINES/ PENALTIES LEVIED AGAINST THE CARRIER ARE FOR THE
MERCHANT'S ACCOUNT"
