The Liberian Ministry of Commerce and Industry has suspended
the operation of BIVAC, a pre-shipping inspection company which
was hired
by the government to examine goods that come into Liberia.
The Commerce Minister of Liberia Samuel Wlue said,
BIVAC's operation has been suspended because it is not performing to
expectation
as it
relates
to examining the quality of goods coming to the Liberian market and
help determine the standard and prices, it has been reported.
PSI - Liberia - 03/03/97
Message from SGS Inspection agency received 28/2/97:
As a result of the peace process and what appears to be increasing
stability, the Government of Liberia has decided to re-introduce Pre-Shipment
Inspection (PSI) requirements originally entrusted to SGS in 1985.
SGS will apparently handle Liberia's global PSI requirements on an
exclusive basis.
The new PSI arrangements will initially operate for 3 years starting
from 7th March 1997 on instructions given by Liberia's Ministry of
Commerce and Industry.
PSI requirements will apply to every shipment for contracts established
on or after 7th March, apart from those goods normally exempted from
inspection, where the total order value exceeds USD 3,000 FOB.
The purpose of this re-introduction is to assist the Government ensure
that goods conform fully to the description set out in the order; that
invoice prices correspond to prevailing market levels; that import
quality levels are maintained; and that the Customs classification
declared by the importer is correct for the assessment of duties and
taxes. PSI will not apply to Liberian exports.
The procedures for physical inspection and the issuance of Clean Reports
of Findings (CRFs) will be the same as those for other countries that
require PSI ie. Ghana.
This latest move shows increasing confidence in Liberia by international
agencies and apparently the prospect of much improved trade. Imposing
PSI strictures from 7th March doesn't give much latitude considering
many orders are already likely to be in process and shippers have little
chance to prepare documentation in time, etc. However, SGS say they
will make every effort to meet requirements and emphasise that the
deadline affects contracts signed and not consignments already being
prepared for shipment.
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"
Customs
Duty Free Status: are You Eligible?
All UN bodies and INGOs are eligible for 100% duty free status once they have
registered with the relevant authorities. This 100% duty free status includes
import and export through all land, sea, and air Entry/Exit Points, as well
as local purchase of fuel and other goods as based on the quota system and
the filing of returns for utilisation of previous fuel.
How Do You Register?
UN Procedure:
Write an official letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs requesting him/her
to introduce your organisation to the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning
and Economic Affairs in order for them to register you for 100% duty free status.
Indicate the following:
The nature of the Agency/Body's work (e.g. Food Aid)
Its predicted area of operation (e.g. Nimba county)
An idea of the sort of goods it will import (both aid and support equipment)
(INTERNAL) The Minister of Foreign Affairs will pass the letter to the
Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs for action.
The Ministry
of Finance will pass the letter to the Commissioner for Customs (within the
Ministry of Finance).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will reply to your letter
notifying you of your 100% duty free status.
The process takes around a
week. There is no cost involved.
INGO Procedure:
Acquire 'Articles of Incorporation' for your INGO. This is a legal document
outlining the nature of your business, your funding, area of operations,
types of import etc. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have a format for 'Articles
of Incorporation' and can assist in drawing these up for your INGO.
Write
an official letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs submitting your
'Articles of Incorporation' and asking for them to be endorsed. The endorsed
'Articles' will then be returned to you.
Write an official letter to the
Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs submitting your endorsed 'Articles
of
Incorporation' and requesting accreditation
for
your INGO.
Go to the Ministry of Finance and pay the US$350 accreditation
fee.
Return to Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs with your receipt
of payment from the Ministry of Finance.
Your certificate of accreditation
will be presented
to you (this is your proof of 100% duty free status).
The process
takes approximately one week.
A renewal fee of US$100 must be paid annually
by all INGOs.
Importing at Duty Free:
All customs forms mentioned below are to be paid for by all parties except
United Nations bodies and Diplomatic Missions. However, NGOs and INGOs can,
on an ad hoc basis, submit official written requests to the Minister of Finance
asking for gratis forms.
Pre-Shipment Inspections
All imports to Liberia are required to undergo a pre-shipment inspection.
However, United Nations bodies and Diplomatic Missions can get exemption from
this pre-shipment inspection.
Procedure:
Write a letter to the Minister of Commerce requesting a gratis Import Permit
Declaration (IPD) form. The Minister will authorise gratis status by signing
your letter. Without this authorisation of gratis status you will pay US$25
per IPD form.
Take the letter to the Foreign Trade Section of the Ministry
of Commerce. They will issue you with an IPD and will fill it out with
you granting exemption
from pre-shipment inspection.
Take the exempt IPD to BIVAC on Jamaica Road.
BIVAC will stamp 'Exempt' on the IPD. BIVAC is the private company employed
by the Government of
Liberia
to carry out pre-inspections.
Send the exempt IPD to your importer who
will present it to the BIVAC representative at their location. Your goods
will then be processed without
a pre-inspection.
Send a copy of the exempt IPD to your Clearing Agent
for processing upon arrival of your goods.
The process takes around one
to two days.
Getting a Duty Free Permit
Once you have duty free status, you must acquire a duty free permit for each
bill of lading that you wish to import into Liberia at duty free. Two forms
are involved: the 'Application for Exemption' form, and the 'Consumption Entry'
form. The procedure involved differs slightly between the Freeport of Monrovia
and all other Entry Points. At the Freeport you will be responsible for collecting
all the necessary Government signatures on your forms, while at all other Entry
Points this will be undertaken by the Customs Collector and his staff.
Procedure at the Freeport of Monrovia (per bill of lading):
Before your goods arrive in Liberia, buy an 'Application for Exemption' form
and a 'Consumption Entry' form. These can either be bought at every Customs
Office (i.e. at the border) or they can be bought in Monrovia at the Sale of
Forms Office on the ground floor of the Ministry of Finance.
'Application for Exemption' forms cost US$100 (free for UN bodies and Diplomatic
Missions).
'Consumption Entry' forms cost L$200 and must be paid for by
everyone.
Fill in and submit both forms together to Customs at the Entry Point.
(INTERNAL)
When your goods arrive, they will be examined to ascertain their value
and duty level. This duty will obviously not be paid but is documented
for internal Government records.
Once the examination is completed, the
'Application for Exemption' and 'Consumption Entry' forms will be handed
back to you.
Take both forms to the Bureau of Concessions (BOC) at the
Ministry of Finance where they will be signed and stamped by the Director.
Take both forms to the Duty Free Section at the Ministry of Finance where
they will be signed and stamped by the Director.
Take both forms to the
Bureau of Customs and Excise at the Ministry of Finance where they will
be signed and stamped by the Commissioner.
Take both forms back to the Customs
Collector at the Point of Entry who will carry out the final signing and
sealing of the documents.
Once this
is completed,
your goods will be released to you.
Timeframe for the whole process
is one to two days.
Procedure at All Other Entry Points (per bill of lading):
Before your goods arrive in Liberia, buy an 'Application for Exemption' form
and a 'Consumption Entry' form. These can either be bought at every Customs
Office (i.e. at the border) or they can be bought in Monrovia at the Sale of
Forms Office on the ground floor of the Ministry of Finance.
'Application for Exemption' forms cost US$100 (free for UN bodies and Diplomatic
Missions).
'Consumption Entry' forms cost L$200 and must be paid for by everyone.
Fill in and submit both forms together to Customs at
the Entry Point where your goods will arrive.
(INTERNAL) When your
goods arrive, they will be examined to ascertain their value and duty level.
This duty will obviously not be paid but is documented
for internal Government records.
(INTERNAL) Signatures of the relevant representatives
of the Director of the Bureau of Concessions, the Director of the Bureau
of Duty Free, and the
Commissioner
for the Bureau of Customs and Excise will be added to your forms. They
will then be passed on to the Customs Collector at the Entry Point.
Once
the Customs Collector has approved the inspection, he/she will sign off
on both the 'Application for Exemption' and 'Consumption Entry' forms
and approve
the release of your goods.
Timeframe for the whole process is one to
two days.
The 'Special Release'
A 'Special Release' is a way of temporarily bypassing the procedure outlined
above in Section 3.2.2 in order to take control of your goods quickly. However
you will still be required to go through the procedure spelt out in Section
3.2.2 and will be given 7 days after receiving your 'Special Release' to do
so. If you do not go through the procedure spelt out in Section 3.2.2 within
7 days of receiving your 'Special Release' you may not be eligible for further
'Special Releases'.
A 'Special Release' is granted for three reasons:
For perishable
goods (i.e. medicines or fresh food that must get to proper storage quickly).
If you do not have all necessary paperwork at the Point of Entry.
If the
goods are urgently needed emergency humanitarian supplies.
Procedure (per
bill of lading):
The procedure is the same for all sea, land, and air Entry
Points.
Write an official letter to the Deputy Minister of Finance for
Revenue requesting a 'Special Release'.
The Deputy Minister will give assent
and you then purchase a 'Special Release' form from the Sale of Forms
Office
on the ground floor of the Ministry
of Finance. Each form costs US$50 but is free for the UN bodies and
Diplomatic Missions.
Fill in the form and submit it to the Deputy Minister
of Finance for Revenue for signature.
Take the form to the Commissioner
for Customs for signature.
Take the form to the Customs Collector at the
Point of Entry who will sign and seal the form and release your goods.
If you are importing goods through an Entry Point outside of Monrovia you
may not be able to transport the signed 'Special
Release' to
the Entry Point
in
time. Therefore you can ask the Commissioner for Customs,
once he/she has signed the form, to phone the Customs Collector
at the Entry
Point and authorise
them
to issue a 'Special Release' on site. However, please note
that authorisation must come from Monrovia and a 'Special Release'
cannot be issued
at the Entry Point without it.
The timeframe for acquiring
a 'Special Release' is around one day.
