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Thupeyo Muleya/Bianca Mlilo, Business Reporters
THE new pre-shipment regulations under the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) programme came into effect this week with non-compliant businesses crying foul.

The new regulations were gazetted last December and require that goods be tested for conformity with stipulated quality and health standards prior to importation into Zimbabwe.

Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Chiratidzo Mabuwa said the exercise went into full operation on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, after missing the mid-2015 deadline over legislation hurdles.

“I can confirm that the programme has been rolled out and is in full force. We’re working with two key stakeholders, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) and the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ),” she said.

Deputy Minister Mabuwa revealed that Zimra has trained 400 of its officials to do authentication of the CBCA certification, adding that all stakeholders had been informed to avoid inconvenience. The government awarded the tender for the exercise to French-owned Bureau Veritas as part of measures to curb influx of hazardous and substandard imported products as well as improving customs duty collection.

Bureau Veritas is responsible for verification and assessment of conformity of goods in exporting countries.

However, since Tuesday the move has seen cargo piling up on the South African side of the border with most importers failing to produce the required transitional certificate of conformity.

Shipping and Forwarding Agents Association of Zimbabwe (SFAAZ) chief executive officer, Joseph Musariri has since called on the government to waive the implementation of CBCA on goods, which were shipped before the exercise became operational.

“You’ll note that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) has failed to enforce the regulations since 18 December last year only to try and implement it this week and that has resulted in a chaotic situation,” he said.

“It’s sad that cargo is piling up at Beitbridge Border Post where most importers are having challenges in acquiring the transitional CBCA certificates.” The exercise had to be deferred to 2016 after businesses raised concern over payment modalities and questions over legislative basis supporting its implementation.

Under the new dispensation all products regulated by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce being imported into Zimbabwe must be accompanied by a CBCA certificate.

The categories of goods regulated under the programme include: food and agriculture, building and civil engineering, petroleum and fuels, packaging material, electrical/electronic products, body care, automotive and transportation, clothing and textile and toys.

Musariri claimed Zimra was now refusing to clear goods without the CBCA certificate and requesting for the conformity certificates.

“They’re telling those importers to contact the nearest offices for Bureau Veritas for inspections and issuance of the requisite certificates.

“Locally destined cargo, which is being shipped from various overseas markets is the worst affected and importers are incurring daily demurrage expenses of between $250 and $5, 000,” he said.

“In some cases duties had been paid to Zimra but now they’re singing a different song.”

Bureau Veritas liaison officer for Zimbabwe, Tendai Malunga said his organisation was ready for the implementation of CBCA.

“We’ve trained various stakeholders on the new programme and are ready to roll. Furthermore, we’ve hired more staff in most countries to conduct inspections and various conformity tests on the various countries exporting goods to Zimbabwe,” he said.

According to the new regulations if goods do not meet the conformity assessment, the consignee is responsible for footing the bill to take back the goods to the country of origin.

The government has pegged the minimum amount of conformity at $250 with the maximum of $2,500 while the threshold is settled at $1,000.

Recently the ministry conducted an awareness programme across the country sensitising businesses about the new regime of inspecting goods. As from March 1, 2016 businesses are expected to be the fully compliant with the new regulations.