The Ministry of Industrialization and Trade’s (MIT) Directorate of International Trade is in charge of overseeing Namibia’s participation in international trade organizations and coordinating the nation’s trade policies. The Directorate is in charge of overseeing the import/export processes. The WTO Agreement on Import Licensing has Namibia as a party.
Although most permits are automatically issued, all imports are subject to licensing. Medicines, chemicals, frozen and chilled fish and meat, live animals, genetic materials, controlled petroleum products, firearms and explosives, diamonds, gold, and other minerals, and seemingly all second-hand goods like clothing and automobiles are among the few products that require non-automatic licenses. In reality, MIT does not grant permits for the importation of used clothing.
A permit from MIT is required for the majority of agricultural imports. Permits are issued by the Namibian Agronomic Board for the transit, import, and export of restricted agronomic crops such as corn, wheat, and wheat products. The MAWLF must also issue phytosanitary certificates for the importation of all plants and plant products, as well as agronomic crops and derivatives. The import and export of live animals (cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs) as well as related meat products are governed by the Namibian Meat Board. The Directorate of Veterinary Services must issue importers of live animals and meat products a veterinary import permit to prove that they conform with the nation’s animal health regulations.
Import tariffs
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU), of which Namibia is a member, unifies the customs laws of Lesotho, Botswana, South Africa, and eSwatini. Between members of SACU, there are no tariff barriers. With input from SACU members, South Africa determines the standard tariff schedule for the organization.
Non-tariff obstacles are likewise absent from the majority of intra-SACU trade-in products. Both a common external tariff and a common excise tax are applied to imports from the rest of the world.
Trade barriers
Namibia has several trade barriers. In addition to the delays caused by customs, the government has imposed a large number of restrictions on imports and exports, the vast majority of which are aimed at agricultural items. White maize, wheat, and mahangu (also known as pearl millet) are examples of controlled grains, along with the products that can be made from these crops. The Agronomic Board and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform are the only entities that have the authority to grant licenses for the importation or exportation of controlled grain crops (MAWLR). There are certain constraints in place for each type of grain that is regulated; however, these limitations do not include price regulations.
Importers are required to secure a particular amount of their produce from Namibia before they may buy horticultural commodities from overseas markets because the government has established an import substitution system for goods related to horticulture. Before being allowed to export their livestock, producers need to show that they comply with the relevant export legislation. As an illustration, a farmer is required to have six animals slaughtered within Namibia for every live sheep that is transferred.
As a member of SACU, Namibia is required to adhere to tariff quotas, which have an impact on the import of several food products including butter, cheese, milk powder, and wheat.
Customs policies
The Southern African Customs Union is something that Namibia is a part of (SACU). In conformity with the vast majority of international conventions relating to recommended practices for the import and export of products, the Customs and Excise Act (Act no. 20 of 1998) codifies the regulations that govern customs. These regulations can be found in the Customs and Excise Act.
Testing, Inspection, and Certification Services for Namibian Goods and Services The Namibia Standards Institution offer testing, inspection, and certification services for Namibian products and services (NSI) here.
The process of verification, inspection, and accreditation
The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Forestry is responsible for providing certification for agricultural goods. There are no agreements in place for the reciprocal recognition of American organizations. In 2016, Namibia was successful in completing the meat equivalency process with the United States Department of Agriculture, which resulted in the country being granted permission to export beef to the United States.
The country of Namibia does not have an accreditation organization. At this time, the requirements for accreditation in Namibia are satisfied by the South African National Accreditation Body (SANAS; http://www.sanas.co.za). The National Commission on Research, Science, and Technology must formally accredit laboratories for those establishments to be allowed to engage in particular types of work (NCRST).
