SADC

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) was established on 17 August 1992 in Windhoek, Namibia with a vision to be integrated within a regional community that will ensure economic well-being, improvement of the standards of living and quality of life, freedom and social justice; peace and security for the peoples of Southern Africa.

SADC Member States

Facts & Figures

SADC Free Trade Area

SADC Rules of Origin

The Rules of Origin can be one of the following types:

• Wholly produced
• Change in tariff heading
• Percentage rule
• Two-stage transformation for textile and clothing

SADC Certificate of Origin:

The SADC Certificate of Origin is sold by the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry and approved by the Customs Department of the Mauritius Revenue Authority:

Mauritius Revenue Authority
Customs Department
Export Section
Dragon House
Pump Street
Port Louis

Tel: (230) 206 3400
Fax: (230) 240 0434
Email: customs@mra.mu

Website: http://www.gov.mu/portal/sites/mra/updcus.htm

For the Customs Department to approve the Certificate, the following documents must be submitted:

• SADC Certificate of Origin duly filled
• Customs Declaration (Export and Import)
• Export Invoice
• Appropriate certified costing for value added requirements
• Any other document as may be required by Customs Department  

Non-Tariff Barriers

Non-Tariff Barriers: :Non-Tariff Barriers

Non Tariff Barriers have the capacity to restrict trade and are real impediments to the free exchange of goods. NTBs are most often imposed by the importing countries and they usually take the form of excessive import surcharges, arduous sanitary standards, restrictive import permits and licenses, pre-shipment inspection, and cumbersome customs procedures and documentation amongst others.

In order to provide for the gradual elimination of Non Tariff Barriers (NTBs) in the region, the Tripartite Task Force, COMESA, EAC & SADC, have joined forces to develop a common mechanism for the online reporting, monitoring and eliminating NTBs. The NTB website incorporates information on Member States in all three regional agreements with comprehensive details on the NTBs faced by the business community when trading in the region.

The online reporting mechanism form, which must be filled by the exporter, is user-friendly and can be accessed on: http://ntb.africonnect.com/

Focal points have also been set up to help the business community in reporting NTBs. Currently, the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry acts as the private sector focal point in Mauritius and the National Focal Point is the International Trade Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, tel: 2115287.                                                  

Useful Websites

• SADC Website
• SADC Trade Statistics
• Tralac

Chambers of Commerce: