RBS
PO Box: 7099 Kigali-Kicukiro
Tel: +250-58 61 03
PO Box: 7099 Kigali-Kicukiro
Tel: +250-58 61 03
News
29th August 2008 Workshop for Rwandan exporters on “conformity assessment in trade facilitation” to be held at Prime Holdings[more...]
Imports Inspection
Legal backing
Quality inspection of imports in Rwanda was operational in May 2004 after the establishment of the Law no. 03/2002 of 19/01/2002 creating a National Bureau of Standards was in place. This is specified in Article 4 line 4 of the above mentioned law as a means of achieving the objectives the Bureau.
Why Quality Imports Inspection
Due to the trade liberalization policy in Rwanda, importers are free to import all kinds of products into the country. This has resulted in substandard and counterfeit commodities flooding both regional and national markets. Consumers lost confidence in most of the locally produced commodities, thus forcing some industries to close down.
The purpose of Quality Inspection of Imports is to ensure that all imports entering Rwanda comply with the requirements of Rwanda Standards or any other standard approved by Rwanda Bureau of Standards. This is done in order to protect consumers, environment, and eliminate dumping of substandard and counterfeit products.
Procedures for quality inspection of imports
All imports are subject to quality inspection and verification except the following:
Legal backing
Quality inspection of imports in Rwanda was operational in May 2004 after the establishment of the Law no. 03/2002 of 19/01/2002 creating a National Bureau of Standards was in place. This is specified in Article 4 line 4 of the above mentioned law as a means of achieving the objectives the Bureau.
Why Quality Imports Inspection
Due to the trade liberalization policy in Rwanda, importers are free to import all kinds of products into the country. This has resulted in substandard and counterfeit commodities flooding both regional and national markets. Consumers lost confidence in most of the locally produced commodities, thus forcing some industries to close down.
The purpose of Quality Inspection of Imports is to ensure that all imports entering Rwanda comply with the requirements of Rwanda Standards or any other standard approved by Rwanda Bureau of Standards. This is done in order to protect consumers, environment, and eliminate dumping of substandard and counterfeit products.
Procedures for quality inspection of imports
All imports are subject to quality inspection and verification except the following:
- Diplomatic cargo
- Military ammunitions
- Transit consignments
- Research and /or medical samples
- Personal effects
- Personal donations (except foods and drugs)
- On entering the warehouse, the importer or his/her representative informs RBS inspectors that the goods have arrived and need quality verification.
- Physical verification of documents is marched against the products description
- Where necessary, samples are taken and submitted for analysis
- On reception of sample results, appropriate action is taken
- Failures in non-critical parameters, the importer is warned on such failures
- Failures in critical parameters, the importer is instructed to ship back the consignment or get the consignment destroyed at his/her cost
- Destruction is allowed taking cognisence of the environment
Quality Inspection Fee (QIF)
This is covered by the Law No. 03/2002 of 19/01/2002 creating the National Bureau of Standards especially in its Article 21 describing the resources of the Bureau and Rwanda Bureau of Standards Instruction No.01/2004 in its Article 15 setting QIF at 0.2% of cost and freight of the imported product. This is however a compulsory service fee but not a tax.
This QIF is in line with the Government policy of supporting institutions in self sustenance.
How to avoid rejection of imports
The importer should inform his supplier about the requirements of Rwanda Standard covering the commodity he intends to import. He should enter an agreement with the supplier that if the product does not meet the requirements of the relevant Rwanda Standard(s) when inspected and tested, it will be shipped back to the country of origin at the supplier’s cost.
Rwanda standards are readily available at the Head office in KICUKIRO.
Last Update: 26-08-2008