Quality Inspection in Rwanda

 

Inspection activities cover products, premises and services. Inspection activities are done through import inspection, market surveillance as well as industry, hotels and restaurants inspection. All inspection activities conducted by Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) are aimed at effective implementation of Rwanda standards for the purpose of consumer protection and trade promotion.

 

Key roles of import quality inspection are:

 

1)    To ensure health and safety of Rwandan community through:

•  Avoiding entrance of banned products
• Avoiding dumping of any kind especially importation of expired products
• Avoiding entrance of substandard products

 

2)    To create standards awareness among importers and

 

3)    To facilitate trade

 

Are you interested in importing/exporting products to Rwanda?
Here are steps involved in Import quality inspection in Rwanda

 

Step 1 : Clearing agents who represent importers on receipt of “arrival notice” of a consignment, along with packing list, invoice, bill of lading and quality certificates where applicable, import license, quality mark license and any other relevant documents. Approach quality inspectors who organize for inspection at the earliest opportunity.

 

Step 2: Inspection of imported products is done against relevant Rwanda standard or other standards approved by RBS.

 

Step 3: Where products show general compliance and/or have had a track record of quality, the arrival notice or invoice is stamped with the “GOODS INSPECTED” stamp hence giving a green light of proceeding with other clearance procedures. At the exit stage, quality inspectors stamp documents with GOODS RELEASED.

 

Step 4: In case quality inspectors are not satisfied or there is high suspicion of non conformity of products, inspectors carry out thorough inspection.

 

Step 5: In case sampling is deemed necessary, it is done in presence of the importer or his/her clearing agent. Samples are usually collected for quality control purposes or confirmation of quality and safety in case of doubt.

 

Step 6: If quality is doubted; the consignment may be given “Release Under Seal” or held at the port pending test results. The importer has a choice. If release under seal is the option, the commitment to respect rules governing this option is made by importer or his/her business representative not a clearing agent.

 

Step 7: After inspection or release of laboratory test results, if products are found not complying with requirements of relevant standards, products are rejected and detained by RBS pending disposal and, clearing documents are then stamped “GOODS REJECTED”. In such a case, the importer is introduced to a procedure of handling rejected goods commonly with two options: disposing of or re-exporting the goods to the country of origin .

 

Handling of Rejected Product

 

Importers whose products have been rejected are usually given two options; disposing of or re-export.
Products whose mode of disposal may adversely affect the environment will always be limited to re-export option. In both cases, all costs associated with such products are met by the importer. Such costs include storage charges, transport to the landfill, labor and any other charges that may be required by relevant institutions.

 

Steps involved in handling of rejected products;

 

First of all, assuming products have been rejected on a date of arrival into a warehouse in customs custody; the importer has 7 days to have the products disposed of without paying any storage charges.

 

Otherwise, since RBS does not provide storage facilities, for any rejected goods clients have to make a commitment with a respective warehouse management for storing their products until the disposal will be done.

 

In the case of destruction or incineration as an option, a client shall:

 

1)    Consult Rwanda Environmental Management Authority (REMA) to confirm whether the products can be allowed to be destroyed/incinerated in Rwanda.

 

2)    Consult Kigali City Council to provide landfill in case of destruction but in case of incineration, hospitals such as Kanombe Military Hospital or any other hospital are consulted.

 

3)    Consult Rwanda Revenue authority to a take care of taxes implicated.

 

4)    Consult Rwanda National Police for the purpose of ensuring security and safety of people during the process of destruction.

 

5)    Inform Rwanda Bureau of Standards of date and time for the purpose of witnessing the execution of decision made.

 

Re- export to the country of origin as an option a client shall:

 

1)     Officially apply for this option to the Director General Rwanda Bureau of Standards once granted,

 

2)    Consult Rwanda Revenue Authority for re-export formalities until sealing of the container.

 

3)     Inform Rwanda Bureau of Standards’ officer at the nearest inspection station to witness the loading and sealing of container and issue her/him with a copy bearing a seal number to be filed.

 

4)     After the vehicle transporting re-exported products crosses Rwanda border, the client furnishes RBS with copies bearing a stamp of custom’s respective border.