Measure

At the port of entry, the Border Control Inspector checks all documents to ensure that consignments of controlled products meet import permit conditions and regulations. If the consignment is cleared, it can proceed, but if it's rejected, it will be detained until the issues are resolved. After inland inspection, if the product meets requirements, it will be approved for further processing or distribution; otherwise, a rejection report is issued, and the importer must submit and execute a disposal plan within a set timeframe.

4.3.1 At the port of entry the Border Control Inspector shall verify the documentation of all consignments of controlled products to ensure that these regulations and other permit conditions are complied with.

4.3.2 The documentation verification will include:

(a) A valid import permit, in the name of the registered importer.

(b) Supplier invoice for applicable controlled agronomic and horticultural products, including detail required by the permit.

(c) A Phyto-sanitary certificate, where applicable.

(d) Import Authorisation issued by the competent authority in Namibia.

(e) A certificate of conformity, issued by a conformity assessment body in the country of the product’s origin.

(f) An analytical report on mycotoxins, where applicable, issued by an accredited laboratory.

(g) A certified copy of the producers G.A.P. certificate.

(h) A certified copy of the FSMS certificate, of the packing facility, in the country of origin, where applicable.

(i) A report on pesticide levels from an accredited laboratory in the country of origin of the product, to ensure compliance with M.R.L.’s, where applicable.

(j) A grading certificate, where applicable.

(k) A GMO declaration, where applicable.

(l) Any product which is labelled with a claim that it has been produced under organic conditions shall provide proof of certification based on the Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods which were adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission or equivalent.

 4.3.4 The Border Control Inspector at the port of entry will determine whether the consignment meets the requirements of the import permit and these regulations.

4.3.5 Border inspection results:

(a) If the consignment is cleared, a border receipt shall be issued to the importer by the Border Control Inspector as proof of compliance with the permit and these regulations. The consignment will then be authorised to proceed to an offloading point for inland inspection.

(b) A copy of the border receipt will be provided to the Namibia Revenue Agency (Namra) at the port of entry to allow them to clear the consignment.

(c) If the consignment is rejected, the consignment will be detained until outstanding requirements have been met, or disposal instructions have been formalised by the importer.

(d) The Border Control Inspector will inform Namra of the rejection.

4.3.6 The Border Control Inspector shall seal the approved carrying unit at the port of entry, and the seal shall be broken at the offloading point in the presence of the Compliance Inspector.

4.3.7 Controlled agronomic and horticultural products shall be transported in clean, enclosed trucks or trailers to avoid contamination, which could compromise quality and food safety.

4.3.8 The consignment will be inspected at the inland offloading point by the Compliance Inspector.

4.3.9 The facility, where imported controlled products will be stored, shall have a valid certificate of conformity for a horticultural trading facility issued by the Board, and a certificate of fitness, issued by the local authority in the respective jurisdiction. Cold storage facilities shall have an additional certificate of registration from Board, for the handling of perishable products.

4.3.10 Inspection results will be recorded and:

(a) Used to determine fitness for consumption or processing in Namibia.

(b) Integrated into the M.I.S.

(c) Retained for a minimum period of three (3) years.

4.3.11 On approval of the consignment, the Compliance Inspector will issue a certificate of approval to the importer, which will authorise the product to continue along the value chain.

4.3.12 If the product does not meet the inspection requirements, the consignment – or part thereof - will be rejected.

4.3.13 If the consignment, or part thereof is rejected, the Compliance Inspector will issue the importer with a rejection report, clearly identifying the reasons(s) for rejection.

4.3.14 The importer will be granted two (2) working days to provide the Board with their intended disposal plan in writing for the products involved, which the Board will review for acceptance.

4.3.15 After approval of the disposal plan by the Board, the importer will be granted two (2) calendar days to execute the plan.

4.3.16 Legible copies of all documentation used in the inspection process will be collated by the inspector and used for input into the AMID system or any other system in use by the Board from time to time and the M.I.S., where applicable and then filed appropriately for a period of three (3) years.