Trade Measures and Regulations

A permit issued under section 23 for importing an arm into Namibia will be considered a license to possess that arm for a specified period, as endorsed by the authorized staff member following the Minister's directions.

A grower or miller who is not bound by certain agreements or determinations under specific sections of the law may sell their sugar cane or sugar, either for manufacture or consumption, within the Union or elsewhere. However, during the validity of such agreements or determinations, these millers must:

1. Export Requirement: Within six months after each year, export a proportionate quantity of sugar based on the total sugar they manufactured that year, in line with what millers with assigned quotas have exported.

2. Supply for Rebate: Sell or provide the board with a proportionate quantity of sugar at a rebate price, similar to what millers with quotas offer to manufacturers entitled to a rebate. This sugar must meet the grade required by the manufacturers.

The board must inform millers about estimates related to the quantities of sugar that will be exported, sold at a rebate, or manufactured by those with assigned quotas. The total quantities from the final estimate will be considered the official quantities for these purposes. 

Finally, millers are not exempt from their obligations even if they are unable to acquire the necessary sugar by purchase.

A certificate may allow the holder to keep foreign currency earned from exports outside Namibia, without needing to repatriate it or offer it to the Bank of Namibia.

1. Only goods specified in a permit may be imported into Namibia.

2. The permit cannot be transferred to or used for the benefit of anyone not named in it.

3. The permit is valid for 12 months from the issue date or a shorter period as specified.

4. Goods requiring an import permit cannot be shipped to Namibia without a valid permit.

5. The permit must be issued without unauthorized amendments; any such changes will invalidate it, and it will be confiscated.

6. The permit does not exempt the importer from complying with other regulations related to importing goods into Namibia.

Importing seeds into Namibia is regulated with strict conditions. A person may not import seeds unless they meet specific criteria, such as being of a registered variety, complying with prescribed standards, being properly sealed and labeled, and entering through a designated port. Importation of seeds under different denominations, or of certain prohibited classes, is also restricted.

However, the Registrar may allow exceptions in writing under specific conditions. The Minister may designate certain seeds that require a special permit for importation. Importers must provide the Registrar with details about the seed consignment and cannot remove the seeds from the port without authorization.

Imported seeds may need to be presented for examination and sampling as directed by the Registrar. These regulations do not apply to seeds intended for non-cultivation purposes or immediate export, but a declaration must still be provided to the Registrar.

If seeds are imported in violation of these regulations, the Registrar can order their destruction or removal at the importer's expense, or permit their disposal under certain conditions. Violations can result in fines up to N$10,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both.

Importers of controlled products must register with the Board and hold the necessary certificates for horticultural trading or milling. Entities involved in the production, processing, storage, and marketing of controlled products must also submit required information to the Board.

Imported or excisable goods can be moved in bond to a designated entry or warehousing place in Namibia or abroad, but goods from customs and excise warehouses can only be moved to approved warehousing places in Namibia or within the common customs area.

Import restrictions may apply to certain controlled products, and permits won't be issued for restricted or soon to be restricted products, with updates regularly published on the Board's website.

Exporters must notify the Compliance Services Sub-division in writing, at least 10 working days before shipment, providing details such as the exporter's name, transport mode, shipment date, and product information. All products intended for export must be inspected, and if labeled as organic, must have certification proof. The required documents, including consignment notes and certificates, must be presented at the time of inspection; failure to comply may result in export delays or rejection.

Export levies, interest, or penalties must be paid in Namibian Dollars, but the customs authority can accept foreign currency equivalent, and payments should be made electronically, with cash only as a last resort.