Importation de Afrique du Sud vers Maurice

11/10/2022 - Maurice

Issue 1: Fish imports from South Africa On 29 September 2022, the Mauritian Ministry of Fisheries wrote to us and referred to extracts of Fisheries and Marine Resources (Imports of fish and fish products) Regulations 2012 and 2016. Early October 2022, the Ministry stated that Imports of fish South Africa should be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS). In the absence of NRCS certificate, the Ministry stated re-shipment of imported consignment to its country of origin at the cost of importer as solution. South Africa is one of our sourcing countries for fish and fish products and prior to September 2022 import consignments were accompanied by a health certificate issued by SGS South Africa, world’s leading testing, inspection and Certification Company and clearance from the relevant authorities in Mauritius was obtained without any issue. For instance, one consignment from Cape Town arrived in Mauritius on 08 September 2022 and was accompanied by a health certificate by SGS South Africa and received clearance on 09 September 2022. However, another consignment, expected in Mauritius around 10 October 2022, was accompanied by SGS health certificate from South Africa but expected clearance from Mauritian authorities was met with a refusal unless NRCS certificate is produced. In regulations referred to by the Ministry, at no point it has been stated that the health certificate should be issued specifically by NRCS. It should be noted that the Food & Associated Industries Business Unit (FAI) which conducts testing activities under the NRCS has been appointed as the Competent Authority for the inspection and issue of health guarantees of fish and fishery products destined for EUROPE ONLY AND NOT TO MAURITIUS. The issue was raised with the Ministry and representations were made to the South African High Commission in Port-Louis. The Ministry finally suggested that sample of imported fish arrived in Port-Louis early October 2022 are tested anew in Mauritius to check whether same is good for human consumption. Upon lab results obtained, the ministry gave its clearance for release of the imported consignment. It is of no understanding why NRCS is required by Mauritius authorities since this has never been the case before and this has not been specifically stated in the Fisheries and Marine Resources (Import of Fish and Fish Products) Regulations and more importantly the NRCS health certificate is applicable to the EU market only. It is of great concern that the Ministry of Fisheries has now decided that SGS (South Africa) Health Certificate is non-receivable for clearance of imported goods. This is a serious barrier to trade and is a cause of concern. We would like to state that we have always abided by the law but the non-acceptance of SGS Certificate (South Africa) is a real NTB issue. We would therefore request that our plea be considered for the acceptance of SGS Certificate South Africa as it has always been.

Non

• Il y a un règlement ou une procédure obligatoire dont les exigences sont trop rigoureuses ou auxquels il est difficile de se conformer

Un règlement national

Fisheries and Marine Resources (Imports of fish and fish products) Regulations 2012 and 2016.

• Produits frais et produits agro-alimentaires bruts

IMPORT OF FISH

TO CONTINUE WITH CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY SGS (SOUTH AFRICA)