2015 Pre-export to Zimbabwe procedures

• What is the European Union?• The EU is an unique economic and political union between 28

democratic European Countries – Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom.

• How does it work?• To make things happen, EU countries have set

up institutions to run the EU and adopt its legislation. The main ones are:– European Parliament (representing the people of

Europe)– Council of the European Union (representing

national governments)– European Commission (representing the common

EU interest)

• Facts and figures• The EU is less than half the size of the United

States covering some 4 million km2. France is the Union’s largest country and Malta is the smallest. The EU has a population of 503 million people – the world’s third largest after China and India. Its economy, measured in terms of the goods and services it produces (GDP) was Euro 12,945,402 million in 2012.

• The EU Chamber of Commerce in South Africa:– Chamber of Chambers• France, Germany, Spain, Austria, UK, Belgium, the

Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Central Europe.

– Europe: 80% Foreign Direct Investment in SA.– 2000 companies represented in SA.– 300.000 jobs.

• The EU Chamber of Commerce in South Africa:– Different from the diplomatic relations (human

rights/freedom/equality/justice/democracy/rule of law…)

– Business focus, our mission:• “To support EU based companies in advocating towards an

attractive investment and business climate in SA through policies which duly acknowledge the essential role of responsible foreign direct investment to the sustainable and inclusive growth of South Africa…”

• Our role: “To bring together and co-ordinate EU member states, bilateral chambers, and EU companies on jointly identified topics with a view to developing a EU-wide approach and advocacy…”

• The EU Chamber of Commerce in South Africa:– Current topics of advocacy and interaction with

the government in SA• Immigration • BBBEE• BIT’s and investment code• Sub-standard goods

• The EU Chamber of Commerce in South Africa:– Sub standard goods, or the EU CHAMBER acting as

the “VOICE…”• (Verification Of Imported Commodities from the East…)

– Southern Africa exports commodities to the Far East, and buys its commodities back in the form of substandard consumer goods...

– Substandard , counterfeit and dangerous goods are re-imported through the borders of South Africa, as it has the infrastructures…

• The EU Chamber of Commerce in South Africa:– Those sub-standard goods are undervalued by non

blue chip traders in order to avoid customs duties, and are very often not compliant with any standards …

– Little or no control in SA, and goods are re-exported in the sub-region, placing those consumers in danger, and avoiding customs duties…

– Neighbouring countries have to protect themselves (Botswana, Zambia, TZ, now Zimbabwe…) from goods imported through SA.

• The EU Chamber of Commerce in South Africa:– Until such time as there is a more effective pre-

import control in SA to filter out substandard and undervalued goods before they land on Southern African soil, the cross border situation will worsen.

– Concurrently, European business is being called upon to continue investing, transferring skills, and creating employment in SA…

• The EU Chamber of Commerce in South Africa:– …this can only take place if South Africa becomes a level

playing field in the region, and if unfair competition brought about by undervalued and substandard goods is prevented, simply by implementing WTO –TBT approved processes (GATT, Art.5).

– Notwithstanding that SA is part of BRICS, SA trade with China represents R 265 Billion per annum, …for close to R 450 billion with Europe (2013)…

• The EU Chamber of Commerce in South Africa:– Meanwhile, the reality is that Zimbabwe has been

forced into a border and customs revenue process, and has appointed a worldwide quality specialist, with a global network, namely Bureau Veritas.

Thank you

http://euchamber.co.za