Africa-Press – Namibia. AS the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) continues to strike a balance between what horticultural produce can and cannot be imported in the month of November, eight products remained on the closed list.
According to a notice for specially controlled products for the period from 1 to 30 November which was issued by NAB chief executive officer Fidelis Mwazi after it was revised on 10 November, beetroot, cabbage, coloured pepper, gem squash, jam tomato, watermelon, sweet melon and spinach cannot be imported this month, as local producers can satisfy demand.
This is in line with the Agronomic Industry Act, and the Namibian Market Share Promotion Scheme rules and regulations, which seek to protect local producers from cheap imports through the implementation of close border and pro-rata imports.
Mwazi allowed the 40% importation of all types and sizes of carrots except for catering size and exclusions.
While the ban on the importation of coloured pepper started on 11 November, a 50% pro rata importation of all types and sizes of green pepper is allowed for the month.
Other crops that can be imported on a pro rata basis are all types and sizes of pumpkin and lettuce (iceberg) at 50%, except for the exclusions. All types and sizes of sweet potato have also been allowed for importation at 50%.
Mwazi left butternut, English cucumber, onion, potato washed and round tomato open for importation without restriction, but the 47% market share promotion (MSP) applies.
Although sweetcorn was open for importation without restriction, except for the 47% MSP, this was only up to 15 November in anticipation that local producers will be starting to supply the local market.
According to the NAB, import restrictions on selected agronomic and horticultural crops are not against the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) or the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement, as these measures are in accordance with Namibia’s national laws and regulations.
“They are part of our Growth-at-Home strategy to develop our crop industry,” the NAB says.
Border controls are undertaken by the NAB border control inspectorate to monitor all Namibian borders in order to regulate the movement of agronomic and horticultural products into and out of the country.
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According to a notice for specially controlled products for the period from 1 to 30 November which was issued by NAB chief executive officer Fidelis Mwazi after it was revised on 10 November, beetroot, cabbage, coloured pepper, gem squash, jam tomato, watermelon, sweet melon and spinach cannot be imported this month, as local producers can satisfy demand.
This is in line with the Agronomic Industry Act, and the Namibian Market Share Promotion Scheme rules and regulations, which seek to protect local producers from cheap imports through the implementation of close border and pro-rata imports.
Mwazi allowed the 40% importation of all types and sizes of carrots except for catering size and exclusions.
While the ban on the importation of coloured pepper started on 11 November, a 50% pro rata importation of all types and sizes of green pepper is allowed for the month.
Other crops that can be imported on a pro rata basis are all types and sizes of pumpkin and lettuce (iceberg) at 50%, except for the exclusions. All types and sizes of sweet potato have also been allowed for importation at 50%.
Mwazi left butternut, English cucumber, onion, potato washed and round tomato open for importation without restriction, but the 47% market share promotion (MSP) applies.
Although sweetcorn was open for importation without restriction, except for the 47% MSP, this was only up to 15 November in anticipation that local producers will be starting to supply the local market.
According to the NAB, import restrictions on selected agronomic and horticultural crops are not against the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) or the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement, as these measures are in accordance with Namibia’s national laws and regulations.
“They are part of our Growth-at-Home strategy to develop our crop industry,” the NAB says.
Border controls are undertaken by the NAB border control inspectorate to monitor all Namibian borders in order to regulate the movement of agronomic and horticultural products into and out of the country.
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