Basic information
Outline of the system
Zimbabwe's imports are governed by the Open General Import Licence (OGIL) where imports and exports are exempted from licences. For certain products where import licences are required, the licensing system is administered by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce through the Control of Goods Act Ministry of Agriculture also issues permits for agricultural products.
Product coverage
Agricultural products. See Product coverage.
Permits from the Ministry of Agriculture are required for: Maize grain and meal; Maize seed; Wheat; Corn meal; Corn soya meal; Flour; Barley; Barley malt; Sorghum grain, meal and malt; Mhunga, meal and malt; Poultry products; Cotton lint, meal, seed and cake; Animal semen and animal embryo; Apples; Baby corn; Bananas; Beans; Bean meal; Beef, veal; Bees; Bones, bone meal; Cattle, meat, hides, horns; Cheese; Citrus fruit; Animal feed stuff; Coffee beans; Goats; Grapes; Groundnuts; Hides and skins; Honey; Ice-cream; Meat meal, blood meal, carcass meal; Milk, pasteurized milk, steurilized milk, UHT milk, lacto, or any liquid milk; Oil seeds, oil cake, oilcake meal; Pigs, live and dead; Peaches; Pears; Plums; Rice in the grain; Rapoko, rapoko meal and rapoko malt; Seed for planting (grains); Seed for planting (trees, vegetables); Skimmed milk powder and full cream milk powder; Sunflower; Tea; Vegetables; Vegetable oils, vegetable fats and margarine.
Import licences from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce are required for: Palm stearine, palm kernel oil; Biscuits; Cashew nut oil; Coconut oil; Margarine; Milk (liquid and powder); onions; Rubber hoses; Tomatoes; Vegetable acid oil; Yeast.
Import permits from both Ministries (Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Industry and Commerce) are required for: Animal oils and fats (lard, tallow, dripping); Butter, ghee, cream; Potatoes;Sugar, raw sugar and refined sugar; Vegetable oils, vegetable fats and margarine.
Nature of licensing
Automatic
If Automatic, administrative purpose
Non-Automatic
If Non-Automatic, description of the notified Non-Automatic Licensing regime
Products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
For agricultural products, permits are issued primarily for sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements as well as for statistical purposes.
Questions for products under restriction as to the quantity or value of imports
There are no products under quantitative and value restrictions.
The system applies to products originating from which country?
The system applies to goods originating in and coming from all countries.
Expected duration of licensing procedure
Legal requirements
Is the licensing statutorily required?
The licensing system is governed by a Statutory Instruments No.350 of 1993; No.6 of 2014 and No.126 of 2014.
Does the legislation leave designation of products to be subject to licensing to administrative discretion?
Is it possible for the government to abolish the system without legislative approval?
It is not possible for the Government to abolish the system without legislative approval.
Eligibility of applicants
Is there a system of registration of persons or firms permitted to engage in importation?
What persons or firms are eligible to apply for a licence?
All persons, firms and institutions are eligible to apply for licences.
Is there a registration fee?
Is there a published list of authorized importers?
There is no list of authorized importers.
Contact point for information on eligibility
Ministry/Authority
Address
Telephone
Fax
E-mail address
Website
Contact officer
Submission of an application
Administrative body(ies) for submission of an application
Documentation requirements
What information is required in applications?
Applicants are required to include information and documents on quantity of products, value of products, Certificate of Incorporation, CR14, Tax Clearance Certificate and application for import licence.
What documents is the importer required to supply with the application?
Applicants are required to include information and documents on quantity of products, value of products, Certificate of Incorporation, CR14, Tax Clearance Certificate and application for import licence.
Window of submission of an application
How far in advance of importation must application for a licence be made?
Application for a licence must be made before the goods arrive into the country.
Are there any limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence can be made? If so, explain
There are no limitations as to the period of the year during which application for licence and or importation may be made.
Issuing the license
Can a licence be granted immediately on request?
A licence may be granted immediately upon request.
Can licences be obtained within a shorter time-limit or for goods arriving at the port without a licence
Which administrative body is responsible for approving application of licences?
For agricultural products, the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development issue permits
Must the applications be passed on to other organs for visa, note or approval?
Are there any other conditions attached to the issue of a licence?
There are no other conditions attached to the issuance of a licence.
Fees and other administrative charges
Is there any licensing fee or administrative charge?
Yes.
What is the amount of the fee or charge?
Licence fees ranging from $30 - $60 are charged depending on the product.
Is there any deposit or advance payment required associated with the issue of licences?
There is no deposit or advance payment requirement associated with the issuance.
Amount or rate?
Is it refundable?
What is the period of retention?
What is the purpose of this requirement?
Refusal of an application
Under what circumstances may an application for a licence be refused other than failure to meet the ordinary criteria?
For agricultural products, a licence may not be granted if the products are coming from disease prone zones.
Are the reasons for any refusal given to applicants?
The reasons for any refusal are given to the applicant.
Have applicants a right of appeal in the event of refusal to issue a licence?
In the event of refusal to issue a licence, the applicant can appeal to the reconsideration of the application.
If so, to what bodies and under what procedures?
Importation
Are there any limitations as to the period of year during which importation may be made?
What documents are required upon actual importation?
Upon actual importation, the importer is required to submit the approved import licence, the Certificate of Origin and other customs related documentation.
Are there any other administrative procedures, apart from import licensing and similar administrative procedures, required prior to importation?
Apart from import licensing the importer has to comply with normal customs clearance procedures.
Conditions of licensing
What is the period of validity of a licence? Can the validity be extended? How?
A licence is valid for three months from the date of issue. The validity can be extended through a request for extension.
Is there any penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of a licence?
There is no penalty for the non-utilization of a licence or a portion of it.
Are licences transferable between importers? If so, are any limitations or conditions attached to such transfer?
Licences are not transferable between importers.
Foreign Exchange
Is foreign exchange automatically provided by the banking authorities for goods to be imported?
The local currency is not in use. In 2009, the country adopted a multi-currency system (dollarization).