Search

Table 2.1 Main trade-related legislation, 2021
Sector: Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and technical barriers to trade (TBT)
Legislation: Genetically Modified Organisms Act; Environment Protection Act
Latest modifi-cation: 2005; 2017
Section of TPR report: 3.3; n.a.

Table 2.1 Main trade-related legislation, 2021
Sector: Energy services
Legislation: Energy Efficiency Act
Latest modifi-cation: 2013
Section of TPR report: 4.2

2.9. Trade policies are part of the overall national economic strategy, articulated in pluri-annual government programmes, and in the annual Government Budget. Government Programme 2020 2024 (Inclusiveness at the Heart of the Nation) sets out a road map for socio-economic policy on both the national and international fronts, including other policy priorities, such as innovation and environmental enhancement. In the context of the presentation of the National Budget 2020/21 in June 2020, the economic strategy focus was on the construction industry, investment in "smart agriculture", tourism, manufacturing (particularly the transformation of the textile industry), and the blue economy (...).

Table 2.2 WTO notifications, 2014-April 2021
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
Agreements-Topic: Article 10.6
Requirement/content: Single-use plastic and biodegradable products
Periodicity: Ad hoc
WTO document and date: G/TBT/N/MUS/12, 5 November 2020; G/TBT/N/MUS/11, 5 November 2020

Table 2.2 WTO notifications, 2014-April 2021
Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade
Agreements-Topic: Article 2.10 (2)
Requirement/content: Banning of plastic bags
Periodicity: Ad hoc
WTO document and date: G/TBT/N/MUS/5, 21 January 2016

Table 2.3 Participation in RTAs, by date of notification, June 2021
RTAs
European Union - Eastern and Southern African States Interim Economic Partnership Agreement
Main provisions: (...) Provisions on bilateral safeguards, fisheries, economic development cooperation, private sector development, infrastructure natural resources, and environment.

3.5. Electronic submission of all customs declarations is mandatory. TradeNet is an electronic data interchange system (in place since 1994) that allows for the submission of manifests, declarations, certificates of origin, import/export permits, and other trade documents online to Customs. (...) As at May 2021, of the 13 ministries/agencies that administer imports permits or authorizations for border clearance, only the Pharmacy Board and the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change were submitting import permits or authorizations manually and were in the process of connecting to TradeNet.

3.7. Customs' risk-management system comprises four channels (...) The share of imports subject to detailed document inspection from different government departments through the yellow channel increased between 2013 and 2020, as have clearance times; according to Customs, this reflected new controls on products such as (...) articles of plastic such as carrier bags, (...).

Table 3.8 VAT-exempt supplies, 2021
Item: Bio-pesticides

Table 3.9 VAT zero-rated items
Item: (...); photovoltaic systems including photovoltaic generators, panels, batteries and inverters; water (...); water for irrigation; chilled deep-sea water used for the provision of air conditioning services
Item: Goods and services supply by the Wastewater Management Authority