Zambia flag Zambia: Buying and Selling

International convention and customs procedures of Zambia

International Conventions
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Party to the International Coffee Agreement
International Economic Cooperation
• Cotonou Agreement
• African Growth and Opportunity Act beneficiary country
• China Special Preferential Agreement
• Member of World Trade Organization (WTO) since 1995
• Member of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
• Member of
Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Non Tariff Barriers
Certain goods require a certification to be imported, like meat (certification available from the Veterinary Department), plants and seeds and fruits (phytosanitary certification from Mount Makulu Research Station), food and drugs (Ministry of Health and Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority), firearms and ammunition (Zambia Police), and gemstones and scrap metal export (Ministry of Mines). Import licensing is required for most agricultural products.
Customs Duties and Taxes on Imports
Customs duty is applicable on goods imported into Zambia. The basis for calculating duty is cost, insurance, and freight (CIF). There are three types of import duties: customs duty, import excise, and import VAT. The rate of custom duty varies from product to product.
According to data from the World Bank, dating back to 2015, the effectively applied tariff weighted average for imports is 3.95%, whereas the average for the most favoured nation principle is 8.95%.
Customs Classification
Zambia is a member of the World Customs Organisation and does comply with the harmonised customs system (HS).
Import Procedures
Commercial documents such as a bill of lading, airway bill, and commercial invoice are required to clear goods with customs. The form CE 20, the standard form for entry and exit, is used for clearance at border posts. Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has implemented the automated system for customs data (ASYCUDA) world system which provides a platform that leads to a paperless customs clearance and domestic tax processes. Customs may request for a physical examination or additional documentation to ensure that a declaration is correct. An invoice is issued for immediate payment for the goods to be released; when all formalities are concluded and payment has been made, Customs will issue a release order for the goods.
Importing Samples
Samples are admitted against a deposit equal to the full duty. They must be listed in duplicate and are checked on importation and again on re-exportation which must be within 12 months.
 

To go further, check out our service Import controls and Export controls.

 
For Further Information
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)
Business Portal for Africa

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Latest Update: December 2023

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