SLIEPA Source 9:
Market Access
Sierra Leone enjoys preferential access to key markets
The
Government of Sierra Leone supports global economic integration as it
increases volume of trade as well as offers other economic
opportunities. Because of our membership, Sierra Leone has
preferential access to markets in the European Union, the United States
as well as in other countries.
The European Union offers full preferential access through the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative. The EBA, which has been in force since March 2001, extends duty-free and quota-free access to imports of all products other than arms originating from Sierra Leone. The Cotonou Agreement also promotes partnership between European Union states and African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States.
Access to the U.S. market is governed by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which offers duty-free access for a number of products until 2015. There is considerable potential to increase trade under AGOA. There is no export figure under the AOA scheme from Sierra Leone to the US Market from 2010 to date. For a complete list of products eligible for exports to the United States and more information on AGOA, visit www.agoa.info
Sierra Leone joined the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the interests of establishing a customs union and common market to promote the free movement of goods and people in West Africa. ECOWAS’ mission is to promote economic integration in all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters.
The European Union offers full preferential access through the Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative. The EBA, which has been in force since March 2001, extends duty-free and quota-free access to imports of all products other than arms originating from Sierra Leone. The Cotonou Agreement also promotes partnership between European Union states and African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States.
Access to the U.S. market is governed by the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which offers duty-free access for a number of products until 2015. There is considerable potential to increase trade under AGOA. There is no export figure under the AOA scheme from Sierra Leone to the US Market from 2010 to date. For a complete list of products eligible for exports to the United States and more information on AGOA, visit www.agoa.info
Sierra Leone joined the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the interests of establishing a customs union and common market to promote the free movement of goods and people in West Africa. ECOWAS’ mission is to promote economic integration in all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters.
Finally, in pursuit of implementing the protocol on
free movement of goods and person, the Ministry of Trade and Industry
has established a Committee to oversee the implementation of the ECOWAS
Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS). The ETLS is a tool to facilitate the
working of the Free Trade Area. It ensures that good can be circulated
freely without the payment of customs and taxes with similar effects on
imports.
The ETLS is open to every enterprise located and
operating in any of the ECOWAS Member States that intend to export the
product within the region
Export Procedures
EXPORT PROCEDURES PAGE ---
Agricultural Produce
· All export of Agricultural Produce must
acquire the requisite Permit or Export Licence from the Ministry of
Trade and Industry. Application must be made to the Senior Permanent
Secretary and copy to the Executive Secretary, Market Monitoring Unit
(CMMU).
· The Senior Permanent Secretary or the
Chief Director and Professional Head, will request the CMMU to examine
the premises of the exporter and confirm that he/she has met the
statutory requirement.
· On confirmation from CMMU, the Senior Permanent Secretary or the Chief Director will issue the Licence or decide otherwise
· All exporters are require to go through
the CMMU for further advise and to ensure that the quality of produce
shipped meets the International Standards. Exporters are also required
to pay 2.5% levy especially for cocoa, coffee, palm oil and palm kernel
Documentation
Exporters are required to submit with their application the following documents:
· Certificate of Registration if it is a one man business or sole Proprietorships
· Certificate of Registration and Certification of incorporation if it is a corporate body/company.
· Produce Dealer Licence which entitles the exporters to buy produce locally for export
· Tax Clearance
· Letter from the CMMU that the exporter
has met the statutory requirement of having a proper store with all the
instrument needed for the operation.
Note:
For General Export Procedure see download of Export Processing Map
STANDARDS & CERTIFICATION SCHEME
Standard has been universally recognized as one of the key
strategic elements of product competitiveness in both domestic and
international markets, along with price and delivery factors. Standard
is the pre-requisite for successful market access and for achieving
continued customer relation.
The following links lead to important resources for information
on food safety standards, product quality standards, and other related
topics in and out of Sierra Leone
· Commodity Market Monitoring Unit (CMMU) under the Ministry of
Trade and Industry is the body responsible to inspect and certify the
grading of all agricultural produce before shipment. The office is
located at 10 Lightfoot Boston Street, Delco House, Freetown. Email:
cmmu.sierraleone@gmail.com
· Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB) is government body supervise
by the Ministry of Trade and Industry is responsible to develop
national standards and ensure compliance for adoption in the Country.
Office located at Wahman Abu Compound, Kelsey Road Kissy- Ferry
Junction, SL-Freetown. E-mail slsb2009@yahoo.com
· Competent Authority (CA) established under the Food Unit of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. The Unit is responsible to control the health
conditions of fish and fisheries products. This Unit is working closely
with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to get EU Export
Market Certification.
· Fair Trade is one of the certification common in Sierra Leone. Certifying agents of Fair Trade includes:
Ø Transfair (www.tranfairusa.org) (www.transfair.ca)
· Organic Certification is also common in Sierra Leone. This body maximizes the
use of farm resources by emphasizing soil fertility and biological
activities while minimizing the use of synthetic fertilizers and
pesticides. Certifying agents includes:
Ø Soil Association (www.soilassociation.org)
- Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries, housed within the Dutch Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, features market information on the European Union (EU), market surveys, match-making services for importers in Europe and exporters in the developing and least developed world, and food safety standards in the EU.
- Codex Alimentarius Commission was created in 1963 by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization to develop food standards, guidelines, and related texts, such as codes of practice under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
- European Commission’s (EC) Directorate on General Health and Consumer Protection maintains a website with up-to-date laws on the safety of food and other products, on consumers' rights and on the protection of people's health. It is the job of national, regional, or local governments in EU countries to apply the laws and ensure that traders, manufacturers and food observe the rules.
- Quality Infrastructure in the East African Community is a forum for harmonizing regional quality standards and norms in a number of areas. The website is rich with information on the experiences of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda in complying with international standards in food and agriculture; building and construction; mechanical engineering and metallurgy; chemicals and chemical products; textiles, apparel, and leather; electronics and information technology; metrology and testing; management systems & and service standards; environment, health, and safety; consumer products and general standards; energy; transport and packaging.
- South African Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) was established in 1926 to control all perishable exports from South Africa, the value of which is approximately 9 billion S.A. Rands. The information on this site may offer some insight into quality standards of South African exports to other countries.
- The Trade Help Desk for Developing Countries operated by the Market Access Unit of the EC’s Directorate on Trade Information on EU and Member States' import requirements as well as internal taxes applicable to products; information on EU preferential import regimes benefiting developing countries; trade data for the EU and its individual Member States; a marketplace where exporters in developing countries can establish contacts with importers from the EU; links to other authorities and international organizations involved in practical trade operations and trade promotion; and the possibility to lodge detailed information requests about real-life situations encountered by exporters.
- World Bank Group’s Trade and Competitiveness Group has a comprehensive website, which among other things, provides a page with links to research programs on standards; operational work on standards of other development agencies (including both bilateral and multilateral agencies, USAID, European Union, UNIDO and FAO), and general links to various other agencies and private standards initiatives.
Global Standards
The
following links lead to important resources for information on food
safety standards, product quality standards, and other related topics.
- Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries, housed within the Dutch Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, features market information on the European Union (EU), market surveys, match-making services for importers in Europe and exporters in the developing and least developed world, and food safety standards in the EU.
- Codex Alimentarius Commission was created in 1963 by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization to develop food standards, guidelines, and related texts, such as codes of practice under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
- European Commisssion’s (EC) Directorate on General Health and Consumer Protection maintains a website with up-to-date laws on the safety of food and other products, on consumers' rights and on the protection of people's health. It is the job of national, regional, or local governments in EU countries to apply the laws and ensure that traders, manufacturers and food observe the rules.
- Quality Infrastructure in the East African Community is a forum for harmonizing regional quality standards and norms in a number of areas. The website is rich with information on the experiences of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda in complying with international standards in food and agriculture; building and construction; mechanical engineering and metallurgy; chemicals and chemical products; textiles, apparel, and leather; electronics and information technology; metrology and testing; management systems & and service standards; environment, health, and safety; consumer products and general standards; energy; transport and packaging.
- South African Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) was established in 1926 to control all perishable exports from South Africa, the value of which is approximately 9 billion S.A. Rands. The information on this site may offer some insight into quality standards of South African exports to other countries.
- The Trade Help Desk for Developing Countries operated by the Market Access Unit of the EC’s Directorate on Trade Information on EU and Member States' import requirements as well as internal taxes applicable to products; information on EU preferential import regimes benefiting developing countries; trade data for the EU and its individual Member States; a marketplace where exporters in developing countries can establish contacts with importers from the EU; links to other authorities and international organizations involved in practical trade operations and trade promotion; and the possibility to lodge detailed information requests about real-life situations encountered by exporters.
- World Bank Group’s Trade and Competitiveness Group has a comprehensive website, which among other things, provides a page with links to research programs on standards; operational work on standards of other development agencies (including both bilateral and multilateral agencies, USAID, European Union, UNIDO and FAO), and general links to various other agencies and private standards initiatives.
Trade Statistics
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Exports are on the increase in key areas
Total export in 2012 amounted to US$1,065.47mn, higher
than US$349.22mn recorded in 2011. This shows significant improvement
in export performance. The improvement can be attributed largely to
improvement in earnings from mineral exports, namely diamond, rutile
and iron ore complemented by the huge jump in earnings from other
exports.
Earnings
from the Agricultural Exports in 2012 decreased by 36.02 percent to
US$29.93mn, partly on account of a drop in receipts from export of
cocoa beans constituting over 80 percent of agricultural earnings. The
volume of cocoa beans exported in 2012 amounted to 65.55 thousand
metric tons with an estimated value of US$25.71mn which was a
significant increase in volume terms than was recorded in 2011 while
there was 41.60 percent drop in value terms compared to the preceding
year. Proceeds from export of fish & shrimps decreased from
US$0.75mn in 2011 to US$0.47mn in 2012.
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Source: Bank of Sierra Leone
