Step by step process to export agric and food products from Zimbabwe 🇿🇼

Introduction

Many potential exporters especially smallholder producers and MSMEs always enquire on what is required to export agric products or fresh produce from Zimbabwe to regional or international markets. Therefore, because of limited access to correct information, they tend to think that exporting is complicated and only for large-scale commercial producers.

Below is a simplified step by step process on export regulations in Zimbabwe including trade agreements and other additional information that can be implemented by exporters to successfully export their products:

1️⃣ Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) Registration

🟩AMA is the national authority that regulates marketing of agric products in Zimbabwe.

🟩This is an annual registration 📝 as an agro-producer or dealer.

📍Located at 8 Leman Rd, Harare (along 2nd Street near UZ turn off)

🟩 Just across the road, you might as well visit ZimTrade for helpful info, trade advice, tips & available market opportunities.

2️⃣ Export Permit

🟩Apply for an export permit 📄from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development at Ngungunyana building, Number 1 Borrowdale Rd.

🟩The permit is valid for a specific product, maximum quantity & time period.

3️⃣ Phytosanitary/Fumigation certificate

🟩Apply for a Phytosanitary certificate 📄 (fresh produce) or fumigation certificate (dried products) issued by the Plant Quarantine Services.

🟩The certificate attests that your product meets the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements as specified by the importing country.

📞Contact their Mazowe or Harare Airport Office.

4️⃣ CD1 Form

🟩Complete a CD1 Form 📄 at your Commercial Bank 🏦. This is an exchange control 💱requirement with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ).

✅It specifies the value 💵 of the consignment. You have 90 days to ensure you acquit (remmit).

🟩 Exporters can apply for extension beyond 90 days in case buyer(s) delays payment.

5️⃣ Bill of Entry (BoE)

🟩Process your Bill of Entry (BoE) 📄 with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) at Kurima House. You can engage a clearing agent to assist.

🟩The BoE specifies the product, quantity, value, transport, port of exit.

6️⃣ Trade Agreements

🟦Exporters can register for any of the existing trade agreements through ZIMRA.

🟦Exporters should consider registration with regional bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 is part of so that they enjoy exporting duty free or at a preferential rate.

🟦A certificate of origin 📄 signed by the exporter or manufacturer of the goods and duly authenticated by ZIMRA should be produced for exporters to benefit from the trade agreements.

🤝Available trade agreements include:

🟦COMESA

🟦SADC

🟦Zimbabwe 🇿🇼-Malawi 🇲🇼 Trade Agreement

🟦Zimbabwe 🇿🇼-Botswana 🇧🇼 Trade Agreement

🟦Zimbabwe 🇿🇼–Mozambique 🇲🇿 Trade Agreement

🟦Zimbabwe 🇿🇼-South Africa 🇿🇦 Trade Agreement

🟦Zimbabwe 🇿🇼-Namibia 🇳🇦 Trade Agreement

🟦ESA-UK 🇬🇧 Economic Partnership Agreement

🟦ESA-EU 🇪🇺 Economic Partnership Agreement

🟨For preferential tariffs: Certificate of Origin required include:

📄EUR1 Movement Certificate — for goods being exported to the European Union countries

📄GSP (Generalised System of Preferences) Certificate Form A — for export to countries that offer tariff preferences

📄Certificate of origin for export to countries which have ratified the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Free Trade Area

📄Certificate of origin for export to countries which have ratified the SADC Trade Protocol:

🟧 Form 18 for export to Malawi 🇲🇼

🟧 Form CE59 for export to Botswana 🇧🇼

🟧 Form CE59 for export to Namibia 🇳🇦

🟧Zimbabwe 🇿🇼/Mozambique 🇲🇿 Certificate of Origin for export to Mozambique

🟧 Form DA 59 for export to South Africa 🇿🇦.

🟦All Certificates of Origin 📄can be obtained at ZimTrade’s offices in Harare or Bulawayo after completing a once-off registration with ZIMRA for that particular trade agreement.

🟦For small-scale traders, the COMESA offers the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) to assist small traders to benefit from the preferential rates when importing or exporting goods within COMESA member states.

🟦The regime is operational between Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 & Zambia 🇿🇲, Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 & Malawi 🇲🇼 — goods traded under the regime enjoy duty free status.

🟦This certificate 📄 is issued at the border by the customs officer 👮🏾‍♀️and is for consignments 📦of US$1 000 or less.

7️⃣. Export Market Regulations

🟦Understand and know the target market food safety regulations ⚖️, sustainability regulations 🌴 (eg EUDR, CSDD, CSRD etc), packaging requirements 📦, product specifications 🥑 and certification schemes 📑 (eg GLOBALG.A.P. FSSC 22000, BRCGS, ISO 22000, SMETA, Rainforest Alliance, USDA National Organic Program, EU Organic etc)required by buyers or importers, wholesalers or retailers.

8️⃣ Engage a consultant

🟦It is vital to engage a certified consultant 👨🏾‍💼who is knowledgeable about the country of destination food safety regulations ⚖️, sustainability regulations 🌴, food safety 🦠, organic 🥭and sustainability ♻️ certification schemes for assistance with trainings, capacity building, initial, subsequent and recertification audits etc.

🟦Consultants assist food companies, producer organizations, producer associations, producers, food manufacturers and processors etc to register with a licensed and accredited certification body (CB) for the required certification scheme(s) for initial, subsequent and recertification audits.

9️⃣ Transport and Logistics

🟩 Exporters must engaged and book with transport and logistics companies such as cargo airlines ✈️ and trucking companies 🚛 to initiate the transportation of their products from farm/packhouse/warehouse to the port of exist.

🟩Fresh produce 🥦🥑 requires a robust and efficient cold chain management to ensure that product quality is maintained and shelf life is extended.

🟩Reefers ie refrigerated trucks 🚛are used for inland transportation and refrigerated containers with controlled atmosphere (CA) (depends with product) are used for seafreight 🚢

🟩Airfreight ✈️ is used to transport the less bulky fresh produce or products. It is the most efficient mode of transport as it reduces the delivery time.

1️⃣0️⃣ Cargo insurance

🟦Exporters must have prior knowledge of supply chain incoterms (CIF, CNF, EXW, FOB etc) because they determine who is responsible for cargo insurance.

🟦Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) is widely used by many buyers and is suitable if the exporter/supplier will handle both transport and insurance, making it easier for the buyer.