Association questions new GSA regulation on imports
The Association of Importers and Exporters (AIE) has described as fraudulent a new conformity certification programme being rolled out by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).
It also questioned the basis for the introduction of the new regulation by the GSA, particularly when there was no Legislative Instrument (LI) in place to that effect.
Addressing the media in Tema yesterday, the group said the conduct of factory inspection and product audit at the point of manufacture was already being done by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and so any further move in respect of that by any regulatory body would amount to duplication of roles.
The GSA will, from October 1, this year, begin the implementation of a regulation which will require importers to obtain certificates of conformity from the FDA for custom clearance of goods imported into the country.
The authority said the move was aimed at preventing the importation of substandard goods.
The GSA has, meanwhile, awarded the pre-shipment product test and verification contract to the international laboratory service provider, SGS Laboratory, and the destination inspection company, BIVAC International.
The Executive Secretary of the AIE, Mr Samson Asaki Awingobit, who addressed the news conference, contended that the pre-shipment procedures were only meant to increase levies on imported products.
He explained that the FDA already charged importers and suppliers $20,000 for factory inspection, product auditing and other conformity tests to ensure that products being imported were environmentally friendly and satisfied international standardisation.
Importer overhead cost
Mr Awingobit noted that with the two firms coming up with a verification fee for items ranging between $200 and $300 per item, overhead cost for importers would increase and that would ultimately be transferred to the end user.
He said importers were already paying fees ranging from $1,500 to $5,000 for product registration and permit, apart from what they paid for factory audit and certification.
“Why a new conformity certification when the FDA is also performing the same role?” he asked.
“We foresee a conflict situation between the GSA and the FDA in the implementation of this new regulation and this will further impact negatively on already depressing clearing procedures at the ports,” Mr Awingobit said.
He called for the policy to be reviewed and restructured to ensure that it did not conflict with measures being implemented by the FDA.
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