Two months since implementation, differences in custom systems across East African Community (EAC) partner states are reported to be undermining the region’s single window system (SWS).

Instated on July 1 this year, the Single Customs Territory (SCT) was ideally meant to ease trade and transport across the EAC borders, explains Acting Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Manager of the Customs Unit Robert Nyoni.

Speaking to journalists over the weekend in Dar es Salaam he said it was envisioned that the SCT would among other things, standardise logistics  at the single entry point where all import, export and transit-related regulatory requirements would be attended to. 

“Since through the SCT information is shared electronically, then individual data elements would be submitted only once,” he explained.

“This way, the SCT spearheads the attainment of the much sought Customs Union and removal of duties and other restrictive regulations,” he added.

“It is meant to minimise internal border customs’ control on goods moving among Partner States towards the ultimate realisation of free circulation of goods,” he went on to say.

“However, differences in custom systems across the EAC are impeding the implementation,” he decried.

As an example he said, in Tanzania the country has implemented the Tanzania Customs Integrated System (TANCIS) but Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda use the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) while Kenya uses the Simba system.

Nyoni reiterated that, while the ASYCUDA system is foreign based, TANCIS is a Tanzanian made system that allows integration of various sectors within a single sophisticated electronic system.

He went on to announce that TANCIS is to be rolled out in Tunduma and Zanzibar later this year where it is expected to arrest custom challenges.

“I suggest that member states adapt the TANCIS system to increase efficiency and cost savings in obtaining relevant clearance and permit(s) for moving cargo across borders,” he said. 

On his part, the TRA Customs and Excise Deputy Commissioner, Patrick Kisaka, told journalists that the government plans to install four new one-stop border posts. 

“The single custom state border will increase our capacity to control revenue collection,” he said. 

“Cargo would be charged tax and released only after the required tax is paid at the respective country of origin,” he explained.

He also challenged state public authorities like the Tanzania Bureau of Standard (TBS), Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) and Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC) and Tanzania Minerals Audit Agency (TMAA) to subscribe to the system. 

“This will facilitate trade and effective implementation of the single custom union,” he noted.

“There would be no need for business people to physically visit government authorities but instead, they would use the web-based system,” he went on to explain.

In June this year, TRA said the East African Single Customs Territory (SCT) would commence as scheduled on July 1, 2014.

The TRA Commissioner General, Rished Bade said TRA is working on  concerns raised by various stakeholders in relation to use of the new system and emphasised that the business community will benefit from the resulting seamless flow of goods in the region.

“The SCT is beneficial to all stakeholders because it will lower clearance costs of goods within the region by eliminating duplication because clearance procedures (declaration, collection and verification) will be done at the point of entry,” he said.