This report highlights the status of eliminations of NTBs in the EAC region as of September 2014. The report was developed from the 15th EAC Regional Forum on NTBs held on 25-27 September 2014 in Arusha, Tanzania.

The EAC Regional Forum considered:

1. Quarterly reports of National Monitoring Committees on non-tariff barriers and

2. Updated the EAC Time Bound Programme on elimination of identified NTBs.

The publication highlights what the EAC has achieved in redressing NTBs in the first quarter of the financial 2014/2015. The publication is aimed at galvanizing more support for the removal of NTBs which continue to hinder full achievement of the objectives of the EAC Customs Union and Common Market.

The publication shows that 59 NTBs have been cumulatively resolved, 22 remain unresolved while eight new ones have been reported as of September, 2014 as reflected in the EAC Time Bound Programme in the Elimination of NTBs. In addition, the time bouns programme also recommends ways of addressing the unresolved NTBs.

The 16th Meeting of Sectoral Council on Legal and Judicial Affairs held on 30th September, 2014 cleared the Draft EAC NTBs Bill. The draft Bill is expected to be forwarded to 30th Meeting Council for its consideration and onward forwarding to East African Legislative Assembly for enactment into Law. The enactment of this Bill into Law and operationalization of EAC Single Customs Territory will strengthen the EAC Mechanism on elimination of Non Tariff Barriers in the EAC region.