Approved and regulated Zimbabwean fertiliser importers can now bring the product in duty free to ensure adequate supplies ahead of the coming summer crop season.
Fertiliser prices will be approved in advance by the Ministry of Agriculture and anyone who gets a duty free licence, but sells at higher than the approved price, will have to pay the full duty plus penalties, according to an extraordinary Government Gazette published by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Mthuli Ncube, on Tuesday, which suspended the duty on fertiliser for 12 months.
These regulations define an "approved fertiliser importer" as any importer approved and licensed by the ministry responsible for agriculture, in consultation with the ministry responsible for industry and commerce. The fertiliser sector can import fertilisers in quantities not exceeding a tonnage specified for the year..
Prof Ncube said the minister responsible for agriculture has to approve a list of reputable fertiliser importers for the purposes of these regulations and licence the importers so they can then deal with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra).
Making the conditions explicit, Prof Ncube said: "The Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority shall not grant suspension of duty to an approved fertiliser importer who does not have a licence issued by the ministry responsible for agriculture. This ministry must ensure that approved fertiliser importers adhere to responsible pricing of fertilisers for which the commissioner has suspended duty payable.”
