What is PVoC?
Pre-Export Verification of Conformity program(PVoC) is a conformity assessment program to certify that products covered by compulsory Standards before shipment. Under the PVoC regime, products to be imported undergo conformity assessment in the country of origin/supply (Exporting) and a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is issued demonstrating that the products meet the applicable South Sudan standards and regulations.
Why is PVoC?
- Limited capacity of government in terms of ensuring exported products into the country under international product standards.
- Testing capabilities are limited and the assessment takes time, during which goods are stored hence increasing costs of storage and tied up capacity.
- It is even more difficult to track sub-standard products
- Challenges of re-exporting or destroying substandard goods
Objectives of PVoC
- To protect consumers and the environment by ensuring that only quality-assured goods are imported and preventing the entry of substandard and hazardous products.
- To protect local manufacturers from unfair competition posed by cheaper imitations of imported goods and strengthen investor confidence in industries threatened by substandard products.
- To reduce the cost of doing business by minimising clearance times for imported goods at ports of entry.
- To ensure value for money for consumers and traders by preventing the purchase of inferior, harmful and short-lived products.
- To improve tax revenue collection by preventing deceptive practices, including the misdeclaration of imported products and their quantities.
- To create a better business environment for companies dealing in genuine, quality-assured and safe products, strengthening the economy through increased consumer confidence.
- To redirect resources used for testing imported goods towards testing products intended for export, supporting export growth and improving the efficient use of testing facilities.
Categories of Products Subject to PVoC
This applies to all products with mandatory standards including:
Handling of Goods on Arrival
Goods accompanied with a COC are inspected and if they meet requirements are released.
Goods issued with a Non-Conformity Report (NCR) will not be permitted entry into the destination country and may be seized if shipped despite non-compliance.
Goods arriving at the Entry point without a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) will be subject to destination inspection
Draft CoC for the PVoC Program
A draft Certificate of Conformity from the CERTECH company profile, shown to illustrate the information a CoC records for customs clearance. The fields contain placeholders; it is not a certificate issued to any customer. The signatory’s name and signature have been blurred.
Benefits of PVoC Program
- Reduction of sub-standard goods in the market
- Reduction in risks for the general public from hazardous consumer products
- Reduce importation costs - e.g. demurrage charges arising as a result of goods being held at the port of entry awaiting test results.
- Eliminate the loses to importers which would result from having to re-export products found not to comply with the technical regulations and standards requirements.
- Trade Facilitation – faster and straightforward clearance of goods.
- Reduced fraud on the side of importers especially when imports are substituted with products of wrong specifications.
- Optimal use of resources saved from PVOC program to build capacity
