In the June issue of Limeblast (page 14), Sam Setter wrote about the subject of fair trade for Africa. In it, he discussed how raw materials from Kenya are often under-invoiced and generate hardly any income for the country. In one case, a container of raw materials leaving Mombasa was said to contain rejects, but the customs authorities discovered that the container was full of hides and skins of a normal tannery run quality. The following is a public notice that has recently been issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority:
PUBLIC NOTICE
CUSTOMS & EXCISE DEPARTMENT
PHYSICAL VERIFICATION OF HIDES AND SKINS FOR EXPORT AT EXPORTERS PREMISES
It is notified for general information that all hides and skins entered for export shall be subjected to physical verification at the exporters’ premises, before loading into containers. Customs officers shall be available for the verification exercise upon processing of export entries in Customs Long Rooms. After verification and confirmation of payment of export duty where applicable, containers shall be sealed by the Customs. No containers shall be received at export stations/ports without Customs seals and evidence that the export hides and skins have been physically verified by Customs before loading.
This measure shall take effect from 16th June, 2003, and all exporters of hides and skins are required to fully comply with the new export requirements.
COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS & EXCISE
Kenya Revenue Authority
Visit our website at http://www.revenue.go.ke