1. GHANA STANDARDS BOARD (GSB) ENABLING DECREE
The Ghana standards Board (GSB) was established by NRCD 173 of 1973 and is solely vested with the responsibility for preparing standards for products and processes and for ensuring compliance with Government policies on Standards, Metrology, Standardization, Testing and Quality Assurance of both locally manufactured and imported products and services throughout the country.
Section 2 (2) (e) ‘to recommend to the Ministry responsible for Trade and Industry to prohibit the importation into Ghana for the purposes of sale, use or human consumption of any goods, unless same have been certified by the Board as complying with standards set up by the Board’.
The role of GSB at the ports is therefore to ensure compliance of imported goods with established technical standards/specifications (conformity assessment) in order to prevent the importation/distribution of substandard products into the Ghanaian market.
In August 2003, GSB was mandated by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to take over the inspection of all High Risk Goods (HRGs) form the Inspection companies. The destination inspection was to be carried out at all the ports of entry in Ghana. This was to ensure that the designated goods are suitable and safe for use before they are allowed for distribution and or sale in the country.
2. GSB DESTINATION INSPECTION SCHEME
In furtherance to the objective of the Destination Inspection Programme, GSB has evolved a new system that can be used to ascertain the quality and safety of the products without concentrating on extensive testing that can cause undue delays at the ports of entry.
This system is based on conformity assessment which is defined as ‘ a process whereby a product, process, or service or system is evaluated with the object of determining either directly or indirectly that relevant requirements are fulfilled’.
The result of the assessment is a written assurance given either in the form of a Certificate of Analysis (CoC) or Certificate of Conformity (CoC) or mark or both to attest that the product, process, service or system meets the requirements of the applicable standard.
With effect form 1st July 2005, GSB intends to streamline its Import Inspection activities in line with ISO recommendations and in compliance with World Trade Organisation (WTO) regulations.
3. GUIDELINES FOR THE CLEARING OF HIGH RISK GOODS
a. All importers of HRGs shall register with the Ghana Standard Board b. Importers shall purchase the relevant applicable Ghana Standard(s) c. With effect from 1st July 2005, Importers shall apply for permit to import HRGs.
1 d. All imported HRGs should be accompanied with a CoA or CoC, with reference to the applicable standard specifications) issued by a competent laboratory preferably in the exporting country. e. Failure to provide a CoA/CoC would mean that the consignment could not be cleared until samples of the product have been tested to the applicable standard and found to have satisfied the requirements. The importer shall pay a processing and testing fee to be determined from time to time. f. Upon arrival, the goods will be subjected to the ff: - Visual Inspection of product label and assessment of relevant quality attributes at the point of entry.
- Depending on the quality status of brand and the risk assessment rating of the Importer and Exporting country, the Inspector may take random samples for verification and review of the rating of brand, exporter and importer. g. The goods will be released within 48 hours if the following conditions are satisfied: The CoA/CoC is authenticated; The product label conforms to the relevant requirements of the standard; Other documents on the consignment are found to be adequate e.g. permits form other agencies. h. Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) shall clear the consignment after the relevant documents have been stamped and signed by the GSB Inspector. i. Irrespective of the quality status of the brand and the Risk assessment rating of the Importer and Exporting country, the Inspector may take random samples for verification and review of the rating of brand, exporter and importer for the purposes of building relevant database. j. The clearance may be expedited if the importer submits forward samples to GSB for quality evaluation and certification before committing to import. k. Where GSB is unable to complete Conformity Assessment on HRGs detained for quality checks within 48 hours, the consignment may be considered for provisional release on the understanding that the goods will not be disposed of until the outcome of conformity assessment exercise has been determined. In such circumstances, the Importer or his agent shall apply formally to the Executive Director of GSB for provisional release to a warehouse.
The following information should be provided:
. Photocopies of Bill of Lading, Packing List/ Invoice and FCVR.
. Name, Address and contact numbers of the Importer and authorized clearing agent. 2 . The location address of the Importer’s warehouse.
. An undertaking duly signed by the importer assuring GSB that products released provisionally/conditionally will not be distributed or sold until GSB issues a final release letter to the importer.
l. Registration Fee of Two Hundred Thousand Cedis (¢200,000.00) shall be paid per product. This shall be reviewed from time to time.
4 SAMPLING EXERCISE AT THE PORTS
A sample for the purposes of the services referred to here shall mean any product or entity that is brought to GSB for laboratory tests and investigation. It shall be understood to be an economically and technically needed quantity if the products specified by the testing laboratory necessary for performing tests and investigations, referencing and for consumer advocacy in compliance with relevant standards or specifications. All test samples shall be duly marked and numbered at the point of sampling. This identification mark shall be maintained for the entire record of the sample.
5 GSB LABELLING REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPORTED PRODUCTS
The following are the labelling requirements of GSB as specified in the (L.I. 1541); GSB General Labelling Rules, 1992 with respect to compliance inspection of imported goods:
a. Label - Name of product - List of ingredients in food - list of active ingredients and their levels in drugs - Date of manufacture and Expiry date/Best before date/Use by date in respect of food - Date of manufacture and Expiry date in respect of drugs - Storage conditions - Instruction or directions for use - Net content - Name and address of manufacturer - Country of Origin - Date of manufacture - Batch/Lot number - Electro technical or chemical characteristics for goods other than food and drugs - Marks or labels shall be printed, impressed, embossed or stamped. - Where marks or labels are stamped, they shall be in indelible ink and legible. - The trade mark or brand name shall not be substituted for the name of a food
b. All information on the label in foreign language other than English shall be translated into English language. Failure to comply may lead to impoundment of such goods/products.
c. Electric lamps (fluorescent lamps and electric bulbs) shall carry information on Life performance while Electric cables should carry information on the ratings, among others.
3 d. All electronic equipments/items and other items where applicable shall carry Guaranty/Warranty information of at least six (6) months.
e. All electronic equipment/items and instruments shall carry safety information and or safety signs.
f. Batteries must carry clearly the ratings and type.
6 HANDLING/SEIZURE OF NON-CONFORMING IMPORTED PRODUCTS
Goods found to be non-conforming to the applicable standard(s) will be disposed of in accordance with established Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) procedures.
7 LIST OF BROAD GROUPINGS OF HIGH RISK GOODS
1. Food Products 2. Pharmaceuticals 3. Electrical Appliances 4. Electrical Products e.g. Bulbs, switches, sockets 5. Electrical cables 6. Electronic Products 7. LPG Cylinders and Accessories 8. Toys 9. Chemical and Allied Products 10. Building Materials 11. Used Goods 12. Petroleum Products 13. Pyrotechnic Products 14. Motor Vehicle Batteries 15. Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic products 16. African Textile Prints 17. Arms and Ammunitions 18. Machetes/Cutlass 19. Vehicle spare parts 20. Industrial Machinery
Note: Refusal by Importer to permit GSB inspect/sample constitutes a serious offence that can attract detention or seizure of goods.
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