General Information
The objective of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme is to establish a Customs Union among all member states aimed at the total elimination of Custom duties and taxes of equivalent effect, removal of non-tariff barriers and the establishment of a Common Customs External Tariffs to protect goods produced in Member States.
The following are groups covered under the Scheme:
1. Unprocessed goods - These are livestock, fish, plant or mineral products that have not undergone any industrial transformation [See ECOWAS Tariff]
2. Traditional Handicraft Products: -
These articles are made by hand with or without the help of tools, instruments or devices that are activated directly by the Craftsman. Such include wooden cooking utensils, fancy goods, small cabinetwork, mats, carpets, bed XXXX, footwear, headgear, prepared feathers, etc. [See ECOWAS Tariff]
3. Industrial products of Community origin.
The three groups of goods mentioned above are granted the following concessions:
· Total exemption from import duties and taxes
· No quantitative restriction,
· Non-payment of compensation for loss of revenue for items (i) and (ii) as a result of their importation
Conditions to be fulfilled by the importer
1. Goods must originate in the member states of the Community.
2. Goods must appear on the list of products annexed to the decisions liberalising trade in these products: -
3. Must be accompanied by a certificate of origin and an ECOWAS export declaration form.
4. Such goods must be subjected to the import clearance procedure spelt out under Nigeria Import and Export Guidelines. :
5. Exemption of goods whose value is not above $500 from documentation.
6. The beneficiary of the Scheme must be Resident within the ECOWAS Sub-region.
· All goods shall be covered by the inter-State Road Transit Declaration.
· The inter-State Road Transit Declaration shall either be typewritten, or hand-written but in the latter case it shall be in ink, eligible and in printed character.
· The Inter-State Transition Declaration shall be signed by the principal oblige or by his authorized representative as well as the approved national guarantor.
· The goods are to be transported under the cover of the ECOWAS ISRT Log Book and without being transferred to another means of transport between a Member State and the Office of final Destination.
Further information
If you require further information, please contact:
ACG (ERRP&P)
(234)-09-5236381
OR Public Relations Officer
Nigeria Custom Service
Customs Headquarters
Abuja
(234)-09-5236381
This information came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana:
DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED BY NIGERIA FOR EXPORT OF GHANAIAN GOOD UNDER ETLS FRAMEWORK, TO THE NIGERIAN MARKET
I am directed to forward herewith, for your kind attention, copy of a notification received from the Nigerian Customs Area Comptroller, Seme Border.
2. The notification is indicating the required documentation that should accompany exports from Ghana to the Nigerian Market, under ECOWAS ETLS arrangement.
3. In this regard, it would be appreciated if this information could be brought to the attention of all potential companies who wish to export to the Nigerian market.
For: MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION
PERPETUA DUFU (MRS.)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
AFRICA AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION.
