In the framework of the EU-WCO Programme for the Harmonized System (HS) in Africa, the Republic of Seychelles hosted a diagnostic workshop on the implementation of the HS. The event took place in Mahé, from 27 to 31 May 2019, and was facilitated by experts from the WCO. It was attended by representatives of several units from the Seychelles Revenue Commission as well as the Ministry of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, which have a stake in the tariff classification work and the administering of the national tariff.
During the five days of the workshop a thorough examination of the national tariff classification work model was carried out, with a particular emphasis on the prospects of Seychelles’ becoming a Contracting Party to the HS Convention. Another key point discussed at length was the implementation of the 2022 version of the HS, in a timely manner. At the conclusion of the workshop, a series of recommendations were developed and agreed upon to ensure further progress in Seychelles’ efforts to modernize its HS-related work practices. The recommendations will be the basis and the starting point to develop a results-oriented work plan with measurable outputs and concrete actions, which Seychelles will implement in partnership with the EU-WCO Programme for HS in Africa.
Although not yet a Contracting Party to the HS Convention, Seychelles uses the HS and has implemented the current version of the HS in its national tariff as well as most of the elements recommended by the WCO, as a tariff classification work model. A national system of advance rulings for tariff classification is up and running, in line with the principles enshrined in the Council Recommendation on the introduction of programmes for binding pre-entry classification information of 18 June 1996.
The mission gave the WCO facilitators an opportunity to meet the country’s senior policy-makers and enlist their support for Seychelles’ accession to the HS Convention and the preparation for the migration to the HS 2022. During the meetings with Ambassador Maurice J. L. Loustau-Lalanne, Minister of Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning, Mr. Fred Morel, Commissioner General of Revenue, and Mr. Paul Barrack, Commissioner of Customs, it was agreed that the required national procedures to accede to the HS Convention will be initiated without delay to ensure that Seychelles become a Contracting Party to the HS Convention soon.