Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) reduced the number documents required for imported goods to three from six in a move aimed at facilitating the process of doing business in the country.

RRA’s customs services department said that the move also intends to reduce the time required by importers to clear their goods at the customs offices.

According to RRA’s Deputy Commissioner General and Commissioner for customs services department, Richard Tusabe, the mandatory supporting documents required for clearance of imported goods include commercial Invoice, packing list and the bill of lading/airway Bill.

"We have reduced clearance documents as a way of reducing the costs of doing business and also increase business investment within the country,” Tusabe said.

Tusabe also added that other supporting documents such as certificate of origin, and the health certificate, certificate of analysis or photosanitory were no longer mandatory.

"Clients will only submit certificates of origin if they need to claim applicable preferential tax rates while others may be required only for clearance of some consumables or agricultural commodities.”

He noted that examining officers now use the Revenue Authorities Digital Data Exchange (RADDEx) during verification process to determine the authenticity of registered customs declarations. 

RADDEx is a computer system that was designed to facilitate exchange of customs data between EAC revenue authorities.

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