Standards Authority Insists on Inspection Fees while Exporters are Disappointed
Almohagig – Nazik Shamam
The Sudanese Standards and Metrology Authority insists on keeping the fees imposed on exporters unchanged, considering them fees imposed by the Ministry of Finance that cannot be cancelled.
The Authority said in a letter addressed to the head of the Gum Arabic Exporters Division, a copy of which was obtained by Almohagig, that the inspection fees amounted to 200,000 Sudanese pounds for a container weighing 20 tons and that it is considered a small amount compared to the services of the staff, vehicles, and fuel spent on the inspection.
It went on to explain that these fees include exports of raw gum Arabic only, while exports of manufactured gum Arabic amount to 60 thousand Sudanese pounds, and they are considered significantly less than the value of the service provided—inspection fees for a container of exported gum Arabic powder amount to 40 thousand Sudanese pounds.
The Standards Authority stressed that the Ministry of Finance imposes fees, and no entity or agency can impose fees or cancel them except with the Minister’s approval and the issuance of a particular law regarding them.
Exporters were frustrated and dissatisfied with the decision, and they considered the matter a lock on any door to reform.