Tanzania Trade Portal (2024)

EXPORT share

Zanzibar expand_more expand_less

Preliminary registration, licence and certificate expand_more expand_less

Business licence is a legal document issued by government agencies that grants the user the right to operate any form of trade, commerce, craftsmanship or specified profession carried on for profit or gain (business) within government's geographical jurisdiction.

Any businesses line in Zanzibar should obtain its own business licence from the local government offices mandated to issue business licence.

Registered Exporter System (REX system)

Registered Exporter System(the REX system) is a system of self-certification of origin by registered exporters making out statements on origin. The system is applied for the products listed under Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) schemes of European Union, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. It simplifies export formalities by allowing the registered exporter to certify the preferential origin himself by including a specific declaration ( statements on origin) on the invoice or another commercial document identifying the exported products. Thus, the registered exporter does not need to apply upon each export for issue of a certificate of origin. The exporter registration is a one off formality.

For a trader to engage in business in Zanzibar, he or she should register their business withThe Ministry of Trade and Industrial Developmentand obtain the certificate ofregistration.

Certificate of registration (ZRA)

For a trader to engage in business in Zanzibar, he/she should register their business withZanzibar Revenue Authority (ZRA) and obtain the certificate ofregistration.

Registration of marine products exporters

The Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries is charged with the mandate of regulation of all marine production including farming of seaweed and marketing of all marine produce in compliance with local and international standards. Traders must therefore register with Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries who issue a licence that is valid for one year and can be renewed. For more information on how to register, click on the link.

Registration of premise (ZFDA) (Pemba)

All traders who intend to deal with distribution and storage ofmedicines, cosmetics, medical devicesand processed food products must have their premises registered. The registration certificate is valid for one year and issued byZanzibar Food and Drug Agency (ZFDA)

ZBS procedure for products certification expand_more expand_less

The Product Certification Scheme allows manufacturers whose products have conformed to Zanzibar standards to use the ‘ZBS’ Standards Mark of Quality on their products. The scheme requires that the product complies with relevant Zanzibar standards.

The ‘zbs’ Standards Quality Mark is a symbol which manufacturers may use to promote their products and consumers seek as prima evidence of quality.

The “zbs” Standards Quality Mark on a product indicates that samples of the product are independently and routinely tested and certified by ZBS against relevantZanzibar Bureau of standards.The Standards Mark is a sign of product quality and gives assurance to both manufacturers and consumers that the products can be used safely and reliably.

See moreexpand_more

Registration of premises (ZFDA) (Unguja)

Certificate of exporter of food products

Registration of food product

See moreexpand_more

Permits expand_more expand_less

Phytosanitary certificate

A phytosanitary certificate delivered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock of Zanzibar certifies that plant and plant products are free from regulated pests and conforms with other phytosanitary requirements of the importing country.

Certificate of origin (Zanzibar) expand_more expand_less

Certificates of origin confirm that goods in a particular export consignment have been produced, manufactured or processed in a particular country. They are categorized into; preferential and non - preferential and are issued per consignment. Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce issues certificates of origin for exported products which are originated in Tanzania. The certificates vary depending on the country of destination. For products destined to the EU Market, the Generalized System of Preference (GSP) certificate of origin is still needed in addition to the Rex System registration requirement.

International certificate of origin-Zanzibar

The International certificate of origin is required for goods obtained, manufactured, produced or processed in Zanzibar, and are to be exported to any country with no mutualagreement on trade. The certificate is issued per consignment.

EAC Certificate of origin-Zanzibar

The EAC certificate of origin is required for goods obtained, manufactured, produced or processed in Zanzibar, and are to be exported within the East African Community (EAC) region. The certificate is issued per consignment.

AGOA Certificate of origin-Zanzibar

The AGOA certificate of origin is required for goods obtained, manufactured, produced or processed in Zanzibar, and are to be exported to the United States of America under the African Growth and OpportunityAct (AGOA). The certificate is issued per consignment.

SADC Certificate of origin-Zanzibar

The SADC certificate of origin is required for goods obtained, manufactured, produced or processed in Zanzibar, and are to be exported to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). The certificate is issued per consignment.

China certificate of origin-Zanzibar

The China certificate of origin is required for goods obtained, manufactured, produced or processed in Zanzibar, and are to be exported to the China market. The certificate is issued per consignment.

See moreexpand_more

Certificate of radioactivity analysis

The Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission(TAEC) regulates all radioactive materials that contain radioactive elements and equipment that produce radioactive waves in Tanzania. TAEC certifies that foods are radioactive free which is a market requirement depending on the destination of the goods. The certificate is issued per consignment and it is valid for three month.

Permission to export marine products

A business wishing to export marine produce (seaweeds, fish & fish products) must obtain the export permit from the Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries .The permit is valid for a period of two weeks only and is used once for a single shipment.

Export permit

Exporters of all products from Zanzibar must apply for permit from the The Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development and is issued per consignment.

Health certificate for export (ZFDA) expand_more expand_less

Health certificate for export (Unguja)

All traders who intend to deal with export ofmedicines, cosmetics, medical devicesand processed food products must obtain health certificate per each consignment. The permit is valid for the period of three months and issues byZanzibar Food and Drug Agency (ZFDA)

Health certificate for export (Pemba)

See moreexpand_more

Certificate of analysis expand_more expand_less

Certificate of analysis (CGCLA) (Pemba)

Chief Government Chemist Laboratory Agency (CGCLA)certifies that foods are chemical content free and issue certificate per each consignment. The certificate is mandatory for some of the products like honey and is needed during clearance at exit point.

Certificate of analysis (Unguja)

See moreexpand_more

Clearance procedures expand_more expand_less

See moreexpand_more

Commodities expand_more expand_less

Seaweeds (Mwani) expand_more expand_less

Clearance procedures expand_more expand_less

Seaweeds export clearance through Malindi port

Customs declaration is registered and assessed by a clearing agent appointed by the exporter of goods. The clearance of clearing agency and/or trader are liable for all information declared on customs declaration.For more information on how to clear your consignment of seaweeds, click the link.

See moreexpand_more

Full procedure view- for a first time trader expand_more expand_less

Export of seaweeds through the port of Malindi

This procedure sequentially compiles the licenses, permits and clearance steps to be fulfilled by a registered business owner exporting a consignment of seaweeds for the first time out of Tanzania, via Malindi port.

See moreexpand_more

Cloves (Karafuu) expand_more expand_less

Buying cloves at Zanzibar State Trading Corporation (ZSTC)

Zanzibar State Trading Corporation (ZSTC) is a Government Institution based in Zanzibar.ZSTC specifically has responsibilities of clove development, processing essential oils and other agricultural produce as well as conducting all necessary business in connection with the supply and distribution of national commercial crops especially Cloves.

ZSTC is the only institution which has mandate to make all the necessary procedure of exporting cloves in Zanzibar. For a Trader to get Clove from Zanzibar, he/she has to communicate with ZSTC for all the necessary procedure till the Cloves reach to his/her destination.

See moreexpand_more

Spicies (Viungo) (Zanzibar) expand_more expand_less

Clearance procedures expand_more expand_less

Spices export clearance procedure through Zanzibar port

Customs declaration is registered and assessed by a clearing agent appointed by the exporter of goods. The clearing agency and/or trader are liable for all information declared on customs declaration.For more information on how to clear your consignment of spices, click the link.

See moreexpand_more

Full procedure view - for a first time trader expand_more expand_less

Export of spices through the port of Zanzibar

See moreexpand_more

Fish and fishery products (Samaki) (Zanzibar) expand_more expand_less

Clearance procedures expand_more expand_less

Clearance through port of Malindi

See moreexpand_more

Full procedure view- for a first time trader expand_more expand_less

Export of fish and fishery products through port of Zanzibar

This procedure sequentially compiles the licenses, permits and clearance steps to be fulfilled by a registered business owner exporting a consignment of fish for the first time out of Tanzania, via Malindi port.

See moreexpand_more

Fruits (Zanzibar) expand_more expand_less

Clearance procedures expand_more expand_less

Clearance of fruits through Abeid Aman Karuma international Airpot

See moreexpand_more

Powered by eRegulations ©, a content management system developed by UNCTAD's Business Facilitation Program and licensed under