The current threshold is USD 2000.
There is no set frequency for this at the moment however, proposals are in place to review it by end of 2025.
Nationals of East African Community Partner States (with the exception of DRC) do not require visas to travel to the other EAC member states (with the exception of DRC).
Agricultural and manufactured goods listed under the “Common List of Goods” are tradable only, any goods beyond that do not qualify.
No, transport costs do not form part of the threshold value. It is limited to the value of traded goods alone.
Traders can report such incidences to business association or groups alongside with supporting documents, the associations then forward them to National Monitoring Committee.
There is no general timeframe for these owing to the complexities of some and political will of Partner States with average time being about 3 months.
Traders can escalate the complaint to their National Monitoring Committee for the same to be presented by the Partner State from which they hail to the EAC Council of Ministers for further action. The EAC Council of Ministers may the issue directives or further present the matter to the EAC Committee on Trade Remedies.
Traders may also file a petition on the issue against a Partner State at the East African Court of Justice.
Sanitary and Phytosanitary restrictions and Charges on imports.
Plants and plant products, Animals and animal products and all foods for human consumption, including raw, processed or semi-processed.
The East African Community Standards Committee is responsible for this duty and set standards are to be implemented at national level in Partner States.
For instances of products that are processed, semi-processed or pre-packaged, a certificate of conformity will be required from National Standards Bodies.
For instances of fresh products, SPS certificates will be required from designated authorities at the national level; in the absence of these, inspections will be conducted at borders at a cost.
Yes, and these are in the following categories:
Pre-packaged food means a product, resulting from the application of any physical, chemical or biological processes to a “primary food commodity”, and such food is packaged and intended for direct sale to the consumer, for direct use as an ingredient in the manufacture of food, for further processing or for catering purposes for example packaged tea, coffee, juices from fruits like passions.
In theory they should be recognised at border points however, at times Partner States enact variation of standards for particular products that becomes a hindrance to exporters from other Partner States.
SPS certificates operate per consignment thus for every time a trader exports a product, a new one will be required.
Certificates of Conformity operate according to licenses availed by National Standards Bodies and the designated time for re-inspection of products and premises therein.
SPS measures improperly used amount to a form of NTBs, and can thus be reported to the National Monitoring Committee through business association. This can be opted for awaiting the operationalisation of the EAC SPS Information Sharing Platform.
This a form conferring proof of origin in which a competent authority certifies that the goods/products in question originate from a specific Partner State.
They facilitate EAC preferential tariff treatment compared to goods originating outside the EAC Customs Territory that attract higher import duties as per the Common External Tariff (CET).
It is issued when goods are valued up to USD 2000, and not above that.
Customs Authorities at the point of exit in a Partner State issue the Simplified Certificate of Origin, and after verification of the goods meeting requirements to benefit from the Simplified Trade Regime policy.
Customs authorities of the importing country may reject it or verify the same at the cost of the trader.
A trader is liable to penalties under the EAC Customs Management Act including imprisonment or monetary fines.
A trader only requires this certificate for imported processed foods entering The Republic of Tanzania, issued by the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission. All other EAC do not require this certificate from traders.
These can be accepted at border posts subject to Partner States implementation of the same and supporting infrastructure. The mixed approach of manual and digital CoOs is currently being used with the eventual goal of fully digitalised certificates.
The Rules of Origin are to reviewed every five years by the EAC Directorate of Customs to ensure relevance with changes in trade within the region.
The AfCFTA expands opportunities for agroecological producers by removing tariffs and reducing non-tariff barriers.
The Protocol on Trade in Goods (especially Annexe 7 on SPS Measures and Annex 6 on Technical Barriers to Trade) facilitates the free movement of safe, sustainable agricultural products.
The WTO Agreements on Agriculture (AoA), Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) promote fair and transparent trade.
They ensure that environmental and health standards used in trade are science-based and non-discriminatory, supporting sustainable agroecological exports.
👉 WTO Agriculture & SPS Portal
👉 WTO TBT Information Management System
The WTO-TFA streamlines customs procedures, reduces paperwork, and promotes risk-based inspections — critical for perishable agroecological goods.
EAC Partner States have aligned border systems to implement Articles 1, 7, and 10, supporting electronic certificates and advance rulings.
👉 WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Overview
The African Union provides several guiding frameworks:
Together, they guide how the EAC integrates agroecology, trade, and climate action.
IPR protect traditional knowledge, genetic resources, and innovative practices.
By recognising community knowledge (e.g., seed saving or herbal formulations), IPR ensures equitable benefit-sharing and branding through Geographical Indications (GIs).
👉 African Union IPR Policy Framework
👉 WIPO Traditional Knowledge & Biodiversity
Adopted in 2024, this Protocol harmonises IPR protection for traditional knowledge, genetic resources, and geographical indications.
It helps agroecological producers secure branding rights and prevents misappropriation of indigenous products.
👉 AfCFTA Protocol on IPR – AU Website
The EAC Green Growth Strategy (2022–2032) and EAC Climate Change Policy (2018) promote eco-friendly production and logistics, aligning trade with environmental sustainability goals.
👉 EAC Green Growth Strategy
👉 EAC Climate Change Policy
The AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade ensures preferential access to finance, simplified customs, and targeted capacity-building.
It empowers women and youth to move from informal to formal trade systems within the EAC and across Africa.
👉 AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade
SPS certificates guarantee food safety and plant/animal health, while agroecological certification verifies sustainable production practices.
When harmonised, they build consumer confidence, ensure compliance, and open export markets.
👉 Codex Alimentarius SPS Standards
👉 EAC SPS Protocol
GIs link products to their origin (e.g., Kilimanjaro coffee, Rwenzori honey) — preserving local culture while increasing value.
They protect producers against imitation and enhance Africa’s export identity.
👉 ARIPO Geographical Indications Framework
👉 WIPO Geographical Indications Portal
EAC and AfCFTA are advancing digital customs and paperless trade through:
The Hub trains traders to identify and report NTBs through regional platforms and monitors their resolution via EAC NTB Monitoring Committees.
It strengthens coordination between EAC, COMESA, and AfCFTA NTB mechanisms for faster responses.
👉 Report an NTB – Trade Barriers Portal
Harmonised standards prevent duplication of testing and enable mutual recognition of certifications across Partner States.
This is consistent with EAC Standards Act, AfCFTA Annex 6, and WTO-TBT Agreement principles.
👉 EAC Standards Catalogue
👉 African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO)
Through its Trade Intelligence and Data Platform, the Hub provides up-to-date market prices, demand trends, and value chain data.
This transparency allows farmers to negotiate fairly and supports evidence-based policymaking.
👉 EAC-ATKH Trade Intelligence Portal (Coming Soon)
Frameworks like the AU Gender Equality Strategy (2020–2030) and the EAC Gender Equality Bill advocate for safe border environments.
Training border officials in gender sensitivity ensures women traders operate with dignity and security.
👉 AU Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy
👉 EAC Gender and Community Development
Agroecological trade contributes to:
Through:
Because conflicting policies can undermine regional goals.
The Hub supports governments to align agricultural, trade, and environmental frameworks, ensuring that productivity and sustainability reinforce — not contradict — each other.
Documents like the Certificate of Origin (CoO) are essential, though specific requirements vary by destination and product type.
Goods crossing borders are typically subject to Customs Duties (Tariffs) and consumption taxes like Value-Added Tax (VAT), which are based on the product’s value, HS code, and RoO.
SMEs and traders can use tools like forward contracts to lock in exchange rates and protect profit margins from volatile foreign exchange (FX) markets.
Provide accurate and detailed documentation (HS codes, commercial invoices) and utilize customs systems like the electronic single window or pre-arrival declarations to expedite clearance.
Consider their regional and global supply chain networks, and specific expertise and experience in your target products.
