Now you can pay import Inspection charges to SLSI, on line via
- BOC Smart Online Banking of Bank of Ceylon (click here)
- Com Bank Digital portal of Commercial Bank(click here)
INTRODUCTION
The objective of the Import Inspection Scheme (IIS) is to assure that the products (122 products) are closely monitored and checked against the relevant Sri Lanka Standard Specification (SLS) and to make recommendation to the Department of Sri Lanka Customs. This scheme is based on the Gazette notification No. 2064/34 0f 29 March 2018 under the Imports and Exports Control Act No.1 of 1969.
Conformity of consignments of the designated items for importation shall be based on the following criteria.
a) Acceptability of the Conformity Certificate/s supporting the consignment, from the exporting country.
b) Acceptability of the Product Certification Mark issued by the National Standard body of the exporting country or National Standards body of other country.
c) Reliability and past experience with the manufacturer of the product from the exporting country.
1. PROCEDURE TO OBTAIN APPROVAL
1.1 An importer expecting to import any of the items covered under the IIS Scheme shall be conversant with the relevant requirements given below.
1.1.1 Imported consignments of designated items are broadly categorized as follows:
Category 1:
Consignments accompanied with acceptable Conformity Certificates from an overseas laboratory or an inspection agency or any other Government Institution registered with the SLSI
Benefits to the Importer:
If the submitted Conformity Certificate (CC) is acceptable for the consignment, the consignment will be approved for sale or use without sampling. Sample will be drawn for random check once in five consignments and after sampling the consignment will be approved. However, the SLSI will decide frequency of sampling based on the past performance of manufacturer, laboratory and the importer.
Category 2:
Consignments accompanied with a Conformity Certificate from the National Standards body of the exporting country. Conformity Certificate shall be issued in accordance with the relevant Sri Lanka Standard Specification
Benefits to the Importer: If the submitted Conformity Certificate (CC) is acceptable for the consignment the consignment will be approved for sale or use without sampling. Samples will be drawn for random check once in five consignments and after sampling the consignment will be approved . However, the SLSI will decide frequency of sampling based on the past performance of manufacturer and the importer.
Category 3:
Consignment imported from a manufacturing plant registered with the SLSI. A Conformity Certificate should accompany each and every consignment from the manufacturing plant.
Benefits to the Importer:
If the submitted Conformity Certificate (CC) is acceptable to determine the conformity of the consignment will be approved for sale or use with out sampling. However samples will be drawn for random check once in five consignments basis and the frequency of sampling is based on the past performance of manufacturer and the importer.
Category 4:
Consignments of products carrying "Product Certification Mark" of the National Standards body of any country where the standard used for said certification is compatible with the corresponding Sri Lanka Standard Specification. Such manufacturer should register for relevant products with the SLSI.
Benefits to the Importer:
a) If the product bears the Product Certification Mark of Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLS mark) the consignment will be released for sale or use without sampling. Samples will be drawn for random check once in eight consignments and after sampling the consignment will be approved. However, the SLSI will decide frequency of sampling based on the past performance of manufacturer and the importer.
b) If the product bears an acceptable Product Certification Marks of other countries the consignment will be approved for sale or use without sampling. Samples will be drawn for random check once in five consignments and after sampling the consignment will be approved. However, the SLSI will decide frequency of sampling based on the past performance of manufacturer and the importer.
Category 5:
Consignments which do not fall into any of the above categories.
1.1.2 Contracts dealing with the importation of designated items shall stipulate the need to submit a Pre-Export Conformity Certificate falling under Categories 1 to 3 as given in Clause 1.1.1 to ensure conformity of the consignment to the relevant Sri Lanka Standard. The detailed test results shall also be submitted.
1.1.3. An importer who intends to import any of the designated items may submit a Performa and a test report (pertaining to the items intended to be imported), to the SLSI and may get a verification from the institution whether such items are acceptable for the purpose of import before establishing the letters of credit. However this does not exempt the importer from submitting the pre-export Conformity Certificate pertaining to the specific batch / batches under importation, as stipulated in Clause 1.1.2.
1.1.4 Importation of any consignment of designated items which falls under Category 5 as in Clause 1.1.1 will be sampled at port, and consignments will not be released from the port until test report is available. However the SLSI may consider releasing the goods to a customs bonded warehouse, until clearance is obtained. If sampling at port premises is difficult or test result could not be obtained in a short period the consignment may be released to importers warehouse based on personal guarantee letter and past performance of importer as well as manufacturer.
1.1.5 It is emphasized that consignments of items of which drawing of samples at the Port premises is difficult or results of testing could not be obtained in a short time be supported with an acceptable Quality Certificate as specified in Categories 1, 2 or 3 in order to avoid delays.
1.1.6 However the SLSI will retain the authority to draw samples, from any of these consignments, either on random basis or if there is a reasonable doubt regarding the quality of the consignment and subject them for testing. The SLSI may refuse releasing of such consignments found unsatisfactory.
2.0 PROCEDURE FOR SUBMITTING NOTIFICATION
2.1 The importers and clearing agents shall register with SLSI for on-line submission of notification. The relevant Application is available in the SLSI website www.slsi.lk. Once registration is completed SLSI will issue the ‘User name’ and the ‘Password’ to log into the On-line system of Import Inspection Scheme of SLSI www.nationalsinglewindow.gov.lk.
2.2 An importer should upload the duly filled notification form accompanied with scanned copies of the following supporting documents in working language of Sri Lanka (English) by giving sufficient time frame to inspect the consignment
a) Copy of Commercial Invoice.
b) Copy of Packing List giving batches included in the consignment and quantity
from each batch.
c) Copy of Bill of Lading.
d) Copy of Customs Declaration with customs entry number. In case, if the importer is not in a position to submit custom entry number at the time of submission of the notification, bank stamped invoice shall be submitted.
e) Acceptable Conformity Certificates (CC) if any. If the consignment consists of several batches and different designs, quality certificate shall be provided for each batch and design.
2.3 A separate notification shall be uploaded for each item covered by different standards and for each invoice.
2.4 The notification form shall accompany a copy of the CC as indicated in Clause 1.1.2 to indicate conformity of the consignment to the relevant Sri Lanka Standard Specification. If acceptable CC is available for the consignment the original of the Pre-Export CC shall directly be sent to the Director General, SLSI by the certifying agency. An advanced copy may be faxed directly to the SLSI (Fax No.: 0094-11-2671579 / 0094 - 11- 5354320) to expedite processing. In instances where Pre-Export CC is faxed to the SLSI, same shall be followed by the original certificate.
2.5 On receipt of the notification form via on-line, the SLSI will decide whether the consignment should be subjected to inspection or sampling and testing or not. Once the decision shall appear on the portal in the status column as “Invoiced”, the importer shall pay the fee applicable, to the Account No 83973974, “Sri Lanka Standards Institution”, Bank of Ceylon, Super grade Branch, Borella.
2.6 A Notification submitted by an importer to obtain clearance for the consignment(s) cannot be considered as Quality Certificate for any purpose. Any importer or any other party shall not use the notification as a certificate to market the imported product.
3.0 SAMPLING
3.1 If Sri Lanka Standards Institution decides inspection/sampling is required, this decision is appeared in the Status column of Online System, as "SAMPLE REQUIRED" which indicates the consignment is detained for inspection/sampling. The sampling officers of SLSI will conduct inspection/sampling in accordance with the relevant sampling procedures.
3.2 Selection shall be done at random, using random number tables specified in SLS 428.
3.3 The necessary facilities to conduct inspection and sampling shall be provided by the importer (e.g. labour required, sampling tools if necessary etc.). The cost of sampling and testing shall be borne by the importer.
3.4 Importer shall inform to the SLSI, date of inspection with time and location.
3.5 The samples collected will be subjected to the identified initial and/or detailed tests.
3.6 If the consignment meets the critical requirements identified by the SLSI, the notification form will be stamped as approved. However in respect of the 1st consignment of a particular manufacturer for a brand or product, the Sri Lanka Standards Institution will carry out detailed tests after releasing the batch to assess conformity. If the detailed tests indicate non-conformity, the importer will be notified and future consignments of the same manufacturer will be subjected to detailed tests. This procedure will be followed until the SLSI is satisfied with the quality.
3.7 If the sample examined is found to be sub-standard on critical requirements, the importer will be advised to return the consignment to the exporter.
3.8 In instances where the Controller, Imports & Exports finds, that any importer has imported any goods into Sri Lanka, which do not conform to the relevant standard in accordance with the regulations made under the Import and Export Control Act No. 1 of 1969 and amended by Act No. 28 of 1987, the Controller shall in the interest of the national economy and the protection of consumer, publish in the Gazette a list specifying the name and address and other relevant particulars necessary to ascertain the identity of such importer.
4.0 Appeals
Appeal Procedure
The objective of appeal procedure is to facilitate the trade by considering their appeals related to the operations of Import Inspection Scheme of Sri Lanka Standards Institution including the decisions made on the release of consignments.
Appeals are processed as follows
01. Any Importer may lodge an appeal in writing to the Director General of SLSI withon one month from the date of receive the SLSI's final decision.
02. Appeal received by DG - SLSI is referred to the Appeal Committee for investigation.
03. The Appeal Committee should submit a detail report to DG-SLSI after the investigation, with their recommendations for DG's approval.
04. DG's decision is communicated to the appellant and Director of Quality Assurance division for necessary actions.
5.0 Fee structure:
6.0. Contact details
Director (Quality Assurance) Telephone: 2671578
General Telephone: 2671567
Food product Unit 1 : 363 Unit 2 : 360Non Food Unit 3: ext. 361 Unit 4 : ext 359
Administrative Officer of QA Division ext. 393Fax: 011-5354320