Cablegate: Tanzania: Import Regulations for Used Medical

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS DAR ES SALAAM 000724

SIPDIS

USDOC FOR MAS/MFG/OHCG/SFRANCIS

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD TZ
SUBJECT: Tanzania: Import Regulations for Used Medical
Equipment

REF: A) USDOC 0292

1. Per reftel, post submits input for the ITA/OMMI
report on import regulations governing used and
refurbished medical equipment. In general, the 2002
report available online (as listed in reftel) remains
valid. Tanzania has no restrictions on the importation
of used and refurbished equipment, and imposes no
special restrictions, standards, or tariffs that do not
apply to new medical equipment.

2. Public health institutions in Tanzania are barred
from purchasing used equipment, and the private market
for medical equipment is very limited. Most used
equipment imported to Tanzania is given as a donation
by donor agencies or NGOs. Still, private companies
are not restricted from buying used equipment.

3. The importation of medical equipment (used or new)
must be approved on a consignment basis by the Ministry
of Health's Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA).
Inspection is not necessary, but there is a fee of 0.2%
of FOB value (not to exceed USD 400). Upon TFDA
approval, medical equipment is VAT-exempted. Tariffs
are charged based on the East African Community Common
External Tariff list, which went into effect in January
2005. Most medical equipment is zero-rated.

4. According to the TFDA, single-use devices are not
reprocessed locally. They may be reprocessed abroad
and imported into Tanzania, but this activity is not
regulated beyond the normal import requirements.

STILLMAN

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