A steel pipe export enterprise in Hebei, upon first contact with a Zimbabwean customer, signed an export contract for a batch of galvanized steel pipes. The buyer is responsible for customs clearance but required the seller to provide a CBCA certificate (the conformity assessment program implemented by the Standards Association of Zimbabwe; all controlled products must obtain a CBCA certificate before being exported to Zimbabwe). The enterprise mistakenly assumed the buyer would handle it and did not apply before shipment.
After the goods arrived in Harare, they could not be cleared through customs due to the lack of a CBCA certificate. The buyer refused to take delivery on the grounds that "the seller failed to provide compliance documents," incurring demurrage of about USD 200 per day. The enterprise contacted the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) on its own and was told that it needed to apply through an authorized agency and submit test reports, invoices, packing lists, and other materials. Unfamiliarity with the process led to repeated supplementary submissions.
After Shuwang Testing and Certification Platform intervened, it first confirmed the CBCA controlled scope corresponding to the product's HS code and clarified that galvanized steel pipes are controlled products and must obtain a CBCA certificate. The platform coordinated with a partner laboratory to conduct sampling and testing of the product, completed chemical composition and mechanical performance testing in accordance with relevant Zimbabwean standards (such as SAZ 101, etc.), and issued a CNAS-accredited report. The platform guided the enterprise in preparing complete application documents, including proforma invoices, packing lists, test reports, product photos, etc., and submitted them to a SAZ authorized agency on its behalf, while following up on inspection arrangements (if required). While waiting for the certificate, the platform assisted the enterprise in communicating with the buyer, explaining compliance progress, and coordinating with the shipping company to apply for a reduction or waiver of demurrage.
From submission of the application to obtaining the CBCA certificate took a total of 12 working days (reference range 5-10 working days, slightly extended due to supplementary documents). The goods completed customs clearance after being detained for 14 days, and the demurrage was reduced by 30% after negotiation. The enterprise subsequently incorporated CBCA certification for this type of product into its standard export process.
Before exporting to Zimbabwe and other African countries, it is essential to confirm in advance whether the product is on the CBCA controlled list and to allow at least 2 weeks for certification. CBCA certificate applications must be made through SAZ authorized agencies. Enterprises contacting the standards bureau on their own often face low efficiency, and it is recommended to entrust a professional platform for coordination.