Imports of solar panels, equipment: FBR to ensure implementation on AEDB quality standards

Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will ensure implementation on the quality standards laid down by Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) on the imports of solar panels and related equipment. In this regard, a plan has been shared by the Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) with the Director General (Trade & Policy), Ministry of Commerce & Textile, and FBR.
The Ministry of Commerce and Textile has already extended the date for implementation of SRO 604(I)/2019 till August 31, 2019, requiring pre-shipment inspection (PSI) of solar panels and related equipment consignments imported into the country. The AEDB disclosed that the pre-shipment inspection certificate is to be issued by an accredited agency in the country of origin or exporting country operating in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020, General criteria for the operation of bodies performing inspection. For avoidance of doubt, it is clarified that if the inspection body is not in the list of Accreditation Body, then its certificate would not be accepted/ entertained. The importers/vendors would be required to keep them updated about the accreditation status of the inspection body through the website of PNAC.
The plan of the AEDB revealed that AEDB was tasked to prepare a process flow elaborating steps to be taken for import and clearance of the items under SRO 604 in consultation with private sector companies and submit it to Ministry of Commerce. Accordingly, the AEDB has prepared a process flow in consultation with representatives from Solar Quality Foundation (SQF), Renewable and Alternative Energy Association of Pakistan (REAP), Pakistan Solar Association (PSA) and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). The same has been shared with the Commerce Division for further necessary action at the end.
The AEDB stated that the federal government of Pakistan vide its SRO 604(1)12019, dated May 28, 2019 (SRO 604) issued amendments in the Import Policy Order, 2016 (IPO). The purpose of issuance of the SRO 604 was to adopt international standards for import of solar PV equipment irrespective of the country/source of origin and uniform applicability of the standards all over the country. Subsequent to issuance of this SRO 604, the importers/vendors requested Ministry of Commerce to issue a process flow that would define steps that are needed to be followed while importing solar PV equipment for uniformity and better understanding, This document provides process flow that the importers/vendors would have to follow for the import of equipment related to solar PV systems from abroad as per SRO 604.
The scope of process flow stated herein is limited and applicable to the products stated in the SRO 604 ie solar PV panels, inverters, charge controllers, junction boxes', cables and standalone solar products including solar kits, solar water pumps, solar water heaters and solar cookers. The importers/vendors are required to read this process flow together with the SRO 604 and relevant provisions of the IPO for better understanding and compliance to the requirements stated therein.
It said the solar PV products/goods have been manufacturing all over the world. The manufacturers manufacture products/goods as per related standards for quality, performance and delivery. The importers/vendors are required to ensure that the manufactures are conforming to the standards as approved and adopted by Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) for solar PV equipment and given in the SRO 640. The import of all those solar PV products/goods not conforming to any of the standards as approved/adopted by PSQCA and given in the SRO 604 would not be allowed for imports.
The manufacturer is required to undertake type test of the products in accordance with related international IEC standards, as adopted by Pakistan, through Accredited Laboratories duly recognized by the Accreditation Bodies as per international standards and best practices. The standards as adopted by PSQCA for solar PV equipment are now part of the IPO though SRO 604. The Type Test Certificate is to be issued by an Accredited Laboratory in the Country of Origin or exporting country operating in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025, general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. For avoidance for doubt, it is clarified that if the Accredited Laboratory is not in the list of Accreditation Body of the port of origin or country of export, then its certificate would not be accepted/ entertained.
The document said the importers/vendors place orders to their respective suppliers/manufacturers for import solar PV equipment/products as per their requirements and/or in accordance with their contractual obligations. With the amendments in IPO through SRO 604, the importers/vendors are now obligated to import only those solar PV equipment/products that are compliant to the standards as adopted by PSQCA for ease of importers, a checklist is prepared and provided at Annex-I to verify that the solar PV equipment/products as imported by importers/vendors comply with relevant standards as adopted by PSQCA.
The suppliers/exporters would forward the shipment as per the order placed by the importers/vendors to the port of origin/country of export.
The Certificate of Conformity is to be issued by an Accredited Agency in the country of origin or exporting country operating in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065, Conformity assessment-Requirements for bodies certifying products and services. For avoidance of doubt, it is clarified that if the product certification body is not in the list of Accreditation Body, its certificate would not be accepted/ entertained. The importers/vendors would be required to keep them updated about the accreditation status of the product certification body through the website of PNAC.
The shipment/consignment as exported by the suppliers/exporters as per order placed by the importers/vendors would reach the respective port of delivery in Pakistan. The port authorities would present the consignment to the appraiser/examiner for further processing, it said.
The importers/vendors would have to submit/present all the documentation before the customs officers and the importers/vendors would have to declare the consignment as per the Goods Declaration (GO) procedure enabling processing of the consignment for clearance. All the documentation along with GD(s) would be uploaded on the WEBOC.
The customs officers will inspect/examine the imported consignment as per the documentation and declaration. Any deficiencies identified by the customs officers at this stage would be communicated to the importers/vendors for rectification. After complete inspection/examination, the consignment will be forwarded for clearance.