The East African Customs and Freight Forwarding Practising Certificate
- Full name
- East African Customs Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate 5
- Run by
- EAC revenue authorities, national freight forwarding associations, the EAC Directorate of Customs and FEAFFA 5
- Duration in Uganda
- 10 months in two semesters 5
- Delivery in Uganda
- Online teaching with physical exams 5
- Uganda tuition
- UGX 1,500,000 5
- Uganda registration fee
- US$150 5
- Regional rule on staff
- EAC Customs Management Regulations, 2010, regulation 150 7
What the certificate is
The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) describes the EACFFPC as a joint regional training programme of the East African revenue authorities, the national freight forwarding associations, the EAC Directorate of Customs and FEAFFA 5. It is aimed at practising or prospective customs agents and freight forwarders 5.
An evaluation for TradeMark East Africa dated 8 May 2015 says the course was funded by USAID and other stakeholders from 2007 and by TradeMark East Africa from 2011 6. It says TradeMark East Africa funding ended in 2014 6.
Legal basis and who needs it
Regulation 150 of the EAC Customs Management Regulations, 2010 requires an applicant for a customs agent licence to have at least two employees in charge of clearance with a diploma or certificate in customs training from a recognised institute, or at least five years of experience in customs operations 7. The regulation does not name the EACFFPC 7.
The 2015 evaluation describes a regional policy change that made EACFFPC training an obligatory requirement for revenue authority licensing of freight forwarding companies 6. It found the requirement was being applied inconsistently across the region 6. FEAFFA describes the course as mandatory for all customs agents 1,2.
The Tanzania Revenue Authority requires the director or staff member who sits the licensing interview to hold the practising certificate 8.
Course content
The URA lists ten papers for the course in Uganda 5.
| Area | Papers |
|---|---|
| Customs 5 | Customs clearance procedures, WTO customs valuation, classification of goods and rules of origin 5 |
| Freight forwarding 5 | Freight forwarding procedures, port clearance, carriage of goods 5 |
| Warehousing 5 | Warehousing operations and storage 5 |
| Management 5 | Basic course 5 |
| Field study 5 | Field study report 5 |
| Customs systems 5 | Application of ASYCUDA World, not examined 5 |
How to take it
FEAFFA says admissions take place at the training institutions of the regional revenue authorities, which advertise intakes each year 3. It refers applicants to the national freight forwarding association in each country 4.
- Burundi: Association Burundaise des Agences en Douane et Transitaires (ABADT), Bujumbura 4.
- Kenya: Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) 4.
- Rwanda: Rwanda Freight Forwarders Association (RWAFFA), Kigali 4.
- Tanzania: Tanzania Freight Forwarders Association (TAFFA), Dar es Salaam 4.
- Uganda: Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA), Kampala 4.
- Zanzibar: Zanzibar Freight Forwarders Bureau (ZFB) 4.
Entry requirements, fees and duration
In Uganda the minimum entry requirement is an O Level certificate for practising agents and an A Level certificate for others 5. The URA lists tuition of UGX 1,500,000, registration of US$150 and a field study fee of UGX 1,000,000. Its page names January 2024 as the next intake 5.
Sources give different lengths. The URA says the course runs for 10 months in two semesters 5. In December 2017 the OBR Director of Customs Services in Burundi said the course lasts six months 9.
FEAFFA's current course structure page describes a Certificate in Freight Logistics and a Diploma in Freight Logistics, each with customs, freight forwarding and warehousing modules and an industrial attachment 2.
How many have been trained
The 2015 evaluation gives these counts by country, without years 6. It gives a separate estimate of some 1,650 people trained and certified with funding from 2007, and estimates that TradeMark East Africa helped train 2,373 6. The report does not reconcile these figures 6.
Common questions
Is the EACFFPC mandatory for clearing agents?
FEAFFA calls it mandatory 1. The EAC Regulations of 2010 do not name it 7. A 2015 evaluation found the rule applied inconsistently 6. Tanzania requires it of the licence interviewee 8.
How long is the EACFFPC course?
The URA says 10 months in two semesters 5. An OBR official said six months in 2017 9.
How much does the EACFFPC cost in Uganda?
The URA lists tuition of UGX 1,500,000, registration of US$150 and a field study fee of UGX 1,000,000 5.
Where do I apply for the EACFFPC?
Through the revenue authority training institutions, which advertise intakes each year, or the national freight forwarding association 3,4.
What are the entry requirements?
In Uganda, an O Level certificate for practising agents and an A Level certificate for others 5.
Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.
Sources
- FEAFFA: Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations home page (undated)
- FEAFFA: EACFFPC course structure (undated)
- FEAFFA: EACFFPC admissions (undated)
- FEAFFA: EACFFPC training centres (undated)
- Uganda Revenue Authority: East African Customs Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (undated)
- TradeMark East Africa: Summative Evaluation of the EACFFPC, by The Law and Development Partnership (8 May 2015)
- EAC: Customs Management Regulations, 2010, text hosted by tralac (undated)
- Tanzania Revenue Authority: Customs licencing (undated)
- Office Burundais des Recettes: La Voix du Contribuable No. 008 (December 2017)
Related
- Customs agent licensing in the East African Community
How the EAC Customs Management Act 2004 and the 2010 Regulations govern customs agent licences, fees, the practising certificate and FEAFFA.
- Customs agent licensing in Kenya
KRA customs agent licence rules: Form C20, US$50 and US$400 fees, the US$5,000 CB 11 bond, iCMS access and the role of KIFWA.
- Customs agent licensing in Tanzania
TRA rules for licensing clearing and forwarding agents: US$50 and US$400 fees, the TSh 100 million bond, TANCIS and the TAFFA association.
- Customs agent licensing in Uganda
URA customs agency licence rules: Form C20 on the Single Window, US$50 and US$400 fees, competence tests, ASYCUDA World and UFFA.
- Customs clearing agent licensing in Rwanda
RRA requirements for a customs clearing agency licence in Rwanda: RESW application, RWF 150 million guarantee, staff, validity and EAC fees.
- Customs agent licensing in Burundi
How customs agents are authorised in Burundi under the EAC customs law: OBR rules, mandatory use of agents, guarantees, training and fees.
- Authorised Economic Operator programmes in East Africa
How the EAC regional AEO programme and national AEO schemes work: who can apply, the criteria, the four approval stages and benefits for clearing agents.
- How to check that a customs clearing agent is licensed
Where to check a customs clearing agent's licence in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda: the official lists, the URA search page and what to look for.