Import Policy Order 2016 amended: SRO 604 issued for solar panels, equipments

ISLAMABAD: The ministry of commerce on Monday amended Import Policy Order, 2016 to describe conditions for import of solar energy panels and related equipments into Pakistan, according to a notification made available to PkRevenue.com.

The ministry issued SRO 604(I)/2019 to amend the import policy order. The SRO amended the Appendix-B related to procedural requirement of following items with Pakistan Customs Tariff (PCT) code and description of commodity:

8541.4000: Solar Photovoltaic cells whether or not assembled in modules or made up into panels (Crystalline Type/ Thin Film) Solar PV Test equipment for system performance testing.

8504.4090: Inverter for use with solar PV system. Common for all PV inverters (off-gird/Hybrid/on-gird.

9032.8990: Charge Controllers for use solar PV systems Balance of system components for Photovoltaic systems.

8501.3110: Off-gird/Standalone solar photovoltaic generators consisting of panels of photocells combined with other apparatus / Solar PV Homes System / Solar Kits.

8501.3210: Off-Grid/ standalone solar photovoltaic generators consisting of panels of photocells combined with other apparatus / Solar PV Homes Systems/ Solar Kits

8503.0010: Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machines of heading 8501.3110 and 8501.3210

8503.0020: Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machines of heading 8501.3110 and 8501.3210

8503.0090: Pats suitable for use solely or principally with the machines of heading 8501.3110 and 8501.3210 – others.

8538.9090: Junction Box with covers for solar panels.

8544.6090: Insulated (including enameled or anodized electric wire, cables (including con-axial cable) and other insulated conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors for use in photovoltaic systems.

8413.7090: Solar Photovoltaic pumping system for liquids.

8419.1900: Solar Water Heaters with accessories

7321.1190: Stoves, ranges, grates, cookers (including those with subsidiary boilers for central heating), barbecues, braziers, rings, plate non-electric domestic appliances and parts thereof running on solar.

For the import of above solar system equipments the ministry has defined the conditions, included:

Importable subject to compliance with the quality and safety standards approved by Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) as given in Appendix N:

i. Provided that the test report shall be issued by accredited laboratory in the country of origin or exporting country for the scope of testing/ calibration, in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

ii. Provided further that the certificate of conformance (CoC) shall be issued by accredited product certification body in the country of origin of exporting country for the type of certification in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065, Conformity assessment – Requirements for bodies certifying products and services.

iii. Provided also further that the PSI report shall be issued by accredited inspection body in the country of origin or exporting country for the type of inspections, in accordance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020, General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection.

iv. Provided further that the accreditation of the above mentioned conformity assessment bodies shall be issued by the Accredited Body (AB), operating in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011, General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies.

The SRO also amended Appendix H related to the list of pre-shipment inspection companies. According to the amendment:

g. The pre-shipment inspection companies as approved by Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) for the inspection of solar equipment (including but not limited to solar PV system, off-girds/standalone solar PV systems, solar PV kits, solar PV panels, solar PV cells, inverters, charge controllers, balance of system components for PV systems, low-voltage switchgear and control gear assemblies, power converters for use in PV power systems, insulated cables for use in PV systems, solar pumping systems for liquids, solar water heaters with accessories, solar stoves/ cookers/ ranges, etc. and parts thereof.

The SRO also amended the Appendix N related to list of compulsory items to meet Pakistan Standards at import stage.

Following items have been added to the list with HS code and subject:

8541.4000:

Solar PV Module IEC: 61730-1

Solar PV Module – Crystalline Type IEC: 61730-2, IEC:61215-1

Solar PV Module – Thin Film (CdTe Based) IEC: 61215

Solar PV Module – Thin Film (amorphous silicon based), IEC: 61730-1, IEC: 61730-2

Solar PV Module – Thin Film (In, GA based) IEC: 61730-1, IEC: 61730-2

PV Test Equipment for system performance testing

Photovoltaic Concentrator (CPV)

Solar PV standalone systems (including AC or DC off-grid systems)

8504.4090: