Coordination between SII and PSI in sample testing
  2. import
  3. Custom Clearance
  4. Coordination between SII and PSI in sample testing

Cooperation between the Standards Institution of Israel (SII) and the Palestine Standards Institution  (PSI)

Certificate of Conformity “Tekken”

The Certificate of Conformity “Tekken Inspection” is designed for products that come into direct contact with human beings in terms of quality, safety, conditions and standards. This inspection is carried out by examining a sample of imported products. The Standards Institute of Israel (SII) conducts this inspection for all products entering the country in order to ensure consumer safety.

 

The importer is recommended to send a sample to be tested by the SII before importing the shipment so as to avoid extra costs that may result from keeping the shipment in storerooms until the completion of sample testing. In this case, the importer makes arrangement to import the sample directly to the SII or to send it to the SII himself, upon arrival.

 

If the sample of the shipment is not sent for prior inspection, the customs agent coordinates with the SII upon the arrival of the shipment to one of the commercial outlets in order to attend and take the sample for testing following disclosure about the location of the shipment, whether it is at a port, an airport or a commercial outlet.

 

After conducting the required sample test, the SII issues a report with details of the test results and sends them to both the customs agent and the importer. If the results are sound, the report indicates the certificate validity and the importer is entitled to import the product without further examination by the SII, provided that no change has affected the product or the supplier.

 

If the result is negative, reasons will be given why the sample failed the test and what should be done to gain a successful result. In this case, the SII asks the Palestine Standards Institution (PSI) to cooperate if the defect is not essential, can be corrected or treated and does not affect the consumer in any way (such as defects in markings, user instructions, safety warnings, electrical appliance cables, etc.).

 

● Example: When importing electrical devices (TV, radio, computer), most failures are due to the lack of a tri-electrical cable. Accordingly, it is reported as follows:

Result: the sample does not meet the requirements of the SII due to the lack of a tri-electrical cable.

Typical case: in accordance with the applicable laws, electrical devices must contain tri-electrical cable to support the “grounding”.

In this case, coordination between the SII and the PSI is necessary within the framework of the following procedures:

 

  • Either the customs agent or the importer requests approval from the SII to repair the defect in the shipment. If the importer is from the West Bank and wants to repair the shipment defect at the company’s storerooms in the Palestinian territories, he must apply to the PSI.
  • The importer pays the bank guarantee to the Israeli bank of the customs agent who follows up the file. The minimum amount of the bank guarantee is 30% of the value of the goods.
  • The importer must have a declaration prepared and signed by a Palestinian notary public, stating that he will not market the goods until the necessary permits are obtained.
  • The importer sends a certified application to obtain a conformity form of the imported items from the PSI for NIS 100.
  • The importer submits the shipment to the applicable conformity standards of the PSI to ensure the validity of conformity following the necessary repair procedures.
  • The PSI conducts inspections to ensure validity (the inspection charge is NIS 120 in addition to a NIS 50 transport allowance to be paid to the PSI staff member).
  • The importer sends a request to the Palestine Standards Institute for a permit to market the imported products.
  • The PSI, in coordination with the Ministry of National Economy, makes arrangement to get a permit from the Israeli Civil Administration (in Beit El) to release the bank guarantee.
  • The importer should not be allowed to market the products before receiving approval from the PSI.

 

Sample inspection validity period extends from one month to a year, depending on the type of the product. The fees are determined based on the type of product and the nature and type of tests. Palestinian traders may receive information about the cost of sample tests. For example, the cost of bicycle sample testing is NIS 8,025.

If the importer submits a certificate issued by the Certification Body (CB), which is an international inspection report, the shipments does not need to be inspected by the SII. The role of the SII, in this case, is limited to report verification. Once the certificate is verified, the shipment is released, and this usually takes about ten days.