Lang
From September 1, 2026, Eswatini's National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard) will begin enforcing a 24 per cent levy on imported edible oils entering the country. This move aims to tighten compliance with existing agricultural protection measures, affecting importers and retailers bringing various brands of edible oils into Eswatini.
NAMBoard Chief Executive Officer Bhekizwe Maziya clarified that the levy is not a new measure but rather the enforcement of an existing legal requirement. The agricultural marketing authority had previously identified gaps in compliance. Maziya, in an interview with the Times of Eswatini Business Desk, stated that the legislation provides for levies ranging between 24 per cent and 36 per cent on imported edible oils, and NAMBoard has opted for the minimum of 24 per cent.
Edible oils imported into Eswatini fall under Chapter 15 of the Harmonised System (HS), which covers animal, vegetable, or microbial fats and oils and their cleavage products, as well as prepared edible fats. According to Maziya, different brands and types of edible oils are classified under different HS codes, which importers use when declaring their commodities at the country’s border posts.
However, not all HS codes associated with edible oils attracted the levy, creating an opportunity for some importers to exploit gaps in the system. Maziya noted that some importers had been declaring products under HS codes that did not attract the levy, even when the actual commodities being brought into the country were products that should have attracted the charge. This resulted in under-declaration of imports and effectively allowed some players to bring in edible oils without paying the applicable levy.
Therefore, the September 1 enforcement seeks to strengthen controls and ensure that the levy is paid on products covered by the legislation. Maziya emphasised that the levy is primarily intended to support and protect Eswatini’s local agricultural industry, particularly because the country already has domestic capacity to produce edible oils.
He pointed to Eswatini Oil Mill Industries (SOMI), popularly known by its acronym and based in Matsapha, as a local producer capable of producing more than the domestic market requires. As of 2020, SOMI reportedly invested over E80 million into its plant and refinery to process all sunflower and soybeans grown by local farmers. The facility specialises in producing triple-refined, cholesterol-free cooking oil from sunflower and soybeans, alongside soap products.
According to Maziya, the company not only supplies the local market but also exports some of its products, demonstrating established production capacity within the country. Maziya affirmed that NAMBoard is not seeking to prevent consumers from accessing other brands or to force retailers to sell only locally produced edible oils. Instead, the organisation continues to allow the importation of alternative brands to accommodate consumer preferences.
Maziya mentioned that retailers had raised concerns that they could not simply be required to sell one brand when consumers have different tastes and preferences. He stated, 'We do allow the importation of other brands because retailers have told us that they cannot be forced to sell one brand when customers have their own preferences.'
However, he stressed that such imports would be subject to the applicable levy. He concluded that the enforcement is about ensuring a level playing field between local producers and importers rather than shutting out imported products. Source: Times of Eswatini