The East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) has passed two crucial bills to facilitate free trade among East African Community member states.

The bills will, however, have to be approved by the EAC heads of state before they can become law.

Once they become law, the two pieces of legislation will compel partner states to eliminate barriers that have hindered smooth trade in the region.

One of the laws, Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers Bill 2015, seeks to establish a mechanism for identifying and monitoring the removal of non-trade barriers within partner states.

Its passage comes against the backdrop of a surge in trade disputes arising from administrative measures deemed to be harmful to free trade in the region.

The other proposed law, East Africa Community (EAC) Co-operative Societies Bill 2014, gives guidelines on the formation of co-operative societies as well as rights and duties of members. It also sets out rules on dispute settlement and dissolution of societies.

The bill is based on the understanding that each partner state will encourage the efficient use of resources and promote the development of private sector organisations such as associations and agricultural outfits.

This was revealed when Eala members visited Kiambu Governor William Kabogo at the county headquarters en route to Limuru for a one-day seminar at Thayu Hotel.

Assembly chairman Kenya chapter Sauli Nkanae said the two proposed laws were expected to help promote fair trade among EAC member states.

“We were at Brookside Dairy Limited yesterday where the officials told us that it takes only one day to transport their milk to Mombasa but 30 days to Tanzania due to the bureaucracy involved,” said Mr Nkanae.

He added that once the bills become law, vehicles transporting passengers and goods through the member states will not be stopped at border points.

Mr Kabogo challenged Eala to formulate more laws to harmonise trade among member states.

Source: Standard Digital

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