The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is still compiling a list of sensitive goods from its member countries in the run up to the formation of the Customs Union of the largest regional group in Africa, Times of Zambia reported Wednesday.

It quoted COMESA public relations officer Mweusi Karak as saying that the member countries have been asked to submit lists of sensitive products that will be accorded a differentiated treatment under the Customs Union slated to be in place by 2008.

Karak said here Tuesday that the technical committee will soon meet to look into and assess the submissions.

The regional body will look at products that are of low economic importance, the goods' contribution to the revenues of individual member countries and also on the role of the commodities in regional development, among other criteria, he said.

"We also want to look at social, cultural and religious implications of the commodities on regional trade. For instance, on religious implications, currently no one is allowed to sell pork or alcohol to a Muslim country within COMESA," said Karak.

The final recommendations on the matter will be submitted to the Council of Ministers meeting to be held in November this year in Djibouti, he said.

As an African regional economic grouping COMESA has been asked by the African Union to start working together to harmonize different programs such as different customs unions, he said.

COMESA has already been working with Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Eastern African Community to harmonize different customs union, Karak said.

Trade experts have expressed concern over the economic implications for countries that have duo membership in the regional bodies such as SADC and COMESA.

Source: Xinhua