A person who intends to carry out trade of used electrical or electronic equipment must apply for a license from authority, Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA) has ordered.

Robert Mugisha, the Director of Registration and Licensing Unit at RICA, explained that traders of such equipment had no known places of operations, adding that the new guidelines will help with inspections.

"They will also help to track stolen electronic equipment,” he said.

Below are 8 things that traders and consumers should know about the new regulations that are also aimed to track the theft of electrical and electronic equipment.

Verification of the equipment owner

Before buying used electrical or electronic equipment, the business operator must verify that the seller is the rightful owner of the equipment.

The business operator must also record the identity of the seller indicating the names, a copy of identity card, passport or business registration certificate, residence, telephone number,  e-mail address, where applicable.

The business operator reports to the relevant authorities any person suspected to have unlawfully acquired used electrical or electronic equipment.

Issuance of invoice

The business operator has the obligation to issue an invoice of used electrical or electronic equipment to the buyer.

Seizure of the equipment

The authority may seize used electrical or electronic equipment found in a store or shop of the business operator when a business operator fails to provide the records of the used electrical or electronic equipment under his or her possession and when the used electrical or electronic equipment is subject to an ongoing investigation.

Concerned equipment

Some of the used equipment includes consumer electronics, office, IT and telecommunications equipment, refrigeration equipment, large and small household appliances, lamps and lighting among others.

Other items include television receiver, satellite receivers, Pay-Tv receivers, decoders, video recorders, video cameras, video, cameras, loudspeakers, home computers, music instruments.

They also include personal computers, laptops, flat screens, scanners, printers, and telephones among others.

According to the guidelines, used electrical wires are not allowed to be traded by business operators.

Documents required applying for a license

According to RICA, a person applying for a license submits a duly filled application form determined by authority, a copy of business registration certificate issued by the competent authority, proof of payment of license application fees and a document indicating a list of existing used electrical or electronic equipment in the store or shop.

The authority notifies in writing the decision on application for a license to the applicant within 30 days from the date of submission of application.

The license is valid for two years renewable before applying for renewal.

The application fee is Rwf5,000 while the license fee is Rwf10,000.

When is license suspended, terminated?

RICA says that authority can suspend license if the business operator is under investigation of suspicions on buying or selling stolen used electrical or electronic equipment, fails to justify the source of the used electrical or electronic equipment under his or her possession, and when they fail to provide the records of the sold used electrical or electronic equipment within the last two years.

The operator is also suspended if they do not comply with any of the license obligations and the license suspension cannot exceed three months.

Authority may terminate the license if the business operator submits false or misleading data or information, violates relevant laws in force and if they refuse the authority access to premises of work or where records relating to trade of used electrical or electronic equipment are kept.

The license can also be terminated if the operator is convicted by court of an offence relating to stolen used electrical or electronic equipment, and if they do not comply with different instructions and license obligations.

Recording the description of equipment for two years  

The business operator ensures that used electrical or electronic equipment which he or she intends to buy meets the safety requirements of the standard IEC 60950-1.

The business operator must record the description of the used electrical or electronic equipment he or she buys, as well as those sold and keep the records for at least two years.