Trade licenses are required for the import and export of certain goods, including military uniforms, wild animals, some food, and military equipment. Malawi is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), granting trade preferences to member states.
Prohibited Items: firearms are subject to Police Permit, ammunition, radio equipment, pornographic material, plants/seeds.
Required Documents: Bill of lading, Cargo release order, Certificate of origin, Commercial invoice, Customs import declaration, Import license, Packing list, Transit documents: COMESA certificate, Transit document: Report order and Statement of transit.
Taxations
The government eliminated import taxes on tobacco, sugar, tea, and coffee. Machinery, basic foodstuffs, and raw materials are admitted with a 10% to 5% tax. The maximum tariff rate was reduced from 30% of value to 25%. Tariffs on intermediate goods and raw materials were reduced from 10% to 5% and from 5% to 0%, respectively.
Marking and Packages
• Packages should bear the consignee's mark, including port mark and should be numbered unless the contents of the packages can be readily identified without numbers
• Poisons must be clearly labelled as such and the word "Caution" must appear on the label.
• Imported goods that contain references to any town, place, district, or country must be marked with the country of origin.
• Goods bearing unauthorised emblems are prohibited. | 
