Cameroon Customs import and export policy

Overview

As a significant nation on the African continent, Cameroon's import and export goods policies have undergone several adjustments in recent years, aiming to promote domestic industrial development, achieve economic diversification, and strengthen ties with the international market.

Cameroon's 2016 Foreign Trade Law

The Foreign Trade Law, promulgated in 2016, advocates for trade liberalization but imposes special regulations on restricted or prohibited products.

Products for Free Import and Export

For products freely imported and exported, the following documents are required:

Import and export apppcation (including the apppcant's complete address, business scope, and types of import and export goods)

Copy of the apppcant's business registration documents

Address certificate issued by the local tax authority

Copy of the certified taxpayer's certificate

No tax arrears certificate

Copy of the certificate of agreement to carry out business activities in Cameroon (if required)

Relevant product import and export pcenses (if required)

For details, please refer to the Prime Ministerial Decree of June 7, 2017, on the implementation details of the 2016 Foreign Trade Law.

Products Requiring Administrative Procedures

For the import and export of food, animal products, livestock products, aquatic products, and certain plant and animal products, an application for a license must be submitted to the national competent authority. The export of coffee and cocoa is free, but the quality must meet international quality standards; the National Cocoa and Coffee Management Office will inspect the goods upon loading.

Prohibited Import and Export Products

Products that cause harm to human health or safety, public order, environmental protection, plant and animal protection, and cultural heritage are strictly prohibited from import and export.

Please note that the specific requirements for import and export may vary depending on the product category and country of origin/destination. It is always advisable to consult the latest regulations and procedures from the relevant authorities to ensure compliance.

Import and Export Commodity Inspection and Quarantine in Cameroon

On July 1, 2015, the Cameroonian government issued a decree on the "Detailed Rules for the Implementation of the Pre-Shipment Conformity Assessment (PECAE) Program for Imported Goods." PECAE officially came into effect on August 31, 2016. The Cameroonian government designated SGS and Intertek as the implementing companies responsible for pre-shipment conformity assessment of imported goods into Cameroon. These companies provide inspection, verification, analysis, and certification services for goods. The program requires that all imported goods into Cameroon undergo pre-shipment conformity assessment to protect consumer health and safety, the interests of local producers, improve the quality of infrastructure services in Cameroon, and monitor the quality compliance of products before they are put on the national market.

SGS Requirements

SGS, a leading provider of testing and certification services, has an office in Douala and has the following main requirements for inspection:

Mandatory Inspection: Unless exempted by the relevant authorities or listed in the Cameroonian government's Notification No. 94/1244, all other goods must undergo pre-shipment inspection.

Inspection Entity: Goods imported and subject to inspection as required by regulations must be entrusted to SGS or its subsidiaries and representatives headquartered in Geneva for pre-shipment inspection. The scope of inspection includes the quality, quantity, price, and tariff category of the goods.

Inspection Fees: Import inspection fees are borne by the importer.

Inspection Fee Calculation: The import inspection fee is calculated at 0.95% of the FOB value of the relevant goods at the port of shipment. A minimum fee of 110,000 CFA francs is levied per bill of lading or shipment. This fee can be paid by bank check.

Non-Refundable Inspection Fees: Import inspection fees are non-refundable if the import contract is not fulfilled or not fully fulfilled.

Inspection of Batched Shipments: If the total FOB value of imported goods is equal to or exceeds 2 million CFA francs (approximately $4,000), batched shipments must also undergo SGS inspection.

SGS Commercial Inspection Certificate: The SGS Commercial Inspection Certificate is one of the main legal documents for importers to declare customs and pay taxes. Importers must present a qualified commercial inspection certificate reviewed and signed by the SGS Douala office before they can go through customs clearance procedures.

Import Prohibition: Goods that do not fall under the exemption category, or goods for which an inspection refusal notice has been received or an SGS commercial inspection certificate has not been issued, are strictly prohibited from import or customs clearance in Cameroon.

Bank Payments: Payments for goods subject to SGS inspection as required by regulations must be made through a bank.

Letter of Credit Payments: In the case of buyer's credit, the paying institution must pay only after receiving the SGS Commercial Inspection Certificate provided by the seller. This provision should be stipulated in the payment contract, otherwise no form of foreign payment can be made.

Cooperation with SGS: Importers shall notify the seller to facilitate the various inspection work undertaken by SGS and ensure the proper presentation and adequate supply of samples of the goods to be inspected.

Non-Inspection Consequences: Importers shall notify the seller that any goods subject to inspection as required by regulations that have not been inspected by SGS or have not received a full commercial inspection certificate shall not be shipped, otherwise the buyer may refuse to pay the goods.