Home / Logistics Knowledge / South Sudan CoC (PVoC) Certificate Guide
Goods shipped to South Sudan are stopped at the destination most often on one document: the CoC certificate. This guide covers whether certification applies to your goods, the documents to prepare, the six-step application process, the fee schedule and the points where shipments most often lose time — so that certification can be scheduled before production and booking.
Export consignments to South Sudan most often come to a stop at the destination on one document: the CoC certificate (Certificate of Conformity). Since 1 May 2021, the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) has applied a Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme to controlled products exported to South Sudan: a consignment must complete the full conformity assessment and hold a valid CoC certificate before shipment in order to clear customs at the destination port or border. Without a valid certificate the goods face detention, fines and even return to origin.
Based on the official requirements of the South Sudan PVoC programme, the sections below set out whether certification applies to your goods, the documents to prepare, the six-step application process, the fee schedule and the stages where problems most often arise — practical reference for arranging the certification step before you schedule production and book space.
The PVoC is the programme. To prevent substandard products from entering the domestic market and to protect consumers in terms of public health, safety and the environment, South Sudan requires controlled products to complete conformity verification in the exporting country before shipment, covering document review, physical inspection and, where necessary, sampling and testing.
The CoC is the document that programme produces. A PVoC service provider authorised by the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) issues a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) for products that pass verification, and that certificate is used to clear the consignment at the destination port. In other words, the CoC is the proof that the consignment meets South Sudanese standards; without a valid certificate the destination will detain the goods, impose fines or return them to origin.
Whether certification is mandatory depends on whether the product falls within South Sudan's controlled product scope; the applicable standards, and whether sampling and testing is mandatory, differ by product category. Provide the product name, material, use and HS code before shipment and we will confirm whether your goods are in scope, so that you avoid a misjudgement.
Note first that an application can currently be started with a packing list and an invoice alone; the remaining quality documents are added later according to the product category and the agency's requirements, so there is no need to wait until every document is ready. The table below explains what each document is used for, so that you can plan ahead:
| Document | What it is used for |
|---|---|
| Packing list (required now) | Number of packages, packing method, gross and net weight and measurement; the details must match the later customs declaration and container loading. |
| Invoice (required now) | Proforma or commercial invoice stating the seller and buyer, product name, specification, quantity, unit price and FOB value; used to determine the product scope and the basis for the fee. |
| Product test report | Third-party test report or factory inspection report, prepared against the standard applicable to the product. |
| Technical data sheet / product manual | Used to check whether the product meets the South Sudanese national standards and technical regulations that apply to it. |
| Factory ISO certificate (if available) | A quality management system certificate supports review under the product registration and type approval routes. |
| Other supporting documents | Product photographs, trademark or brand information, HS code, package markings and similar, added at the agency's request. |
| Final commercial invoice and packing list | Submitted after inspection so that the certificate can be issued; the details must agree with the customs declaration and the bill of lading. |
The documents ultimately required are those set out in writing by the authorised PVoC service provider; some product categories also require a sample, a description of the production process or a declaration of conformity.
The South Sudan PVoC process is standardised and has six steps. Three tasks fall to the exporter: preparing the documents, supporting the inspection and submitting the final documents.
| Step | What happens | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 Submit the application | Complete the basic application information on the official online platform of the PVoC service provider authorised by SSNBS, and upload the proforma invoice, packing list, product quality documents (such as test reports and technical data sheets) and the factory ISO certificate where available; the full application may also be submitted online (WeChat / WhatsApp / email and similar) through the provider's coordinator or customer service. | A packing list and an invoice are currently enough to start |
| Step 2 Agree the plan and standards | The service provider determines a workable inspection arrangement and the applicable standards according to the product category and the exporter's location. Depending on where the inspection takes place it may be an online inspection or an on-site inspection. | Confirm in advance whether the inspection is remote or on site |
| Step 3 Schedule the inspection | The inspection is carried out by a third-party inspection body appointed by the service provider; the applicant or exporter must agree the exact inspection time with that inspection body. | Align it with production and container loading |
| Step 4 Sampling and testing | Under the standards, sampling and testing is mandatory for some products. Where testing is required it must be carried out at a laboratory recognised by the provider, which coordinates sampling and performs the laboratory test. | Where testing applies, certificate issuance is pushed back accordingly |
| Step 5 Submit the final documents | Once inspection is complete, the applicant or exporter submits the final documents (commercial invoice and packing list) to the service provider. | Document details must be consistent throughout |
| Step 6 Issue the certificate | The service provider issues an electronic CoC certificate and emails it to the customer. | Pass it to the destination customs broker promptly and keep it on file |
Fees for the South Sudan pre-shipment conformity assessment are generally charged as a percentage of FOB value, subject to a minimum charge. The published reference rates are:
| Route | When it applies | Basis of charge |
|---|---|---|
| Route A Standard batch-by-batch verification | Each consignment completes conformity assessment before shipment; the route used most often | FOB value × 0.50%, minimum USD 450 |
| Route B Product registration | Repeat review work on later batches is reduced once the product has been registered | FOB value × 0.45%, minimum USD 400 |
| Route C Product type approval | Manufacturers only; for factories with a stable quality system and consistent product | FOB value × 0.40%, minimum USD 375 |
The figures above are the basic certification service fees; sampling and laboratory testing charges and inspection travel costs are normally calculated separately. The final amount is subject to the formal quotation issued by an SSNBS-authorised PVoC service provider.
The CoC is issued by a PVoC service provider authorised by the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS), and the application must be made by the exporter or manufacturer. As a freight forwarder, our role is to align the certification milestones precisely with the logistics milestones, so that the certificate and the cargo move together:
South Sudan operates a PVoC pre-shipment conformity assessment programme for controlled products. Goods within the controlled scope must complete conformity assessment and hold a CoC certificate before shipment in order to clear customs at the destination, and goods without a valid certificate face detention, fines and even return to origin. Provide the product name and HS code before shipment and we will confirm whether your goods are within the controlled scope.
The essence of the PVoC is pre-shipment verification, so the CoC requires inspection and certification before the goods are shipped. Once the cargo has been shipped, or has even arrived, pre-shipment conformity assessment can normally no longer be arranged for that batch. Build the certification process into your shipping plan before you book space and load the container.
A packing list and an invoice are currently all that is needed to start an application. A proforma invoice, product test report, technical data sheet or product manual and, where available, a factory ISO certificate are also commonly used and are added according to the product category and the agency's requirements. Once inspection is complete, the final commercial invoice and packing list must be submitted so that the certificate can be issued.
It is generally charged as a percentage of FOB value. The published reference rates are: standard batch-by-batch verification 0.50% (minimum USD 450), product registration 0.45% (minimum USD 400) and product type approval (manufacturers only) 0.40% (minimum USD 375). Whether sampling and testing charges and inspection travel costs are additional is subject to the formal quotation of the authorised agency.
The process is quick: a certificate is normally issued within 1–2 business days, assuming the application documents are complete and can be accepted immediately. If the product requires mandatory sampling and testing, the actual time is extended accordingly.
Urgent cases can be issued the same day, and no additional expedite fee is charged. Tell us the sailing, flight or container loading date when you submit the application so that priority handling can be arranged.
South Sudan is landlocked and has no seaport of its own. Sea freight normally clears customs at Mombasa (Kenya) first and then moves into South Sudan by truck; air freight normally arrives at Juba International Airport (JUB). The exact routing depends on the service and the final delivery address, and we can set out a workable option based on your receiving address.
Discharge, customs clearance and trucking on the Mombasa leg are normally handled by a local agent or forwarder. If you have not yet appointed a destination agent, we can arrange for a local agent to take it on; if you already work with an agent, we handle the interface with them on documents, milestones and transit times so that the transit connection runs smoothly.
The CoC is used when the goods enter South Sudan for customs clearance. As long as the final destination country is South Sudan, PVoC conformity assessment must be completed and a CoC certificate obtained before shipment, whichever country or port the cargo transits; without a valid certificate the goods are fined on entry into South Sudan and may face detention or return to origin.
The CoC is issued by a PVoC service provider authorised by the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards. As a freight forwarder we can help compile and submit the application documents, check the customs declaration and accompanying documents, arrange booking and container loading times so that inspection and issuance sit alongside the sailing schedule, and provide support at the destination clearance and collection stage.
Note: the information above is compiled from the published requirements of the South Sudan PVoC programme for reference by exporting companies. The stated processing time assumes that the application documents are complete and that the agency can accept them immediately; process details, fee levels and processing times are ultimately subject to the formal documents of the SSNBS and its authorised PVoC service providers. We are an international freight forwarder and do not issue CoC certificates.
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