International Standards

Cameroon is situated in the heart of Central Africa and bordered by Nigeria, Chad, the Central African Republic, the People’s Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea. Cameroon is the business hub of Central Africa due to its strategic economic and geographical position as well as enabling Cameroon to have access to Nigeria with a common border of 1,690 kilometers and access to a 170 million people market. 

Cameroon is an economic leader in Central Africa with the largest economy and the largest population (estimated at 21.0 million) of the six-member regional Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (Communaute Economique et Monetaire de l’Afrique Central, CEMAC), a monetary union with a supranational central bank and a monetary policy pegged to the Euro. The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) sets monetary policy for Cameroon and other CEMAC members. CEMAC’s currency, the Central African Franc (CAF), is managed by BEAC and guaranteed at a rate of 655.957 CFA to the Euro by the Treasury of the Government of France. 

The country aims to establish strong trade partnerships with different European and Asian countries while exporting and importing different kinds of goods. In the same time, the government protects the local economy by establishing different trade regulations which are very similar with the international standards.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

In order to import or export different kinds of products, every importer/exporter has to prepare a number of documents which are required by the Customs Department. These documents include:

Commercial Invoice

Two copies of the freight invoices in French and/or English are required. No specific form is required, but all invoices must contain the names of the exporter and consignee, number and types of packages, marks and numbers on the packages, net and gross weights, CIF value, terms of sale, and a thorough description of the merchandise. Note that the importer will usually need a signed duplicate invoice to speed the release of the imported goods from customs. This should be sent via air courier and arrive in Cameroon prior to the arrival of the merchandise.

Certificate of Origin

Every importer or exporter has to prove the origin of the products buy preparing a Certificate of Origin. Two certified copies are required.

Packing List

A packing list is not legally required, but such lists are usually considered essential in accelerating the time required for customs clearance.

Bill of Lading (Air Waybill)

There are no regulations specifying content of a bill of lading. Importers should include clear marks of identification and the name and address of the consignee of the goods. Shipping marks on the goods must correspond exactly to numbers on bills of lading/invoices.

Pro-forma Invoice

Persons wishing to import goods are required to attach six copies of this invoice to the application for an import license and/or the intent to import. A pro-forma invoice may also be required when presenting an application to Cameroon authorities to ship bonded goods through the country.

LABELING REQUIREMENTS

There are specific labeling requirements for imported goods which have to be respected by every importer or exporter. All the labels should be in English and French and well-labeled goods enjoy quicker identification and customs clearance as SGS has the authority to inspect the quality of any goods shipped into the country. Food products destined for Cameroon should have the manufacturing and expiration dates engraved or stamped on the top of the container and packaging in clearly legible ink. Also, a small comment stating “made in” and “to be consumed before” has to be printed in English or/and French languages.

- Information on food labels imported or domestic should include: 

- Name and brand of product;

- Country of origin; 

- Name and address of the manufacturer;

- List of ingredients (including salt) and additives; 

- Nutrition and caloric value; 

- Allergenic ingredients and allergenic processing aids (gluten, soybean, peanuts, etc); 

- Net weight/volume (metric system); 

- Expiration date/shelf life; 

- Shelf life (if the product has a shelf life of less than three months, it must include the day/month/ year of expiration); 

- Products containing GMO s must be labeled accordingly.

GENERAL IMPORT AND EXPORT PROCEDURES

In general, Cameroon does not have quantitative restrictions on imports, tariff protections or import licensing requirements. In theory there are no tariffs within the CEMAC countries and only a valueadded tax is applied to goods traded among the CEMAC countries at the point of entry. However, in an effort to protect the poultry sector, the government controls imports of frozen chicken parts. Importers must have an importation license issued from the Ministry of Trade. SGS must be notified of import transactions above 2 million franc CFA ($4,000). A one-stop shop exists for all customs procedures. All documents must be submitted within 48 hours of a shipment’s arrival. In 2009, the Customs Department started to use an online clearing system called SYDONIA to expedite the clearing process and tracking containers.

IMPORT TARIFFS

There are six different tariff and taxes for imported products: 

- Common External Tariff (TEC); 

- Generalized Preferential Tariff; 

- Temporary Surcharge, The Excise tax; 

- Value Added Tax; 

- Regional Integration Tax;

- other Service Taxes. 

The TEC groups products into 4 categories-with rates ranging from rates 5-30 percent.

- Category I refers to first necessity goods (5%) defined by ministerial decree as foodstuffs;

- Category II refers to materials and equipment (10%);

- Category III refers to intermediary (semi-processed) goods;

- Category IV refers to final consumption imported goods (30%).

The value added tax (VAT) is a consumer tax. The VAT is charged on merchandise entering the country on the CIF value and levied on most products at a flat rate of 19.25%. 

PRODUCT REGISTRATION

In the absence of any specified domestic norms or standards, international norms and standards are applied. There is no well-defined system for the elaboration of food standards, however, L’Agence de Normes et de la Qualite, National Agency for Standards and Quality, ANOR sets the quality standards to align with the international CODEX Alimentarious Committee standards.

CONTACTS

Agence des Normes et de la Qualite, ANOR 

National Agency for Standards and Quality 

General Director Charles Boto’o a Ngon 

Address: P.O Box 14996 Yaoundé, Cameroon 

Email: contact@anorcameroon.org  

Phone: +237 2222-6496 

Website: www.anorcameroon.org