Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of the Congo Customs Contacts

Address: Immeuble SANKURU, Royal, Boulevard du 30 juin, Gombe, Kinshasa, RD Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country situated in Central Africa, bordered by the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Angola and the Atlantic Ocean. The Congo is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. The country is a member of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), World Customs Organization, World Trade Organization and other international organizations.

Tariffs

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and thus applies the COMESA common external tariff (CET).

There exist 3 categories of taxable imported goods:

1. raw materials and capital goods - 0%

2. intermediate goods - 10%

3. finished goods – 25%

Sensitive products will be given differential treatment in terms of application of the CET.

Most customs tariffs are ad valorem and are on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance and freight) basis.

Importers will also have to pay a value-added tax (VAT) of 16%.

Product certification, labeling and packaging

The DR of the Congo does not have its own national standards, but rather applies regional and international organizations’ standards, including the WTO, COMESA, South African Development Community), ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and ARSO (African Regional Organization for Standardization).

While importing products into DR of the Congo, importers will have to present import licenses, certificates of conformity and health certificates.

French labeling is required, but not strictly enforced.

Documents for import

- Certificate of Origin

- Commercial Invoice

- Packing List

- Bill of Lading (bill of lading) or Air Way Bill (Air Waybill)

- Health certificate

- Phytosanitary certificate

- Import license

- Certificate of Insurance

A detailed information about customs tariffs for all product categories can be found here:

www.bitd.org/Download.aspx?ID=603