Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo Customs
Direction Générale des Douanes et des Droits Indirects
Website: http://douanes.gouv.cg/
E-mail: douanescongolaises@yahoo.fr
Address: Avenue Paul Doumer Immeuble des Douanes - Brazzaville
Tel: (00242) 05 558 11 74 / 242 81.07.72
Fax: 242 81.07.72
The Republic of the Congo (also known as the Congo Republic or Congo-Brazzaville) is a country situated in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, the Atlantic Ocean, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Angolan exclave of Cabinda. The Congo is a member of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States, Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), World Customs Organization, World Trade Organization and other international organizations.
Tariffs
The Congo applies the CEMAC common external tariff, the generalized preferential tariff and the application of internal taxes.
All the Congo's customs duty rates are ad valorem calculated on the c.i.f. value of products, the average tariff being 18.7%.
Agricultural products are subject to a 23% tariff, while non-agricultural products are subject to a 17.9% tariff. An average tariff of 18.4% is levied on manufactured goods and 11.4% on mining products. There is also a VAT tax at a standard rate of 18%.
Apart from customs duties, importers will have to pay several other taxes:
- automation fee - 2%
- CEMAC Community integration tax or levy (applicable to imports originating in countries outside the CEMAC) – 1%
- statistical tax applicable to goods of all origins - 0.2%
- OHADA levy applicable to goods of all origins – 0.05%
- Community integration contribution (CCI) applicable to imports originating in countries outside the CEEAC – 0.04%
The application of all these duties and taxes raises to about 22%.
Product certification packaging and labelling
The Congo applies a mandatory programme of inspection of goods imported into the country. The examination comprises a physical examination of the goods to verify their quality, quantity and origin; the customs classification of the goods and their eligibility for a particular customs procedure.
The importation and exportation of animal and plant products are subject to prior authorization and the issue of sanitary and phytosanitary certificates.
Imports covered by a CEMAC product certificate must bear a mark identifying the CEMAC country in which they originated.
Necessary import documents
- Attestation of value COTECNA
- Bill of lading
- Cargo Release order
- Certificate of origin
- Commercial invoice
- Electronic cargo tracking note (BESC)
- Import declaration
- NIU (Unique Identification Number for importer)
Sources:
http://douanes.gouv.cg/e-douanes/Documents%20site/Code_Douanes_CEMAC%20-%20Copie.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/export_refunds/forms/cg.pdf
