Senegal
Senegal Customs Contacts
Website: http://www.douanes.sn/
Email: spdgd@douanes.sn
Address: Direction Générale des Douanes / Bloc des Madeleines, Boulevard de la République x Avenue André Peytavin - Dakar
Telephone: +221 33 839 00 00
Senegal is a country situated in West Africa, bordered by Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Gambia. It also shares a maritime border with Cape Verde. Senegal is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States.
Customs Clearance of imported goods
In addition to the requirements for the importation of goods, the operator must provide a number of documents and follow a specific procedure before removal of the merchandise, which is of course subject to the payment of fees provided.
Requirements
Generally, the importer must first hold an import-export card or a special authorization to import. Once the goods unloaded at the docks of the port, the buyer is informed by the consignee agent by a notice of arrival.
Documents required
• the commercial invoice of the supplier;
• the freight transport invoice;
• the certificate of origin issued by the Chamber of Commerce of the country of origin;
• the packing list (document listing all the parcels and their characteristics);
• authorization to import goods subject to quota;
• certificate of Insurance;
• import preliminary declaration (DPI) on values higher or than equal to 1.000.000 CFAF.
This declaration must be domiciled in a local bank:
• COTECNA verification certify based on FOB values equal to or higher than 3.000.000 CFAF, with the exception of goods excluded from the COTECNA inspection; If the COTECNA inspection does not occurred, a fine of 20% of the CIF value of the goods is imposed prior to the operation of customs clearance.
• a copy of the original bill of lading or bill of lading endorsed;
• a certificate of exchange for foreign currencies (except the Euro) is required regardless of the amount;
• titles of exemption if applicable;
• the visa of the National Pharmacy Office for domestic products or drugs.
The following additional documents are required for food products:
• health certificate for animal products and phytosanitary certificate for plant products;
• quality certificate issued by the authorities of the country where the goods originate;
• quality control certificate issued by the Senegalese health authorities.
Procedures
Customs clearance is performed by the certified clearance agent who deal the following procedures, after collecting the various documents listed above :
• establishment of the bill of entry manually;
• capture the detail report in the customs electronic filing system GAINDE
• Record this information in the system which in turn indicates the duties and taxes payable and the inspector handling the dossier;
• physical deposit of documents to Customs for eligibility (verification of completeness and compliance of the parts, tax system, taxable bases etc.).
• payment of charges in the office of the Treasury in case of admissibility of the file (for files in cash);
• validation of the "gate pass" by the customs Inspector;
• removal of the goods after Customs permit.
Sources:
http://www.ttb.gov/itd/senegal.shtml
https://www.delmas.com/static/eCommerce/Attachments/Senegal.pdf
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/markets/export_refunds/forms/sn.pdf
