Chad Member profile
No notifications submitted by Chad
Trade policy review
Latest Trade Policy Review (Report by the WTO Secretariat): WT/TPR/S/285/Rev.1
A. Import prohibitions and restrictions and import licensing
3.26.
There is still a ban on importing weapons of war, ammunition for such weapons, and narcotics. An authorization from the President of the Republic is required to import sidearms, and imports of hunting weapons and ammunition must be authorized by the Ministry of the Interior.
3.47.
Cameroon has ratified several conventions allowing the control of imports or exports of certain products for environmental, health, moral, or security reasons. The products that may not be imported include genetically modified rice "LL 62"[65], bovine meat from Europe and poultry of any origin (SPS reasons, see below), non-iodized salt, some vegetable oils, certain alcohols and cosmetics, all for health or food security reasons. In 2012, analogue televisions were also banned.
3.48.
In 2004, Cameroon forwarded to the WTO the notification containing its replies to the questionnaire on import licensing procedures.[66] According to this notification, Cameroon has no import licensing regimes, but for reasons of health or security makes the import of a list of products subject to authorization or "technical endorsement" issued by the competent Ministries (Table 3.6). This list does not appear to be available on MINCOMMERCE's website.[67]
3.40.
Apart from the registration formalities applicable to all foreign trade activities (section 3.2.1), control measures may be applied to imports of certain products for security reasons, either in order to protect public health and morality or because of their strategic nature.
3.41.
The Congo has not notified the WTO of its prohibition, authorization or import licensing regimes. The prohibition regime concerns, in particular, food waste[85], and dangerous and war‑related toys.[86] Controls are imposed through import declarations in order to protect consumers, live animals, plants and the environment, in particular within the framework of the international conventions to which Congo is a signatory.[87]
3.42.
According to the authorities, there are a number of products subject to a prohibition on import and export; they include drugs, psychotropic substances, arms and munitions, plastic sacks and bags, children's toys with a military theme, protected animal species, elephant tusks, counterfeit goods, industrial waste and scrap. Breaches of this prohibition are punishable as laid down in the texts in force.
3.43.
Sugar and wheat flour are the two products imported under quotas. Sugar marketing is a monopoly of SARIS‑Congo. If sugar production (part of which is exported) were to prove insufficient to meet local demand, SARIS‑Congo would issue shortage certificates and on the basis of those certificates the Ministry of Trade would issue an import declaration (section 4.2). Otherwise the importation of sugar into the Congo is prohibited. Wheat flour is the subject of an import quota to protect the national enterprise, MINOCO, from competition. The National Commission on the Regulation of the Flour Market has set the level at 48,000 tonnes per year, with 12,000 tonnes being allocated at the beginning of each quarter.[88]
3.44.
Import and export licences have been abolished in the Congo.[89] However, the export of some products is still regulated by specific codes (Table 3.5), as well as by the Forestry, Mining and Hydrocarbons Codes. The Directorate‑General of Customs and Indirect Duties is responsible for implementing CEMAC provisions on prohibitions and licensing (common report, section 3.1.10).
3.25.
The import prohibition and restriction measures have not changed since the previous Review.
3.45.
According to the notifications received by the WTO, Cameroon and Chad no longer have import or export licences.[89] Import licence and/or quota regimes are applied to certain products in the Congo, in Gabon and in the Central African Republic. The importation of sugar is regulated by a licensing regime, with a market share reserved for a monopoly company which ranges from 80% (in the Congo) to 90% (in the Central African Republic).
3.27.
For reasons of sanitary protection, a sanitary or phytosanitary certificate, as appropriate, must be obtained for imports of a list of food and pharmaceutical products (common report, section 3).
3.28.
Gabon continues to impose prohibitions and restrictions pursuant to the multilateral environmental agreements it has signed.[15] Within the country, hunting permits must conform to the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and according to the authorities this rule consequently also applies to official exports of hunting trophies. At the customs cordon, Gabon applies control measures on ozone‑depleting substances in accordance with the common framework adopted by the CEMAC member countries (common report, section 3). It also applies the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, and the Chemical Weapons Convention. Implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants is under way. Gabon ratified the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal in 2010. The authorities have indicated that there is also a ban on imports of non-recyclable plastics.
3.29.
Although Gabon has notified the WTO of the abolition of all quantitative import restrictions, except those on sugar for which the time-limit was the end of 2004[16], the import of sugar into Gabon remains prohibited. In addition, CIMGABON holds the monopoly on the import of cement.
3.40.
The Central African Republic has not notified the WTO of its prohibition, authorization and import licensing regimes as such. It has, however, notified several related measures to the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade. The prohibition regime concerns in particular the 90% monopoly of sugar imports (as well as the relevant licences) granted to the private company, Sucrire en Afrique SUCAF‑RCA (section 4.1), for which the authorities cited Article XIX of the GATT 1994 as the legal basis.[58] The authorities have also notified the creation of a regulatory body for sugar imports.[59] Another notification to the WTO relates to a ban on the import of certain products containing mercury.[60] Coffee may only be imported as of the date on which all the domestic output is deemed to have been sold (usually in April each year).[61] The memorandum of understanding with the SUCAF will expire in September 2013 and some revisions are currently being considered.
3.41.
The import of pharmaceuticals into the Central African Republic is subject to registration formalities and a marketing authorization from the Minister of Health[62], while the import of pharmaceuticals for veterinary use requires approval by the Minister responsible for livestock.[63] The production, import and sale of iodized salt for human or animal consumption are subject to controls in order to protect human and animal health.[64] The import and marketing of saccharine are controlled in order to protect human health.[65] It is forbidden to collect or trade in ivory.[66] The import and marketing of cellular telephones require prior authorization by the Minister responsible for telecommunications.[67] The 1996 Law liberalizing the telecommunications sector nevertheless allows approved operators to import and market cell phones, but the regulator intervenes for reasons of safety and control of national security.
3.42.
Apart from the registration formalities applicable to all foreign trade activities (section 3.1.1), control measures can be imposed imports of certain products for security reasons, to protect public health and morality or because of their strategic nature (Table 3.4). In general, controls in the form of import permits apply in order to protect consumers, live animals, plants or the environment, particularly under the international conventions signed by the Central African Republic.[68]
3.43.
The Central African Republic participates in the Kimberley Process for trade in rough diamonds.[69]
3.34.
According to the customs authorities, Chad does not apply import prohibitions except for those provided in connection with environmental protection, and those arising from its international commitments (Table 3.3). According to the authorities, no quantitative restriction is currently in force. Import and export licensing regimes were abolished in 1995, except for sulphur and other explosives. The WTO was notified of this.[57]
3.43.
Under the CEMAC Customs Code, goods may be imported freely, with the exception of gold, which is subject to special regulations. Some products may be banned or restricted for humanitarian, security or public health reasons.[88]
3.44.
With a view to the establishment of the common market, it is planned to eliminate quantitative restrictions and taxes and measures with equivalent effect that could affect intra-Community trade. Countries undertake not to introduce new restrictions, taxes or measures with equivalent effect other than "for reasons of public morality, public order, public safety, protection of human or animal life or health, plant conservation, protection of the cultural, historical or archaeological heritage, and protection of intellectual property" (Articles 13 and 16 of the UEAC Convention).
B. Export prohibitions and restrictions
3.49.
There are special formalities for the export of certain products. Thus, a hunting permit is required to export the carcasses and trophies of common game hunted. The holders of permits for operating hydrocarbon deposits may export their output freely. Pursuant to the Mining Code and its implementing decree[29], mining products may be freely exported if the mining company holds an operating permit or a concession for the mining product concerned; if this is not the case, an export authorization issued by the Minister responsible for mining is required. The export of precious substances requires a certificate of origin issued at a cost of CFAF 50,000 for diamonds and CFAF 25,000 for other precious substances, as well as endorsement by the customs authorities.
3.91.
For reasons of self-sufficiency, export of scrap metal and ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste[87] and raw cotton is prohibited. The Government has indicated that it has acceded to the Kimberley Process, but it did not prove possible to find out whether any legislation has been introduced to ban the export of rough diamonds to countries that do not participate in the certification system. The export of logs of certain forest species (for example, mahogany) is also banned. The same applies to goods classified as being part of the national cultural heritage. As indicated for imports, although it does not have any special procedures for this purpose, Cameroon is a member or signatory of the majority of treaties and conventions providing for the control of imports and exports for reasons of security or environmental protection.
3.57.
An export declaration must be filed for all goods being exported or re‑exported[107], except for timber where controls are the task of the SCPFE, and petroleum where they are the task of Veritas.[108]
3.58.
Under the Forestry Code, only processed wood in the finished or semi‑finished state may be exported[109], but in practice each forestry enterprise is required to limit rough timber exports to 15% of its total production volume. This threshold is often exceeded, triggering payment of the 15% surcharge.
3.59.
Under the Mining Code, every shipment of precious minerals requires an export authorization (licence) issued by the central mining authority.[110] The Congo, which had been participating in the Kimberley Process (KP) relating to the diamond trade since 10 June 2003, was suspended as from 9 July 2004, following a KP working mission which concluded that the country was not complying with the provisions of the diamond certification scheme.[111] The Congo was subsequently reinstated by a decision of the KP of 26 November 2007.
3.60.
Circular Note No. 0939/MEFB‑CAB of 8 October 2007 introduced compulsory preshipment inspection of any pharmaceutical product imported into the Congo. The circular was supplemented by Service Note No. 219/MEFB/DGDDI of 15 May 2008 introducing compulsory incorporation of the COTECNA certificate number into the ASYCUDA software used by Congolese Customs.
3.61.
The blocking field (ADV) of CFAF 3 million has been active and official since 1 June 2008. The 2012 Finance Law reduced the blocking field to CFAF 1 million.[112] COTECNA has supplied and installed scanners in the main pilot customs offices at PointeNoire and Brazzaville. Inspections by scanner began on 25 March 2010 in PointeNoire.
3.62.
On the export of hydrocarbons, the Government has signed an agreement with another inspection company, Bureau Veritas. Where hydrocarbons and their refined and gaseous derivatives are concerned, Bureau Veritas acts on the Congo's behalf alongside the Socit gnrale de surveillance (SGS), which acts on the purchaser's behalf. The costs and charges incurred in inspections by Bureau Veritas are borne by the State.
3.48.
Gabon banned all log exports in 2010 to promote the local processing of wood.
3.59.
There are no Community provisions concerning export prohibitions, quantitative restrictions or licensing. The CEMAC countries are all signatories to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Accordingly, the export of these species is prohibited or subject to authorization (see country annexes).
3.64.
An export declaration must be filed for all goods being exported or re‑exported. Goods are subject to checks by the BIVAC inspection company during importation and exportation.
3.65.
The Central African Republic has had an export declaration regime since 1986.[84] It has participated in the Kimberley Process (KP) for trade in rough diamonds since April 2003.[85] The KP's permanent secretariat has been designated by the State for this purpose, in particular for certifying parcels of rough diamonds exported and verifying the traceability of diamonds produced in the country. A fee of 0.5% of the BECDOR value is levied for this service.
3.66.
The Central African Republic has established a scheme for the sanitary certification of the products concerned (cattle, all types of meat). Green coffee must meet quality standards in order to be exported.
3.56.
Export and re‑export licensing procedures have been abolished since 1995. In general, theonly quantitative restrictions and controls in force on exports are those derived from the treaties to which Chad is party (Basel Convention, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons).
3.57.
Where necessary, the Minister responsible for trade may prohibit or restrict the export of a product.[78] In response to the food crisis that occurred in 2008, the authorities adopted temporary measures, such as a ban on exports of all types of food products, including live cattle and dried and smoked fish.
3.58.
With the aim of preserving the herd, breeding bulls and cows may not be exported.[79] The same applies to live animals of bovine and camel species under five years of age. The local administrative authorities may also restrict cereal exports at any time in the event of a shortage.
WTO's environmental database (EDB)
The EDB contains environment-related measures that may qualify as QRs and therefore should be notified under the QR Decision.