Note on Cocoa and Coffee Exporters
Operators should be aware that some cocoa/coffee treatments can take up to 72 hours. In order not to miss their shipment, they can initiate these treatments in advance by contacting one of the approved processing companies and the phytosanitary service.
Batches of coffee/cocoa can be treated in advance and stored in warehouses belonging to one of the list of the chains available on request. The list of these chains is posted at the Single Window for Foreign Trade Operations (Guichet Unique des Opérations du Commerce Extérieur).
A batch of cocoa/coffee processed in advance and stored in a chain store is immediately certified by the phytosanitary service.
Preliminary Procedures
Certain procedures which do not necessarily lead to “Good to Ship” would benefit from being carried out quickly. These are as follows:
- Domiciliation and visa of the Export Declaration or Form 1
- To the Bank
Depending on the type of goods to be exported, the operator or his CAD goes to his bank’s counter open at the GUCE for direct debit. He must bring the following documents with him:
- For Manufactured Products Subject to VAT
– DE or F1 stamped in 06 copies
– Pro forma invoice in 02 copies
– The appropriate folder
– Purchase order or packing list
- For Woods
– DE or F1 stamped in 06 copies
– Sales contract
– The specification form
– Pro-forma invoice
– Appropriate folder
c. For Cocoa/Coffee
– DE or F1 stamped in 06 copies
– Pro forma invoice in 02 copies
– Receipt
– The appropriate folder
The bank will immediately proceed with the direct debit.
- Foreign Exchange Department
The operator approaches the Foreign Exchange Department, which registers Formule 1, then enter on the PAGODE System terminal at their disposal the elements of this financial operation with the foreign country and, lastly, affix its visa to the copies of this “Formula 1: Export Domiciliation”, four examples of the Formula 1 are returned to the operator, which then remits them to the domiciliation bank and to Customs.
- Port Fees
The operator or his representative must approach the Douala Port (PAD) cell in order to proceed with payment of port dues based on goods. To do so, he must present the following documents:
i. For cocoa/coffee
– Packing list
ii. For wood
– Specification sheet (logs)
– Packing list
iii. For other exports
– Packing list
– Weighing tickets
On this basis, the Port agent draws up an invoice, summarizing all port charges, which is immediately handed over to the operator or his representative.
The operator or his representative pays the amount of port charges invoiced by the
by the PAD. The bank issues a receipt which is given to the operator; it informs
the Douala Port of the financial transfer which will be made.
- ONCC/CICC Royalties
In the case of cocoa/coffee exports, the operator or his representative contacts the National Office of Cocoa and Coffee (ONCC/CICC) to pay royalties to:
- ONCC
- Interprofessional Council for Cocoa and Coffee (CICC)
The operator or his representative submits the following documents to the ONCC unit:
– Packing list
– The manual account
– Cheques made out to ONCC and CICC.
After examination and immediate processing of the file, the ONCC agent issues a receipt for payment of the fees.
- Phytosanitary Certificate for Wood and other products other than Cocoa/Coffee
The operator or his authorized customs agent goes to the phytosanitary unit to obtain the phytosanitary certificate. He must bring the following documents:
– A stamped application form;
– Packing list;
– The specification form.
CATEGORIZATION OF GOODS FOR IMPORT AND EXPORT IN CAMEROON
In this regard, there are four categories as follows:
– Goods with an FOB value of < 1 million CFA francs do not require an import declaration and are not subject to the inspection procedure;
– Goods with an FOB/DI value equal to or greater than 1 million CFA francs, but less than 2 million CFA francs require the lifting of a DI, but are not subject to an inspection procedure verification procedure;
– Goods with an FOB/DI value in excess of 2 million CFA francs; require the lifting of a DI and fall within the scope of the pre-shipment (or pre-shipment) inspection procedure,
– Goods exempt from the inspection procedure, whatever their FOB/DI value. The list of these goods is available from the Guichet Unique (One Stop Shop).
HOW TO OBTAIN AN IMPORTERS LICENSE IN CAMEROON
The statutory requirements on how to obtain an export license in Cameroon must be respected by an aspiring exporter desirous to export goods in commercial quantities from Cameroon. These requirements to obtain an export license in Cameroon are as follows:
- The aspiring exporter must first have a company registered in Cameroon which will entail the issuance of a certificate of incorporation, a certificate of registration in the trade and personal property credit register, an attestation of business creation, a location plan of the company.
- The second step is for the company to be registered under the tax department of Cameroon and obtain a tax payers registration number and a business license.
- The aspiring exporter will then get registered under the chamber of commerce in Cameroon in order to obtain an import license in Cameroon.
- The exporter will then get registered into the national shipper’s council.
DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS TO OBTAIN AN EXPORT LICENSE IN CAMEROON
The summary of the following documents are required for an export license in Cameroon;
- Duly stamped application on the company letterhead which states the articles to be exported,
- Certificate of incorporation of the company
- Certified copy of tax payer’s card of the company
- Business license of the company (Certificate of Non-Indebtedness)
- Company Articles of Association
- Clearance certificate from the National Social Insurance Fund
- Attestation of localization of the company
- Certified copies of Identity Cards or passport of the shareholders
- Proof of payment of registration fees.
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