Apply In-Person:

1. To Verify Imported Veterinary Products in Ghana, The applicant has approach the Foods and Drugs Authority (FDA) office Contact link
2. Applicant must obtain the application form from the relevant department.
3. Applicant should read carefully in the application form, after all details must be filled in the application form.
4. The applicant has to make sure he or she has all the required documents that are required for this process to be successful and they can be found under the "Required Documents" section of this page.
5. Payment of appropriate fees should be made and that can be found under the "Fees" section of this page.
6. Submit the final invoice, Import Declaration Form (IDF) from the Ministry of Trade & Industry, a copy of the Bill of Lading and Packing list (itemizing the value of the packages) two weeks before arrival of vessel to the designated Destination Inspection Company [DIC] for preparation of the Final Classification and Valuation Report (FCVR).
7. Pick up the Final Classification and Valuation Report [FCVR] from the DIC. Containerized cargo selected for scanning through the Risk Management System procedure of the Destination Inspection Companies is also indicated in the FCVR.
8. 0btain a Tax Identification Number [TIN] form from the Internal Revenue Service [IRS], if you are a first time importer. Importers require Tax Identification Number (TIN) for Customs clearance of commercial goods. Without a TIN, customs clearance of cargo from the port is not allowed.

Entry cargo data onto GCNET

1. Submit a declaration on the cargo electronically to Customs to the GCNet which is routed to the GCMS. The declaration includes:
   • Declaration regime (commercial or for domestic use)
   • Consignee Name of vessel
   • Date of arrival of vessel
   • Number of packages Delivery terms (e,g. CIF, FOB,EX WORKS)
   • Total Invoice Value (TIV) as determined by CEPS or Destination Inspection Company (Breakdown of the TIV into FOB, freight and Insurance)
   • Break-down of Items per consignment Commodity code of the items (10 digits)
   • Customs Procedure Code (CPC) of commodity (this indicates whether Consignment is dutiable, free Exempt etc.)
2. When the entry is validated, the GCMS generates and sends a response, commonly referred to as a Declaration, to the front end declarant. The Declaration indicates all the taxes and tariffs that have to be paid on the consignment and the name of the CEPS officer to verify the declaration.

Payment of duty

1. Print out a hard copy of the response from GCMS and submit the signed Customs Declaration and attach all supporting documents such as the Bill of Lading, the Invoice, the IDF, the FCVR, the Packing List, an IRS Certificate as well as other relevant permits and documents at either of the GCNet participating banks (i.e. ECOBANK, Ghana Commercial Bank) in order to make payment. Special Bank Receipts are given to importers or their representatives to acknowledge payment.

Verification

1. A hard copy of the Declaration, the Bank receipt, and Bill of Lading and all other relevant attaching documents are submitted to the designated Officer at CEPS Compliance Section for Verification of the documents and receipts.
2. When no discrepancy is found, the cargo is ruled for First Release [i.e. 'prior to physical examination] or Final Release [i.e. without physical examination]
3. Submit a hard copy of the Customs Declaration, the Bank receipt, and Bill of Lading and all other relevant documentation as well as the Delivery Order (earlier purchased from the Shipping Agent) to the Shipping Agents. This is to facilitate preparation of the cargo for physical examination pending release or immediate release as recommended by the CEPS Compliance Office.
4. The Delivery Order, (DO) which is in triplicate (green, pink and white or yellow) copies, must contain information such as the name of the consignee, name of vessel, date of arrival, port of loading and the particulars of cargo as indicated in the bill of lading. Other information that must be provided on the delivery order includes the Customs House Agent handling the cargo. The bill of lading number; the container number; the seal number and the rotation number of the vessel.
5. The Shipping Agent, on receipt of the documents, then prepares the bill for the consignment. After payment of the bill the cargo is authorized for release at the Port.
6. Effect payment of the relevant GPHA charges at the port.
7. Deposit the green copy of the DO with the GPHA Operations for the container to be dropped within 24 hours at the designated bay for physical examination by CEPS, if necessary.
8. Present Declaration and accompanying documents to CEPS at the port gate to confirm clearance on the GCMS. GPHA security also checks the waybill covering the goods before the goods leave the port.

The documentation process for all imports is as follows:

1. Import Declaration Form (IDF) covering the goods should be completed and signed by the importer and submitted before importation of goods.
2. Single Administrative Document (SAD), a customs form designed for all customs transactions including imports and exports, must be completed and submitted to CEPS.
3. Shipment Notification Forms: the importer needs to complete Ghana Shippers Council Shipment Forms for sea shipment.
4. Insurance: Insurance coverage should be obtained in Ghana but it is not a pre-condition for importation. However the importer has to produce evidence of an insurance policy before banks will agree to open a letter of credit.
5. Other Documents supporting customs entry forms are:
   • Suppliers Invoice: this must be in duplicate and attested
   • Packing list
   • Bill of Lading / Airway Bill/Parcel Post delivery.
   • The inspection agency shall, pursuant to the inspection, issue one of the following reports of findings:
   • Final Customs Valuation Report (FCVR) if the inspection yields a satisfactory result
   • A Gateway Lock (GWL) if the inspection reveals discrepancies which cannot be rectified by the importer
6. The importer must present his original copy of the FCVR to the Customs Excise and Preventative Service (CEPS) at the time of clearing the goods.
7. At the same time, the importer shall pay to CEPS the total duties and taxes of CIF value of the goods
8. Special Requirements: Foods, Drugs, and some other goods imported into Ghana are required to be clearly marked or labelled as required by the General Labelling Rules, 1992, (L.I. 1514)
9. Inspections and clearances by FDB, Ghana Standards Board (GSB), the Ghana Narcotics Control Board (NCD), Veterinary Service (VET) and other agencies stationed at the ports.

• Import Declaration Form (IDF) covering the goods should be completed and signed by the importer and submitted before importation of goods.
• Single Administrative Document (SAD
• Shipment Notification Forms
• Insurance coverage
• original copy of the FCVR to the Customs Excise and Preventative Service (CEPS)

Other Documents supporting customs entry forms are:

• Suppliers Invoice: this must be in duplicate and attested
• Packing list
• Bill of Lading / Airway Bill/Parcel Post delivery.
• The inspection agency shall, pursuant to the inspection, issue one of the following reports of findings:
• Final Customs Valuation Report (FCVR) if the inspection yields a satisfactory result
• A Gateway Lock (GWL) if the inspection reveals discrepancies which cannot be rectified by the importer

Cover Letter Addressed To:
The Chief Executive, Food and Drugs Authority
P.O. Box CT 2783, Cantonments – Accra GHANA.
Return Completed Form To:
Chief Executive Officer, Food and Drugs Authority,
17 South Legon Commercial Areas, SHIASHIE, ACCRA.
Contact link

Government Regulatory Agency Contacts:
Dr. Stephen KwabenaOpuni.
The Chief Executive
Food and Drugs Board
PO Box CT 2783, Cantonment, Accra, Ghana
Tel: 233-21-229261
Tel: 233-21-233200/910761/235100
Fax: 233-21-225502
Email: skopuni@fdbghana.gov.gh

Mr.Odame-Darkwa
Head of Food Safety Section of Food and Drugs Board
PO Box CT 2783, Accra
Tel: 233-21-233200/910761/235100
Fax: 233-21-225502
Email: jodamedarkwa@fdbghana.gov.gh

Mr Jack- SugloVespar
Director
Plant Protection and Regulatory Service
Ministry of Food and Agriculture
PO Box M37, Accra
Tel: 21-302638
Cell: 233-244-388275
Email: jackvesper@yahoo.com

Other Import Specialist Contacts:
Mrs Elizabeth Aditola
Director of Standards
PO Box MB 245, Accra
Tel: 233-21-501937/500065/506991
Email: eaditola@ghanastandards.org

• Any Ghanaians, who want to Verify Imported veterinary products, can apply.

A fee is payable on verification of imported food of this form. Please see the fees on our website Link

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Link

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• The 2019 FAIRS report provides up to date information on the regulations and procedures for the importation of food and agricultural products to Ghana. This year the Ghana Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) proposed substantial changes to fees and charges for imported food and beverage products. These changes are currently under review by the Parliament of Ghana, with a targeted approval for early 2020.
• This report is prepared by the USDA/ Foreign Agricultural Service, Office of Agricultural Affairs Accra for U.S. exporters of food and agricultural commodities. While every possible care was taken in the preparation of this report, information provided may not be completely accurate either because policies/regulations/directives have changed since its preparation, or because clear and consistent information was not available. Post highly recommends those U.S. exporters verify the full set of import requirements with their foreign customers, who are usually best equipped to research such matters with local authorities, before any products are shipped.

• Applicant name
• Residential address
• Contact number
• Details of Packing list
• List of veterinary products
• TIN number
• Email id
• Name of product
• Date of packing
• Date of imported
• Provide the production "batch" or lot number;
• Provide date of manufacture of products, expiry date or best use before date

• Any company in Ghana that needs to verify the imported veterinary products in Ghana or requires clearing of household Chemicals and cosmetics from the ports must possess a relevant Permit obtained from the Food and Drug authority.

• The Ghanaian market continues to offer many opportunities for exporters of consumer-ready food products and remains a key access point for entry into the West Africa Region market. The agricultural sector is largely subsistence based composed of 80 present crop production, 10 present livestock, poultry and fishery production, and 10 precent forestry.
• The sector employs over 60 percent of the population and contributes about 37 precent of GDP. Ghana operates a relatively free market, having relatively low tariffs on imported products. Major agricultural food products imported into the country include bulk commodities (rice and wheat) and consumer ready food products such as poultry. There is a high demand for imported food products, especially consumer ready products, due to limited selection of products provided by the underdeveloped domestic agricultural and food processing sector in Ghana.

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Link

More information which might help people.