How to Import

1. Register your premises with the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and obtain the Certificate of registration and licensing of food premises
2. Register as an importer of processed food product through the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and obtain the food importer registration number
3. Obtain import visa for processed food products by applying for the visa online through the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Information Management System (PRIMS): PRIMS and submit the proforma invoice and Proof of compliance to good manufacturing practices. Upon a successful application you will be issued the import visa: import visa
4. Obtain import license for processed food products by paying the application fee and submitting your application to FDA online via the PRIMS: Link
5. Contact a clearing agent to assist you with the custom processes that require a registered clearing agent. View the list of approved clearing agencies via this link: clearing agent
6. Clear the consignment by:
   • Having your clearing agent declare the goods through the E-SINGLE WINDOW portal: E-SINGLE WINDOW and obtain the Home consumption declaration - IM 4 and Assessment notice for import declaration
   • Pay the import tax and declaration fee as recommended in the Assessment notice for import declaration at the bank and obtain the Payment confirmation - import declaration
   • Upon payment the consignment will be inspect by a custom officer who will assess the declared value of the consignment and when necessary amend the value on the declaration, which can lead to a variation in the amount of tax to be paid.
7. Then the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) will send their inspector to checks whether the consignment is still in good conditions and if it is accompanied with all necessary authorisations or permits.
8. Once the FDA Inspection Officer has checked the consignment and import documents, the officer signs and puts a stamp on the declaration document and validates in the electronic single window.
9. The customs officer in charge counts the good to ensure the number matches what is written on the declaration note and issue you an exit note releasing the processed food products to enter Rwanda

• Invoice - processed products import (original) invoice amount can be revalued by the customs officer
• Packing list
• Certificate of origin, optional
• Standardization mark permit for EAC transfers
• Certificate of analysis (laboratory analysis results) for imports from outside the EAC
• Processed food importer registration number
• Import visa for processed food products
• Import license for processed food product

CUSTOMS SERVICE DEPARTMENT
KK 532 St P.O Box 3987 Kigali, Kigali
Tel: +250 788 185 712
Email: customs@rra.gov.rw
Website:Rwanda Revenue Authority

RWANDA FOOD AND DRUGS AUTHORITY
KK 15 St, Kigali
Tel: +250 788 890 738
Email: info@rwandafda.gov.rw
Website:Rwanda Food ND drug Authority

• Registered business owner who wish to import a consignment of processed food products

• Importation fee is indicated in the invoice generated after declaration

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

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

• Exit note IM
• Assessment Notice

• Within 10 to 20 days

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'.

• During the testing process by the FDA, the consignment will remain in the entry warehouse or at importer's warehouses and will only be released if found complying. Goods found not complying shall be rejected and detained. You may be allowed to re-export or destroy the consignment, under supervision of a Revenue Investigation and Enforcement Department officer.

• Names
• Registration Number
• Nationality
• Address
• Goods details
• Date and signature

• Imported products must be declared and comply with the customs rules and FDA standard requirement to be allowed entry into Rwanda

• Guideline for importation and exportation of food: Link

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

• Trade portal

More information which might help people.