Gabon - Import Goods

ProcedureEdit

1.A trader who wishes to export goods from Gabon starts securing the status of importer. This is done by registering with specified agencies and is as below:-

The trader starts by registering with the trade register and chattle loan. Here the applicant submits all necessary documents to the Process registry of the court of first instance. When documents are received, they are assessed, verified and if approved, the trader is registered;
Thereafter the trader proceeds with registration with the tax authority which is referred to as Fiscal Registration; and
Then the trader proceeds with getting the circuit slip. This is issued at the one-stop shopping of the Agence de Promotion des Investissements Privs (APIP) up on application and fulfillment of requirements.

2.After obtaining the status of importer, the trader then proceeds with the import procedure as follows:

The trader starts with obtaining an import intention (DPI). This is issued by the Office of Foreign Trade upon request;
Thereafter the trader must obtain a certificate of origin for the goods to be imported, which when obtained is submitted to the customs department;
Then the imports should be inspected to verify their quality. A company known as BIVAC (Groupe Veritas) established an inspection system where various goods are inspected before they go on board. The steps of Inspection are as follows:-
- The importer starts by notifying seller about the inspection decision;
- The seller in response notifies an inspection company about the decision;
- The inspection company assigns (an) inspection officer(s) to carry out the inspection;
- The seller then submits goods to the inspection officer(s)for inspection and he / she also submits required / necessary documents;
- The importer must then proceed with making any necessary payments. The fees includes payment of the declared 1% FOB value fee due to the customs office and Payment of goods submission charges (empacking, repacking, handling, testing, waste of time, etc.);
- After the inspection and the goods are approved, a safety label is fixed on to the imports final invoice, an Inspection result notice (ARI) is issued to the importer and an inspection certificate (AV) is issued;
After inspection and goods are approved, the trader proceeds with domiciliation of imports payment. Here all imports from countries outside the franc area with a FOB value from F CFA 5,000,000 and above are domiciled in an authorized intermediary bank where the bank creates a domiciliation file consisting of two (2) copies of the invoice or the business contract of which an annotated copy is handed to the importer; and any payment is due prior to an import certificate sign-off.

3.The trader then goes ahead with the Import clearance procedure at the customs department and the processes are as below:-

The importer starts with Customs declaration. The trader declares imports by submission of all the necessary documents;
When imports are declared, the customs officer examines and verifies goods against the submitted documents and if approved, a goods release slip is issued to the trader;
Then the importer proceeds with liquidation of duties and taxes

Required DocumentsEdit

Different stages require submission of different documents as shown below:

1.Obtaining the Importers status

a)Registration in the trade register and chattle loan (i)Companies

Recorded Articles of corporation (Two (2) copies);
A copy of legal notice from the process registry;
Proof of payment of registration fees (Payment receipt from process registry)
A copy of the legal notice for traders registration;
Receipt for tax paid at the taxation office;

(i)Sole partnerships

Police Clearance Certificate for each partner;
Proof of Tax clearance (receipt from the taxation office);
Identification documents for the applicants (Birth certificate, a declaratory birth certificate or a valid identity card).

b)Fiscal registration (i)General documents

Recent Passport photos (two)
An information and a location slip from the Local Trade Office (DCI)
Trade Register
Slip of the company from the Local Trade Office (DCI) ;
A license for activities subject to Specific regulations issued by the authorized officer of the relevant sector of activity;

(ii)Companies

Articles of Association
Receipts and business profit tax certificates from for the current year
Income tax assessment receipts from the Chamber of commerce, industries, Agriculture and Mining operations of Gabon (CCIAM)

(iii)Individuals

Police Clearance Certificates
Receipt slips, business Profit tax certificates, licensed trader tax certificates, and T.P.U. tax certificates of the current year
Income tax assessment receipts from CCIB

c)Obtaining a circuit slip

Articles of corporation of the company;
Trade register;
Police clearance certificate
Proof of companys bank account in a local bank
Business profit receipt slip for the current year (deposits) ;
Income tax assessment receipt slip from the Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Agriculture and mining operations of Gabon for the current year ;
Three (03) photos of the administrator or the manager of the company ;
two information slips to be collected from the Foreign Trade Office;

2.Import Procedure

The importation intention;
Commercial invoice;
Domiciliation of the transaction
Bill of lading / airway bill
Packing list
Payment slips
inspection certificate (AV)
Inspection result notice (ARI)
Safety label
The insurance
Cargo identification slip (BIC) issued by the Gabon Cargo interests Council
Certificate of origin (EUR 1 slip for European Union products)
Non-contamination radioactive certificate (for agro-food products)
Phytosanitary certificate (for live pant-originated products)
Simplified import declaration (DIS) / green circuit (for goods release on deposit to the customs);

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Customs Office (Direction Generale des Douanes et Droits Indirect)

Ministry of Finance

B.P. 40, Libreville, Gabon

Tel. +241-79-53-72 / 73

Fax +241-76-59-66

Direction Gnral des Impts du Gabon

B.P. 37 or 45 Libreville Gabon

Telephone No.: +241 0179 53 76 / 7

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.dgi.ga/

The Agence de Promotion des Investissements Privs (APIP),

BP 13740 Libreville Gabon

Telephone No.: (241) 76 87 66.

Ministry of Commerce

B.P. 561, Libreville, Gabon

Tel. +241-76-09-91; +241-74-59-25

Fax +241-76-58-38

EligibilityEdit

Any trader who meets all requirements for importation in to the country can import at any time.

FeesEdit

Approximately US$ 2,175as detailed below:-
Preparation of documents US$ 525
Clearing goods at the customs department and technical control US$ 500
Handling goods at the ports and terminal US$ 850
Inland transportation and handling US$ 300
Rates for taxes and duties are determined basing on the type of goods being imported.

ValidityEdit

1.As long as trader meets the requirements

2.Import intention (DPI) is valid for six (6) months

3.Renewal of the import intention (DPI) is one and the validity of a renewed copy is three (3) months

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Processing TimeEdit

It takes about twenty two (22) days

InstructionsEdit

1.Traders must acquire the status of importer before importing to Gabon;

2.Ensure that the goods to be imported meet the required standards;

3.Imports must avoid omissions and errors while declaring goods;

4.Be aware of restricted and prohibited imports;

5.Traders must endeavor to obtain any required permits, certificates, special and any other documents as may be required basing on the goods t be imported;

6.Seek assistance if not conversant with the importation procedures in Gabon;

7.Issuance of an import intention (DPI) is done with no value and quality restrictions;

8.If the import intention (DPI) expires endeavor to renew it if it still being used;

9.Some importations like private belongings, perishable goods, medicines, imported goods exempted from charges or goods costing less than CFA F 500,000 may be exempted from inspection.

10.In the importation procedure, the trade must ensure that a bank contacted to act as the authorized intermediary bank in line with the exchange regulations.

11.An import inspection tax (TVI) is paid over the imports submitted to PVI

12.In cases where imports are released on deposit to the customs, the importer must endeavor to obtain a simplified import declaration (DIS) / green circuit;

13.In order to obtain a circuit, an authorization must be gotten from the customs office;

14.Traders with the a simplified import declaration (DIS) must obtain a final declaration in not more fifteen (15) days;

15.Importers must know that clearance is due in not later than two (2) days after customs declaration;

16.Importers must be aware that taxation basis imports is estimated by considering the customs value plus the duties and taxes received along customs procedure, except VAT;

Required InformationEdit

1.Name and address of importer

2.Specification of goods to be imported (type, name, quality and quantity)

3.Cost of goods

4.Manufacturer / seller of the good to be imported

5.Country of export.

Need for the DocumentEdit

Importing goods is the process of entering goods in to a given country from foreign country. Importation in Gabon is controlled by the government through the Customs Office (Direction Generale des Douanes et Droits Indirect), the tax authority the Direction Gnral des Impts du Gabon together with a number of other government agencies

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