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Import regulations and customs duties
Regulations
There are three categories of imported products: the free products which do not incur any restriction, the products requiring a technical visa or a certificate of conformity from a competent Ministry (Health, Security....) and the products which are prohibited in the entire territory of Cameroon. However, every import must be controlled before its loading. This control relates to quality, quantity and price...
Customs duties
A reform has been carried out in order to facilitate inter-zone export and import and to create a custom barrier which is harmonised for the entire UDEAC zone.
For that purpose,there is CET (Common External Tariff) which has established 5 rates (5%, 10%, 20% and 30% according to the nature of the goods but not depending on the origin of the goods),the GPT (General Preferential Tariff) which is related to the inter-zone export and import,a temporary additional tax (tax applied for a period of 3 to 6 years) which aims at protecting certain local sectors of the zone, excise tax (at the rate of 25%) and TCA (a tax on the business turnover, which is like VAT). However, special tax systems can also be applied (for instance : exemptions, lowering tax rate....)
Distribution
The Business to Consumer (B to C) market
The Business to Business (B to B) market
Transportation of goods
By road
The Road transport network extends over 50,000 km.
By rail
The railway transport network extends over a distance of 1,361 km of railway lines. There are two principal railway lines : Douala - Nkongsamba and Douala - Yaounde (245 km separating these two cities).
By sea
The Port of Douala is the main port of Cameroon (40 foreign stalls ensure the connection with other ports of the world).
By air
The three international airports are Douala, Yaound?and Garoua.
Standards
The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) is the institution responsible for developing the activities of standardisation and certification. It works in collaboration with international organisations such as ISO and IEC. It is strongly advised to contact SABS to ensure that the technical obligations required to market a product in South Africa are fulfilled.
Patents and brands
Cameroon has signed an agreement at the time of the establishment of the World Organisation of Intellectual Property (WIPO).
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Date entered into law |
Period of validity |
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Trademark
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Trademarks Law
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Period of validity of 10 years
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Export Entreprises SA ©, All rights reserved
Last modified in
January 2004
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