Wood

I-INTRODUCTION

In accordance with Law n° 2014-427 of July 14, 2014, (JO), on the Forestry Code as well as Order n°0624/MINEF/DGEF/DPIF of November 24, 2011 [A2011.0624] (modifying Order 00505/MINEF/DGEF/DPIF of September 15, 2011 [A2011. 505] on the identification of the legal origin and traceability of Forest Products marketed in Côte d’Ivoire), the import of Forest Products is open to any individual or legal entity that has applied for and obtained from the Ministry of Water and Forests (MINEF) an Import Authorization Decision.

 

It is also reminded that the import or export of any goods requires the prior obtaining of an Importer/Exporter Code (professional or occasional) – See Legal Regimes for Imports and Exports – (See General Importation Procedures tab of the site).

 

Ministry of Water and Forests (MINEF)

Abidjan – Plateau

Cité Administrative, Tower D 19th floor

 

General Directorate of Water and Forests

Directorate of Production and Forest Industries

Abidjan – Plateau

Cité Administrative, Tower C 8th floor

Tel: + (225) 20 21 94 06

Fax: + (225) 20 21 05 12

Website: www.eauxetforets.gouv.ci

 

II-AUTHORIZATION TO IMPORT

Natural or legal persons wishing to import forest products into Côte d’Ivoire must have a Forest Products Import Authorization issued by decision of the Minister of Water and Forests (MINEF). The Authorization Application file must be submitted to the Ministry of Water and Forests and is composed of the following documents [Cf. List of decisions]:

 

  • A written request for a decision to import forest products addressed to the Minister of Water and Forests.
  • A copy of the Certificate of Registration in the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register.
  • A copy of the Tax Declaration of Existence (see General Import Procedures tab on the site).
  • A copy of the valid Importer/Exporter Code issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and SME Promotion.
  • A copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (Purchase Agreement) established between the supplier and the buyer.
  • A copy of the valid Approval of Exporter of Wood Products for the import of logs and products of first transformation of wood (cut, veneer, peeled and sliced).

 

In case of Temporary Admission, a copy of the Temporary Admission Certificate for re-exportation issued by the General Directorate of Customs is required.

Cost of the Authorization application: Free of charge [See Example of Authorization decision for the import of forest products].

The deadline for issuing the decision is 15 days.

The validity period of the decision is six (6) months to one (1) year from the date of its signature.

 

III-DOCUMENTS

  1. IMPORT DECLARATION FORM (IDF)

The Import Declaration Form – See Example of IDF – is mandatory if the value of the goods is higher than Five hundred thousand (500.000) F CFA. The FDI is established online via the transactional site of the Guichet Unique du Commerce Extérieur (GUCE).

 

Access to the site requires prior registration as an importer, exporter or forwarder.

 

The documents and information to be provided or downloaded are as follows:

  • Importer Code (or Occasional Importer Code).
  • Pro-forma or Final Invoice.
  • Mode of Transport.
  • Name of the bank (in Côte d’Ivoire) of the importer (for the direct debit. and obtaining the Exchange Authorization).
  • The HS Codes of the products to be imported.
  • A copy of the Import Authorization signed by MINEF.

 

  1. CARGO TRACKING FORM (CTF)

 

Importation by sea

 

For all imports by sea, the exporter, the foreign forwarder and the importer must register the Cargo Tracking Form (CTS) via the website of the Ivorian Shippers’ Office (OIC).

 

At embarkation

 

The required documents are the following:

  • The Final Invoice.
  • Bill of Lading (B/L).
  • Packing List.
  • Customs Export Declaration of the country of shipment.
  • Certificate of local insurance in Côte d’Ivoire.
  • The Import Declaration Form (IDF) or its number.

 

In addition, for imports from countries outside the European Union, are required:

  • The Freight Invoice.
  • The Certificate of Origin.

  1. CERTIFICATE OF VALUE

As soon as the goods are shipped and all the transport documents for the goods are available (Final Commercial Invoice, Ocean Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, Packing List, Freight Invoice, copy of the IDF and all other available certificates), the freight forwarder must initiate an application for a Certificate of Value.

All goods whose FOB value is greater than or equal to One (1) million F CFA must obtain a Final Classification and Value Report (FCVR) from the Directorate of Risk Analysis, Intelligence and Value (DARRV) of the Customs via the electronic platform of the GUCE – Cf.Circular n°2007 of March 21, 2019.

The authorized forwarder downloads and fills in the Notice of Deposit (AD).  He attaches the documents accompanying the goods (Cf. List above) to the Notice of Deposit and uploads the whole file online on the GUCE platform.

 

The Customs DARRV checks the shipping documents and delivers within 5 working days following the submission of the documents the Final Classification and Value Report by email to the receiver or the forwarder.

The freight forwarder fills out Form D41 (Sampling Permit: this is an authorization given by the importer or freight forwarder to Customs to take a sample of the goods for the purpose of qualitative verification or to visually assess the apparent condition of the goods) and physically submits it with the shipping documents (see list above) to the Risk Analysis, Intelligence and Valuation Department (DARRV) of Customs for verification

After examining the file, the DARRV issues the Certificate of Verification (AV).

 

Goods with an FOB value of less than one (1) million CFA francs and certain other products are exempt from the FCVR procedure – (See the list of goods not subject to FCVR on the website www.douane.ci) – (See the General Import Procedures tab on the website).

 

  1. CUSTOMS DECLARATION

On arrival

The Customs declaration is made by a forwarder mandated by the importer and approved by the Customs. The forwarder submits the declaration in the Customs computer system – SYDAM (Sydonia World). The documents to be given to the forwarder to make the Customs Declaration are the following:

  • The Original Bill of Lading (B/L) for sea shipments, or the Air Waybill (AWB) for air shipments or the Consignment note for road shipments.
  • Original supplier’s invoice.
  • Certificate of Insurance.
  • Import Form (IDF – via GUCE website)
  • Freight Invoice
  • Final Value Classification Report (FVCR) if the FOB value is at least one (1) million CFA francs or the Certificate of Value (CV) if the FOB value is less than one (1) million CFA francs, or if the products are excluded from the FVCR (see List of goods not subject to the FVCR on the websites www.douane.ci)
  • The packing list:
  • The Customs receipt if the method of payment of duties and taxes is cash.
  • The Cargo Tracking Form (CTF) issued by the Ivorian Shippers’ Office (OIC) for sea transport.
  • The WAEMU or ECOWAS Certificate of Origin if necessary.
  • The Certificate of Origin.
  • Phytosanitary Certificate from the country of shipment.
  • Import Authorization Decision signed by MINEF.

The Bon à Enlever (BAE) from the Customs will be issued only after examination of the file by the Customs and the obtaining of :

  • The Certificate of Phytosanitary Control for Importation
  • The Authorization to Remove

  1. PHYTOSANITARY IMPORT CONTROL CERTIFICATE

The Phytosanitary Import Control Certificate is issued by the Phytosanitary Inspection Services at the Port (located at the Port’s One-Stop Shop, Boulevard du Port, Abidjan), at the Airport and at the Land Borders. These services depend on the Direction de la Protection des Végétaux, du Contrôle et de la Qualité of the Ministry in charge of Agriculture. The Certificate verifies the conformity of the product to the regulations in force in Côte d’Ivoire.

Delivery time: 24 hours to 10 days (if the goods require a laboratory analysis)

Duration of validity: linked to the operation

 

List of documents to be provided:

  • Copy of the Customs Declaration
  • Request for Phytosanitary Control submitted by the exporter or his forwarding agent [Cf. Example of request for Phytosanitary Control].
  • Transport title
  • Results of analysis for the products (in case of laboratory analysis)
  • Import Authorization Decision signed by MINEF

 

Cost: Laboratory fees are paid by the importer

 

  1. REMOVAL AUTHORIZATION

This authorization allows importers to remove their products from the port/airport for home inspection. It is delivered by the Services of the Phytosanitary Inspection of the Port or the Airport of Abidjan. It concerns all plant products and products of plant origin. Once the customs declaration has been made and the request for phytosanitary control has been issued, a Removal Authorization (RA) – [Cf. Example of RA] – must be submitted to the Phytosanitary Inspection Services of the Port or Airport of Abidjan or to the borders for the declared goods.

Issuance time: 1 hour maximum

Duration of validity: linked to the operation

Costs: (Cf. Inter-ministerial Order n° 252/MINAGRI/MPMEF/MPMB of 9 June 2014)

 

 

Various other Plant Products and Products of Plant Origin : 0,6 F CFA/Kg

Phytosanitary control at the Importation, Airport : 3.000 F CFA / file

 

List of the documents to be provided:

 

  • The Customs Declaration
  • The Transport Title
  • The request for Phytosanitary Control issued by the importer or his forwarder
  • The Prior Authorization for Importation (API)
  • Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the country of origin
  • Certificate of Origin
  • Import Authorization Decision signed by MINEF

 

 

IV-LIST OF PRODUCTS

SH Code Designation
44-05 à 44-18

 

 Timber and non-timber forestry products