Gabon COC Certification Process, Cost, and Duration

Gabon COC Certificate Template

What is Gabon COC - Gabon Export Pre-Shipment Conformity Assessment

Gabon PROGEC (Ghana’s Conformity Assessment Program) (PROGEC) is Gabon's Export Pre-Shipment Conformity Assessment. Since August 1, 2015, Gabon's Standards Agency (AGANOR) has implemented a new product conformity assessment program for certain imported consumer goods. All regulated products covered by the PROGEC program must be accompanied by qualified test reports or certificates. This measure aims to prevent unsafe and poor-quality goods from entering the Gabonese market. For goods certified by PROGEC, a Gabon COC certificate is issued, which is a necessary document for Gabonese port clearance. Failure to provide these documents may result in inspection at the port of destination, incurring high costs and potential delays, and ultimately, if not compliant, may lead to being prohibited from clearance and returned. Enforcement began on March 1, 2016.

Gabon COC Certification Process and Required Documents

Determine if Exported Products Need PROGEC Certification

All goods exported to Gabon (excluding exempt items) require a COC certificate, which is a necessary document for Gabonese port clearance. (Please provide the product name and HS CODE to confirm whether the product is exempt.) No testing or inspection is required, and you can proceed with shipping directly.

Gabon COC Certification (PROGEC Certification) Regulated Product List

Only the following products are exempt from this program:

Scrap metal from military weapons

Live animals

Newspapers

Re-imported goods

Personal belongings and repatriated items (including vehicles of residents returning to Gabon)

Commercially non-valuable parcels and express shipments

Commercial samples

Personal gifts

Donations provided by foreign governments, institutions, or individuals during disasters

Imports for embassy or consulate use as gifts and supplies

The above product categories are for reference only, and the Gabonese government may change the list of regulated products at any time.

Gabon PROGEC Application Papers:

Packing LIST

Commercial Invoice

QMS and Product Test Report

RFC

Other document if needed.

Gabon COC Certification On-site Inspection Requirements:

A representative designated by the exporter must be appointed to handle matters related to the inspection site and sign the inspection report on behalf of the exporter (applicant). The exporter should be aware that the signature of the on-site representative is legally binding.

The exporter is obligated to provide the necessary equipment for on-site inspection, which must be calibrated.

When sampling testing is involved, the exporter should send samples to our company as required by the inspector.

Please arrange necessary labor and equipment to complete the unpacking, sampling, and repackaging of goods promptly to avoid delays.

When shipping goods in full containers, the containers must meet the following requirements:

Containers must arrive at the inspection site at the agreed inspection time.

Containers must be in empty condition and cannot be preloaded. Loading can only occur after inspection by the inspector.

The latches on the right side door of the container must be intact for the inspector to apply seals.

Containers must be undamaged to prevent seawater from seeping in and damaging the goods.

Changes to the inspection time and location must be submitted to our company in writing before 16:00 one working day before the agreed date. Otherwise, the inspection will be considered a failure, requiring rescheduling and payment of retest fees.

If goods found to require rectification during on-site inspection cannot be rectified within a short period, re-inspection must be arranged, and retest fees must be paid.

Gabon COC certification processing fees, prices, and duration

The costs and prices vary for different products. Please contact us for specific details. With all the required documentation, inspection can be completed and a draft certificate produced in approximately 3 days. Once the draft certificate is confirmed, the formal certificate can be issued.

Gabon Import Tariffs

Gabon and its neighbors follow the import tariff structure of Central Africa.  Import tariffs include:  

General Systems of Preference:  no import tariffs for goods produced within a CEMAC-member country. 

Common External Tariff:  5 percent for Category One products (e.g., basic products), 10 percent for Category Two (e.g., raw materials), 20 percent for Category Three (e.g., intermediate products such as most food), and 30 percent for Category Four (all other products). 

Processing Fee (Redevance d’utilisation du systeme informatique, RUSID):  can vary from 2%-80% of the cost of insurance and freight (CIF). 

The Value Added Tax (VAT) is generally 18 percent.  A reduced VAT of 10 percent is applicable to mineral water, cement, sugar, and chicken produced in Gabon.  Milk products, butter, margarine, cereals, medicine and medical supplies, and fertilizer are exempt from VAT.  Companies operating in the Special Economic Zone are exempt from customs taxes and some income taxes.  

Gabon Import documents

the original invoice;

the bill of lading;

the packing list (including a full description of the contents of the shipment);

the insurance certificate;

Contact Information

Rich Chou

Phone: 0755-23763629 Whatapp 13530227809

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