PECAE Programme in Cameroon: Complete Guide, ANOR Procedure and Certificate of Conformity

The Pre-Export Conformity Assessment Programme (PECAE) is a regulatory requirement for any importer shipping goods to the Port of Douala or the Port of Kribi. Under the authority of the Standards and Quality Agency (ANOR), the scheme aims to protect the local market, consumer health and the environment by limiting the entry of non-compliant or dangerous products.

For businesses, obtaining the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) upstream — also called Attestation de Conformité (AC) — is an essential step to avoid customs holds, delays and extra costs.

1. The legal framework of PECAE in Cameroon

Established by Decree No. 2015/1875/PM of 1 July 2015, with effective implementation from 31 August 2016, then updated by Decree No. 2021/3306/PM of 31 May 2021, PECAE covers a wide range of goods imported into Cameroon.

The main categories concerned include in particular:

• agri-food products;
• fertilisers and agricultural inputs;
• construction materials;
• electrical and electronic equipment;
• cosmetics and personal-hygiene products;
• used goods;
• certain agricultural, animal and fishery products.

2. Accredited bodies and scope of application

Conformity checks are carried out in the country of origin or export before the goods are loaded for Cameroon.

Mandated international bodies may intervene to perform documentary checks, physical inspections and, where necessary, laboratory tests.

The main bodies that may intervene include in particular:

SGS

Contrôles documentaires, inspections et essais en laboratoire au pays d’origine, pour préparer l’attestation exigée à Douala ou Kribi.

sgs.com

Intertek

Évaluation de conformité avant embarquement pour les flux réguliers comme pour les expéditions ponctuelles vers le Cameroun.

intertek.com

TÜV Rheinland

Inspection et certification à l’export, pour aligner les cargaisons sur les exigences ANOR avant le départ.

tuv.com

as well as other authorised structures according to the agreements and mandates in force.

3. The 3 PECAE verification routes

The level of control depends on the product's risk profile, shipment frequency and the supplier's compliance history.

Products compulsorily subject to Route A

Certain categories are systematically subject to enhanced control, because of their sensitivity for health, safety, the environment or consumer protection:

• sugar;
• cereals and derived products;
• fertilisers and agricultural inputs;
• products of animal and fishery origin;
• dairy products;
• fresh agricultural products;
• used goods;
• electrical and electronic equipment;
• edible oils;
• cosmetics and personal-hygiene products.

This classification must be taken into account as soon as the import is prepared: it directly affects timelines, the checks to be carried out and the overall cost of the procedure.

4. How is the verification route determined?

The choice of Route A, B or C does not depend solely on the type of goods. The inspection body assesses several parameters.

Product risk level. The greater the product's implications for health, safety or the environment, the higher the level of control may be.

Export frequency. The regularity and volume of shipments to Cameroon are taken into account. An occasional exporter will generally be checked more than a supplier with a regular, documented history.

Supplier quality. Compliance records, the quality-control system and the supplier's certifications can influence the route assigned.

Geographic origin. The country of provenance and the associated risk profile can also enter into the overall assessment of the file.

5. What are the PECAE inspection fees?

Inspection cost varies according to the verification route and the FOB value of the shipment. Amounts below are expressed in FCFA.

These fees must be built into the overall import-cost calculation, to avoid budget gaps at the time of shipment.

Annual product registration fees. For certain routes and exporter profiles, annual registration may also be required.

For a regular importer, you must therefore budget not only the fees linked to each shipment, but also any registration costs.

6. The PECAE procedure in 6 key steps

Once the route is determined, the procedure generally follows these steps.

1. Initiation. The importer, exporter or supplier contacts the authorised inspection body to open the conformity file.
2. Document transmission. The file is built from commercial and technical documents: pro forma or commercial invoice, product references and technical specifications.
3. Documentary audit. The body checks that the goods comply with applicable Cameroonian standards or recognised international standards.
4. Inspection and technical checks. Depending on Route A, B or C, a physical inspection, sampling or laboratory tests may be carried out.
5. Validation. When the goods are found compliant, the body validates the file.
6. Issuance of the Certificate of Conformity. The CoC is issued and added to the documents required for import and clearance in Cameroon.

7. Integrating PECAE into CAMCIS: a key clearance point

In CAMCIS, PECAE verification is automated:

Entering the certificate number. When the declaration is filed, the licensed customs broker must enter the unique number of the Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by the inspection body.

Automatic lock. If the 10-digit tariff heading falls under the PECAE directory and no valid CoC is attached to the file, CAMCIS blocks processing of the assessment notice (Bon à Liquider).

Disputes. The absence of a compliant document switches the file to an enhanced inspection lane and can trigger penalties.

That is why the PECAE check must be completed well before the vessel arrives at the Port of Douala or the Port of Kribi.

8. Which goods are exempt from PECAE?

Certain categories escape pre-shipment inspection, subject to appropriate supporting documents:

Low-value consignments. Shipments whose FOB value is below the threshold set by ANOR (generally under 2 000 000 FCFA, excluding sensitive products such as cosmetics or food).

Personal effects and household removals. Used goods belonging to private individuals.

Commercial samples. Items with no commercial value intended for prospecting or technical tests, in limited quantity.

Gifts and humanitarian aid. Material shipped in the context of health emergencies or government agreements.

Suspensive regimes. Goods in international transit (Chad, CAR) or admitted for inward processing under customs control, subject to customs validation.

9. What are the risks if there is no certificate?

Bringing into Cameroon goods subject to PECAE without conformity evidence can have several consequences.

Hold or slowdown of clearance. The absence of a certificate can prevent certain formalities from proceeding normally and lead to an in-depth review of the file.

Additional checks and analyses. Sampling, analyses or complementary inspections may be required, with costs borne by the operator.

Demurrage and storage charges. Each extra day at the port generates parking, storage or demurrage costs. On a large cargo, these charges quickly become significant.

Financial penalties. Customs may apply a fine equal to 15% of the CIF (CAF) value of the uncertified goods, on top of duties and taxes. Marketing without control also exposes the operator to penalties on turnover and profit.

Re-export or destruction. When a product is declared non-compliant, presents a risk or cannot be regularised, the authorities may impose its re-export or destruction.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

ribi. Preparing an import into Cameroon and want to check whether your goods are subject to PECAE? ALC Transit supports you in preparing your file and securing your clearance opera

ions. To master the full process, see our complete guide to clearance at the Port of D