(Business in Cameroon) – On October 10, Cameroon’s Foreign Trade Operations Single Window (Guce) launched a new digital system to make the Veterinary Health Certificate (CSV) process easier and faster for fish importers. This digital change aims to simplify the paperwork and ensure the health standards of imported seafood products.
Thanks to the new e-Guce platform, importers no longer need to go through lengthy, in-person paperwork to get their CSVs. Instead, they can submit their requests entirely online, completing the whole process with just a few clicks. Importers simply log in to the e-Guce platform to start their application. The system then sends the request to the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries (Minepia), which is responsible for reviewing each application. After the ministry reviews the request, they issue either the Veterinary Health Certificate (CSV) or, if additional checks are needed, a Document Control Certificate (CCD). To finalize the application, importers need to upload a few key documents, including the final invoice, bill of lading, and a health certificate from the exporting country.
By moving the CSV process online, Cameroon aims to cut down on long processing times and reduce customs clearance delays, which currently take about ten days. Guce believes this digital approach will make it much easier to conduct international trade in Cameroon. The new system will also streamline import procedures, allowing businesses to handle everything in one place without the need for physical paperwork.
The digital CSV process also brings some new costs for importers. The CSV fee is set at 3% of the shipment’s Free on Board (FOB) value. This fee is collected by customs and must be paid before the certificates are issued. By having the payment system built directly into the online process, the new system also aims to make transactions more transparent, while helping to enforce health and safety standards for imported goods.
This change to digital certification comes as Cameroon has recently reduced its fish imports. According to Cameroon’s National Institute of Statistics (INS), fish imports in 2023 were down by 7,226 tons compared to 2022. In 2023, Cameroon imported 234,572 tons of fish, compared to 241,798 tons the year before, marking a 3% decrease. This reduction is even more significant in financial terms, with Cameroon saving CFA20 billion on imports in 2023 compared to 2022, reflecting a 10% decrease in cost.
