Under a joint MINCOM/MINEFI order, certain goods imported into Cameroon must be stamped or marked in the country of export. This applies notably to some manufactured products subject to the security sticker system such as cigarettes, alcoholic, beverages, food products, medicines, etc.
Since 1 September 2001, labelling requirements have been compulsory for imported and domestic food products. The packaging of all perishable products must show the expiry date.
Food Products
For food products, the following is also required (in French and English): name of manufacturer, manufacturing date and national conformity label.
Pharmaceutical Products
Pharmaceutical products must bear the expiry date and instructions for use (in English and French). All boxes, crates and packaging must bear markings identifying the country of origin.
Beer and Wine
Apart from beer and wine with an alcoholic strength below 13 per cent by volume, all bottles and other containers of alcoholic beverages must bear a label indicating the degree of alcohol.
Foreign Food Products
Foreign food products that do not bear the locality where they were manufactured, or the name of the country of origin and a visible “Imported” label are prohibited.
Breast Milk Substitute Products
The labelling (in English and/or French) of breast-milk substitute products is subject to specific requirements, and must provide information on precautions to be taken to avoid contamination, the age from which the product may be used, and storage conditions, as well as a statement specifying the benefits of breast feeding over artificial feeding.
Cigarettes
Cigarettes intended for sale in Cameroon must first be labelled with a sticker indicating, among other things, the country of origin and the identification number of the economic operator. The importer must pay for the sticker before the goods are shipped. Cigarette packets must also carry a health warning. In order to combat fraud, smuggling and counterfeiting, imported cigarettes, as well as a number of other imported products, must be marked “sale in Cameroon”.
Wooden Packaging
Wooden packaging used for export and import into Cameroon must be treated and stamped. The stamping must bear the following: IPPC abbreviation for “International Plant Protection Convention”, “CM” for the Cameroon ISO Code followed by a unique identification number assigned by ANOR to the company manufacturing or producing wood-based materials, the ISO code of the treatment carried out, the treatment date, the code of the institution responsible for marking and the number of the batch processed.
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