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Nothing will be the same again in terms of customs clearance procedure for vehicles and other rolling stock imported by land in Cameroon. Indeed, on 31 August 2021, the Director General of Customs (DGD) Fongod Edwin Nuvaga signed a memorandum setting out new modalities relating thereto.

Concretely, as explained by a DGD official, this memo has come to supplement the existing vehicle clearance system in Cameroon, on the maritime side. The memo equally regulates the points of entry and the competent offices for the clearance of vehicles imported by land. In the past, some customs offices could clear vehicles without a computerised customs clearance system. Now, a custom office must have adequate computer equipment to clear a vehicle, notably using the Cameroon Customs Information System (CAMCIS).

The note therefore defines the points of entry and the competent customs offices to conduct customs clearance of such vehicles in a total of seven customs sectors namely the Far-North, North, Adamaoua, South, South-West, North-West and East. "All vehicle and / or rolling stock clearance operations are formally prohibited in offices that do not have a customs information system. Any person wishing to transport vehicles and other rolling stock imported through Nigeria must obtain prior approval issued by the heads of territorially competent customs sectors,” the memo stipulates. It also lays down formalities to be fulfilled prior to the arrival in Cameroon of imported vehicles or rolling stock.

According to the Cameroon Customs Communication Unit Head, the new regulation has many advantages. "It will help improve service quality as everything will now be computerised and all vehicles cleared will be listed using the new Cameroon customs information system. It will also improve the collection of statistics on vehicle imports into Cameroon and boost customs revenue. It institutes an Import Verification Check Record for vehicles imported into Cameroon. Vehicles will be cleared at the designated offices on the basis of an evaluation in order to harmonise prices in all the offices," our source added.

Regarding the specific cases of vehicles and rolling stock imported definitively into Cameroon from CEMAC, the importer shall present certain documents, particularly the detailed declaration issued by the customs administration of the first country of introduction on the customs territory. "Any rolling stock without such documents shall be considered as a first importation into the customs territory", the memo stipulates. The memo further stipulates that non-compliance with these new provisions, which repeal all previous provisions, shall attract penalties.

Source: Cameroon Tribune of 7 September 2021