The Fertilizer Sector is governed by Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 concerning Fertilizer Quality Control within the ECOWAS region.
This Regulation aims to harmonize the rules governing fertilizer quality control in member states. It establishes:
• The accreditation of operators in the fertilizer sector;
• Fertilizer quality control.
This Regulation was also published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire on October 21, 2013. In accordance with this Regulation, Côte d’Ivoire issued Decree No. 2023-440 of May 24, 2023, concerning fertilizer quality control.
ECOWAS Implementing Regulations have been developed and cover:
• Labeling and tolerance limits for fertilizers marketed within the ECOWAS region – Implementing Regulation ECW/PEC/IR/02/03/16;
• Fertilizer inspection within the ECOWAS region – Implementing Regulation ECW/PEC/IR/07/16;
• Responsibilities, organization, and operation of the West African Fertilizer Control Committee (COACE) – Implementing Regulation ECW/PEC/IR/05/12/16;
• Fertilizer analysis within the ECOWAS region – Implementing Regulation ECW/PEC/IR/06/12/16.
IMPORT APPROVAL
Pending their signature and publication, a transitional procedure for obtaining Import Approval has been developed and is applied by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER).
Products considered as fertilisers can be marketed or used in Côte d’Ivoire :
- if they comply with an ISO standard,
- or if they comply with Regulation N°C/REG. of 13 December 2012 on Quality Control of Fertilizers in the ECOWAS region,
- or if they benefit from an Approval or an Interim Import Authorisation (IPA)
- or if they are made up of raw organic products or crop supports of natural origin or by-products of a farm delivered as is or mixed together, without chemical treatment (e.g. farmyard manure).
The importation of fertilisers into Côte d’Ivoire is reserved for holders of a Fertiliser Import Approval. The Ministry issues five (5) types of Approvals:
- Formulator/Manufacturer Approval.
- Importer Approval.
- Exporter Approval.
- Distributor Approval.
- Vendor Approval.
It should be noted that unlike Pesticides, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development does not issue an authorisation for the exercise of the profession for importers – exporters of fertilisers, but rather an Import – Export Approval by Product.
The import itself is subject to a Preliminary Import Authorisation also issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Fertilisers include the following products: (See Legal Regimes for Imports and Exports) – (See General Import Procedures tabs on the site) – and HS customs nomenclature.
- HS 25.10 – Phosphate rock.
- HS 28.14 – Anhydrous ammonia.
- HS 31.01 – Fertilisers of animal or vegetable origin, e.g., manures, guanos, dried blood.
- HS 31.02 – Nitrogenous fertilisers, for example, urea or ammonium sulphate.
- HS 31.03 – Phosphate fertilisers, for example, single superphosphate or triple superphosphate.
- HS 31.04 – Potash fertilisers, for example, potassium chloride or potassium sulphate.
- HS 31.05 – Complex fertilisers containing at least two elements, such as DAP, NPK complexes.
The regulations below apply to the importation of all fertilizers – See Annex A of Decree 93-313.
Application File Requirements:
- An application addressed to the Minister of Agriculture;
- A completed application form, provided by the Directorate in charge of fertilizers;
- A photocopy of the National Identity Card (CNI) of the responsible party or any other valid document serving as identification for non-Ivorian nationals;
- A photocopy of the Trade Register;
- A Tax Declaration of Existence [DFE] [See General Procedures for Imports];
- A valid Import-Export Code;
- A site plan showing the location of the business activity;
- Curriculum Vitae or training certificates of technical staff (proof of qualifications);
- Have a storage facility equipped with appropriate equipment (weighing system, pallets, stock tracking register, etc.);
- A certificate of conformity for the fertilizer storage infrastructure, issued after inspection by the relevant DSEPA services;
- A copy of the ICPE (Installation Classified for Environmental Protection) authorization;
- Submit two samples from the same batch of each fertilizer concerned in their original packaging for laboratory verification of fertilizer conformity;
The technical data sheet for each fertilizer concerned (composition, instructions for use, precautions, active ingredient, etc.); - A report of bio-efficacy and safety tests commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture for any new fertilizer formula, issued by the designated research center.
- Importer-Exporter License Issuance Procedure
Only individuals or legal entities holding a Fertilizer Importer or Exporter License issued by the Ministry of Agriculture are authorized to import or export fertilizers.
Application Receipt and Initial Verification
This step consists of:
- Physical receipt of the application and samples
- Submit the application for approval to the DSEPA;
- The DSEPA will review the application before forwarding it to the Minister’s Office for registration;
- Complete the application form for the products concerned for the three (3) years of validity of the requested approval (provide a list of products if the number exceeds five (5));
- Complete the DSEPA receipt form;
- Provide two (2) samples of each declared product in their original packaging;
- Pay all applicable application fees.
- Transfer of the file to the mail service of the office of the Minister of Agriculture for registration.
Field bio-efficacy and safety trials
To obtain approval, the applicant must, for any type of unregistered fertilizer, have field bio-efficacy and safety trials conducted at their own expense by an approved Research Center in conjunction with the Directorate of Seeds, Fertilizers, and Related Products over two growing cycles of one (1) or two (2) crops concerned.
These trials are carried out by a research center designated or selected by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Submit 3 technical data sheets and a sample of the product to the DSEPA;
Transfer the application to the mail service of the office of the Minister of Agriculture for registration;
Request a pro forma invoice from the Research Center and forward it to the applicant via the DSEPA for payment;
NB: The cost of monitoring the trials is 625,000 FCFA – (See Interministerial Decree No. 252 MINAGRI/MPMEF/MPMB of June 19, 2014 defining the list of tariffed acts and activities of the Ministry of Agriculture).
- Sampling and Coding
- Collect two (2) samples of each product by the DSEPA Fertilizer Inspectors upon receipt;
- Codify and send the collected samples to the laboratory for analysis;
- Laboratory Analysis of Results
- Have the samples analyzed by the national laboratory and transmit the results to the DSEPA;
- Issuance of a certificate of conformity to the applicant.
- Warehouse Inspections
- Inspectors visit the operator’s warehouses to verify the conformity of the infrastructure to fertilizer storage standards;
- Issuance of a certificate of conformity to the operator if the warehouse complies with fertilizer storage standards.
CNACE Session
- Session Preparations
Before the session, the committee secretariat (DSEPA) analyzes and interprets the various reports (bio-efficacy and safety reports, warehouse inspections, analysis reports). The secretariat also prepares the summary report and presentations for all applications submitted for accreditation.
- Meeting Procedures
The committee meets four times a year to deliberate on the various accreditation applications.
In accordance with regulations, the committee issues a favorable or unfavorable opinion on the application.
The committee’s proceedings are documented in minutes.
- Issuance of Accreditation
Based on the minutes, an accreditation notice, signed by the Committee Chair and valid for one year, is issued to the operator pending the signing of the decree by the Minister of Agriculture.
Note:
- In addition to Importer and Exporter Accreditation, the Ministry also issues three (3) other types of Accreditation:
- Formulator/Manufacturer Accreditation;
- Wholesale Distributor Accreditation;
- Retail Distributor Accreditation.
The costs of permits are set by Interministerial Decree No. 252 MINAGRI/MPMEF/MPMB of June 19, 2014, which defines the list of services and activities subject to fees by the Ministry of Agriculture.
- Applications for permit renewal must be submitted three months before the expiry date of the current permit.
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Import Declaration Form (IDF)
The Import Declaration Form (IDF) is mandatory if the value of the goods exceeds five hundred thousand (500,000) CFA francs – (See Example of IDF).
The IDF is established online via the transactional site of the Guichet Unique du Commerce Extérieur (GUCE). Access to the site requires prior registration as an importer, exporter or freight forwarder (https://guce.gouv.ci/register/procedure). The documents and information to be provided are as follows:
- Importer Code (or Occasional Importer Code)
- Pro-forma or Final Invoice
- Mode of Transport
- Name of the importer’s bank (in Côte d’Ivoire) (for direct debit and exchange authorisation)
- HS Codes of the products to be imported
For the importation of the products listed below, the FDI application will only be validated after receipt in the online file of the Preliminary Import Authorisation (API) – (See Example of API) – (See General Import Procedures of the site) – validated, reviewed and signed online by the Directorate of Seeds, Fertilizers and Related Products (DSEPA) of the Ministry in charge of Agriculture.
Prior Import Authorization (API)
For all fertilizer imports, a Prior Import Authorization (API) is mandatory and is issued by the Directorate of Seeds, Fertilizers, and Related Products of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production (MEMINADERPV). This procedure can be completed manually or online.
The validity period of an API is three (3) months.
As indicated above, the API is required to obtain the Import Declaration Form (FDI) – (See FDI Example).
- Manual Procedure
The manual procedure involves submitting the API application in person to the DSEPA (Directorate of Seeds, Fertilizers, and Related Products). The following documents are required for the issuance of an API – (See API Example):
- An application addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production;
- A photocopy of the National Identity Card or Residence Permit of the responsible party;
A photocopy of the Trade Register; - A pro forma invoice;
- An Import Declaration Form issued by the DSEPA;
- A product technical data sheet (composition, instructions for use, precautions, active ingredient, etc.).
Application fee: 5,000 FCFA per 350 tons, payable to the Ministry's Revenue Office – (See Interministerial Decree No. 252 MINAGRI/MPMEF/MPMB of June 19, 2014, defining the list of services and activities subject to tariffs by the Ministry of Agriculture).
Processing time for the API (validated online by the DSEPA): between 24 and 72 hours maximum.
Validity period: 90 days.
- Online Procedure
Import Authorizations (APIs) can be submitted and obtained online via the Single Window for Foreign Trade (GUCE) platform by economic operators or their freight forwarders who wish to obtain Import Authorizations. The required documents are the same as those listed in the manual procedure (see list above), but they are submitted online.
However, payments for obtaining the API cannot yet be made online. Importers must therefore currently pay the API issuance fees to the MEMINADERPV (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food):
Begin the Import Declaration Form (FDI) procedure on the GUCE website (see FDI procedure above);
The system automatically generates a Prior Import Authorization request, which is sent to the DSEPA (Directorate of Export Promotion and Export) of the Ministry of Agriculture;
The documents to download are the same as those listed in the manual procedure (except for the Import Form issued by the DSEPA);
Go to the MEMINADERPV (CAISTAB Building, Abidjan) with a copy of the physical file to pay the API application fee of 5,000 FCFA per 350 tons – (See Interministerial Decree No. 252 MINAGRI/MPMEF/MPMB of June 19, 2014, defining the list of tariffed acts and activities of the Ministry of Agriculture).
API processing time (validated online by the DSEPA): between 24 and 72 hours maximum
Validity period: 90 days.
- Chemical Product Certificate (Dangerous Goods)
This procedure concerns Ammonium Nitrate (HS Code 31.02.03) and Sodium Nitrate (HS Code 31.02.05), which are classified as dangerous goods.
These goods may only be unloaded from the ship with a Chemical Product Certificate issued by the SPCIAC-CI, which reports to the Ministry of Defense.
The application is submitted online through the Chemical Product License/Certificate Module of the GUCE (Single Window for Foreign Trade). The following documents must be uploaded:
- Invoice.
- FDI number.
- Safety Data Sheet (issued by the seller, product technical data).
- Photocopy of the Approval.
The Authorization can be downloaded online from the GUCE website after approval by the Ministry of Defense (processing time varies between 1 and 10 days). It must be sent to the ship's consignee before the ship arrives and before the goods are unloaded.
Cargo Tracking Form (CTS)
Import by sea
For all imports by sea, the exporter, the foreign forwarder and the importer must create a Cargo Tracking Form (CTS) via the website of the Ivorian Shippers’ Office (OIC).
At embarkation:
- Registration of the BSC [See General Import Procedures].
- Documents required:
- Final Invoice (or Valued Inventory for personal effects).
- Bill of Lading (B/L), or Air Waybill (AWB/LTA), or Consignment note.
- Packing list.
- Customs Export Declaration of the country of shipment.
- Certificate of Local Insurance in Côte d’Ivoire.
- The Import Declaration Form (IDF) or its number.
- In addition, for imports from countries outside the European Union, the following are required
- The Freight Invoice.
- The Certificate of Origin.
Statement of Value
As soon as the goods are shipped and all the transport documents for the goods are available (Final Commercial Invoice, Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, Freight Bill Packing List, copy of the FDI and all other available certificates), the freight forwarder must initiate a request for a Certificate of Value.
All goods with an FOB value greater than or equal to one (1) million CFA francs must obtain a Final Classification and Value Report (FCVR) from the Directorate of Risk Analysis, Intelligence and Value (DARRV) of the Customs via the electronic platform of the GUCE – Cf. Customs Circular No. 2007 of 29 March 2019,
The authorised forwarder downloads and fills in the Notice of Deposit (ND).
He attaches the documents accompanying the goods (see list above) to the deposit notice and uploads the entire file online on the GUCE platform.
The Customs Directorate of Risk, Intelligence and Value Analysis (DARRV) checks the shipping documents and delivers, within 5 working days of the submission of the documents, the Final Classification and Value Report, by e-mail, to the consignee or forwarder.
The freight forwarder completes Form D41 (Sampling Permit: this is an authorisation given by the importer or freight forwarder to Customs to take a sample of the goods for the purposes of quality control or to visually assess the apparent condition of the goods) and physically deposits it with the transport documents (see List above) at the Customs Risk Analysis, Intelligence and Value Division (DARRV) for verification. After examining the file, the DARRV issues the Attestation of Verification (AV).
Goods with an FOB value of less than one (1) million CFA francs and certain other products – see the list of goods not subject to RFCV on the website www.douane.ci – are exempt from the RFCV procedure (see the General Import Procedures tab on the website).
Customs declaration
On arrival
The Customs Declaration is made by a forwarder appointed by the importer and approved by Customs.
The freight forwarder submits the Declaration in the Customs computer system – SYDAM (Sydonia World). The documents to be submitted to the freight forwarder to make the Customs Declaration are the following:
- Original Bill of Lading (B/L) for sea shipments, or Air Waybill (AWB) for air shipments or Consignment note for road shipments.
- Original supplier’s invoice.
- Certificate of Insurance.
- Import Form (FDI – via the GUCE website).
- Freight Invoice.
- Final Value Classification Report (FVCR) if the FOB value is at least one (1) million CFA francs or the Certificate of Value (CV) if the FOB value is less than one (1) million CFA francs, or if the products are excluded from the FVCR [see General Import Procedures].
- The Packing List.
- Customs receipt if the method of payment of duties and taxes is cash.
- The Cargo Tracking Form (BSC) issued by the Ivorian Shippers’ Office (OIC) for transport by sea.
- The UEMOA or ECOWAS Certificate of Origin if required.
Ministry of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production (MEMINADERPV).
Directorate General of Production and Food Security
Directorate of Seeds, Fertilizers and Related Products
Sub-Directorates of Fertilizers and Related Products
Abidjan – Plateau, 6th Floor, CAISTAB Building
P.O. Box V 82 Abidjan – Côte d’Ivoire
Tel: (+225) 27 20 21 41 77 / (+225) 27 20 22 24 81
Fax: (+225) 27 20 21 36 10
Site Internet : http://www.agriculture.gouv.ci
Email: minagri.cabinet@agriculture.gouv.ci / cabminagri@yahoo.fr
LIST OF PRODUCTS
HS codes for common fertilizer classes:
| No. | HS Code | Description |
| 1 | 25.1 | Phosphate rocks |
| 2 | 28.14 | Anhydrous ammonia |
| 3 | 31.02 | Nitrogen mineral or chemical fertilizers / Urea |
| 4 | 31.03 | Phosphate mineral or chemical fertilizers |
| 5 | 31.04 | Potassium mineral or chemical fertilizers |
| 6 | 31.05 | NPK mineral or chemical fertilizers / other |
| 7 | 2503.00 | Sulphur of all kinds |
| 8 | 2510.10 | Natural, uncrushed phosphate rocks |
| 9 | 2510.20 | Natural, crushed phosphate rocks |
| 10 | 2518.10 | Uncalcined dolomite |
| 11 | 2518.20 | Calcined dolomite |
| 12 | 2520 | Gypsum / plasters / anhydrite |
| 13 | 2521.00 | Limestone for lime or Cement |
| 14 | 2530.20 | Kieserite |
| 15 | 2809.20 | Phosphoric acid |
| 16 | 2810.20 | Boric acid |
| 17 | 2814.10 | Anhydrous ammonia (NH3) |
| 18 | 2827.20 | Calcium chloride |
| 19 | 2827.31 | Magnesium chloride |
| 20 | 2832.30 | Ammonium thiosulfate |
| 21 | 2833.21 | Magnesium sulfate |
| 22 | 2833.25 | Manganese sulfate |
| 23 | 2833.26 | Copper sulfate |
| 24 | 2833.27 | Zinc sulfate |
| 25 | 2834.29 | Magnesium nitrate |
| 26 | 2835.24 | Monopotassium phosphate (MKP) |
| 27 | 2836.40 | Potassium carbonate |
| 28 | 2836.50 | Precipitated calcium carbonate |
| 29 | 2839.19 | Potassium/sodium silicate |
| 30 | 2840.11 | Borax |
| 31 | 2921.59 | EDTA and complexes |
| 32 | 3002.90 | Microorganism cultures (biofertilizers) |
| 33 | 3101 | Organic fertilizers |
| 34 | 3102.21 | Ammonium sulfate |
| 35 | 3102.29 | Ammonium sulfate + ammonium nitrate mixtures |
| 36 | 3102.3 | Ammonium nitrate |
| 37 | 3102.4 | AN + calcium carbonate mixtures |
| 38 | 3102.5 | Sodium nitrate |
| 39 | 3102.6 | Calcium nitrate + ammonium nitrate double salts |
| 40 | 3102.7 | Calcium cyanamide |
| 41 | 3102.8 | Urea + ammonium nitrate mixtures |
| 42 | 3102.9 | Other nitrogen fertilizers |
| 43 | 3103.1 | Superphosphates |
| 44 | 3103.2 | Slag |
| 45 | 3103.9 | Other phosphate fertilizers |
| 46 | 3104.1 | Carnallite / Sylvite / crude potassium salts |
| 47 | 3104.2 | Potassium chloride |
| 48 | 3104.3 | Potassium sulfate |
| 49 | 3104.9 | Other potashes |
| 50 | 3105.1 | Fertilizers in small packages |
| 51 | 3105.2 | NPK fertilizers (3 elements) |
| 52 | 3105.3 | DAP |
| 53 | 3105.4 | MAP and DAP mixtures |
| 54 | 3105.5 | NP fertilizers |
| 55 | 3105.51 | Nitrate + phosphate fertilizers |
| 56 | 3105.59 | Other N + P fertilizers |
| 57 | 3105.6 | PK fertilizers |
| 58 | 3105.9 | Other fertilizers (organo-mineral…) |
