🎯 Key Objectives

The Ivorian VoC programme aims to:

• 🛡️ Protect consumers from unsafe, counterfeit or substandard goods
• ⚙️ Promote quality assurance through recognized standards
• 🏭 Preserve fair competition for local industries
• 🚀 Simplify trade by acknowledging existing certificates to avoid re‑testing

📜 Regulatory Framework and Authority

• Authority: Ministry of Commerce, Industry and SME Promotion
• Implementation: Conducted by officially designated conformity assessment bodies
• Legal Start Date: April 16, 2018 – Mandatory since July 16, 2018
• Renewals:
• Programme reinforced and extended until June 30, 2025 (announced July 2024)
• Official partners confirmed for an additional five‑year term (effective July 2025)

The VoC programme includes conformity assessments through documentary review, product testing, physical inspection and licensing procedures, depending on the level of product risk.

📦 Regulated Products

The VoC program applies to a broad range of goods, including:

• 🍞 Food products
• ⚡ Electrical and electronic equipment
• 💄 Cosmetics and hygiene items
• 🧱 Building materials
• 🧰 Machinery and pressure equipment
• 🧼 Packaging materials
• 🚗 Auto parts, accessories and lubricants
• 🧤 Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• 👕 Textiles and footwear
• 🧸 Toys
• ♻️ Other products impacting public health, safety or the environment

Excluded goods include fresh foods, live animals, used vehicles, crude oil and shipments for diplomatic or industrial exemptions under specific conditions.

⚙️ Process of Certification

1- Request for Certificate

Exporters or importers must submit a Request for Certificate (RFC) via the online portal or to a local inspection office.
This request should include:

• Product list and invoice (final or proforma)
• Relevant test reports or third‑party certificates
• Manufacturer quality certificates (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 22000)
• Export documents with HS codes and FOB value

2- Routes to Compliance

The VoC programme provides different routes to match product and exporter profiles:

• Route A: Standard evaluation for any product or trader.
• Route B: For registered goods (Statement of Registration – SoR).
• Route C: For licensed goods (Statement of Licensing – SoL).

Registration and licensing streamline future shipments for exporters with proven compliance records, reducing inspection time.

3- Documentary Review and Testing

Inspectors verify conformity to Ivorian, international, or manufacturer standards.

If documentation is insufficient, samples may be tested in ISO 17025‑accredited laboratories.

4- Physical Inspection

Inspectors ensure that labelled goods match documentation, meet applicable standards, and carry markings in French (or English for industrial products).

5- Issuance of Certificate of Conformity

After satisfactory results, an electronic CoC is issued.

Shipments that do not meet the requirements receive a Non‑Conformity Report (NCR) and cannot be cleared for export.

💰 Fees and Responsibilities

Exporters are responsible for all costs related to conformity assessment.

The programme applies ad‑valorem fees based on the shipment’s FOB value, which vary according to the selected compliance route:

• Route A: 0.45 % of the consignment’s FOB value (general evaluation).
• Route B: 0.40 % for registered products.
• Route C: 0.30 % for licensed goods.

Each route has defined minimum and maximum amounts in euros, with costs typically ranging between €255 and €4,092, depending on the shipment value.

Additional charges may apply for:

• 📦 Laboratory testing and sample analysis
• 🔁 Re‑inspections or audits
• 🧾 Registration or licensing of new products
• 🚢 Container sealing or on‑site verifications

These fees cover the full process — from document verification and inspection to certificate issuance — ensuring a transparent and standardized compliance system.

📄 Additional Updates and Requirements

·       FDI (Fiche de Déclaration à l’Importation) with QR Code

Since May 22, 2023, importers must secure an FDI document that includes a QR code for authentication.

This digital upgrade strengthens document traceability and speeds up customs clearance.

·       National Technical and Labeling Norms

Electrical appliances must comply with Type E French‑style plugs (EN 50075 / NF C 61‑314) and operate at 220–230 V, 50 Hz.

Product labels and manuals must appear in French, while industrial goods may use French or English.
Certain cosmetic ingredients — such as hydroquinone, mercury, and corticosteroids — remain strictly prohibited.

🔁 Programme Reinforcement and Continuity

After five successful years of operation, the VoC programme was officially extended through June 2025 to reinforce product safety and strengthen trade control efficiency.

Designated inspection and certification bodies continue to support exporters across all sectors, ensuring full compliance with Ivorian standards and import requirements.

🤝 How ComplyMarket Can Help

Exporters to Côte d’Ivoire can rely on ComplyMarket for end‑to‑end assistance, including:

• 🧾 Preparing VoC documentation and applications
• 🧪 Reviewing test reports and technical standards
• ⏱️ Coordinating inspection schedules and monitoring progress
• 🌍 Ensuring compliance with national labeling and regulatory norms

With ComplyMarket’s trusted guidance, businesses can reduce costs, avoid customs rejections and accelerate their trade operations with Côte d’Ivoire.