The process for importing goods into Cameroon is as follows: the importer or his/her representative submits a request for an Attestation of Verification to Import (AVI) to SGS, the Swiss company in charge of inspection at the ports. This request must be submitted no later than the time at which the manifest is validated. The following documents must accompany the request: interpretative document; bill of lading or air waybill; a final invoice; a packing list; a local insurance certificate; a customs clearance; number of the cargo manifest; a voucher or evidence of an eventual exemption accompanied by a provisional customs certificate; and a phytosanitary certificate or other required technical service documents.
SGS then provides a final AVI, an original and two copies, to the importer within eight hours. There is no provisional AVI. After verification, the inspector gives the user three copies of the declaration: a grey, a blue, and a yellow copy. These verifications will be completed within a maximum of six hours, as long as there is no dispute regarding taxes or other elements of the shipment.
The importer presents these documents to the SGS, which affixes a security sticker and a dry stamp on the blue copy and transfers it to the bank for depositing. SGS must address the above documents to the different concerned banks at least three times a day. After payment, the bank delivers a receipt and the blue copy to the user, transmits the yellow copy to SGS, and keeps the grey copy. After reviewing the blue copy and the receipt, an inspector verifies the end use and releases the merchandise.