Cameroon Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in cameroon, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Standards for Trade
Last published date:

Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade 

Overview

Cameroon operates an open economy that aims to align with international best practices and standards while adhering to national and regional frameworks, particularly those of CEMAC. As a signatory to the 2009 interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, Cameroon integrates European standards into its trade practices. Although the country’s legal framework largely aligns with international norms, enforcement remains a significant challenge.

Standardization in Cameroon follows a top-down, government-driven model led by ANOR, established in 2009.  ANOR oversees the development, adoption, and promotion of both mandatory standards—often targeting sectors such as food safety, energy, and construction—and voluntary standards created in collaboration with stakeholders. The agency actively participates in international standardization bodies, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and ASTM International, and issues an annual National Standards Development Program outlining its work plan.  While centralized, the standards-setting process is inclusive, allowing participation from a broad range of stakeholders, including those without a manufacturing presence in the country.

National Agency for Standards and Norms (ANOR)
Address: Avenue du Boulevard du 20 Mai, Immeuble Hilton (Aile Gauche 2ème & 3ème étages), B.P. 14996, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Phone: +237 222 20 63 68 / +237 696 21 97 47
Email: pnen@anorcameroun.info
Website: https://anor.cm/

Standards and Technical Regulations

Cameroon operates a centralized, government-led standards system managed by ANOR, which develops both mandatory and voluntary standards across various sectors. The agency has established over 4,500 norms in the building and construction sector alone, covering materials and practices to ensure structural safety and durability, although enforcement varies. While Cameroon is a member of international bodies such as ISO and has a Memorandum of Understanding with ASTM International, it tends to favor European standards—primarily due to its 2009 Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union, which enforces EU norms in trade.
Although U.S.-based standards from organizations like ASTM, ASME, SAE, or API are not excluded, they are less commonly adopted.  Cameroon’s regulatory environment is therefore more closely aligned with European standards, reflecting historical ties and dominant trade relationships with the EU.

Testing, Inspection and Certification

Cameroon requires a comprehensive product testing and certification process for nearly all imported goods under its PECAE program, managed by ANOR. Since November 15, 2021, the PECAE program has covered all imported products, requiring conformity assessments in the exporting country before shipment.  Authorized Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) such as TÜV Rheinland, SGS, and Intertek conduct product testing, factory inspections, and documentation reviews.

The PECAE program outlines three verification methods: 
•    Method A: Applied to high-risk or first-time shipments, necessitating full inspections and testing for each consignment.  
•    Method B: For exporters with a history of compliance, allowing for reduced inspection frequency.  
•    Method C: For manufacturers with a proven track record, focusing primarily on document verification with periodic inspections.  

Certain product categories are specifically required to follow Method A, including:
•    Sugar
•    Cereals and legumes (e.g. rice, wheat, beans, maize) and their flours
•    Fertilizers
•    Fresh and frozen animal and fish products
•    Fresh dairy products
•    Fresh agricultural products
•    Used or second-hand goods
•    Electrical equipment and materials
•    Edible oils
•    Cosmetics

To facilitate customs clearance, importers must obtain a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued by ANOR, based on an Attestation of Conformity (AoC) provided by the CAB after successful assessment.  This certificate is essential for the legal entry of goods into Cameroon and ensures that products meet national standards and technical regulations. 

Publication of Technical Regulations

Cameroon publishes new or revised regulations in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cameroon, available in both French and English.  Proposed technical regulations are typically notified through the WTO ePing platform, which allows stakeholders to review and comment on draft regulations.  The standard comment period is 60 days, giving stakeholders sufficient time to submit feedback.  Final regulations appear in the official gazette, and U.S. entities can submit comments through the U.S.  WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Inquiry Point.
Cameroon does not maintain a publicly accessible annual regulatory agenda.  Currently, no specific new regulations have been identified that will impact U.S. products.  However, once finalized, new regulations often include an implementation phase to allow businesses time to comply with the new requirements.

Contact Information 

The Standards Attaché for this region is Michael Bromley in Johannesburg, Email: Michael.Bromley@trade.gov.  
Cameroon’s National Standards Body:
•    Agence des Normes et de la Qualité (ANOR)
Website: www.anor.cmTrade.gov+4Trade.gov+4Trade.gov+4

Relevant Trade and Standards Organizations:
•    Cameroon Customs Authority:
Email: sic@douanescustoms-cm.net
Website: www.douanescustoms-cm.net

 •    Cameroon Shippers’ Council (Conseil National des Chargeurs du Cameroun - CNCC):
Role: Manages the Electronic Cargo Tracking Note (ECTN) system
Website: www.cncc.cm

Use ePing to Review Proposed Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment Procedures

The ePing SPS&TBT platform (https://epingalert.org/), or “ePing”, provides access to notifications made by World Trade Organization (WTO) Members under the Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), distributed by the WTO from January 16, 1995, to present. ePing is available to all stakeholders free of charge and is a versatile tool that can be used to: 

  • Follow and review current and past notifications concerning regulatory actions on products, packaging, labeling, food safety and animal and plant health measures in markets of interest.
  • Receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are distributed.
  • Find information on trade concerns discussed in the WTO SPS and TBT Committees. 
     

Per obligation under the TBT Agreement, each WTO Member operates an Enquiry Point. National TBT Enquiry Points are authorized to accept comments and official communications from other national TBT Enquiry Points, which are NOT part of the WTO or the WTO Secretariat. All comment submissions from U.S. stakeholders, including businesses, trade associations, U.S domiciled standards development organizations and conformity assessment bodies, consumers, or U.S. government agencies on notifications to the WTO TBT Committee should be sent directly to the USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point. Refer to the comment guidance at https://www.nist.gov/notifyus/commenting for further information. This guidance is provided to assist U.S. stakeholders in the preparation and submission of comments in response to notifications of proposed foreign technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

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As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

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