G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2  
G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2  
G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
18 February  2022 
(22-1608) Page: 1/16 
Committee on Anti -Dumping Practices  
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures  
Committee on Safeguards  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS  
UNDER ARTIC LES 18 .5, 32.6 AND  
12.6 OF THE AGREEMENTS  
CAMEROON  
The following communication, dated and received on 8 February  2022, is being circulated at the 
request of the delegation of Cameroon.  
 
_______________  
  G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  LAW NO. 2016/004 OF 18 APRIL 2016  
GOVERNING FOREIGN TRADE IN CAMEROON  
 
The Parliament deliberated and adopted,  
The President of the Republic enacts the following law:  
CHAPTER I  
GENERAL PROVISIONS  
Article 1  
 
This law defines the specific rules applicable to the exercise of foreign trade in Cameroon.  
 
Accordingly, it governs, in particular:  
 
˗ imports and exports of goods;  
˗ the marketing of subsidized imported products, increased quantities of which are 
causing or threaten ing to cause serious injury to the domestic industry concerned;  
˗ dumping.  
Article 2  
 
This law applies to all natural or legal persons that conduct foreign trade operations in 
national  territory.  
 
Article 3  
 
Goods subject to conditional relief from customs d uties and taxes in national territory are governed 
by the bilateral, regional, multilateral and international treaties, agreements or conventions in force.  
 
Article 4  
 
Foreign trade operations conducted in Cameroon take into account, in particular:  
 
˗ the re gulation of imports and exports and of any other related activities;  
˗ the stimulation of the domestic production of goods, competitiveness and growth;  
˗ job creation;  
˗ the satisfaction of consumer needs.  
Article 5  
 
For the purposes of this law and its implementing regulations, the following definitions apply:  
 
˗ international trading activity : any commercial activity that consists of the purchase 
and resale of goods outside national territory;  
˗ domestic industry : domestic producers as a whole of like produ cts whose collective 
output of the products constitutes a major proportion of the total domestic production 
of those products;  
˗ foreign trade : activities relating to the importation, exportation and transit of 
products;  G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  ˗ standards compliance control : control  aimed at verifying that goods meet 
international or national requirements prescribed by relevant standards or regulations;  
˗ customs  control : all measures taken to ensure compliance with the laws and 
regulations enforceable by Customs;  
˗ quality control : any conformity control aimed at verifying that goods, products or 
services meet the minimum quality requirements provided for under the standards or 
regulations in force;  
˗ technical control : all internal measures taken to ensure compliance with the laws and 
regulations enforceable by government services other than those constituting Customs;  
˗ international brokerage : the work of linking non -resident buyers and sellers with a 
view to concluding a contract and charging a commission;  
˗ serious injury : a significant ov erall impairment in the position of a domestic industry;  
˗ customs : the government services as a whole responsible for the administration of 
customs law and the collection of import and export duties and taxes, and which also 
have the responsibility for the application of other laws and regulations relating, 
inter alia, to the importation, transit and exportation of goods;  
˗ exportation : action of sending goods or services from national territory to a foreign 
country;  
˗ importation : action of introducing goods or services into national territory;  
˗ environmental inspection : range of operations to verify certain environmental 
parameters, conducted in the context of administrative and technical surveillance aimed 
at preventing hazards to health, sa fety, public hygiene, agriculture, nature and the 
environment in general, or neighbourhood nuisances;  
˗ medico -sanitary inspection : inspection carried out to protect human life and health, 
excluding veterinary inspection;  
˗ veterinary inspection : sanitary insp ection carried out on animals and products of 
animal origin in order to protect human and animal life and health, as well as on objects 
or goods capable of acting as vectors for animal diseases;  
˗ phytosanitary inspection : official visual examination of plan ts, plant products or 
other regulated articles in order to determine whether pests are present and/or to 
ensure compliance with phytosanitary regulations;  
˗ import or export licence : document required at the time of importation or exportation 
of certain good s subject to foreign trade controls;  
˗ foreign trade operations : all mandatory formalities provided for in current legislation 
on the importation, exportation and transit of goods;  
˗ dumping : practice that consists of the introduction into the domestic market of an 
imported product acquired from a foreign supplier at a price lower than the value 
normally  applied by the supplier, in the ordinary course of trade, to this product or a 
like product when destined for consumption in the exporting country;  
˗ product : any good or service;  
˗ conditional relief procedure : customs procedure allowing goods to be introduced into 
the customs territory under certain conditions, with suspension of duties and charges;  G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  ˗ national territory : trade, economic and geographical area delimit ed by Cameroon's 
land, sea and air borders, including ships and aircraft registered in the Republic of 
Cameroon;  
˗ foreign trade attestation : personal and non -transferable administrative document 
needed for import or export operations and financial settlement pertaining to such 
operations.  
CHAPTER II  
IMPORT AND EXPORT REGIME  
Article 6  
 
(1) Foreign trade activity is unrestricted, except for imports and exports of products subject to 
restrictions or prohibitions provided by law.  
(2) The conduct of impo rt, export and transit operations is subject to the principle of 
trade  facilitation.  
 
Article 7  
 
(1) The following are excluded from the free foreign trade regime : all products affecting morality, 
security and public order, hygiene and health, the protecti on of the environment, fauna and flora, 
and cultural heritage.  
 
(2) The list of products referred to in paragraph 1 above is established by order of the Minister 
responsible for foreign trade in collaboration with the technical administrative bodies concer ned. 
 
Article 8  
 
(1) Products excluded from the free foreign trade regime are imported or exported under import or 
export authorizations issued by the Minister responsible for foreign trade, following technical 
endorsement, where appropriate, by the admini strative body concerned.  
 
(2) The conditions and procedures for obtaining the authorizations provided for in paragraph  1 above 
are established by regulation.  
 
Article 9  
 
(1) The present law prohibits the importation and exportation, trading, brokerage, purchase and 
transfer, and transit of chemical weapons or any equipment for the manufacture of chemical 
weapons or any document or technology and information medium intended to make possible or 
facilitate this activity.  
 
(2) The conditions and procedures for obtaining authorizations with a view to the importation, 
exportation, transit, trading, brokerage, purchase and transfer of chemical products listed in 
Schedule 2 annexed to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development , Production, 
Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, including any document or 
technological and information medium, for medical, pharmaceutical, research or protection 
purposes, and in quantities limited to those which can be ju stified for such purposes, are established 
by a specific regulation.  
 G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  Article 10  
 
(1) Notwithstanding the prohibitions of Article 8 above, import and export authorizations for products 
may be instituted by the competent authority in order to administrate a ny measure taken under this 
law and in accordance with the international agreements to which Cameroon is party.  
 
(2) The competent authority may limit or prohibit the exportation of a product where national supply 
needs so dictate . It may also take restric tive measures or prohibit the importation, entry and 
movement within Cameroon of certain products deemed hazardous to health or prejudicial to 
morality.  
 
Article 11  
 
Without prejudice to the conditions laid down by the legislation in force, any natural or legal person 
wishing to engage in import or export activities is required to enrol in the registers of importers and 
exporters in accordance with the procedures prescribed by regulation.  
 
Article 12  
 
All imports or exports must be declared to the competent  services in advance, for statistical, 
inspection and control purposes, and for the issuance of a certificate of origin, particularly with 
regard to exports, under the conditions laid down by the legislation in force.  
 
Article 13  
 
Enrolment in the register s of importers and exporters and import declarations are subject to the 
payment of fees established by specific regulations.  
 
Article 14  
 
Irrespective of the obligations prescribed by this law, importers and exporters must comply with the 
Customs Code and the exchange control regulations in force.  
 
Article 15  
 
(1) The invoice is the basic element of any importation or exportation of products for commercial 
purposes.  
 
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 1 above, import or export operations and the 
financial settlement pertaining thereto shall be implemented under cover of a foreign trade certificate 
or a final invoice in its stead.  
 
(3) The invoice must indicate, inter alia , the name and address of the buyer, the date and place of  
shipment, the markings and numerical order of packages, and where appropriate, a precise 
description in French or English, the country of origin, the weight and price of the product, and the 
shipment and insurance costs.  
 
(4) Export invoices are issued in  the form and under the conditions prescribed by the legislation and 
regulations in force.  
 
Article 16  
 
The re -exportation of products qualifying for tax and customs exemptions or reductions is prohibited, 
except where the customs duties and taxes payable on entry into the national territory are paid at 
the time of re -exportation.  G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  CHAPTER III  
IMPORT AND EXPORT CONTROLS  
Article 17  
 
Imported and exported products are subject to customs control . They may also be subject to 
technical controls.  
 
Article 18  
 
Technical import and export controls take the form of medico -sanitary, veterinary, environmental 
and phytosanitary inspections, quality control and monitoring of conformity with national standards 
or technical regulations or international standards, or where a ppropriate, with the particular 
conditions agreed between the supplier and the importer insofar as such specifications are not 
contrary to national and international standards and the interests of consumers.  
 
Article 19  
 
The administrative bodies and agencies authorized to carry out technical controls at the border with 
regard to imports, exports and the transit of goods must cooperate and coordinate their actions.  
 
Article 20  
 
(1) The lists of products subject to technical control are established by r egulation.  
 
(2) Technical control procedures and the administrative bodies and agencies authorized to conduct 
them are determined by specific legislation.  
CHAPTER IV  
COMBATTING UNFAIR IMPORT PRACTICES  
SECTION I  
IMPOSITION OF ANTI -DUMPING  
AND COUNTERVAILING  DUTIES  
Article 21  
 
(1) Unfair import practices mean the importation of any dumped or subsidized products which, when 
released for consumption, cause or threaten to cause material injury to a domestic industry 
producing like products or materially retard t he establishment or development of a domestic industry 
producing like products.  
 
(2) A product is deemed to be:  
 
˗ dumped, when the price for exportation to Cameroon is less than the normal value or 
the value of a like product in the ordinary course of trade  in the country of exportation 
or origin;  
˗ subsidized, when it has benefited in the country of exportation or origin from a direct 
or indirect bounty or premium for production, processing, exportation or transport.  G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  Article 22  
 
(1) An anti -dumping or counter vailing import duty may be imposed on any dumped or subsidized 
product.  
 
(2) The amount of the countervailing duty provided for in paragraph 1 above may not exceed the 
margin of dumping or the amount of the subsidy.  
 
(3) Provisional and definitive anti -dumping or countervailing duties are established in accordance 
with the existing legal and regulatory framework upon the proposal of the Minister responsible for 
foreign trade . These duties are liquidated and collected in the same way as cu stoms duties.  
 
Article 23  
 
(1) Where an imported product showing evidence of dumping or subsidization causes or threatens 
to cause material injury to a domestic industry producing like products, within the meaning of the 
Anti-Dumping Agreement or Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures of the World 
Trade Organization (WTO), its release for consumption on the Cameroonian market may be made 
conditional upon the lodging of a security deposit, cash deposit or bond, equal to the margin of 
dumping or the amount of the subsidy, as a provisional countervailing duty or anti -dumping duty.  
 
(2) The provisional countervailing duty or anti -dumping duty provided for in paragraph  1 above is 
valid for a maximum period of four (4) months from its applicat ion. The Minister responsible for 
finance may, however, upon the proposal of the Minister responsible for foreign trade, extend this 
period by a further two (2) months.  
 
Article 24  
 
Where a provisional countervailing duty or anti -dumping duty has not been imposed on imports of 
dumped or subsidized products released for consumption and where the injury or threat of injury 
caused by these imports has been definitively established, a definitive countervailing duty or 
anti-dumping duty may be imposed retroactiv ely on the imports under Article 22 above, provided 
that a period of ninety (90) days has not elapsed since the date on which the said products entered 
Customs for release for consumption.  
 
Article 25  
 
The security lodged for a provisional countervailing d uty or anti -dumping duty as provided for in 
Article 23 above shall be regularized as follows according to the circumstances:  
 
˗ where the definitive countervailing duty or anti -dumping duty is equal to the provisional 
duty for which the security was lodged, the security shall be definitively collected;  
˗ where the definitive countervailing duty or anti -dumping duty is higher than the 
provisional duty for which the security was lodged, the difference shall be collected;  
˗ where the definitive countervailing duty or anti -dumping duty is lower than the 
provisional duty for which the security was lodged, the excess amount shall be 
reimbursed in the form of a tax credit.  
 
Article 26  
 
Where an trade investigation shows that the exporter is directly or indirectly responsible for all or 
part of the countervailing duty or anti -dumping duty, an additional countervailing duty or 
anti-dumping duty may be established.  
 
Article 27  
 
The criteria and procedures for evaluating the normal value, the injury suffe red by the domestic 
industry, the margin of dumping or the subsidy, the procedures for applying provisional and 
definitive countervailing duties or anti -dumping duties and other procedures relating to protection 
against dumping and subsidization are establ ished by regulation.  G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  SECTION II  
TRADE INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE  
Article 28  
 
(1) Applications concerning dumped or subsidized imports shall be written out and addressed to the 
Minister responsible for foreign trade by natural or legal persons or by the organi zations concerned.  
 
(2) The applications referred to in paragraph 1 above shall contain sufficient evidence of the 
existence of dumping or subsidization that is causing or likely to cause material injury to a domestic 
industry producing like products.  
 
Article 29  
 
(1) Where, following a preliminary examination, an application is rejected because there is not 
sufficient evidence, the applicant shall be so informed.  
 
(2) Where sufficient evidence is shown to exist, the Minister responsible for foreign trade s hall 
immediately order the initiation of a trade investigation and shall officially inform the parties 
concerned.  
 
(3) The trade investigation referred to in paragraph 2 above shall be conducted by the Anti -Dumping 
and Subsidies Committee, the organization  and functioning of which are determined by regulation.  
 
(4) The initiation of a trade investigation shall not hinder the customs clearance of the products 
concerned.  
 
Article 30  
 
Where a trade investigation is initiated, the Minister responsible for foreign trade shall take the 
following steps:  
 
˗ transmit requests for information required for the investigation to the parties concerned, 
which shall provide the information requested and send it to the Minister responsible 
for foreign trad e within a maximum of thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of the 
request . If necessary, this period may be extended by a further fifteen (15)  days;  
˗ publish the notice of initiation of the trade investigation concerning the dumped or 
subsidized produc t in a newspaper containing legal notices.  
Article 31  
 
(1) In order to verify the information provided during the trade investigation, the Committee 
provided for in Article 29 above may carry out visits and make checks in the places of work or 
production o f the natural or legal persons or organizations involved in the investigation.  
 
(2) In accordance with international cooperation agreements, the information referred to in 
paragraph 1 above may be verified outside Cameroon in agreement with the exporter an d the 
competent authorities of the country concerned.  
 
(3) Where necessary, and taking into account the particularities of a trade investigation, information 
may be sought from various national or foreign public establishments and institutions both within 
Cameroon and abroad.  
 
(4) The trade investigation shall continue on the basis of the information available to the 
investigators when it appears that one of the parties concerned cannot, for any reason, provide the 
required information, communicates false i nformation, refuses to provide information or tries to 
hinder the investigation.  
 G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  Article 32  
 
(1) The information obtained during a trade investigation may not be used for any purpose other 
than the procedure relating to dumping or subsidization.  
 
(2) The parties concerned shall provide the investigators with a confidential summary of the 
information when so requested.  
 
(3) Interested parties may request in writing to see non -confidential information with the exception 
of that relating to the measures of the trade investigation.  
 
(4) Where a case comes before the courts, the Cameroonian Administration shall have the right to 
provide the confidential information, or the information deemed to be confidential by the parties 
concerned.  
 
Article 33  
 
(1) The members of the Anti -Dumping and Subsidies Committee responsible for conducting trade 
investigations shall take an oath before assuming their duties, in line with the procedure enshrined 
in the law governing business activities in Cameroon . They ma y grant the parties concerned a 
hearing if they so request, or for the purposes of the investigation, either together or separately.  
 
(2) The hearing referred to in paragraph 1 above shall be recorded in minutes that include the 
following information:  
 
˗ the number, day, month and year of the hearing;  
˗ the surname, first name and occupation of the sworn investigator;  
˗ the full identity, occupation and address of the party concerned;  
˗ the reason for the hearing.  
 
(3) The minutes, signed by the investigator and th e party concerned, shall be deemed authentic 
until proved otherwise.  
 
Article 34  
 
All persons having knowledge of the trade investigation shall be bound to professional secrecy, 
subject to the penalties provided for in Article 310 of the Penal Code.  
 
Artic le 35  
 
Exporters and importers of products subject to a trade investigation, as well as applicants requesting 
an investigation, may be informed of the course of the proceedings and the outcome of the 
investigation.  
 
Article 36  
 
Any party involved shall have the right to make a written request to the Minister responsible for 
foreign trade to hold consultations with a view to settling differences amicably.  
 
Article 37  
 
Once the notice of initiation of a trade investigation has been published, operators intending to 
import dumped or subsidized products shall, prior to customs clearance, inform the Minister 
responsible for foreign trade of the quantities and value of the planned imports.  
 G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  Article 38  
 
(1) A trade investigation shall be terminated where the subject of the complaint no longer exists or 
by amicable settlement or by accepting the undertakings provided for in Article 39 below.  
 
(2) Where acceptable undertakings are given during the trade investigation, the latter may be 
termi nated . Termination of the trade investigation shall not prevent the definitive payment of the 
amounts lodged as security for provisional countervailing duties.  
 
(3) Any decision to terminate the trade investigation shall be published in a Cameroonian newsp aper 
containing legal notices, in accordance with the regulations in force.  
 
Article 39  
 
(1) Undertaking means any act or action by which:  
˗ the government of the country of origin or exportation of the subsidized product 
abolishes or limits the subsidy or t akes other measures to terminate its injurious effects;  
˗ the exporter concerned adjusts the price or withdraws the exports so as to eliminate 
the margin of dumping or the resulting injurious effects.  
(2) Where acceptable undertakings are given during the trade investigation, the latter may be 
terminated by act of the Minister responsible for foreign trade.  
 
(3) Where undertakings given are not respected, the trade investigation shall resume on the basis 
of the acknowledgement of dumping or subsidization by  the party concerned and its injurious effects 
on the domestic industry.  
SECTION III  
REVIEW AND REFUND OF ANTI -DUMPING  
AND COUNTERVAILING DUTIES  
Article 40  
 
(1) Decisions establishing countervailing duties and decisions accepting the undertakings referred 
to in Article 39 above may be reviewed.  
 
(2) Decisions may be reviewed at the request of interested parties that submit evidence of a change 
in situation justifying the need to carry out a review, provided that at least one (1)  year has elapsed 
since the d ate of imposition of the countervailing duties.  
 
Article 41  
 
(1) Requests for review shall be sent to the Minister responsible for foreign trade . Where it is shown 
that a review is necessary, the trade investigation shall be reopened without prejudice to m easures 
already taken.  
 
(2) The conclusion of the trade investigation concerning the review of the measures may lead to 
their modification or their confirmation . Where the review of countervailing duties leads to lower 
duties, the difference shall be refun ded in the form of credits.  
 
(3) The notices of reopening and termination of a trade investigation shall be published.  G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  CHAPTER V  
MASSIVE IMPORTS AND SAFEGUARD MEASURES  
Article 42  
 
(1) Where a product imported in increased quantities causes or threatens to cause serious injury to 
the domestic industry producing like or directly competitive products or materially retards the 
establishment of a domestic industry, safeguard measures may be applied to the product, in 
accordance with the provisions o f the WTO Agreement on Safeguards.  
 
(2) The safeguard measures may notably take the form of quantitative restrictions or the suspension 
of concessions.  
 
Article 43  
 
(1) For the purpose of this law, serious injury shall be understood to mean a significant o verall 
impairment in the position of a domestic industry.  
(2) The evaluation of serious injury caused or which could be caused to the domestic industry by 
increased imports of a product shall be conducted within the framework of a trade investigation 
recom mended by the Minister responsible for foreign trade, in accordance with the WTO  Agreement 
on Safeguards and the criteria defined by regulation.  
 
Article 44  
 
(1) The application of the safeguard measures referred to in Article 42 above shall be the subject  of 
prior consultations with the government of the exporting country with a view to reaching agreement 
on adequate means of trade compensation for the measure's adverse effects on trade with that 
country.  
 
(2) The outcome of the consultations shall be noti fied to the WTO Council for Trade in Goods through 
diplomatic channels.  
 
Article 45  
 
Where a quantitative restriction is applied, the quantities imported shall be at least equal to the 
average of imports in the previous three (3) years, unless clear justif ication is given that a different 
level is necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury caused by the imports concerned.  
 
Article 46  
 
Where a quota is shared among supplying countries, the allocation of shares shall be either 
negotiated or based on the pr oportions of the total quantity or value of average imports of  the 
product in the previous three (3) years.  
 
Article 47  
 
(1) Where the time limit set for the completion of a trade investigation causes damage that is difficult 
to repair, a provisional safeg uard measure may be taken . This measure may only be taken where 
there is clear evidence that increased imports have caused or are threatening to cause serious injury 
to a domestic industry.  
 
(2) The provisional measures shall take the form of tariff increases . Where the results of the trade 
investigation do not confirm that the serious injury caused or threatened to be caused to the 
domestic industry is due to increased imports, these tariffs shall be refunded in the form of credits.  
 
(3) A provisiona l measure may not be applied for more than two  hundred  (200) days.  
 G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  Article 48  
 
(1) Safeguard measures shall be applied only for the period of time necessary to prevent or remedy 
serious injury and facilitate adjustment of the domestic industry concerned . This period, including 
the duration of any provisional measure, may not exceed four (4) years.  
 
(2) The period provided for in paragraph 1 above may, however, be  extended once if it is established 
that the serious injury caused has not been remedied or tha t the adjustments to the domestic 
industry have not been completed.  
 
Article 49  
 
A safeguard measure shall be withdrawn progressively and at regular intervals.  
Article 50  
 
A product that has been subject to a safeguard measure shall not benefit from such a  measure again 
until a period of at least two (2) years has elapsed since the withdrawal of the first  measure.  
Article 51  
 
Without prejudice to the provisions of Articles 42 et seq. above, safeguard measures may be imposed 
in the event of balance -of-payments difficulties, in accordance with the procedures established by 
regulation.  
CHAPTER VI  
NATIONAL FOREIGN TRADE COUNCIL  
Article 52  
 
(1) A National Foreign Trade Council is hereby established . Its responsibilities shall include:  
 
˗ giving opinions on the export promotion strategy and national foreign trade policy;  
˗ following up on measures related to protection against dumping and subsidization;  
˗ preparing advisory opinions on any matter related to foreign trade relations.  
 
(2) The organizati on and functioning of the National Foreign Trade Council referred to in paragraph  1 
above are determined by regulation.  
CHAPTER VII  
ELECTRONIC PLATFORM  
FOR FOREIGN TRADE OPERATIONS  
Article 53  
 
(1) Foreign trade operations are conducted through a single ele ctronic platform known as the 
e-Single Window for Foreign Trade Operations.  
 
(2) The electronic platform referred to in paragraph 1 above is an information exchange system that 
receives and transmits data in accordance with the procedures of the administra tive bodies involved 
in foreign trade operations.  
 
(3) The arrangements governing the use of the platform referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 above 
are established by regulation.  G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  CHAPTER VIII  
ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES  
AND PUNISHMENT OF INFRINGEMENTS  
Article 54  
 
(1) The following are defined as infringements of this law : non-respect or violation of obligations 
and prohibitions provided for in the law.  
 
(2) Infringements of this law may attract administrative or criminal penalties.  
 
Article 55  
 
(1) With out prejudice to the prerogatives of the Public Prosecutor's Office and senior law 
enforcement officers with general responsibilities, infringements of this law and its implementing 
regulations shall be recorded in reports prepared by sworn officials or ag ents duly mandated by the 
Minister responsible for foreign trade, the Minister responsible for finance or any other ministerial 
department or public body authorized for that purpose.  
 
(2) The report referred to in paragraph 1 above must set out:  
 
˗ the dates  and times of the initiation and conclusion of every investigative operation;  
˗ the surnames, first names and status of the investigator;  
˗ where appropriate, the authorization of the public prosecutor with territorial jurisdiction.  
 
Article 56  
 
The senior law  enforcement officer with general responsibilities to whom an infringement of this law 
is first reported must relinquish responsibility ex officio  in favour of the officials and agents referred 
to in Article 55 above, by transmitting the file to the compet ent administrative body.  
 
Article 57  
 
The senior law enforcement officers and agents with special responsibilities referred to in Article  55 
above shall take an oath, at the request of the administrative body concerned, before the court of 
first instance w ith territorial jurisdiction . The oath shall be worded as follows:  
 
"I, ..., swear to discharge the functions entrusted to me loyally and faithfully, in strict 
compliance with the laws and regulations in force."  
 
Article 58  
 
The officials or agents responsible for ascertaining infringements and for collecting and processing 
information on the basis of this law are required to maintain professional secrecy regarding any 
information or document that cannot legally be made available to the public.  G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  SECTI ON I 
ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES AND SANCTIONS  
Article 59  
 
(1) The Minister responsible for foreign trade may, either ex officio  or at the request of a natural or 
legal person demonstrating a legitimate interest, sanction, after control, verification or establ ishment 
of facts, the wrongful actions of an international trading company that has failed to comply with the 
obligations imposed by this law.  
 
(2) The Minister responsible for foreign trade may, following failure to comply with a reasoned letter 
of formal  notice, order the suspension or withdrawal of approval or import or export authorization, 
and the cancellation of enrolment in the register of importers or exporters.  
 
(3) Suspension entails the temporary cessation of the trading company's business . However, the 
decision ordering the suspension shall specify its duration, which may not exceed three  (3) months.  
 
Article 60  
 
(1) Violations of this law and of the trade regulations may give rise to a settlement without prejudice 
to public prosecution.  
 
(2) Aut horization to negotiate a settlement shall lie only with sworn agents or officials mandated by 
the Ministry responsible for foreign trade.  
 
(3) The right to a settlement shall be requested by the party concerned.  
 
(4) The amount of the settlement may in no case be less than the minimum amount of the prescribed 
fine. 
 
(5) The settlement shall be dated and jointly signed by the sworn agent or official and the alleged 
offender . It shall be registered at the expense of the offender and shall indicate the term s of settlement.  
SECTION II  
PUNISHMENT OF INFRINGEMENTS  
Article 61  
 
Any natural or legal person who violates the provisions of this law and its implementing regulations 
shall be criminally liable and subject to the prescribed penalties.  
 
Article 62  
 
(1) Im ports or exports of products infringing the formalities and procedures provided for in this law 
and its implementing regulations shall be subject to penalties in accordance with the legislation in 
force, particularly in relation to trade, Customs, taxation , foreign exchange, economic control, 
standardization, technical control, hygiene, health and safety, as the case may be.  
 
(2) In all cases not subject to penalties under the legislation in force as provided in paragraph  1 
above, the corresponding fine sha ll amount to 10 % of the f.o.b. value of the goods, with a minimum 
charge of two  hundred  thousand (200,000) CFA francs.  
 
(3) In addition, any importation of products not complying with the provisions of this law shall be 
liable to refusal of entry under the  conditions laid down by the legislation in force.  
 
Article 63  
 
Engagement in import or export activities in violation of the provisions of Article 11 and 12 of this law 
shall be punishable by a fine corresponding to 10 % of the f.o.b. value of the goods, with a minimum 
charge ranging from fifty  thousand (50,000) to three  hundred  thousand (300,000) CFA  francs.  G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  Article 64  
 
Anyone who places for sale on the domestic market a product purchased tax free and intended for 
export ation shall be liable to the penalties laid down in Article 256 of the Penal Code.  
 
Article 65  
 
A term of imprisonment of one (1) to two (2) years and a fine of one  million (1,000,000) to two  
million (2,000,000) CFA francs shall be incurred by anyone who engages in the trading and 
brokerage of products listed in Schedule 2 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, if their provenance 
or destination is a State not party to the Convention.  
 
Article 66  
 
A term of imprisonment of two (2) to four (4) years and a fine of two  million (2,000,000) to 
four million (4,000,000) CFA francs shall be incurred by anyone who imports, exports or conveys in 
transit, without authorization from the competent authority, chemical products listed in Schedule  1 
of the Chemical Weapon s Convention, for medical, pharmaceutical, research or protection purposes, 
if their provenance or destination is a State not party to the Convention.  
 
Article 67  
 
A term of imprisonment of two (2) to four (4) years and a fine of five  million (5,000,000) t o 
ten million (10,000,000) CFA  francs shall be incurred by anyone who imports, exports, conveys in 
transit, trades or brokers finished products listed in Schedule 1 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, 
for medical or pharmaceutical purposes, if their proven ance or destination is a State not party to the 
Convention.  
 
Article 68  
 
(1) A term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) to twenty -five (25) years and a fine of ten  million 
(10,000,000) to twenty -five million (25,000,000) CFA francs shall be incurred by anyone who 
imports, exports, conveys in transit, stockpiles, retains, preserves, acquires, transfers, trades or 
brokers:  
 
˗ a chemical weapon;  
˗ a chemical product listed in Schedule 1 annexed to the Chemical Weapons Convention, for 
other than medical, pharmaceutical , research or protection purposes.  
 
(2) The same penalties shall be incurred by anyone who imports, exports, conveys in transit, trades 
or brokers any equipment for the manufacture of chemical weapons or any document or 
technological and information medium  intended to make possible or facilitate the commission of the 
infringements covered by paragraph 1 above.  
 G/ADP/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SCM/N/1/CMR/2 • G/SG/N/1/CMR/2  
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  Article 69  
 
Forceful resistance, abuse or physical violence against the officials or agents referred to in Article  55 
above shall be punishable by penalties provided for in Articles 156 and 157 of the Penal Code.  
CHAPTER IX  
MISCELLANEOUS AND FINAL PROVISIONS  
Article 70  
 
The procedures for implementing this law shall, to the extent necessary, be established by 
regulation.  
 
Article 71  
 
All previous provisions contrary to this law are hereby repealed, in particular those of Law No. 98/012 
of 14 July 1998 on dumping and the marketing of subsidized imported products.  
 
Article 72  
 
This law shall be registered, published as a matter of urgenc y, and included in the Official Journal in 
French and English./ - 
 
Yaoundé, 1 8 April 2016 
 
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC  
 
PAUL BIYA  
 
__________