WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 32 
 
 
III. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE 
(1) OVERVIEW  
1. Angola's trade regime has been considerably lib eralized since 1999, and is still in the process 
of reorganization and modernization.  
2. The customs tariff is Angola's main trade polic y instrument.  A revised operational Customs 
Tariff was introduced in February 2005, reducing th e simple average MFN applied rate from 8.8% to 
7.4%.  The maximum applied duty rate has been redu ced to 30%, with a six-step rate structure. 
Angola’s entire customs ta riff is bound at ceiling ad valorem levels under GATT 1994.  Applied 
tariffs remain considerably below the ceiling levels  bound in the WTO.  All imports are also subject 
to a consumption tax at rates of 2%, 10%, 20% or  30%, and a number of other border charges on an 
ad valorem  basis;  there are no WTO binding commitments on these lines. 
3. The authorities' short-term aim is to promot e import substitution and development of local 
industry.  To this end, some duties have been rai sed in 2005;  in addition, many tariff concessions are 
in force for investors and industries, mitigating the effects of the tariff structure and increasing 
effective protection.   
4. Until now Angola has used the Brussels Defi nition of Value as the basis for customs 
valuation.  The authorities have recently approve d a new Customs Code, which will replace outdated 
customs legislation, and introduce into Angolan law the provisions of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation. 
5. Angola has applied preshipment inspection since 1980.  The regime was revised in 2002, and 
a new inspection agency appointed, with a contract  running till the end of 2005.  Adoption of the 
WTO Customs Valuation Agreement will imply, am ong other things, the phasing out of preshipment 
inspection.  Already, since 2004, a range of goods have been exempted from PSI.  Angola has one simple set of rules of origin for imports from all sources.  Origin marking requirements are in force. 
6. At present, Angola maintains no quotas, tariff quotas, or tariff preferences, despite its 
membership of SADC.  Import bans and licensing under “special import regimes” are in force for 
certain products.  Angola has no anti-dumping, count ervailing, safeguard or competition legislation. 
7. Angola maintains nearly 50 state-owned enterp rises deployed in several economic sectors; a 
privatization and commercialization process is under wa y, controlled by a specialized office in the 
Ministry of Industry.  Angola is not a signatory to the Plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement. 
8. Angola is taking steps to apply internati onal or regional (SADC) standards to some 
manufactures and food products, alth ough human capacity and skills fo r implementation, as well as 
technical capacity, are lacking.  A specialized agen cy (Codex Angola) has been established to set and 
monitor food standards.  Packaging and labe lling recommendations are in force for foods, 
pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chemical products. 
9. Export duties at 10% and 20% affect a few products ;  according to the authorities, this is to 
discourage their exports, principally to protect flor a, fauna, and the environment.  There are also a 
various export bans and licensing procedures,  including the Kimberley process for diamonds 
(Chapter IV(3)(i)(b)). Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 33 
 
 
10. New legislation is in preparation on both indu strial protection and cultural questions.  The 
objective is to bring Angola’s inte llectual property legislation up to date and into line with current 
international agreements including the TRIPS Agreem ent.  As a least developed country, Angola has 
the right to an extended time-limit, until 2013, with the possibility of further extension for the full 
implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 
(TRIPS Agreement), and till 2016 for the application of pharmaceuticals patents. 
(2) CUSTOMS REGIME  
11. Angola’s customs regime, as regards both imports  and exports, is currently governed by a 
number of laws and regulations, some dating from the colonial period and others relatively recent 
(Table II.1).  Since 2001, under a five-year reform  programme assisted by the U.K. consultancy, 
Crown Agents, the authorities have been taking st eps to update, unify and bring consistency and 
transparency to customs legislation, and moderniz e the workings of the Customs administration.   
12. This process has already had considerable results , both in administrative developments and in 
fiscal receipts.  Import documentation requirements have been simplified through the introduction of 
the SADC Single Administrative Document (Documento Unico, DU).1  Computerization of customs 
clearance at the port and airport of Luanda was ach ieved in 2002 and at three other regional centres 
(the border with Namibia, Lobito, and Malongo) in  2004;  correctly completed DUs are now cleared 
within 24 hours.  Legislation for the introductio n of red and green lanes for checking passengers’ 
baggage at Luanda airport has been introduced.2  Under the Angolan Customs Border Strategy Paper 
2004-2006, rehabilitation and upgradin g is in progress for some borde r posts and under consideration 
for a large number of others.  Mobile support groups ar e also planed to be introduced into a number of 
areas. 
13. The wide range of tariff exemptions previously applied has been reduced, although many 
such exemptions remain, principally linked to invest ment in Angola (Chapter II (5)(ii)).  A customs 
valuation unit has been established to support the process of adoption of the WTO customs valuation 
methods.  Other developments include:  extensive staff training;  improved internal audit and 
professional ethics development;  information devel opment for importers and exporters, including the 
development of a Customs website;  and new anti- contraband measures such as the introduction of 
risk profiling, mobile anti-smuggling units operating at the port and airport, and the creation of an 
Investigation and Intelligence section.  One result of these measures has been  a steady increase in 
Customs revenue, which rose from US$215 m illion in 2000 to US$828 million in 2004.3 
14. A revised Customs Tariff was introduced in February 2005 (section (3)(iv) below).  The 
authorities are also about to adopt a new Customs Code which, among other things, will replace outdated legislation on the status of the Custom s service and on Customs disputes, and introduce the 
provisions of the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuati on into Angolan law.  As noted in Annex II.1, 
Angola is still actively seeking technical assistance for Customs procedures and training of officials. 
                                                     
 
1 According to the authorities, Angola was the first SADC country to adopt the Single Administrative 
Document (in the form approved by SADC) in its customs procedures. 
2 Progress has been made in speeding up this process with the implementation of individual treatment 
based on risk profiling and as a result, the selection of fewer passengers for routine baggage controls.  The 
authorities hope that the benefits of the re/green cha nnel system will be fully operational soon, with the 
simplification of passengers' clearan ce procedures and the completion of  rebuilding works to enlarge the 
available space in the customs hall of Luanda international airport. 
3 Information supplied by the Angolan authorities. WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 34 
 
 
(3) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING IMPORTS  
(i) Registration and documentation requirements 
15. All importers and exporters est ablished in Angola must register with, and obtain a licence 
from the Ministry of Commerce4, and have a valid tax payer's card.5  All goods over US$1,000 in 
value must be cleared through an official forwarding agent. 
16. Documents required for definitive import of go ods over US$1,000 in value are:  the Single 
Administrative Document (DU) available at the Nati onal Printing Works at a cost of US$10 per form;  
a commercial invoice stating the name and address of  the supplier or exporter, the description and 
quantity of the goods, the f.o.b. value, insurance and freight costs, and the c.i.f. value;  proof of 
ownership, i.e. original of bill of lading, air frei ght card, port card, cargo manifest, freight bulletin, or 
document CP2, depending whether the goods are shi pped by sea, air, land or post;  verification 
certificate (verification attestation of Clean Report of Findings (CRF)) for goods subject to preshipment inspection;  various other certificates,  depending on the nature of the goods, for example, 
sanitary, phytosanitary, and/or fumigation certificate,  authorization or declaration from the National 
Telecommunications Institute for telecommunication equipment, radio transmitters and receivers;  
original registration document, in the case of u sed vehicles;  cheque book L50 for the payment of 
“Movement Subsidies” to the Customs (see section (v)(b) below;  and a certificate from the National 
Shippers’ Council of Angola.
6 
(ii) Preshipment inspection 
17. Preshipment inspection of goods destined for Angola has been in force since 1980.  The 
regime was revised, under Decree 34/02 of 28 June  2002 and Despatch 192/02 of 9 August 2002, and 
a new preshipment inspection agency (BIVAC Intern ational) appointed with a contract running till the 
end of 2005. 
18. Under Decree 34/02, all goods imported by juridical  (collective) persons, of a c.i.f. value of 
US$5,000 or over, are subject to pre-shipment in spection; for personal imports, the floor level is 
US$10,000.7   
19. In order to issue a clean report of findings, BIVAC requires the trader to supply the final 
commercial invoice and transport document, plus any of the other specific documents mentioned 
above.  A non-negotiable inspection report is issu ed to the importer if inspection reveals non-
compliance and discrepancies are not corrected, or if  complete documentation is  not delivered by the 
exporter within 30 days following the inspection.8 
20. A range of products is exempted from preshipme nt inspection, including precious metals, oil 
and its derivatives, cinema films, and various other items (Table AIII.1).  Boats and other pleasure or 
sport vessels, goods imported by Government instituti ons or public entities, and scrap are subject to 
PSI whatever the value.  Customs may determine at any time what other goods may or may not be 
exempted from PSI. 
                                                      
4 Ministry of Commerce, Decree No. 29/00. 
5 Ministry of Finance, Decree No. 29/92. 
6 Information supplied by the Angolan authorities. 
7 BIVAC Data Sheet, Pre-shipment Inspection of Imports for Angola.  Available at :  http://www 
.bivac.com/ webapp/servlet/FileServlet?mode=previ ew&downloadfile=/693ANGOLA+Data+sheet+Rev+7.pdf. 
8 BIVAC Data Sheet, Pre-shipment Inspection of Imports for Angola. Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 35 
 
 
21. The Customs aims to phase out PSI gradually  as capacity is built up to apply the WTO 
Agreement on Customs Valuation.9  The authorities state that the cap acity of customs to establish the 
value and classification of goods is being strengthene d through intensive training of technical staff;  
this includes training in post-import inspections and audit of goods.   
(iii) Customs valuation and rules of origin 
(a) Customs valuation  
22. As at November 2005, Angola was using the Bru ssels Definition of Value, and the concept of 
“normal price” contained in it, as the basis for Customs valuation.10  Normal price may generally be 
accepted as the value contained in the relevant im port document, or as the value when the goods are 
delivered to the purchaser at the port or at the en try point to Angolan territory.  Import duties are 
based on the c.i.f. value of goods at the point of entry.  
23. The authorities note that, under Articles I and II of the BDV, the preshipment inspection 
agency establishes the value of goods on the basis of the price paid or to be paid.  In case of 
disagreement, value is established in relation to identical or similar goods exported to Angola from 
the same country of origin or by the same exporter.  According to BIVAC, these were 10,084 over-
invoiced shipments from March 2002 to October 2004,  valued at US$18.6 million, and 10,166 under-
valued shipments, valued at US$95.6 million.  
24. A new Customs Code incorporating the pr ovisions of the WTO Customs Valuation 
Agreement was approved by the Council of Minister s in May 2005 and by the National Assembly in 
August 2005.  The new Code will enter into face 90  days after the publication of the corresponding 
Decree-Law in the official gazette ( Diario da República ).  The entry into force of the new code will 
enable the adoption of the WTO valuation method. 
(b) Rules of origin 
25. At present, Angola has one simple set of rules of origin for imports from all sources, as all are 
treated on an MFN basis.  The 2005 Customs Tari ff specifies that products are considered as 
originating in a country if they are “wholly obtai ned” in that country (minerals extracted, plants 
grown, animals born and products obtained from su ch animals, products of hunting and fishing, 
products extracted from the soil or subsoil, residues and scrap from wholly obtained products, goods produced from previously mentioned products or on factory ships registered in the country, goods of 
which 25% of the cost of production is accounted for in  the country, or goods that have undergone the 
last stage of processing in the country).  When production of a good is undertaken in two or more 
countries, the originating country is the last count ry where “economically ju stifiable transformation” 
took place resulting in a new product or a major stage in its production.  Additional value-added of 
less than 25% does not grant originating status.  Op erations aimed at conservation and other simple 
operations are not regarded as econom ically justifiable transformation.
11 
                                                      
9 Decree 05/04 of 15 January 2004 and Addendum of 11 May 2004. 
10 Decree-Law 2/05, Article 6.  "Normal price" is defined as the price that would obtain, at the moment 
of examination by customs, in a free transactio n between an independent buyer and seller.   
11 Decree-Law 2/05, Articles 20 and 21. WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 36 
 
 
26. The customs regulations require imported goods to  be accompanied by documentary proof of 
origin, in the form of a certificate of origin or  equivalent document, issued by a responsible 
organization in the country of orig in and presenting adequate guarantees.12 
27. Participation in the SADC Trade Protocol (C hapter II(4)(iii)(b)) will require Angola to apply 
SADC rules of origin, as and when it submits a tariff reduction plan for SADC-origin goods.  
Similarly, participation by SADC in any future  economic partnership agreement (EPA) with the 
European Union will require the adoption of appropria te origin rules.  Angola’s rules of origin are 
thus likely to become more complex in the future.  
(iv) Tariffs, and other import duties and taxes 
(a) Recent history and general features 
28. Angola’s tariff, like its import system overall, has been considerably revised and liberalized 
since May 1999, when a new tariff ( Pauta Aduaneira ) based on the Harmonized System (1996 
version) was introduced.  At that time, the maximum duty rate was cut from 135% to 35%.  
29. Angola applies MFN treatment to all its trading partners;  although it is a signatory of  the 
SADC Trade Protocol, it has not yet submitted a tariff reduction plan for regional preferences 
(Chapter II(4)(iii)(b)). 
30. A new operational tariff for imports  and exports, based on HS 2002, with a maximum rate of 
30% (see section (c), below), was introdu ced in 2005 under Decree-Law No. 2/05. 13 
31. According to the authorities, the objectives of th e new tariff are to:  align the tariff structure 
with that of the HS 2002, in line with the requirements of the WTO and the World Customs 
Organization (WCO);  revise duties so as to protect  national production, without harming the interests 
of consumers, and to guarantee the supply of essential goods at competitive prices;  protect national industry from dumping practices;  promote, as a stra tegy, a gradual process of substitution for imports 
of essential goods and to re-launch exports from non-oil sectors;  and grant tariff benefits to the 
productive sectors of the economy and create fiscal equity. 
32. Specifically, the new tariff structure seeks to:  reduce tariff rates that affect imports of raw 
materials;  maintain or slightly increase tariffs on finished goods that can be acquired locally in 
acceptable quantity and quality;  impose minimum ra tes on essential goods and intermediate products 
that are not produced locally or whose production levels do not satisfy local needs; and impose 
maximum rates on used goods not incorporated in local products.
14  The effect of the tariff changes is 
noted in section (c) below. 
(b) MFN tariff bindings 
33. All of Angola’s customs tariff is bound in its GATT 1994 schedule (Schedule CXXIX).  The 
arithmetic average of bound rates is 59.1%.  Duties on agricultural products (WTO definition) are mostly bound at a ceiling level of 55%, with a few lines bound at lower rates of 10% or 15%.  Tariff bindings on industrial products are generally set at a ceiling level of 60%, with a few rates at 80%.  
                                                     
 
12 Decree-Law 2/05, Article 22. 
13 A scanned PDF file copy of the 2005 tariff is available at:  http://www.ita.doc.gov/td/tic/ tariff/ 
country_tariff_info.htm#Angola. 
14 Information supplied by the Angolan authorities. Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 37 
 
 
Such ceiling bindings, while legally valid within th e WTO system, give considerable scope for tariff 
increases well above the current low levels  of most of Angola’s applied tariffs. 
(c) Tariff dispersion and averages 
34. Angola’s applied tariff now has six bands:  of 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30%.  A 
maximum rate of 35% was eliminated in 2005 with  the introduction of the new Customs Tariff.  
There are no duty-free lines. The tariff follows the HS at  the 8-digit level.  Out of the 5,384 tariff lines 
in the schedule, 66% (3,570 lines) are rated at 2% or 5%;  38.5% (2,074 lines) are at 2%, and classifiable as “nuisance rates”, which are likely to co st more to raise than they yield (Chart III.1).  
The two highest rates of 20% and 30% jointly apply to 10.5% of tariff lines, or 565 lines. 
(2.7)(7.8)
(0.0)(38.5)
(27.8)
(12.6)
(10.6)
05001,0001,5002,0002,500
0 2% 5% 10% 15% 20% 30%0102030405060708090100
Angola has 5,384 tariff lines; the figures in brackets correspond to the percentage of total lines. 
WTO Secretariat calculations, based on da ta provided by the Angolan authorities.Chart III.1
Breakdown of applied MFN duties, 2005
Number of tariff lines
Note:
Sourc e:Percentage
Number of lines
Cumulated percentage (right hand scale)
 
35. The simple average applied tariff in 2005 is 7. 4%, by major sector (WTO definition), the 
average tariff on agricultural goods is 10% (compa red with a bound average of 52.6%), and that on 
non-agricultural goods 6.9% (compared with  60.1% bound average) (Table III.1). 
36. A chapter-by-chapter analysis of the Angolan ta riff for 2005 (Table AIII.2) shows that within 
HS Chapters 1-24, one fifth of the 766 tariff lines are in the 20% and 30% bands, 45% are at 10% or 15% and 32% at 2% or 5%.  The 30% rate applie s to most wines and spirits, and to manufactured 
tobacco products.  In chapters 25-97, 71% of the 4,618 tariff lines are in the 2% and 5% bands, 20% 
are at 10% and 15%, and only 9% within the 20% and 30% bands, with 2% of tariff lines rated at 
30%.  The 30% rate applies to salt;  stone for use in  cement, tarmac etc;  perfumes;  retread tyres;  
miscellaneous wood manufactures;  asphalt, cement, concrete, bricks, and tile s;  jewellery; various 
arms;  and ivory and bone products, etc.  WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 38 
 
 
37. In the new tariff announced in March 2005, duti es were increased on 660 tariff lines.  The 
smallest increases in absolute terms are from 2% to  5%;  the largest absolute increases are from 10% 
to 30% (the highest rate available under the tariff) (Box III.1). 
Box III.1:  Increases in the Angolan  tariff between 2004 and 2005  
 
Products newly charged at 30% (52 lines) in 2005 include goods in the following HS headings: 
 
2207 denatured alcohol; 2501 salt;  2516 building stone;  2521 limestone;  3816 cements, mortars, 
concrete;  4012 tyres used for cars;  4420, 4421 articles of wood;  6801, 6802, 6807, 6808, 6809, 6810, 
6811, 6904, 6905, 6906, 6907 building materials;  9303 other firearms;  9406 prefabricated buildings. 
 Products newly charged at 20% (86 lines) incl ude goods in the following HS headings: 
 
0106 live animals; 0208, 0210 meat; 2520, 2524 plaster, asbestos;  2715 bituminous mixtures; 2804 oxygen;  2851 other inorganic compounds; 4012 tyres for buses, lorries and aircraft, used tyres;  
6302, 6303 bed, table and other household linen;  6913, 6914 articles of porcelain or china;  7308, 7309, 
7310, 7313, 7314 building equipment of iron and steel, barbed wire, fencing;  7610 aluminium doors and windows;  8704 certain trucks. 
 
Products newly charged at 15% (382 lines) include goods in the following HS headings:  
0407, 0408 eggs; 0603, 0604 flowers, foliage, etc;  0701 to 0714 vegetables;  0811 to 0814 certain fruit; 
1522 fatty residues;  1905 biscuits, rusks, etc;  2001 to 2009 prepared vegetables and fruits, juices; 2103, 2104 ketchups, soups, etc; 3401 toilet soap, detergents;  3601 to 3606 prepared explosives, fuses, fuels in 
small containers, etc.;  3804 residual lyes from wood pulp manufacture;  3917 to 3921 various products of 
plastics;  3921 to 3926 various plastic articles;  4817, 4819 to 4823 articles of paper and board;  6304, 6307 knitted and crocheted articles, floor cloths;  6908 paving tiles etc;  9401, 9403, 9404 various furniture and 
furnishings. 
 
Products newly charged at 10% (174 lines) include goods in the following HS headings: 
 0403, 0405, 0406 various dairy products;  0801, 0802, 0804 to 0809 nuts and fruit; 1006 husked rice; 1507 
to 1512, 1515, 1517 vegetable oils, margarine; 2209, 2309 vinegar;  dog and cat food;  2523 mica waste; 
2804 nitrogen;  3401 toilet soap, other soaps;  3406 candles etc.;  3506 glues; 3917 certain plastic articles and fittings;  4011 bicycle and motorcycle tyres;  4015 other tyres and tubes;  4814, 4815, 4816 wallpaper, 
paper-based floor coverings, copying papers;  4903 to 4907 colouring books, globes, architectural plans, 
unused stamps;  6301 blankets, including electric blankets;  6308, 6309 textile sets, used clothing etc.;  7314 to 7317 metal bands, cloth, chain, anchors etc., nails and tacks;  7324, 7325, 7326 various iron and 
steel articles;  7611, 7612 aluminium containers, vats and vessels;  8201 hand tools;  8211, 8212 knives, 
razors;  8703 certain other vehicles;  8704 dumpers, trucks;  8716 tanker trailers and tanker semi-trailers.  
Products newly charged at 5% (66 lines) include goods in the following HS headings: 
 1006 husked or semi-milled rice;  2504 natural graphite in powder or in flakes;  3004 medicaments, 
presented in doses;  4014 rubber hygienic items other than condoms;  5603 artificial fabrics >150g/m
2;  
7321 cookers, grills etc;  7613 to 7615 various aluminium articles;  7805, 7906, 8006 lead, zinc and tin pipes; 8214 other cutlery articles;  8415 air conditioners;  8507 accumulators;  9004 sunglasses. 
 
Note:  Inclusion of a heading does not imply that all lines are covered. 
Source:   Angolan authorities. 
 
  Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 39 
 
 
38. Goods that are not accompanied by the correct import documentation are liable to penalty 
rates of double the regular applied tariff.15  
Table III.1 
Structure of MFN tariffs in Angola, 2004-05  
(Per cent) 
  2004 2005 U.R.a 
1. Bound tariff lines (% of all tariff lines) 100.0 100.0 100.0 
2. Duty-free tariff lines (% of all tariff lines) 0.0 0.0 0.0 
3. Non- ad valorem  tariffs (% of all tariff lines) 0.0 0.0 0.0 
4. Tariff quotas (% of all tariff lines) 0.0 0.0 0.0 
5. Non- ad valorem  tariffs with no AVEs (% of all tariff lines) 0.0 0.0 0.0 
6. Simple average tariff rate 8.8 7.4 59.1 
 Agricultural products (WTO def.)b 9.4 10.0 52.6 
 Non-agricultural products (WTO def.)c 8.7 6.9 60.1 
 Agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing (ISIC 1) 14.0 10.3 55.6 
 Mining and quarrying (ISIC 2) 13.0 13.7 61.7 
 Manufacturing (ISIC 3) 8.4 7.1 59.2 
7. Domestic tariff "spikes" (% of all tariff lines)d 5.7 2.7 0.0 
8. International tariff peaks (% of all tariff lines)e 20.5 10.5 99.2 
9. Overall standard deviation of applied rates 8.4 6.8 4.6 
10. "Nuisance" applied rates (% of all tariff lines)f 29.1 38.5 0.0 
a "Uruguay Round" bound rates in Angola's WTO schedule. 
b WTO Agreement on Agriculture definitions. c Excluding petroleum. 
d Domestic tariff spikes are defined as those exceeding three ti mes the overall simple average applied rate (indicator 6.). 
e International tariff peaks are defined as those exceeding 15%. f Nuisance rates are those greater than zero, but less than or equal to 2%. 
Source:   WTO Secretariat calculati ons, based on data provided by the Angolan authorities. 
(d) Tariff escalation 
39. Before account is taken of ta riff concessions (section (e) below), the structure of Angola’s 
tariff appears to give a diverse pattern of tariff escal ation, and hence, of effective protection.  On the 
basis of 2-digit level ISIC headings, the only sector wh ere there is a distinct pattern of tariff escalation 
in the MFN rates is textiles and clothing.  Overall, there appears to be de-escalation of tariffs between 
first and second stages of processing, and escalation between second and third; but this is far from 
consistent among sectors at this level (Chart III.2).  The picture changes when duty and tax 
concessions are taken into account. 
(e) Duty and tax concessions  
40. As noted in Chapter II (5)(ii), a wide range of import duty concessions is available to 
investors in Angola.  A general scheme is availabl e to investors in priority regions, and separate 
schemes are available to investors in the oil, diam onds, and mining industries.  These concessions are 
also linked with priority development zones as defined in Angola's investment policy, and to the contribution of investment projects to the development of these zones.   
                                                     
 
15 Decree-Law 2/05, Article 5.  WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 40 
 
 
41. The breadth and depth of import duty exempti ons means that virtually any investor or 
producer may import goods required for production and capital equipment duty-free, as well as some 
products for end use. 
0.05.010.015.020.025.0Chart III.2
Tariff escalation by IS IC 2-digit industry, 2005
Per cent
Note:
Source : 
All product s
Food, beverage s
Textiles,
apparel
Wood product s
Paper, printing
Chemicals ,
plastics
Non-metalli c
minera l
products
Basic meta l
products
Fabricated meta l
products
Other
manufacturin gNOT APPLICABLEAgricultur e
MiningRaw materials Semi-processed Fully processed
NOT APPLICABLE
The calculations take no account of tariff concessions.
WTO Secretariat estimates, based on data provided by the Angolan authorities.
 
(f) Tariff preferences 
42. At present, Angola gives no tariff preferences to imports from any source.  Application of the 
SADC Trade Protocol would require Angola to give  preferential treatment for goods from the SADC 
area;  and the results, in terms of preferential re quirements, from the EPA negotiations with the EC 
remain to be seen. 
(g) Overall assessment of Angola’s tariff system 
43. Overall, the Angolan tariff is likely to provi de domestic producers in selected sectors with 
high levels of effective protection.16  Most tariffs on industrial inputs, capital goods, and equipment 
are low, or at "nuisance" levels (2% or 5%).  In addition, substantial duty-free concessions are 
available to investors in priority zones, as well as  to the oil and mining industries.  The combination 
of low tariffs and concessions means that most investors pay little or no customs duty on inputs, equipment, and capital goods for at least the initial pe riod (up to ten years) of their activities, and in 
the oil and mining industries for the duration of their activities.  At the other extreme, a number of 
                                                     
 
16 Effective protection is a measure of the protection provided to an industry by the entire structure of 
tariffs, taking into account the effects of duties on inputs as well as on outputs.  See Corden, W. Max (1966). Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 41 
 
 
sensitive domestic final goods, including certain c onstruction goods, are taxe d at relatively high 
nominal duty rates of 20% or 30%.  Because of the low duties and tariff concessions on goods used in 
production, the effective protection of value added is, in these areas, likely to be many times higher 
than the nominal rates of duty on the final goods would imply. 
(v) Other levies and charges 
(a) Consumption tax17 
44. In addition to import duties, all imports  are subject to the consumption tax ( imposto de 
consumo ), which is signalled in the tariff along with import duties on a line-by-line basis.  The rates 
of consumption tax are 2%, 10%, 20% and 30%.  The vast majority of goods are charged 10%;  the 
20% and 30% rates are applicable mainly to "luxur y" goods (e.g. certain jewellery, larger engine-
capacity cars), while the 2% rate is applicable to a variety of generally "basic" goods (e.g. soaps, but 
not detergents) or in some cases, input goods or m achinery for industry.  The authorities state that the 
2% rate is applied to equipment destined for the promotion of re-industrializa tion in Angola, while the 
10% rate is applied mainly to items for domes tic use and other machinery whose manufacture in 
Angola is possible.  Given that at present most goods have to be imported into Angola, the 
consumption tax is effectively an  additional tax on imports;  the differentiation in consumption tax 
rates reinforces the effective protection given by the tariff structure.   
(b) Other duties 
45. Further other duties are in force: 
- stamp duty of 0.5% of the c.i.f. value of goods (customs value) (Decree-Law 85/99); 
- general customs fee:  2% of the customs value;  (Decree-Law 11/01); 
- personnel fee:  1% of customs value fo r consignments valued below Kz 28,000;  
fixed rate of Kz 720 for goods valued between  Kz 28,000 and 720,000;  and 0.1% for 
goods valued over Kz 720,000;   
- "movement subsidies" for transport a nd movement of goods and Customs staff 
(Subsidios de Transportes e Deslocaões ):  goods arriving by sea – Kz 0.35 per kg. 
with a minimum charge of Kz 11,875 and maximum of Kz 21,375;  by air – Kz 12.80 
per kg., with minimum charge of Kz 3,562 and maximum of Kz 7,125. 
46. Angola has not undertaken any binding commitme nts concerning “other duties and taxes” in 
its WTO tariff schedule.  
(vi) Import prohibitions, and licensing  
47. Article 30 of the 2005 Tariff specifies goods that are prohibited from import into Angola 
(Table III.2).  Article 31 specifies goods that are subject to a special import approval regime (Table III.3).  These measures are stated to be in place for health, security, and safety purposes. 
 
   
                                                     
 
17 Decree-Law 29/01. WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 42 
 
 
Table III.2  
Prohibited imports  
Description 
Animals and by-products originated from ar eas affected by epizootic diseases 
Distilled beverages containing essences or recognized harmful products such as absinthe, ether-derived products 
Crates containing various types of merchandi se and showing a single marking, not presen ted with a declaration stipulating the q uantity 
and total weight of crates/packs 
Counterfeit coffee 
Counterfeit stamps 
Counterfeit literature and artistic work 
Medicines and other generic substa nces harmful to public health 
Pornographic publications a nd other derived products 
Plants coming from areas affected by phylloxera or other epiphytic disease 
Roulette and other gambling machines prohibited by law 
Food containing saccharine 
Rubber-made yo-yo water ball toys 
Non-iodized salt 
Grains and seeds, of any variety, genetically modified or transgenic, unless otherwise destined to food aid programmes 
Source: Ministry of Commerce and BIVAC. 
Table III.3 
Goods requiring permission for import into Angola  
Goods subject to permi ssion Authorizing agency 
Instruments to distil spirits  Ministry of Industry 
Importation of denatured pure al cohol  Ministry of Industry 
Plants, roots, tubercles, bulbs , germs, buds, fruits, seeds and 
crates/other packages containing these products  Ministry of Agriculture 
Importation of grains and seeds of a ny variety, genetically modified or 
transgenic, destined to Food Aid programmes  Ministry of Agriculture 
Poisonous and toxic substance, drugs  Ministry of Agriculture,  Ministry of Industry, Ministry of 
Health 
Animals and by-products; dogs must be immuni zed against rabies Veterinary authorities 
Radio, transmitters, receivers and other devices  National Institute of Communications of the Ministry of Post 
and Telecommunications 
Weapons and ammunitions  Ministry of Interior 
Playing cards must be sealed  n.a. 
Medicines whose containers do not mention the active agents  Ministry of Health  
Pharmaceutical substances  Ministry of Health  
Saccharine and derived products  Ministry of Health  
Fireworks and explosives  Ministry of Interior 
Cigarettes paper, and other material used in cigarettes filters Ministry of Industry 
Explosives intended for the mining industry Ministry of Interior 
Other conditions:   
Stamps, fiscal or postal, are im ported exclusively by the Angolan 
State Ministry of Finance 
Motor companies are not allowed to import used motor vehicles. 
Only individuals are, regardless of the age of the vehicle n.a. 
Imports of right-hand-drive cars, except on a temporary basis, have 
been prohibited since 23 July 2004 Ministry of Interior 
n.a. Not applicable. 
Source:  Ministry of Commerce and BIVAC. Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 43 
 
 
(vii) Temporary importation and re-export 
48. Under Articles 32 and 33 of the Tariff, goods  imported temporarily must be re-exported 
within a period of 12 months; this period may be extended once by the Customs Directorate, for a further 12 months, in the event of force majeure .  If the extension is not approved, goods must be 
definitively imported or re-exported within 30 days .  Temporary importation of railway equipment, 
railway carriages and wagons, and coverings for th em is subject to particular legislation.
18 
(viii) Government procurement 
49. Angola is not a signatory to the Plurilateral WTO Agreement on Government Procurement.  
The authorities have provided no information on gov ernment procurement procedures and practices. 
50. According to  published sources19, the Government of Angola solicits bids for supplies and 
services in local and international publications 15 to  90 days before the bids are due.  Bid documents 
are normally obtained from a specific government ministry, department, or agency for a non-
refundable fee.  Completed bids, accompanied by a specified security deposit, are usually submitted 
directly to the ministry in question.  
51. The same source also comments that “the bi dding process often does not meet international 
standards of objectivity and transparency.  In a ddition, information about government projects and 
tenders is not often readily available from the appropr iate authorities, and the interested parties must 
spend considerable time on research”.  
(ix) Contingency measures 
52. Angola has no anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard legislation. 
(x) Standards and other technical requirements 
(a) Standards, testing, and certification 
53. Standards activities in Angola, except those re lating to animal health and phytosanitary 
conditions, are under the authority of the Angolan  Institute for Standardization and Quality 
(IANORQ), established in October 1996.20  The objectives of IANORQ are to coordinate and manage 
standardization activities in order to formulate standards and related documents.  Its activities are 
devolved to technical committees, and it particip ates in sub-committees of Codex Angola. (see 
below).  IANORQ covers all areas of standards, quality assessment, certification, and metrology.   
54. The main legislation relating to standards in Angola comprises the revised organic statute of 
IANORQ (Joint Executive Decree No. 44/05);  the Regulation on Quality Assurance Systems 
(Decree No. 83/02;  the Law on Weights and Measur es (Law No. 17/02) and the General Regulation 
on Metrology (Decree No. 53/04). 
55. IANORQ is a correspondent member of the In ternational Organization for Standardization 
(ISO) and a member of the Affiliate Country Pr ogramme of the International Electrotechnical 
Commission (IEC). 
                                                      
18 Law No. 11/04. 
19 USTR (2005). 
20 Decree 31/96. WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 44 
 
 
56. As a member of SADC and SADCAS, Angola participates through IANORQ in the SADC 
Programme in Standardization, Quality Assura nce, Accreditation and Metrology (SQAM).  The 
objectives of the SQAM programme are “the progressive elimination of technical barriers to trade (TBTs) amongst the Member States and between S ADC and other regional and international trading 
blocs, and the promotion of quality and of an infrastructure for quality in the Member States”.
21  To 
date, standards for 19 produc ts have been harmonized22, and SADC has adopted a number of ISO 
guidelines in the field of testing and calibration, accreditation of certification bodies, environmental 
systems, etc.  
57. Angola is in the process of adopting some ISO standards,  such as ISO 17025 – general 
requisites of competency for laboratory test and calibration;  ISO 9001 – quality management systems 
(QMS);  ISO9000:2000 – QMS, fundamentals and voca bulary;  ISO 9004:2000 – QMS, requirements;  
EN 197 Cement Part 1:  Composition, specificati ons and conformity criteria for common cements.23  
Angola’s implementation of SADC harmonized standards is limited by the lack of translation of the 
relevant standards into Portuguese.24   
58. Angola is working towards establishing an Accreditation Body:  so far there is no regulation 
covering accreditation issues.  A National Accred itation Focal Point has been nominated.  
59. IANORQ has taken on the responsibilities of, and is acting as the national enquiry point for 
standards.  The authorities state that they will notify this to the WTO. 
60. During 2002-04, draft national standards were formulated by IANORQ on salt, wheat flour, 
maize meal, wheat and maize in grains, early and ma in-crop potatoes, milk powder, butter, margarine, 
sunflower oil, natural mineral wate rs, and salted dried fish, including bacalhau ;  draft legislation was 
drawn up on labelling and technical  specifications of products in  Portuguese, and conditions for 
marketing of meat and meat prod ucts, fish and fish products, and bread and bread products.   
(b) Sanitary and phytosanitary measures 
61. Angola joined the FAO Codex Alimentarius in 1990.   In relation to sanitary and phytosanitary 
measures, the authorities established a unit “Codex Angola” within the Ministry of Agriculture and 
Rural Development in 2003.25  The Director of the National Directorate of Internal trade (DNCI) in 
the Ministry of Commerce is the President of C odex Angola, and the Director of IANORQ is the 
Deputy President.  Its objectives are to protect cons umer health;  to watch over the harmonization of 
international norms and standards a nd ensure fair practices in the conduct of trade in food products;  
and promote and coordinate for Angola work by g overnments, international organizations and NGOs 
done in the field of food standards.  Within the country, its tasks are to give technical support and 
inputs to food standards and technical regulations;  to be a bridge between the agri-food industry, 
producers, traders and consumers; and to assist the Government in taking political and technical 
                                                      
21 SQAM online information.  Available at:  h ttp://www.sadc-sqam.org/regionalsqam/sqamobjectives. 
html.  
22 These are common cements; masonry cements; tyres a nd retread tyres for motor vehicles and trailers; 
canned fish, their products, and mollusc s;  canned crustaceans;  frozen fi sh, products, and molluscs, frozen 
lobsters and products, and frozen shrimps, langoustines, an d crabs;  electrical installations;  child restraints;  
safety belts;  road signs;  door and window frames;  refrigerants;  and safety signs in buildings and factories.  
For the complete list, see SADC online informatio n.  Available at:  http://www.sadcstan.co.za/ 
Sadcstan_Projects.aspx . 
23 Information supplied by IANORQ. 
24 SADC online information.  Available at:  h ttp://www.sadcstan.co.za/Harmonized_Standards.aspx. 
25 Decree No. 58/2003 established the National Committee for the Codex. Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 45 
 
 
decisions in the field.  To that end, provinc ial Codex committees  have been established in the 
provinces of Cabinda, Benguela, Hú ila, Namibe and South Kwanza. 
62. Public health measures are regulated by Law No. 5/87, which establishes the Ministry of 
Health as the principal ministry responsible.  The law refers to WHO standards in relation to poisons 
and tolerated levels of pesticid es or other chemicals in foods. 
63. In recent years, Codex Angola has prepared proposals to adopt general international 
principles on food hygiene;  a memorandum on polic y towards genetically modified organisms and a 
proposal for the Council of Ministers on a regulation concerning imports and use of GM seeds and grains;  proposals on the use of food additives , in spection and certification of foods, iodized salt, 
wheat flour, maize and millet meals, and sunflo wer oil;  and has organized conferences on food 
regulations and quality control of consumption goods, as well as GMOs.
26  Codex Angola has also 
evaluated the capacity of analytical laboratories in  Angola, presented to the Government proposals on 
consumer protection and safety, and proposals for improving the distribution systems for meat, fish, 
bread, and related products. 
64. Angola has notified Codex Angola as its nati onal notification authority on sanitary and 
phytosanitary measures (SPS) to the relevant WTO committee.27 
65. Despite these efforts, much remains to be done  in bringing forward sanitary and phytosanitary 
regulations and improving capacity to apply such prov isions.  At the first general assembly of Codex 
Angola, held on 28 February 2005, the following needs were identified:  the need for all members of 
the Codex network to involve themselves actively;  the urgent need to formulate national standards  
on food products;  the need to reinforce the financ ial standing of the Codex secretariat;  the urgent 
need to improve the technical capability of member s of sub-committees;  the need to create further 
provincial committees for Codex Angola;  the need to  improve communication with social institutions 
and with producers, traders and consumers;  the need  to reinforce the capacity of laboratories;  the 
need to establish a rapid alert system for confisca tion of contaminated or unsafe goods;  and the need 
to cooperate more strongly with regional and international bodies in the field. 
66. The meeting made a number of recommendations aimed at strengthening the technical and 
human capacity of Angolan laboratories; rationaliz ing travel spending and ensuring proper accounting 
and adequate reporting; creating practical mechan isms for controlling GMOs entering the country; 
strengthening the structure of work on additiv es, contaminants, and pesticide residues in food 
products, and on residues of veterinary medicament s; establishing a sub-committee on food labelling; 
publishing guidelines for factory or farm inspec tions; and recommended that Angola should deposit 
its instrument of acceptance of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.28 
67. At the second anniversary meeting of Codex A ngola, the President of the National Committee 
emphasized five main concerns:  the level of c ontraband, counterfeit, and sale suspect food products 
in the country;  absence of laboratory analysis cap acity for additives, contaminants, and hormones; 
absence of up-to-date food standards in national le gislation;  exemption of many food products from 
preshipment inspection;  and the lack of a national headquarters for Codex Angola.  He sought the creation of a network of national reference laboratori es, accredited at national and international level, 
closer cooperation with FAO-Codex Alimentarius ;  strengthening of national capacity, including 
                                                     
 
26 Information supplied by the authorities. 
27 See WTO document G/SP/NNA/8. 
28 National Directorate of Internal Trade (DNCI) onlin e information.  Available at:  http://www.dnci. 
net/codex/noticias.asp. WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 46 
 
 
through training;  and the publication and applicat ion of international san itary and phytosanitary 
standards.29 
(c) Marking, labelling, and packaging 
68. According to BIVAC, labelling in Portuguese is advisable for foodstuffs, perfumes and 
cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.  It is  recommended that individual packages of relevant 
products should show the following mandatory information30: 
- foodstuffs:  product name, producer’s name, batch reference, cond itions of storage, 
production/validity dates, fat composition, capacity, alcohol percentage etc.  The 
remaining shelf-life should be six months (five months for marketing and one month 
for transportation purposes); 
- pharmaceuticals:  name of the manufacturer, label, name of the product, basis 
quantity of the contents, batch number, origin, manufacture and validity dates, on 
each retail package.  The remaining shelf-lif e for medicines, should be no less that 
50% of the total shelf life of the product, with a minimum of six months; 
- cosmetics and perfumery products: manufactur er’s name, brand name, percentage of 
alcohol, description, suppliers/sellers, dates etc.  Protective packages must be marked 
with “Fragile” or “Glass” etc; 
- chemicals; name of the product, chemical content, capacity, handling 
recommendations, relevant International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code 
for dangerous products31, gross and net weights, importer’s name, and destination.32 
(4) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING EXPORTS  
(i) Registration, documentation and export value 
69. As for imports, all exporters es tablished in Angola must be registered with, and obtain a 
licence from the Ministry of Commerce and have a valid tax payer's card.    
70. Documentation required for export of goods from Angola comprises:  Single Administrative 
Document;  commercial invoice issued by the seller;  various types of certificate issued by different 
agencies as required (e.g. the Ministries of Health , Culture, Agriculture, De fence, etc.), such as 
sanitary or phytosanitary certificates, certification of  art objects, export authorization for arms, etc. 
71. Under Article 35 of the Tariff, the National Customs Directorate has the competence to 
establish the customs value of principal export produc ts, on the basis of the most recent international 
quotations.  In general, the export value for custom s purposes is the f.o.b. value (Article 34 of the 
Tariff).  For petroleum, the export value per barrel is normally fixed by the Ministry of Petroleum on 
a quarterly basis;  valuation of diamonds is established by the Ministry of Geology and Mines.  Exchange rates applied to export goods are the daily  reference rates of the National Bank of Angola. 
 
 
                                                     
 
29 Presentation by Dr. Gomes Cardoso, President of the National Committee of Codex Angola, 30 May 
2005. 
30 Despatch 192/02, Appendices 1-4. 
31 IMO online information.  Available at:  http://www.imo/home.asp. 
32 See BIVAC Data Sheet, Pre-shipment Inspection of Imports for Angola. Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 47 
 
 
(ii) Export taxes, charges, and levies 
72. Export duties are levied on:  ivory, powder and scrap (10%);  raw hides and skins (20%);  
tanned hides and skins (20%);  and worked ivory, bone etc, (10%).33  The authorities indicate that 
these duties are levied for purposes of environmental protection, particularly of flora an fauna.   
Angola is not a signatory to the Convention on In ternational Trade in Wild Species of Endangered 
Fauna and Flora (CITES). 
(iii) Export prohibitions, restrictions, and licensing  
73. Article 36 of the Tariff specifies goods subject to  export prohibitions, while Article 37 defines 
items subject to special permission for export (Table III.4). 
Table III.4 
Prohibited exports and goods unde r special export regimes, 2005  
Description Authorizing agency 
Aircraft  National Direction of Civil Aviation – Ministry of Transport 
Animals, parts and animal products Ministry of Agriculture 
Arms, munitions of war and explosiv e materials Ministry of Defence 
Arms, objects and manuscripts of historical value  Ministry of Culture 
Goods imported under exceptions fr om tariffs and other customs 
duties, and which, when author ized for sale abroad, become 
subject to payment of the relevant import duties Ministry of Finance 
Goods exported under the drawback regime Ministry of Commerce 
Goods subject to delivery of foreign exchange Ministry of Commerce – National Bank of Angola 
Goods subject to the regime of overvaluation Ministry of Commerce 
Minerals, in terms of agreements signed by the Government and of 
the legislation in force Ministry of Geology and Mining 
Coins of non-precious metals  National Bank of Angola 
Gold and silver, in powder, bars or coins  National Bank of Angola with auth orization from the Government 
(Ministry of Finance) 
Poisonous or toxic substances or drugs, or their preparations  Ministry of Health 
Precious woods, precious and semi-precious stones Ministry  of Agriculture, or Ministry of Geology and Mining 
Notes and coins in circulation, nati onal or foreign National Bank of Angola 
Other merchandise whose export re gime may be determined by 
special legislation  
Source:  2005 Customs Tariff (Decree-Law 2/05), Tables III and IV. 
(iv) Export-processing zones 
74. There are no export-processing zones in Angola.  
(v) Export subsidies and promotion 
75. Angola maintains no export subsidies; and ther e is no official export promotion body. 
(vi) Temporary exportation and re-import 
76. Under Article 38 of the Tariff,  goods exported temporarily may,  as a general rule, be re-
imported within 12 months; this period may be extended by decision of the Director of National 
Customs in case of force majeure .   
                                                      
33 Decree-Law 2/05, Article 34. WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 48 
 
 
(5) MEASURES AFFECTING PRODUCTION AND TRADE  
(i) Taxation 
(a) Indirect taxation 
77. Angola maintains a number of indirect tax es, which apply equally to imported and 
domestically produced goods.  Tax concessions for in vestment projects under the various specific and 
general investment laws (section (3)(iv)(e) above, and Chapter II( 5)(ii)) apply equally to domestic and 
foreign investments. 
78. The share of tax revenue from foreign trade (imports/exports) to total non-oil tax revenue 
stood at 28% or 2.2% of GDP in 2003;  between  2000 and 2003 non-oil tax revenue from foreign 
trade rose almost twenty-fold.34 
(b) Direct taxation 
79. All persons, physical or moral, local or fo reign, established in Angola and having business 
interests in the country are liable to Industrial Tax on profits.  The general leve l of this tax is 35% on a 
“lower tranche” and 10% on a “higher tranche” of pr ofits.  The tax is levied at 20% for farming, 
forestry or livestock activities.  Contractors, sub- contractors and service providers are taxed at 40% on 
a calculated profit rate evaluated at 10% to 15% of  the value of the contract;  taxes are directed 
through the Angolan company that concluded the contract. 
80. Under Law No. 17 of 2003 (Law on Fiscal and Customs Incentives for Private Investment), 
companies investing in the defined “priority areas” may benefit from substantial industrial tax 
exemptions and provisions for deduction of investme nt (see Chapter II(5)(ii)).  Losses may be spread 
over three years for tax purposes;  however, they may not be offset among companies belonging to the 
same group.35 
(ii) State enterprises and privatization 
81. Angola has not notified to the WTO any state- trading activities undertaken by entities within 
the meaning of Article XVII:4(a) of the GATT 1994.  
82. Angola’s principal law governing public enterp rises is Law No. 9/95 of 15 September 1995.  
83.  Angola maintains over 60 state-owned enterpri ses involved in trade-related activities in 
manufacturing, engineering, utilities, trading, finance, broadcasting, and telecommunications 
(Table III.5). 
 
                                                      
34 IMF (2005b). 
35 Mission Économique de la France en Angola (2003). Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 49 
 
 
Table III.5 
State involvement in enterprises, October 2005 
Entity Activity  Degree of state 
ownership Privatization plans 
Manufacturing/Industrial enterprises    
ALFAG Agricultural hand tools  Full In process of privatization 
Empresa de Rebenefício e Exportação 
do Café de Angola (CAFANGOL) Coffee processing and export Full None 
Companhia do Açucar de Angola Production of sugar Full None 
Empresa Açucareira Centro (O SUKA) Sugar industry Full None 
COMETA Metal fabrication Full In process of privatization 
Companhia Geral dos Algodões de 
Angola (COTONANG) Production of cotton textiles Full None 
FACOBANG Cotton and synthetic fibre sheet s Full In process of privatization 
FIANGOL Cotton and cotton thread  Full In process of privatization 
Empresa de Tecidos de Angola 
(Textang) Textile production Full None 
SATEC Textiles Full In process of privatization 
Empresa Abastecimento Técnico 
Material (EMATEC) Suppliers to Ministry of National 
Defence Full None 
Enpresa de Construcão de Edificaões 
(CONSTROI) Construction Full None 
Empresa de Pesca de Angola Fisheries Full None 
Empresa Nacional de Cimento 
(ENCIME) Cement production Full None 
FATA Pipe and tube manufacturing Full In process of privatization 
Nova Cimangola SARL Ceme nt production Part None 
Empresa Nacional de Diamantes de 
Angola (ENDIAMA) Diamond mining Full Some subsidiaries privatized or 
undergoing privatization 
Empresa Nacional de Ferro de  
Angola (FERRANGOL) Iron production Full None 
Siderurgica Nacional  Steel production Full None 
Empresa Nacional de Manutencão 
(MANUTECNICA) Machine assembly Full None 
Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de 
Angola (SONANGOL) Oil exploration; sole concession 
holder Full None 
Sonangol P&P 
(subsidiary of SONANGOL) Oil production Full None 
Distribuidora SA 
(subsidiary of SONANGOL) Oil product distribution Full None 
Sonangol Ltd. 
(subsidiary of SONANGOL) Oil trading Full  None 
Sonangol USA 
(subsidiary of SONANGOL) Oil trading Full  None 
Geotécnica Unidad Económica Estatal Surveying and excavation Full None 
Empresa de Obras Especiais Buildi ng and civil engineering Full None 
Utilities    
Empresa Nacional de Construcões 
Eléctricas (ENCEL) Electricity generation Full None 
Empresa Nacional de Electricidade 
(ENE) Electricity generation Full None 
Empresa Provincial de Água de Luanda 
(EPAL) Water supply and treatment Full None 
Table III.5 (cont'd) WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 50 
 
 
Entity Activity  Degree of state 
ownership Privatization plans 
Transport    
Direcção Nacional dos Caminhos de 
Ferra Railway track operator Full None 
Amboim Railway Train operator Full None 
Companhia do Caminho de Ferro de 
Benguela (Benguela Railway) Train operator Part (10%) None 
Empresa de Caminho de Ferra de 
Luanda (LuandaRailway) Tran operator Full None 
Namibe Railway Train operator Full None 
AGENANG Shipping line Full Commercialized 2004 (JED 61/04) 
Cabotagem Nacional Angolana 
(CABOTANG) Coastal shipping Full Commercialized 2004 (JED 70/04) 
Linhas Aéreas de Angola (TAAG) Air transport Full None 
Angola Air Charter Air transport Full None 
SONAIR SARL  
(subsidiary of SONANGOL) Air transport Full  None 
Sonangol Shipping 
(subsidiary of SONANGOL) Oil transport by sea Full None 
Sonaship 
(subsidiary of SONANGOL) Oil transport by sea Full None 
Trading    
Empresa Nacional de Comercializacão e 
Distribucão de Productos Agricolas 
(ENCODIPA) Central marketing agency for 
agricultural produce Full None 
Angomédica Import of pharmaceuticals Full None 
Angolan Selling Corporation (ASC ORP) Diamond trading Full None 
Sociedade de Comerialição de 
Diamantes de Angola (SODIAM) Diamond trading Part (51%) None 
Mecanang Import of agricultural and 
construction machinery, tools and spare parts Full None 
Maquimport Import of office equipment Full None 
Exportang "Coordination of exports" Full None 
Importang "Coordination of imports" Full None 
Finance    
Banca de Poupança e Crédito (BPC) Bank Full None 
Banco de Comercio e Indústria Deve lopment bank Full Privatization pending 
Caixa de Crédito Agro-Pecuario e 
Pescas (CCAPP) 
(Commercial subsidiary of Banco 
Nacional de Angola) Bank Full  None 
Grupo ENSA, EP Insurance and reinsurance Full None 
ENSA - Seguros de Angola, SA Insurance Full None 
ANGO - RE, Sociedade Angolana de 
Reseguro, SA Reinsurance Full None 
AAA Seguros SA 
(subsidiary of SONANGOL) Insurance Full None 
AAA Pensões 
(subsidiary of SONANGOL) Pension funds Full None 
Broadcasting    
Rádio Nacional de Angola Ra dio transmission Full None 
Televisão Pública de Angola Te levision transmission Full None 
Table III.5 (cont'd) Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 51 
 
 
Entity Activity  Degree of state 
ownership Privatization plans 
Posts and Telecommunications    
Empresa Pública de Correios e 
Telégrafos de Angola  (ENCTA, EP) Postal services and, in future, post 
banking and logistics Full None 
Angola Telecom EP Internationa l telecommunications Full None 
Source:  Europa publications (2004);  Gabinete  de Redimensionamento Empresarial, Angola.  Available at:  http://www. 
gare-minfin.org/vgare.look?viewDataId=  146&scctrl= 1&scpm = 5&scps=146.   
84. A privatization policy was first initiated in A ngola in 1989, when the Office for Commercial 
Reorganization (GARE) was established as an independent agency within the Ministry of Finance.  A 
Privatizations Law was passed in  1994 and amended in 2003;  a speci fic privatization programme was 
laid out for the period 2001-05 in Government re solution 16/01 (see Table II.1 for the laws and 
regulations relating to privatization). Currently, under the general Government programme for    
2005-06, GARE is to be converted into a national ag ency for privatization, with revised objectives. 
85. The 1994 Privatizations Law36 sets out the general framework for privatization of state 
enterprises, shareholdings and other property.  Priv atization may be total or partial, and through 
transfer of ownership or of management.  The process is to be preceded by a valuation of capital 
assets by independent experts selected by GARE.  The 2003 amendment37 clarifies the responsibilities 
of the Government (execution of privatization policy according to a prog ramme approved by the 
National Assembly), the Ministry of Finance and tutelary ministries of enterprises to be privatized, the 
GARE, negotiation committees, and other relevant bodies. 
86. Privatization of shareholdings may be through transfer of existing shares or by new share 
issues.  Privatization may be effected either by public competition, limited competition, or direct 
transfer through adjudication.  Limited competition (open to a restricted number of preselected candidates) is to be used “when the national interest  or the strategy defined for the sector requires it, 
or when the technical, economic or financial situat ion of the enterprise reco mmends it”, and direct 
transfer only in cases of technological dependency, sa les to management, or where the beneficiary is a 
major creditor of the company to be privatized.
38  Rules regarding open competition, limited 
competition, and direct transfer are laid down in decree 15/91. Small businesses may be sold only to 
Angolan nationals. 
87. Management contracts are not considered as privatizations, but they must be given a 
favourable opinion by the GARE and approved by the Mi nistry of Finance and the tutelary Ministry.  
The privatization programme for 2001-05 recognized that the process in the previous decade was 
slow, incomplete and problematic;  many privati zed companies had been destroyed in the war and 
could not be rehabilitated, or contained obsolete equipment and run-down infrastructure; many were 
transferred to individuals who did not have adequa te capital or management skills;  revenue raised 
was low, due to the predominance of direct transfer  as a mode;  it was difficult to find medium- and 
long-term credits, or credible partnerships;  and issues relating to property rights had inhibited the 
process.39   
                                                      
36 Law 10/94 
37 Law 8/03 
38 ANIP (2004).  Conditions for open and limited competition and for direct transfer are laid down in 
Decree 15/91. 
39 Resolution 16/01 WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 52 
 
 
88. The revised programme sought to re-launch the process, focusing, inter alia, on rehabilitation 
of basic infrastructure, greater linkages among sectors, and mobilization of foreign capital and know-how.  The requirement to transfer small companies only to Angolans remained in force.  Medium- 
sized companies would be subject to a phased process involving an initial transfer of 70% of capital 
by public competition, with the remaining 30% to be  transferred to Angolan shareholders within two 
years.  A more gradual process was envisaged for large companies:  51% of state shareholdings would initially be sold by public competition;  a further 20% to 30% would be sold by public competition 
two years later, with preference for sales to Angolan  nationals;  and the State would sell the remainder 
of its capital after a further three years.  The adjudged capital value of state companies would be 
discounted by rates of 10% to 50%, depending on the location of the investment;  managers and 
employees of state companies would be granted 30% discount on purchases of shareholdings. 
89. The 2001-05 privatization strategy envisaged full or partial privatization of 47 state-owned 
enterprises and the liquidation of some others.  Ho wever, progress has been slow.  Currently, eight 
state enterprises are in the process of privatization (Tab le III.5).  In all cases, public competition is the 
method of privatization.  Offers are also being s ought for privatization of a number of other state 
enterprises. 
(iii) Competition policy 
90. Angola has no specific law on competition policy.  
(iv) Subsidies and price controls  
91. In 2003, the IMF focussed attention on the high level of subsidies in Angola, which accounted 
for some 3.3% of GDP in 2002.  Two classes of subsidies were identified:  operational subsidies to 
loss-making public companies, which amounted to 0.5%  of GDP in 2002, and price subsidies granted 
to public utilities to compensate for low levels of tari ffs, valued at 2.8% of GDP in the same year.  In 
addition, the Fund noted that certain recapitalization payments to state-owned enterprises might really 
be considered as operational subsidies. 
92. The principal price subsidies in Angola noted in 2003 were on fuel, elect ricity and water tariff 
subsidies.  Gasoline and kerosene prices in Angol a in January 2003 were re ported to be roughly one 
quarter of the world price level. Electricity tari ffs charged by EDEL, the supplier in Luanda, were 
0.4% of the cost of production, and those char ged by ENE, responsible for distribution outside 
Luanda, were 65% of the cost of production.  Official  tariffs for water in Luanda were so low that the 
public water company could neither assure adequate  maintenance nor extend the water supply to the 
expanding un-served peri-urban areas;  only about 56 % of the population of Luanda and 32% of the 
population of other urban areas received piped wate r from the mains, and only between 2% and 15% 
of total production and distribution of water was received as revenue. 
93. These subsidy practices were highly regressive:  limited availability of utilities generated 
large informal markets in which prices were si gnificantly higher, which provide good business for 
private operators, and were generally used by the poorest people.
40 
94. The authorities state that the Office of Prices and Competition is currently reviewing all 
legislation relating to subsidies and to competiti on issues.  During 2004, the price of gasoline was 
raised in two steps from Kz. 12 per litre to Kz. 34 (U S$0.37) per litre, under the Government's plan to 
                                                      
40 IMF (2003a) and Aguilar (2001). Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 53 
 
 
progressively eliminate subsidies on gasoline and utilities.    This is a highly  vi sible and tangible step, 
but a very partial and selective one, in the complex process of "correcting" market prices for goods.41 
95. A number of goods are subject to fixed prices or controls on price margins at producer, 
wholesale, or retail level (Box III.2).  Fixed pri ces currently cover bread and petroleum products;  
controls on margins cover a variety of goods for us e in agriculture, as well as  other basic supplies, 
textiles, clothing, shoes, and medicaments (Table III.6). 
Box III.2:  Price controls in Angola 
 
Angola maintains an extensive system of fixed and co ntrolled prices, comprising three categories:  "fixed 
price" goods, goods with fixed trading margins, and free price goods.  The regime is defined in Decrees 20/90, 
14/96, and 72/97 of the Council of Ministers; Joint Executive Decree 34/96 of the Ministries of Industry, Finance and Trade, covering the price of bread;  Exec utive Decree 35/96 of the Ministry of Finance, covering 
the price of oil products;  and Decree No. 3/04, regu lating public service prices.  Price surveillance is 
undertaken at national and local level, under the stra tegic authority of the National Council on Prices, which 
comprises the Ministers of Finance, Planning, Trade, La bour, and Social Security, as well as representatives 
of the central pricing body and of the Ministries of Agriculture, Industry, Fisheries, and Transport and 
Communications.  
The definitions of the three price regimes are contained in Decree 20/90, Article 8. 
  
Fixed price goods cover goods of basic necessity for life or of strategic importance to the country.  At 
present, the only goods subject to the fixed price regime are bread and oil products.  For bread (JED 34/96), the prices of milling wheat and wheat flour are subsid ized through restitutions to producers or importers of 
50% of the cost.  Sales margins are fixed  at 5% for milling wheat, 20% for flour and 20% for bread.  For oil 
products (ED 35/96), the prices of LPG, gasoline, lamp oil, diesel, light and heavy fuel oils, and asphalt are fixed;  gasoline at Kz 100,000 per litre and diesel at Kz 50,000 per litre.  
 
Goods with fixed trading margins at the producer, whol esale, and retail stages are established under Decree 
14/96, Article 4. Article 5 of the same Decree defines how prices may be calculated at the production, 
import, wholesale, and retail stages . In calculating costs, wholesalers may include a margin of 20% (as 
amended by Decree 72/97) and retailers a margin of 14%.  The list of goods currently included in the fixed margins regime is contained in Table III.6. 
 
Prices for goods not included in the fixed price or fixed trading margins regimes are free.  Nevertheless, producers or traders of these goods are obliged, at th e request of the competent authorities (the Office of 
Prices and Competition in the Ministry of Finance), to inform them of the prices that they charge, and any 
increases in such prices, and to respect any deadlines  that may be established by the price surveillance 
authorities or any limits on profit margins that may be established. 
 
For price surveillance purposes, importers, wholesalers, and retailers are required to make returns to the 
Office of Prices and Competition on specified forms, showing their annual cost structure in considerable 
detail.  
 
Source :    Information supplied by the authorities.  
 
                                                      
41 UNDP (2005b). WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 54 
 
 
Table III.6 
Products subject to maximu m trading margin regime  
Code Product  Producer margin 
(%) Wholesale margin  
(%) Retail margin 
(%) 
01.05.01.01 Machetes 25 10 15 
01.05.01.02 Axes 25 10 15 
01.05.01.03 Hammers 25 10 15 
01.05.01.04 files 25 10 15 
01.05.01.05 Ploug shares 25 10 15 
01.05.01.06 Spades 25 15 15 
01.05.01.07 Pickaxes 25 15 15 
01.05.01.08 Hand saws 25 15 15 
01.05.01.09 Agricultural tools 25 15 15 
01.07.04.01 Animal-drawn carts 25 15 15 
01.09.04.01 Chemical fertilizers 20 10 12 
01.09.04.01 Insecticides for agricultural use 20 10 20 
01.09.04.02.01 Fungicides 20 10 20 
01.09.04.02.03 Acaricides 20 10 20 
01.09.04.02.03 Remedial herbicides 20 10 20 
01.09.04.03 Tyres 20 10 20 
01.09.09.01.01 Plastic bags 20 10 15 
01.09.011.01.09 Boxes and other cardboard packing 25 10 25 
01.12.02.07 Cement n.a. 15 15 
01.13.03.01 Asbestos cement sheets n.a. 15 25 
01.13.04.05 Zinc sheets n.a. 15 20 
01.13.04.05 Jute bags 20 10 12 
01.15.06.02.01 Raffia bags 20 10 12 
1201.15.06.03 Wheat flour 20 10 12 
0110.1217.04.02.01 Industrial maize flour 20 10 15 
01.17.010415.03 Prepared flours, flakes and infant food 10 10 15 
03.02.01.02 Beef, except of 1st quality n.a. 10 20 
03.02.02.02 Po10r20k, except of 1st quality   n.a. 10 24 
03.02.03.03 Slaughtered chickens n.a. 10 15 
01.09.03.10 Matches 
Coffins of 3rd quality 
Coffins of 2nd quality 
Coffins of 1st quality  
Zinc coffins Urns of 3
rd quality 
Urns of 2nd quality 
Urns of 3rd quality  
20 
20 
20 
20 20 
25 
25 10 
n.a. 
n.a. 
n.a. 
n.a. n.a. 
n.a. 
n.a. 12 
n.a. 
n.a. 
n.a. 
n.a. n.a. 
n.a. 
n.a. 
01.17.04.07 Rice, except of 1st quality 15 10 20 
01.177.08.07.02 Edible oil 20 10 15 
01.22.01.03 White sugar 15 10 20 
01.09.06.01.01 Common soap 20 10 20 
09.03.01.01 Infant milk 20 10 12 
03.03.01.02 Whole milk powder 20 10 12 
 Bread 20 10 15 
 Grain flour 5 n.a. n.a. 
 Common salt 20 10 15 
 Dried fish 25 10 15 
 Half cured fish 20 10 10 
 Palm oil 20 10 15 
Table III.6 (cont'd) Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 55 
 
 
Code Product  Producer margin 
(%) Wholesale margin  
(%) Retail margin 
(%) 
30.01.07.01 Beans 25 10 15 
 Pasta 20 10 15 
01.17.08.07.01 Margarine 20 10 15 
 Textiles 20 10 10 
 Clothing 20 10 10 
 Footwear 20 10 10 
 Medicines 20 10 20 
n.a. Not applicable. 
Source: Government of Angola. 
(v) Intellectual property rights 
(a) Institutional issues and enforcement action 
96. Intellectual property rights in Angola are managed by the Ministry of Industry (for trade 
marks, patents and designs) and by the Ministry of Culture (for authors’ rights).42  Industrial property 
is protected under Law 3/92, and authors' rights under Law 4/90.  
97. The Angolan Industrial Property Institute (IAPI), under the tutelage of the Ministry of 
Industry, is in charge of all i ndustrial property protection questions.43  It is an interlocutor among 
various public entities, including the Customs, th e National Economic Inspection and Investigation 
Directorate, the Ministry of Commerce, the Repub lican Prosecutor’s Office, and the courts.  In 
addition, through seminars and information campai gns with Angolan industrial and commercial 
associations, the Ministry of Science and Technology , Ministry of Health, and others, it works “to 
promote and inform on new technologies that can best  serve as frameworks for the protection of trade 
marks and other distinctive marks so that  these entities can combat unfair competition”.44 
98. Angola accepted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Convention in April 
1985.  It benefits, inter alia , from the WIPONET electronic network,  which provides for exchange of 
information on intellectual property issues.  Angola has also received legal and technical assistance 
from the WIPO Secretariat.  Th e Government accepted the Patent  Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the 
Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Pr operty in June 2003.  Following acceptance by the 
Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ha s been authorized to deposit with the WIPO 
Secretariat  Angola's instruments of accession to th e Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial 
Property and the Patent Cooperation Treaty.  Angola is not a signatory to any of the other specific 
conventions administered by WIPO. 
                                                      
42 The Ministry of Culture was established as a separate Ministry in December 2002 (Decree-Law 
16/02). 
43 IAPI was established in 1996 (Decree 30/96). 
44 Informal translation of information supplied by Angolan authorities. WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 56 
 
 
99. As a least developed country, Angola has the right to an extended time-limit, up to 2013 
(TRIPS Council Decision of 29 November 2005), with th e possibility of further extension, for its full 
implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 
(TRIPS Agreement), and to 2016 for the application of pharmaceuticals patents.45   
100. Angola has observer status in the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization 
(ARIPO).  It has been invited to accede to the Or ganisation Africaine de la  Propriété Intellectuelle 
(OAPI) but does not have observer status.46 
101. New legislation is in preparation on both industrial protection and cultural questions 
(see below), and Angola has received comments from  WIPO on its new draft industrial protection 
law.  
(b) Industrial property  
102. A draft law on industrial property, has been put  forward as a basis for discussion in relevant 
fora in Angola.  It seeks to revise the 1992 Industri al Property Law to bring it into consistency with 
the TRIPS Agreement and incorporate aspects of the PCT and the Paris Convention that are not contained in the 1992 law (Law 3/92).  It contai ns elements deriving from the 1995 Portuguese Code 
of Industrial Property, the 1996 Brazilian Law of I ndustrial Property, and th e 1999 Mozambique Code 
of Industrial Property.
47  
103. The draft law covers patents on, and utility models of, inventions (15 years’ validity)48; 
industrial models and designs (five years’ validity)49;  product or service marks (five years’ validity, 
renewable), including protection of  “famous marks” or “prestigious marks” with a definition of 
imitations50;  prizes and decorations51;  names and signs of establishments, and logos52;  and 
denominations of origin and geographical indications.53  The draft also establishes as criminal acts 
subject to fines or to jail sentences ranging fro m one to three years:  unfair competition (acts of 
competition contrary to honest norms a nd uses in whatever branch of activity)54;  violation of patent 
rights;  false patent declarations;  violation of rights on models and designs;  counterfeit, imitation or 
illegal use of marks;  and lack of compulsory marks.  The Customs and the economic police are 
charged, respectively, with seizing goods and apprehending suspects.   
 
  
                                                     
 
45 WTO online information.  Available at:  http ://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/tripfq_e. 
htm#Transition. 
46 ARIPO and OAPI are two African sub-regional orga nizations affiliated to WIPO.  ARIPO is open to 
all members of the African Union but contains 15 mainly anglophone countries:  Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, 
Zambia, and Zimbabwe.  OAPI covers 16 mainly francophone countries:  Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,  
Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, E quatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, 
Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo. 
47 Introductory note to the draft law. 
48 Articles 48-138. 
49 Articles 139-147. 
50 Articles 149-180. 
51 Articles 181-191. 
52 Articles 192-209. 
53 Articles 210-216. 
54 Article 220. Angola WT/TPR/S/158 
 Page 57 
 
 
(c) Protection of plant varieties 
104. Angola has no specific laws on the protection of  plant varieties.  The authorities require 
technical assistance in developing such legislation. 
(d) Medicaments 
105. Medicaments are not protected under Angolan in tellectual property legislation.  Work is 
ongoing among relevant agencies (IAPI, economic poli ce, Customs, and National Directorate for 
medicaments) on identification of brands  and/or products harmful to health. 
(e) Copyright 
106. Angola’s existing law on copyright dates from 1990 (Law 4/90).  It provides for author's 
rights to be valid for life plus 50 years following the death of the author (the last deceased in case of 
joint authorship), or for 25 years in the case of photographs or applied arts. 
107. Angola is in the process of drafting a new Law on authors’ rights, with the aim of 
modernizing its legislation and providing adequate protection fo r both written and orally-based 
(traditional) creative material in the fields of litera ture, art, science, and others, independently of the 
means of transmission, as well as regulations for registration of copyright.55  The draft covers authors’ 
rights, including for translations and journalistic works;  works of oral culture;  national symbols;  
contracted or custom-made works;  limitations on such rights, and licensing of such rights; neighbouring rights, including those of artists, reco rdings and producers; violation, protection, and 
defence of authors’ and neighbouring rights;  an d registration and collective management of such 
rights.  Authors’ rights are to be valid for life plus 50 years after the death of the author or 50 years 
from the date of first recording, transmission or performance, in the case of photographs or works of 
applied art, protection is 35 years 
108. In the draft law, violation of authors’ and ne ighbouring rights, counte rfeiting, and plagiarism 
are to be regarded as crimes punishable by sentences proportionate to the gravity of the offence;  these 
range up to eight years’ imprisonment.  
109. A new Law on Cultural Heritage was approved by the National Assembly in July 2005.  
(vi) Environmental issues  
110. Angola’s principal environmental legislation is contained in Law 5/98 of 19 June 1998.  This 
law establishes the overall framework for the deve lopment of sustainable environmental protection 
policies.  The law sets out the basis for government al, local, NGO and civil society participation in 
elaborating environmental legisla tion;  responsibilities for protection of biodiversity, and creation of 
environmental protection areas;  provision for envi ronmental impact assessment for activities with 
environmental or social implications;  and rights of  citizens in respect of information, education, and 
access to justice on environmental issues.   
                                                     
 
55 Draft law on authors’ rights, introductory note and Article 1. WT/TPR/S/158 Trade Policy Review 
Page 58 
 
 
111. Other laws that refer to environmental concer ns include the Land Law (Law 9/04);  the Water 
Law (Law 6/02);  and the Law on Aquatic Biological Resources (Law 6-A/04);  Decree 92/04 
regarding GMOs;  and the Law on Petroleum Activities (Law 10/04). 
112. Angola is party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD);  the United Nations’ 
Convention to Combat Desertification;  the U.N. C onvention on the Law of the Sea;  the International 
Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna;  the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organization 
Convention;  it has ratified (as a “Non-Annex 1 party”56) the United Nations’ Framework Convention 
on Climate Change (UNFCCC), but is not a signatory  to the Kyoto Protocol; and has ratified the 
Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol on th e Protection of the Ozone Layer;  and is an 
observer in the Fisheries Commission for the Eastern Central Atlantic Region. 
                                                      
56 Non-Annex I Parties to the UNFCCC are mostly deve loping countries. Certain groups of developing 
countries are recognized by  the Convention as being especially vulne rable to the adverse impact of climate 
change, including countries with low-lying coastal areas and those prone to desertification and drought. Others 
(such as countries that rely heavily on income from fo ssil fuel production and commerce) feel more vulnerable 
to the potential economic impact of climate change response measures. The Convention emphasizes activities 
that promise to answer the special needs and concerns of these vulnerable countries, such as investment, 
insurance, and technology transfer.  Least developed countries are given special consideration under the 
Convention on account of their limited capacity to respond to climate change  and adapt to its adverse effects. 
Parties are urged to take fu ll account of the special  situation of LDCs when cons idering funding and technology-
transfer activities.  See UN FCC online information.  Available at:  http://unfccc.int/parties _and_observers/items/ 
2704.php.