RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/TPR/G/188 
27 August 2007  
 
(07-3485) 
Trade Policy Review Body Original:   French 
   
 
  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
 
Report by 
 
GABON 
 
  
 
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishi ng the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
(Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization), the policy statement by Gabon is attached. 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circ ulation and press embargo until the end of the first 
session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Gabon. Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 3 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
  Page 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 5 
I.1 Geographical overview, wo rking language, currency 5 
I.2 Evolution of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 5 
I.3 Evolution of public finances 5 
I.3.1 Budgetary revenues 6 I.3.2 Budgetary expenses 7 
I.3.3 Debt 7 
I.4 Investment 8 
I.4.1 Marked increase in investment financed from external sources 8 
I.4.2 Measures to enhance the quality of public investment 9 
I.5 Structural reforms 9 
I.5.1 Good governance 9 
I.5.2 Enhancing transparency 9 
I.5.3  Poverty reduction 10 I.5.4  Administrative and legal reforms 10 
I.6 Prices, employment, wages 11 
I.6.1 Prices 11 
I.6.2  Employment 11 
I.6.3 Wages 11 
I.7 Balance of payments 12 
II. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES 12 
II.1 General trade policy objectives 12 II.2 Legal framework of trade policy 12 
II.2.1 Domestic measures 12 
II.2.2 Regulatory framework 12 II.2.3 External measures 13 
II.2.4 Bilateral trade agreements 13 
II.2.5 Tariff policy 13 
II.2.5.1 Customs duties 13 
II.2.6 Tax system 14 
II.2.6.1 Taxes on profits 14  II.2.6.1.1 Corporation tax 14 
 II.2.6.1.2 Personal income tax 15 
 II.2.6.1.3 Oil revenues and taxation 15 II.2.6.2 Taxes on goods and services 15 
 II.2.6.2.1 Value Added Tax 15 
 II.2.6.2.2 Excise duties 15 
II.2.6.3 Forestry taxes 15 
 II.2.6.3.1 Felling tax 15  II.2.6.3.2 Surface area tax 16 WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 4 
 
 
Page 
 
III. SECTORAL TRADE POLICIES 16 
III.1 Forestry 16 
III.2 Fisheries 17 
III.3 Agriculture and livestock 17 
III.4 Oil and mining 18 
III.4.1 Oil 18 
III.4.2 Mining 18 
III.5 Transport 19 
III.6 Tourism 19 
III.7 Environment 20 
III.8 Telecommunications 20 
III.8.1 Telecommunications services 20 
III.9 Financial sector 21 
III.9.1 Banking and insurance 21 III.9.2 Microfinance 21 
III.9.3 The Stock Exchange 21 
IV. GABON AND THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM 22 
IV.1 Implementation of the Agreements 22 
IV.1.1 Tariff bindings 22 
IV.2 Intellectual property 23 IV.3 Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and 
Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) 24 Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 5 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
I.1 Geographical overview, working language, currency 
1. Gabon has an area of 267,667 km2, a little over two-thirds of which is forested.  The 
population is estimated at around 1,520,000.  It is bordered to the north by Cameroon and Equatorial 
Guinea, to the east and south by the Republic of Congo and to the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The 
country is crossed East-West by the equator and is  85 per cent forested.  Gabon is a former French 
colony and has been independent since 17 August 1960.  The working language is French.  The 
currency of transaction in Gabon is the CFA fra nc (CFAF), which is pegged to the euro. 
I.2 Evolution of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 
2. Despite the fact that real growth in 2006 was positive at 1.2 per cent, it was weaker than in 
2005.  This was due to the collapse of the oil sector (-10.4 per cent) as a result of the ageing of fields 
which have reached maturity and technical probl ems encountered by certain operators (surface 
accidents related to general upkeep and maintenance of wells).  On the other hand, the non-oil sector 
remains lively and posted growth of 4.5 per cent. 
3. It must be said that the contribution of the non-oil sector to wealth creation is remarkable, 
making up for the poor performance in the oil sector  where production has been in steady decline, 
from 18 million tonnes in 1995 to 12.5 million tonnes in 2006. 
4. Buoyed by this finding, the Government's current economic reforms seek to prepare for 
diversification of the economy. 
5. To this end, sectoral strategies have been dr awn up.  They are set out in the Growth and 
Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP)  adopted by the Government in 2005. 
6. The sectors identified as engines of growth are:   forestry, mining and hydrocarbons, tourism, 
fisheries and fish-farming, agriculture and livestock.   The Government's objective is to increase their 
contribution to GDP considerably between now and 2015.  It is worth mentioning that these sectors 
would not only generate growth but are also important pillars of job creation to combat poverty. 
I.3 Evolution of public finances 
7. Efforts to control and consolidate public fina nces, while preserving the benefits of reforms 
(Gabon-IMF Confirmation Agreement 2004-2005) are ongoing.  This led the Government to embark 
on an austerity policy covered by a triennial programme with the IMF, which took the form of an Agreement signed on 7 May 2007.  As a result, several reforms were initiated to improve the 
management of public finances and enhance th e quality and effectiveness of public spending. 
8. These reforms cover the preparation, presentation, implementation and monitoring of the 
budget, and administration of oil revenues. 
9. Budget preparation will be im proved thanks to the work currently in progress.  The 
Government is working on the implementation of  a triennial medium-term expenditure framework 
which will be adopted in 2007.  Th is budgetary programming, which is based on sectoral priorities, 
will allow more precise evaluation of recurrent  costs related to capital and current account 
expenditure and subsidies and strengthen the pr ocess used to set public spending priorities.  
Furthermore, the transpar ency and presentation of the budget w ill be improved in order to provide 
more information on previous budget performance, including tax expenditure, in the annual budget WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 6 
 
 
documentation submitted to Parliament.  In additi on, work is in progress to establish a functional 
classification of expenditure which shoul d be available by the end of 2007. 
10. Decisive steps have been taken to impr ove the monitoring and effectiveness of budget 
implementation.  In 2007, the Government manage d to deliver an operational budget at the end of 
January, a major step forward on the road to more efficient implementation during the financial year.  
In future, it is planned to reform the monitoring systems to strengthen treasury management and to 
publish reliable budget performance reports in a timely fashion.  As regards payments, measures were 
taken at the end of 2006 to reduce from 120 to 90 days the time taken for Treasury settlement 
payments, the objective being further reduction to 60 da ys by the end of 2007 and to 30 days in 2008. 
11. The quality and reliability of economic statistics will be enhanced in order to improve the 
monitoring and analysis of economic policy.  To that end, the Government has launched a National 
Statistical Development Strategy (SNDS) which will conclude in 2008.  This is a medium-term 
reference framework which redefines the institu tional environment (Statistics Law, National 
Statistical Council, statutes of the Directorate- General of Statistics a nd Economic Studies (DGSEE)) 
and sets out a work programme for the same time horizon. 
12. In the 2008 Finance Law, the Government will establish a budget appropriation based on a 
detailed formulation of needs.  By the end of 2007, it will publish a new price index, the CEMAC 
Harmonized Consumer Price Index (HCPI).  Subs equently, the national accounts will be remodelled 
on the basis of the new United Nations system of national accounts (SCN93).  The first useable results 
are expected for 2009-2010. 
13. The decline in oil production and compliance with  the State's undertakings to international 
donors oblige the Government to redouble its efforts in  the areas of revenue optimization, control of 
public spending, debt relief and structural reform. 
I.3.1 Budgetary revenues 
14. As regards oil revenues, Gabon decided in 2004 to participate in the Extractive Industries 
Transparency Initiative (EITI).  The aim was to increase transparency and accountability in the oil 
sector.  Since then, the authorities have published two reports, the latest of which, published in early 
April 2007, is devoted to the flow of oil revenues in 2005.  To strengthen the State's capacity to 
monitor oil revenues, the Government appointed a firm of international repute,  following a bidding 
process, to develop a reliable monthly revenue accoun ting model.  This model will enable projections 
and checks to be made on the basis of contractua l parameters, broken down by field, taking into 
account output, prices and costs.  It should also ma ke it easier to include in the State budget certain 
revenue flows and the related expen ses which are currently not included, in particular provisions for 
diversified investment  and provisions for hydro carbon investment.  The Government expects this 
mechanism to be applicable from the beginning of 2008. 
15. In the context of enhancing transparency in th e management of oil revenues, the EITI Report 
2004 highlighted the need to strengthen the administrati on of oil revenues so as to ensure that all oil 
revenues due under current legislation and existing contracts are collected.  To this end, the Government set up the Oil Revenues Monitoring Commission (COSUREP) on 10 July 2006, comprising the administrations responsible for finan ce and hydrocarbons.  The chief missions of this 
Commission are: 
- To identify all State oil revenues; 
- to satisfy itself that all revenues identified are actually received by the State; Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 7 
 
 
- to assist the authorities in preparing oil revenue budgets; 
- to identify measures to be taken to fac ilitate sharing of information between the 
administrations involved in the management of oil resources;  and, 
- to verify the consistency of oil data. 
16. Finally, COSUREP will also put in place a m echanism for regular monitoring of transactions 
relating to the State's  participation as shareholde r in Exploration and Production Sharing Contracts 
(CEPP). 
17. The basket of non-oil revenues will be expanded thanks to a national strategy of mobilization 
of tax resources by: 
- Seeking to formalize revenue systems in tax collecting ministries; 
- strengthening the Directorate of Large Enterprises; 
- installing the ASTER software package for execution and accounting of budgetary 
and financial operations;  and 
- developing a single statistical and tax identifier. 
18. The Directorate of Large Enterprises (DGE), which was formed in September 2004, is now 
operational.  It has been entrusted with the task of collecting taxes from companies whose turnover is 
greater than CFAF 1.5 billion before tax.  The ne w General Tax Code, which will take account of all 
changes effected in recent years, is currently being finalized.  It will be submitted to Parliament by the 
end of September 2007.  In this connection,  discussions have begun concerning the various 
exemptions in force which reduce the taxable base for value added tax (VAT), personal income tax 
and customs duties.  The aim is to undertake a thor ough reform of exemptions and tax expenditure in 
2008 based on an inventory of all tax expenditure prepared by the end of 2007.  The implementation 
of returns to the State of the first wave of forest ry permits where the holder s are in arrears with tax 
will have a positive impact on the collection of taxes in the sector. 
I.3.2  Budgetary expenses  
19. With respect to expenditure controls, the Govern ment's policy is to control certain items of 
fixed expenditure under the headings "permanent  balance", "public services and communications", 
"scholarships", "pensions" and "security and sovereignty". 
I.3.3  Debt 
20. Management of public debt comes under enforcem ent of the new and very strict government 
policy in this area, but also takes account of undertakings to the IMF. 
21. Cooperation with the IMF allowed Gabon to r eschedule €717 million (CFAF 470 billion) of 
debt in the Paris Club in 2004 and to obtain a loan of US$112 million from the African Development Bank. 
22. This rescheduling allowed a temporary relaxation of  external constraints.  For the period from 
1 May 2004 to 30 June 2005, debt servicing fell from CFAF 625 billion to CFAF 177 billion. WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 8 
 
 
23. Domestically, in order to revive the economy and restore the State's credibility, discussions 
with private sector partners led to the establishmen t of an informal intermediation body known as the 
Libreville Club.  The Club is a group of ec onomic operators who are owed more than 
CFAF 50 million by the State.  In January 2005, this body was replaced by the Libreville Club 2 
followed by the Libreville Club 3.  The State is currently working to establish a Libreville Club 4. 
24. Based on this common platform, the State now ma kes regular and transparent payments on all 
its debts to local businesses.  
25. In 2005, the State repaid a total of CFAF 386.7 billion to all its creditors, representing 
28.4 per cent of its own revenues and 8.5 per cent of GDP.  
26. The pattern of debt reduction observed in 2005 is  continuing.  The rate of indebtedness in 
2006 was 44.1 per cent of GDP while debt service  amounted to CFAF 629.6 billion, almost double the level for 2005. 
27. In order to achieve debt viability in the long term, a new management policy has been put in 
place with the following targets: 
- The choice of projects to be implemented with  external financing must fall within the 
Government's development policy.  Commi tments under this programme must be 
subject to desk audit (service performed) in  order to certify the effectiveness of the 
expenditure; 
- sources of financing must come as a matter of priority from official development aid 
(ODA) and to a lesser extent from loans from multilateral institutions specializing in 
development finance; 
- seeking concessional terms becomes an abso lute necessity.  Borrowing at market 
rates will in future be prohibited.  Like wise, repayment periods must exceed fifteen 
years. 
28. Efforts to minimize costs will now be the basis of all Gabon's borrowing negotiations. 
I.4  Investment 
I.4.1 Marked increase in investment  financed from external sources 
29. After the expiry of the confirmation agreem ent 2004-2005 and the normalization of relations 
with its creditors, Gabon contracted new foreign loans, mostly on commercial terms, to finance 
various projects (chiefly roads, hospitals and defe nce).  The total debt contracted in 2005-2006 was 
CFAF 275 billion, or some 5.5 per cent of GDP for 2006.  Corresponding annual expenditure was 
limited to approximately 1 per cent of GDP.  Public investment in the period 2001-2005 was fairly 
modest. 
30. On the other hand, capital expenditure estimates for 2007 (draft Finance Law, rectifications 
2007) amount to some CFAF 241.6 billion, an increase of 20.4 per cent compared with the initial Finance Law.  This increase is explained by th e Government's desire to intensify development 
financing by implementing the priority projects identified in the Growth and Poverty Reduction 
Strategy Paper (GPRSP) in the short and medium te rm.  The increase in investment expenditure in 
2007 can then be explained by the integration into  the rectified budget of all the projects financed 
externally by grants or loans. Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 9 
 
 
I.4.2 Measures to enhance the quality of public investment 
31. Firstly, the Government has adopted measure s to enhance the efficiency of public 
procurement procedures while at the same time strengthening implementa tion controls.  Since 
30 September 2006, the Government has published a ll invitations to tender for public contracts and 
the awards on the web site of the Directorate-General of Public Procurement (DGMP) and in the 
national press.  To facilitate wider dissemination of  this information in the national press, a public 
procurement journal will be pub lished by the end of 2007. 
32. The Government's objective is to ensure that in future all contracts exceeding 
CFAF 30 million are processed by the DGMP.  In th is way it hopes eventually to achieve a significant 
reduction in the proportion of public contracts awarde d by private treaty, bringing it down to less than 
50 per cent of the total value of contracts exceed ing CFAF 30 million by the end of 2007 and 30 per 
cent by the end of 2008. 
I.5  Structural reforms 
33. Gabon is pursuing its structural reform policy with the support of international financial 
institutions, notably the IMF.  Apart from seek ing to rationalize public finances by optimizing 
revenues and controlling expenditure, si nce 1997 these reforms have also covered 
privatization/restructuring of public enterprises. 
34. During the period 1997-2007, the Government privatized SEEG (water, electricity), OCTRA 
(railways), SOSUHO (sugar), Ciments du Gabon  (cement), AGROGABON (oil-soap), HEVEGAB 
(hevea cultivation), SOGADEL (livestock), GABONTELECOM (telecommunications) and 
LIBERTIS (mobile telephony). 
35. During the same period, the Government wound up AIR GABON (air transport), the National 
Social Guarantee Fund (CNGS) and the postal service, GABON POSTE.  
36. The restructuring of SOGATRA (urban transpor t), CNI (river and maritime transport) and 
FODEX (SME-SMI) is in progress. 
I.5.1 Good governance 
37. The Gabonese Government is determined to strengthen good governance.  To that end, 
considerable efforts are being expended to combat  corruption and embezzlement of public funds, a 
dual scourge of development.  The role of the Cour t of Auditors, the highest authority for the control 
of public finances, has been strengthened.  In a ddition, the National Commission on the Prevention of 
Illicit Enrichment (CNLCEI), created in 2004, has already done consider able advocacy work.  
However, much remains to be done, especially  in the area of declarations of wealth. 
38. Internationally, Gabon participates in the African system of peer review in NEPAD.  Gabon 
will be evaluated in 2007 and a report w ill be published by the end of 2008.  
39. In 2005, the Government ratified the Unite d Nations Convention against Corruption. 
I.5.2 Enhancing transparency 
40. The second EITI report was published on 6 April 2007.  The scope of the second report was 
extended to all oil revenue flows, including the profit oil  not included in the first report.  It was also 
extended to the mining sector. WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 10 
 
 
41. The Government has established a special EI TI web site which c ontains all relevant 
information, including oil and mining taxation and model oil and mining contracts.  It has also 
launched a national initiative, Gabon – Open Government , the aim of which is to make all important 
documents of public interest available to the ge neral public.  The site contains information on: 
(i) The rectified Finance Laws for 2004, 2005, and 2006; 
(ii) the reports of the Court of Aud itors on budget performance in 2003 and 2004; 
(iii) the audit report on rotating regional independence celebrations ( fêtes tournantes ) and 
arrears on the Road Maintenance Fund (FER) prepared in 2005;  and 
(iv) the annual reports of the National Commission on the Prevention of Illicit Enrichment 
for 2005 and 2006. 
42. By the end of 2007, the Official Journal of Gabon will also be published on the Internet. 
I.5.3 Poverty reduction 
43. At the beginning of 2007, the Government decided to reduce its oil price subsidy by 70 per 
cent.  The gain thus achieved was allocated to so cial actions such as:  free supply of water and 
electricity to the poorest, free schooling and textbooks , benefits to citizens with limited means and 
child mothers, an additional allocation for the pu rchase of antiretroviral drugs to combat AIDS, 
support for microcredit, and free health care in public hospitals. 
44. The recent creation of the National Health In surance and Social Guarantee Fund will allow 
free medical cover for people with limited means.  
45. In addition, the Government has decided to carry out a new census of the poorest households 
throughout the country in order to reassess their benefits.  On the basis of the GPRSP, Gabon 
envisages increasing investment of a social character, especially in the fields of health, electrification 
and drinking water supplies in rural areas. 
46. As regards savings, the recent creation of  the Gabon Housing Bank (BHG), with the 
introduction of a home savings scheme and, very so on, the transformation, by appropriate funding 
mechanisms, of the Gabon housing refinancing account (CRH-Gabon) into the Gabon mortgage 
refinancing account, will improve credit terms for access  to ownership of subsidized housing.  It will 
also allow refinancing of purchase loans grante d by approved banks and provide the necessary 
security or guarantee to these banks. 
I.5.4  Administrative and legal reforms 
47. As far as the central administration is concerne d, public service capacity building is based on 
administrative reform.  So far, three basic texts ha ve been adopted and pub lished, and now constitute 
the foundation of this reform.  They are: 
- The Law on Civil Service General Regulations; 
- the Law on the establishment, organization and management of the State public 
services; 
- the Law establishing a Code of Ethics. Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 11 
 
 
These laws should allow better management of the pub lic services and also make them more efficient. 
48. To improve the legal system, the Government will take a number of measures, the most 
important of which are a capacity building programme for judges, updating of the law on the administration of justice, the Code of Criminal Pr ocedure, the Judicial Code and the Civil Code, and 
the introduction of an arbitration and concilia tion mechanism under the settlement procedures 
provided for by the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA). 
I.6  Prices, employment, wages 
I.6.1 Prices 
49. Gabon practises a policy of price liberalization.  However, the prices of certain products 
remain controlled, especially oil products, cement , soap, mineral water, prescription glasses, medical 
and surgical equipment, local beer, oil, sugar, oxygen and acetylene, pharmaceutical products, school 
textbooks, urban land transport, 200g loaves of bread and 125g pots of yoghurt. 
50. To combat inflation, prices are checked m onthly for a sample of 100 common consumer 
products in 120 sales outlets in Libreville.  This allows the average quarterly, half-yearly and annual 
variation in the index to be determined. 
51. Since 2006, two commissions have been in place to protect the interests of consumers better:  
the Consumer Affairs Commission and the Rental Housing Commission. 
52. In addition, in order to guarantee better re gulation of the market by competition, the 
Directorate-General of Prices and Economic Surv eys and the Directorate-General of Consumer 
Affairs were merged to form the Directorate- General of Competition a nd Consumer Affairs. 
I.6.2 Employment 
53. The labour market in 2006 was characterized by  a 1.4 per cent rise in the overall level of 
employment, mainly due to the increase in public sector employees, especially in the social sectors 
(education, health and social action), defence and security. 
54. The increase in the numbers employed in the modern private sector is low (0.8 per cent) 
despite job creation in certain branches of activit y (especially building and public works and other 
industries).  This situation is due in part to the reduction in the workforce of semi-public enterprises 
and also to the lack of recruitment in other br anches of the modern sector, despite the activity 
concerned being maintained. 
I.6.3 Wages 
55. The overall payroll in the modern sector rose by 6.6 per cent in 2006.  This trend was due to 
an increase of 12 per cent in the wage bill of the State (after bargaining with the trade unions) and 
3 per cent for private sector wages.  The increase in the State payroll was a result of not only the 
increased number of employees but also adjustments to the administrative status of staff, changes in 
category and revaluation of the guaranteed mini mum inter-occupational wage (SMIG) (CFAF 44,000 
to 80,000) and the value of the index point (CFAF 400 to 425).  The increase in wages in the private 
sector is probably linked to job creation in bui lding and public works and other industries. WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 12 
 
 
I.7 Balance of payments 
56. The overall balance of payments showed a si gnificant increase in 2005.  This marked 
improvement is due to a net growth in current account transactions, despite a decline in capital 
movements. 
57. The trade surplus rose by 48.7 per cent, to CF AF 2,242.9 billion in 2005 compared with 
CFAF 1,508.7 billion in 2004.  The significant rise in  exports (37.6 per cent) compared with imports 
(11.5 per cent) explains this growth.  The increase in  the total value of exports was due chiefly to the 
4.1 per cent rise in the price of a barrel of Gabonese oil and healthy sales of other export products, especially manganese and wood. 
58. Imports rose by 11.5 per cent to CFAF 716 b illion compared with CFAF 642.2 billion in 
2004, primarily on account of the increase in oil sector imports. 
II. TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES 
II.1 General trade policy objectives 
59. Gabon continues to face structural constraints, given that it is a net im porter of food products, 
exports are concentrated and little diversified, the cost of living is high and the economy is not very 
competitive.  To correct these constraints, the G overnment trade policy pursues the following general 
objectives: 
- To satisfy domestic needs; 
- to be competitive in foreign markets;  
- to promote the services sector (financia l, telecommunications, engineering, ...); 
- to promote a policy of industrialization, tourism and crafts; 
- to develop a strategy aimed at taking be tter advantage of the multilateral trading 
system. 
II.2  Legal framework of trade policy 
60. Gabon's trade policy is based on domestic and external measures. 
II.2.1 Domestic measures 
61. These measures relate to the legislation setting th e conditions for the exercise of the activities 
of trader, manufacturer or craftsman, investment promotion, rationalization of public finances and withdrawal of the State from the productive sector. 
II.2.2 Regulatory framework 
62. OHADA law, through its various Uniform Acts relating to commercial law, is the legal 
cornerstone of Gabon's trade policy. 
63. To achieve the objective of diversification of the economy, the formalities for forming a 
company have been simplified by the investment charter.  The exercise of activities (artisanal, Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 13 
 
 
industrial and commercial) is no longer subject to commercial accreditation, but rather to a single 
declaration to the "one-stop shop" of the Private Investment Promotion Agency (APIP). 
II.2.3 External measures 
64. External measures primarily concern the tari ff policy and the customs and tax regulations 
common to all CEMAC member countries, and secondari ly the dense network of bilateral agreements 
which define the environment for investment and trade between Gabon and some of its economic and 
trading partners. 
II.2.4  Bilateral trade agreements  
65. Between 2001 and 2006, Gabon concl uded new trade agreements w ith Brazil, China, Egypt, 
Lebanon, Morocco, Sao Tome and Principe, and S outh Africa.  These agreements formalize and 
favour trade between Gabon and its various partners. 
II.2.5 Tariff policy 
II.2.5.1 Customs duties 
66. Customs duties are governed by the CEMAC Cust oms Code and Customs Tariff, the customs 
regulations of the Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC), national legislation and 
agreements. 
67. The customs code, in particular articles 23 to 48 thereof, incorporates the provisions of the 
WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation.  The "tran saction value" has been applied in Gabon since 
12 July 2004. 
68. The tax and customs reform of the 1990s led to the adoption of the common external tariff of 
the Central African Economic and Monetary Comm unity (CEMAC).  Currently, Gabon applies four 
rates of customs duties to imports:  5 per cent fo r staple commodities, 10 per cent for raw materials 
and equipment, 20 per cent for intermedia te products and 30 per cent for wage goods. 
69. The only taxes levied on imports by Gabonese Customs are: 
- Customs duties 
- value added tax (VAT) 
- excise duties 
- temporary surcharge 
- Community integration tax (TCI) 
- Community integration contribution (CCI) 
- OHADA levy. 
70. The temporary surcharge, which in 2001 con cerned over twenty tariff lines, is now only 
applied to wheat flour. WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 14 
 
 
71. It should be noted that Gabon still applies distor tions to about one hundred tariff lines.  These 
derogations from the CEMAC tariff are based on the d esire to protect the embryonic industrial fabric 
and the need to help communities to obtain cheaper healthcare. 
72. As regards exports, undressed timber is subject  to a duty of 17 per cent and manganese to a 
duty of 3.5 per cent.  Apart from these products, all other exports are free of customs duties and taxes.  
Exemptions and suspensions of duties are granted unde r agreements or by government decision.  They 
are also granted in the context of investment incen tives.  Sugar, refined palm oil and household soaps 
are subject to a de facto import ban.  
II.2.6 Tax system 
73. The Gabonese tax system has traditionally been go verned by the General Direct and Indirect 
Taxes Code, the Estates, Registry and Stam p Code,  and various other legislation. 
74. However, in 2002, the Directorate-General of Direct and Indirect Taxes merged with the 
Directorate-General of Estates to form the Dire ctorate-General of Taxes, thus ending the dual 
management of taxes in Gabon.  The Governme nt drew up a new General Tax Code which 
consolidates and modernizes the two former tax and est ates codes.  This document, which will shortly 
be presented to Parliament, combines the provisions of the General Direct and Indirect Tax Code, the 
Registration Code, tax on income from securitie s and stamp duty.  It also takes account of 
international tax treaties signed by Gabon, CE MAC Community legislation and the OHADA Treaty.  
Some articles relating to excessive parafiscal taxe s imposed by local government and other authorities 
are also among the innovations in the future code .  To guarantee taxpayers' rights, the new General 
Tax Code provides for a Tax Procedures Manual.  Th e tax administration's objective is to modernize 
the system, optimize revenues and extend the taxable base of the non-oil sector.  It is against this 
background that the Directorate of Large Ente rprises was created and is now in operation. 
75. The principal taxes, levies and charg es in the Gabonese system are as follows: 
II.2.6.1 Taxes on profits 
II.2.6.1.1 Corporation tax 
76. This applies to legal persons in respect of ac tivities carried on in Gabon.  The rate is 35 per 
cent, which is reduced to 20 per cent for companies specializing in the development of social housing.  
In the event of a loss, a minimum tax of 1.1 per cent of the annual turnover is charged by the tax 
authority. 
77. Companies benefit from a mechanism of ac celerated amortization as an incentive to 
investment.  An exemption from the minimum tax is a pplied for the first two years of activity.  For oil 
subcontractors, the tax is based on a flat rate calculation of corporation tax which corresponds to 
5.25 per cent of annual turnover. 
78. French companies also enjoy favourable treat ment under the Franco-Gabonese Tax Treaty 
which allows French companies which do not ha ve a permanent place of business in Gabon to be 
taxed in France in respect of some of their revenues from Gabonese sources or to be subject to a 
10 per cent withholding tax which gives rise to a tax credit in France. Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 15 
 
 
II.2.6.1.2 Personal income tax 
79. This tax applies to total net income determin ed on the basis of the different categories of 
income of the tax household.  Natural persons resi dent in Gabon and natural persons resident abroad, 
but whose income arises in Gabon, are subject to this tax. 
80. The determination of the amount of personal in come tax requires a prior calculation of the 
quotient Q, by dividing the aggregate net income by the number of parts.  The number of parts depends on the number of children included (Q = aggregate net income/number of parts). 
81. The amount of tax is read off a progressive scale containing nine tax bands from 0 to 50 per 
cent.  Tax households whose Q is less than CFAF 1.2 million are exempt and those with over 
CFAF 29,960 million are taxed at 50 per cent. 
II.2.6.1.3 Oil revenues and taxation 
82. The new oil permits are placed under the system of Exploration and Production Sharing 
Contracts (CEPP) which have taken the place of establishment concessions.  Gabon has joined the 
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) a nd published its first report in 2004.  However, 
the question of oil revenues presents difficulties with r espect to monitoring by the administration.  For 
this reason, in 2007, on the basis of competitive bi ds, Gabon contracted a firm of international repute 
to develop a reliable mechanism for managing oil revenues. 
II.2.6.2 Taxes on goods and services 
II.2.6.2.1 Value Added Tax  
83. Gabon has applied VAT since 1 April 1995 (Law 1/ 95 of 24 February 1995).  This ensures 
non-discriminatory tax treatment of companies in the production phase.  The standard rate is 18 per 
cent, but there is a reduced rate of 10 per cent for mass consumption goods and a zero rate for exports.  
Any tax credits are reimbursed within a maximum of three (3) months for export, mining, oil or 
investment companies.  VAT has a strong potential yi eld, but is limited by a plethora of exemptions 
which affect various operations, and this  creates too many economic distortions. 
II.2.6.2.2 Excise duties 
84. These are charged on imports and sales of beverages and tobacco.  The chargeable base is the 
CIF value for imports and the sales price before ta x for local production after a 30 per cent reduction.  
The rates applied vary:  beer 20 per cent, wine  25 per cent, tobacco 30 per cent, perfumes and 
cosmetics, foie gras, caviar, salmon 25 per cent. 
II.2.6.3 Forestry taxes 
85. Natural or legal persons who fe ll timber intended for local processing or export are subject to 
a felling tax and a surface area tax. 
II.2.6.3.1 Felling tax 
86. The taxable base of the value of the timber is determined by its market value at the felling 
date applied to the felled volume.  The tax declarat ion must be filed not later than the 20th of the 
month following the month in which the timber was felled. WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 16 
 
 
87. The operation is broken down into four zones, each with its own tax rate:   zone A (9 per 
cent), zone B (7 per cent), zone C (5 per cent), zone D (3 per cent).  In the event of any irregularity, 
the rate applied is 9 per cent. 
II.2.6.3.2 Surface area tax 
88. This is payable in advance not later than 31 March by the holder of the forestry operating 
permit. 
89. In the first half of 2007, one hundred and thir teen (113) taxpayers who were unable to pay 
their tax debts had their forestry permits returned to the public domain. 
III. SECTORAL TRADE POLICIES 
III.1 Forestry 90. Gabon has a potential of almost 50 million hectares of wood, the second largest in Africa after 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo  (DRC), and produces some 2.6 million m
3 per year, over 
75 per cent of which is still exported in the form of undressed timber.  It boasts some 8,000 plant species, 400 of which have been identified and 60 e xploited.  The exploited species are divided into 
two groups:  okoumé and ozigo in the first grou p, miscellaneous wood in  the second group.  The 
sector currently contributes 4.5 per cent to GDP.  The Government would like to increase this rate to 
10 per cent in 2020.  To exploit this wealth, the Government initiated a triennial programme in 2006, 
the main pillars of which are: 
- To establish a more diversified and productive timber industry; 
- to promote good governance by establishing transparent conditions for the 
exploitation of the forest resource; 
- to achieve greater involvement of Gabonese nationals in forestry activities;  and 
- to achieve a significant reduction in exports of undressed timber in favour of products 
resulting from local wood processing. 
91. Prior to the entry into force of Decr ee No. 000166/PR/MEFEPPN of 24 January 2007 
regulating the marketing of undressed timber for e xport, the activities of the wood industry were 
dominated by undressed timber exports.  The afor ementioned decree, which introduces a quota policy, 
seeks to raise the rate of local processing of wood fr om 45 per cent in 2006 to 75 per cent in 2012.  
Until January 2006, the Gabon National Timber Comp any (SNBG) held the monopoly for marketing 
of okoumé and ozigo.  Since then, the business has be en entirely liberalized and signature of the draft 
legislation on the subject, adopted by the C ouncil of Ministers, is currently pending. 
92. It should be noted that, in cooperation with the World Bank, Gabon has adopted the practice 
of awarding forestry permits by tender.  By Decr ee No. 000666/PR of 9 August 2004, the President of 
the Republic temporarily suspended the issue of new forestry permits to facilitate implementation of 
this procedure. 
93. Under article 250 of the Forestry Code, the draft law on the establishment of a National 
Forestry Fund (FFN) to finance public service missions for the protection and sustainable 
management of Gabon's forest ecosystems and the indus trialization of the wood industry is currently 
being debated in Parliament. Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 17 
 
 
III.2 Fisheries 
94. This sector remains marginal in the national economy, contributing 1.5 per cent of GDP.  The 
Government's objective is to raise th is rate to 4 per cent in 2012.  In order to achieve better supply of 
the domestic market, greater involvement of Gabonese nationals in the sector and increased exports of 
fisheries-based products, the Government has for so me years set specific targets for the development 
of fisheries and fish-farming. 
95. For 2007, this policy centres on the following actions: 
- Drafting of texts in application of the fisheries and fish-farming codes; 
- the creation of basic infrastructure by the construction of two moles to protect fishing 
boats at Owendo and Port-Gentil;  three e ngineering workshops at Port-Gentil,  
Owendo and Omboué; development of ec onomic zones around the community 
fishing centres and the purchase of surveillance launches;  and 
- building human capacity by updating the training programmes on fishing and fish-
farming at the National Water Resources and Forestry School. 
96. It is to regulate these activities that Gabon has just adopted a new legal instrument 
(Law 15/2005 concerning the Fisheries and Fish-Farming Code of the Gabonese Republic). 
97. The low value of imports is such that the diffe rential between imports and exports results in a 
trade surplus for the sector. 
98. Little is known about the status of stocks in the Gabonese exclusive economic zone (EEZ).  
Gabon does not have the capacity for scientific rese arch and possesses only isolated and fragmentary 
information on its resources, gathered during direct  evaluation campaigns by foreign scientific vessels 
under bilateral cooperation schemes. 
99. Eighty per cent of small-scale fishermen are expatriates and they are highly migratory. 
100. The various campaigns to evaluate marine res ources showed a decline in resources in the area 
north of Cape Lopez and under-exploitation in the area south of Cape Lopez.  The Government 
envisages redeploying fishery activities to the latter zone. 
101. With a view to training young Gabonese in fishing and fish-farming, a fishing and fish-
farming training centre (CMPA) has been set up. 
102. Concerning accessory captures recorded during traw ling, the Directorate-General of Fisheries 
and Fish-Farming (DGPA) is currently working w ith the NOA on a turtle excluder device (TED) on 
trawlers. 
103. In addition, the establishment of Community Cent res for small-scale fishing, with the aid of 
Japanese cooperation, has made it possible to lim it post-capture losses in small-scale fishing. 
III.3  Agriculture and livestock 
104. The contribution of this sector to GDP is very  modest, around 3 per cent.  Although Gabon is 
a net importer of food products, Gabonese agriculture has considerable potentia l.  To remedy this 
situation, in 2005 Gabon joined the FAO Special Programme for Food Security. WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 18 
 
 
105. The Government has also instituted a set of me asures to revive development in this sector, 
consisting chiefly of: 
- The new agropastoral and rural policy a dopted by the Government which has the 
following objectives: 
(i) Ensuring the country's food security; 
(ii) helping to reduce rural poverty; (iii) increasing the sector's contribution to GDP;  and  (iv) safeguarding the environment. 
- The law applying to the agricultural sect or currently under consideration in 
Parliament sets the priority objectives assigned to the agricultural sector and defines 
the major strategic guidelines and institu tional, legal and economic mechanisms for 
its implementation. 
- The Sectoral Investment Code recently submitted by the Government to Parliament 
for debate.  This Code is intended to encourage and promote national and foreign 
investment in the agropastoral  and rural sector in Gabon . 
III.4  Oil and mining III.4.1 Oil 
106. The lack of significant new discoveries in th e Gabon oil basin after that of Rabi-Kounga in 
1989, and the ageing of oil fields led to a d ecline in Gabonese national production in the 2000s. 
107. Since then, Gabon has made a few modest discove ries but these have not reversed the trend.  
Oil production fell from 18.5 million tonnes in 200 1 to 12.5 million tonnes in 2006, a drop of one 
third in five years.  
108. For the long term, on the other hand, Gabon has already begun new gas exploration which has 
resulted in the adoption of new survey perimeters both on land and at sea. 
109. The Gabonese State is also preparing between now  and next year to issue an international 
invitation to tender for free blocks situated in the deep waters of its oil basin.  It also plans to develop 
a new Oil Code. 
III.4.2 Mining  
110. Mining today is confined to manganese, follo wing the exhaustion of the Mounana uranium 
deposit in 1999.  In 2005, produc tion of manganese totalled 2,880, 000 tonnes, with 550,000 tonnes of 
Manganese Bioxide. 
111. Manganese is exported primarily to the emerging economies, the countries of South-East Asia 
(China) and the industrialized countries. Today th e market for manganese is healthy due to strong 
demand from the emerging countries.  Moreover, the Comilog company forecasts production of 3.3 million tonnes in 2007 and 3.5 million tonnes in 2008-2009. Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 19 
 
 
112. In the case of the Ndjolé manganese mine, wo rk on the construction of infrastructure for 
exploiting this mineral began in 2006.  Production is expected to start in 2008. 
113. The Government will place special emphasis on the development of mining.  In this regard, it 
plans to start construction of the infrastructure nece ssary to begin developmen t of the Belinga iron ore 
deposit. 
114. In addition, the feasibility studies on the niobium deposit at Mambounié have been 
completed.  The work of exploitin g this deposit will start in 2008. 
III.5 Transport 
115. The strategy for developing transport infrastru cture encourages public-private partnership and 
broadly involves: 
- Meeting demand for the transport of passe ngers and goods as efficiently, safely and 
cheaply as possible; 
- providing support for economic activity and na tional and subregional integration;  
and 
- generating added value. 
116. The Government envisages promoting growth infrastructure because of its impact on the 
economy and employment.  The mode rnization and construction of new road infrastructure will lead 
to the development of many related activities. 
117. In the case of airport facilities, the Government  has initiated studies for the construction of the 
new Libreville airport at MALIBE II. 
118. The Government also envisages the rehabilita tion and modernization of ten provincial 
airports.  The policy of strengthening infrastructure will provide Gabon with roads, bridges and ports. 
III.6  Tourism 
119. The Government has revised its overall vision of tourism in recent years by incorporating the 
"ecotourism" option. 
120. The forthcoming validation of the ecotouris m master plan reconciles conservation and 
environmental protection aspects with economic considerations. 
121. The investment to be made in the devel opment of ecotourism through the creation of 
13 national parks gives the sector an opportunity – together with other branches such as business 
tourism, congress and conference tourism, cultural tour ism and sports fishing – to play a key role in 
the diversification of the Gabonese economy. 
122. These various schemes offer new opportunities to  Gabonese populations which will benefit 
from the direct and indirect spin-offs by positioning  themselves to participate in the implementation 
of community tourism projects. WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 20 
 
 
123. In order to attract private investment, the G overnment has enacted an order on the regime 
applicable to investment in tourism.  The orde r provides tax incentives to economic promoters in the 
tourism sector. 
III.7 Environment 
124. The Government is continuing its polic y of reconciling the objectives of economic 
development and environmental c onservation.  It therefore undertakes to continue the various 
strategies and planning exercises in the sector which have been in place for some years, in particular 
the national strategy on biodiversity which seeks: 
(1) To improve the contribution of activities for the protection of ecosystems and 
conservation of biodiversity with a view  to increasing the participation of the 
environment sector in the national economy; 
(2) to incorporate environmental concerns in the management of natural resources; 
(3) to establish waste collection and pro cessing and regular maintenance of sewage 
systems in urban areas. 
125. For persistent organic pollutants (POPs) re gulated by the Stockholm Convention to which 
Gabon became a party in May 2007, a national implem entation plan has already been validated.  The 
national biosecurity plan (control of GMOs) is  currently going through the validation process. 
126. In agroforestry, Gabon, as a party to the Ro tterdam Convention on the trade in hazardous 
chemicals and pesticides, now bans  the import and use in the country of certain chemical products 
such as Aldrine and any containing pentachlorophenol.  Other chemical products used in the 
manufacture of chemical weapons are also ba nned under commitments entered into following 
ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention. 
127. Finally, at national level, the Government is studying the introduction of an environment tax. 
Firstly, that it would institute a system of taxati on of products which contribute to degradation of the 
environment.  Secondly, it would create a national environment fund to finance the national policy on 
protection and improvement of the environment.  At  the same time, an amendment to Law No. 16/93 
of 26 August 1993 on the protection and improveme nt of the environment (Environment Code) is 
under consideration. 
III.8 Telecommunications 
III.8.1 Telecommunications services 
128. The Gabonese telecommunications services market  has undergone profound changes in 2007 
with final steps being taken to privatize th e incumbent operator GABONTELECOM and its mobile 
telephony subsidiary LIBERTIS, which has been sold  to a private operator.  The State enterprise 
GABON POSTE was wound up to make way for a new State institution:  LA NOUVELLE POSTE.  In the mobile telephony sector, Gabon has renegotia ted the licences awarded to the three private 
operators (CELTEL, LIBERTIS and MOOV).  The particular feature of the new licences is that they 
were awarded for a financial consideration, whic h was not the case when the market was opened a 
few years ago. 
129. Finally, the Government has set up two agenci es to regulate the respective activities of the 
postal and telecommunications services. Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 21 
 
 
III.9 Financial sector  
III.9.1 Banking and insurance 
130. In the absence of a financial market, this sector is characterized by poor support by banks to 
enterprises, prohibitive interest rates and the difficulty for the banks of accepting guarantees and 
ensuring recovery of loans granted.  Despite th e banks' excess liquidity, mobilization of long-term 
capital, paradoxically, is still a major obstacle to th e financing of the economy.  While the insurance 
sector is fairly well developed, microfinance a nd housing finance are still embryonic.  The Gabonese 
Development Bank has just established a subsidia ry, the Gabon Housing Bank (BHG), to finance 
social housing.  In 2007, Gabon began restructur ing the Fund for Development and Expansion 
(FODEX) to support small and medium-sized enterprises and microcredit. 
III.9.2 Microfinance  
131. In 2001, microfinance activity was extremely em bryonic in Gabon, despite the existence of a 
few institutions created in the framework of cooperation between the International Fund for 
Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Ministry of Agriculture.  The survey carried out during that 
year by the Banking Commission showed that 13 in stitutions entered the market, but most of them 
disappeared for lack of follow-up.  The loan portf olio stood at 47.2 million francs and the stock of 
deposits was 32.4 million for 2,449 customers. 
132. Since 2002, this activity has been governed by Regulation 
No. 01/02/CEMAC/UMAC/COBAC concerning cond itions for the exercise and control of 
microfinance activity in the Central A frican Economic and Monetary Community. 
133. In 2005, there was an enormous increase in  activity following the accreditation of three 
establishments, two of which were in the first tier ( Caisse d'Épargne Crédit  AGASS and Caisse 
FEMO d'Épargne et Crédit ) and one in the second tier ( Financière Africaine de Micro projets  – 
FINAM). 
134. This development, which affects both gatheri ng of resources and employment, was reflected 
in an increase in the number of customers to 8,67 0, outstanding loans of 332.5 million francs and a 
stock of deposits valued at 310.7 million francs. 
135. In 2006, the activity continued to grow in  terms of both gathering of resources and 
employment.  The number of customers incre ased to 10,348, the loan portfolio stood at 
571.6 million francs and the stock of depos its was valued at 591.5 million francs. 
III.9.3 The Stock Exchange 
136. Gabon's financial marketplace hosts the Central African Stock Exchange.  Its establishment 
reflects the wish of the CEMAC zone authorities to  complete the system for financing the economies 
of its member countries by establishing an instrument capable of mobilizing resources more effectively and providing  businesses and governments with fundi ng mechanisms better suited to 
certain investment needs. 
137. A market trading place already exists in the form of the Central African Stock Exchange 
(BVMAC), which is expected to commence trading in securities (primary market) in 2007, while the 
secondary market should be launched in 2008.  Thus, in 2007, the CEMAC adopted the regulations on 
the tax regime of the stock exchange.  These regulati ons grant temporary tax benefits (three years) to WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 22 
 
 
companies accepted for listing and also in respect of the products and financial instruments on the 
Libreville Stock Exchange. 
138. Stock exchange activity will be regulated by a Central African Financial Market Supervisory 
Commission (COSUMAF) whose role is to protect savings invested in fi nancial products, monitor 
investor information, ensure that the financial market operates efficiently and participate in the 
development of financial regulations. 
139. For three years, this institution has been orga nizing information and training seminars in 
CEMAC zone countries to prepare its economic opera tors.  In 2006, it approved two stock broking 
firms (SFA Gabon and BGFI Bourse) which will act  as intermediaries when the market starts 
operations. 
IV. GABON AND THE MULTILATERAL TRADING SYSTEM 
140. As a founder member of the WTO, Gabon is a participant in the current WTO negotiations 
under the DOHA Development Agenda. 
141. In this context, Gabon places special emphasis on the negotiations relating to the gradual 
liberalization of trade in services. 
142. Thus, an improvement to the schedule of specific commitments was made in 2004.  Gabon 
added the telecommunications subsector to its schedul e, an unprecedented step in the Central African 
subregion. 
143. In addition, Gabon's unilateral action in the nego tiations on trade in services is complemented 
by support to friendly countries, especially in the context of the African Group and the ACP countries,  
as well as support to the African countries involved in the sectoral initiative on cotton. 
IV.1  Implementation of the Agreements 
IV.1.1 Tariff bindings 
144. It was at the end of the multilateral trade negotiations of the Uruguay Round that Gabon 
bound all its tariff lines, both for agricultural prod ucts (60 per cent) and non-agricultural products 
(15 per cent). 
145. Although Gabon has had no difficulty in respecting its bound rate commitment for 
agricultural products, especially those in categories 1 and 2, it is experiencing serious difficulties in 
doing so for non-agricultural products, since this commitment is at varian ce with CEMAC rates of 
duty. 
146. The rates applied by Gabon on some 40 per cent of tariff lines exceed those bound in 
Schedule XLVII.  Unfortunately, there is nothing Gabon can do about this as it does not have its own 
national tariff.  The CEMAC alone has the power to modify the applicable rates. 
147. Faced with this situation, Gabon must engage in new negotiations with its CEMAC partners 
on the Common External Tariff (CET) with a view to reducing rates.  In the past, it has been 
hampered in taking this step by the other Stat es' frequently expressed fear of a fall in customs 
revenues, their principal source of budget finance. Gabon WT/TPR/G/188 
 Page 23 
 
 
148. The negotiations conducted by the CEMAC in the framework of the EPAs may provide a 
definitive solution to the problem through the binding of all country tariffs at the subregional level. 
IV.2  Intellectual property 
149. Gabon, along with the other member States of  the African Intellectual Property Organization 
(AIPO), signed the Agreement Establishing the WT O on 15 April 1994 in Marrakesh and with it the 
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intelle ctual Property Rights (TRIPS).  The TRIPS 
Agreement establishes rules such as the new minimum standards concerning, inter alia , the 
availability, scope and effective enforcement of rights. 
150. As member States are required to incorporat e these rules in their legal systems, Gabon, 
together with its AIPO partners, immediatel y embarked upon a major review of the Bangui 
Agreement to align it with the TRIPS Agreement.  The process was concluded by the plenipotentiaries of the member States at Bangui on 24 February 1999.  The revised Agreement has been in force since 28 February 2002 and regulat es industrial property in each of the 16 member 
States.  It should be noted that, for each of its member States, the AIPO serves as the national industrial property office and provides a common syst em of administrative procedures for registering 
the various ownership rights. 
151. To monitor implementation of the TRIPS Agreemen t, the Government has not only set up the 
Industrial Property Centre of Gabon (CEPIG) but has also converted the Anti-Counterfeiting 
Administrative Unit formed in 1999 into the An ti-Counterfeiting and Unfair Competition Bureau 
within the CEPIG.  Another Bureau has also been  formed to combat pira cy within the National 
Agency for Promotion of the Arts and Culture (ANPAC). 
152. It should be noted that the CEPIG, which is governed by Law No. 014/2002 of 
28 January 2003, is responsible, among other things, for: 
- Combating breaches of industrial property law, especially counterfeiting and unfair 
competition;  
- ensuring and promoting the protection and use of industrial property throughout the 
national territory; 
- organizing, coordinating and directing awar eness raising and information campaigns 
on industrial property throughout the national territory; 
- receiving all national requests for industrial property rights prior to their transmission 
to the AIPO. 
153. The task of administering and protecting copy right and related rights was entrusted to the 
National Agency for Promotion of the Arts and Culture (ANPAC) which was formed in 1982.  Its 
activities were suspended in 1997 and then resume d in 2001.  Law No. 1/87 gave the ANPAC the 
authority to administer copyright, although it has never used that authority.  Since 2001, however, its main task has been to establish th e mechanisms necessary for effec tive management of copyright and 
related rights in Gabon.  To date, the Governme nt has adopted two (2) texts in application of 
Law No. 1/87:  one establishes the tariffs and the ot her the general regulations governing the tripartite 
relations between author, user and collective management society. 
154. It should also be noted, however, that the ANP AC will not have the task of administering 
copyright.  Instead, the Government has opt ed to establish a Gabonese Copyright Bureau WT/TPR/G/188 Trade Policy Review 
Page 24 
 
 
(BUGADA), a body better suited for the purpose.  Draf t legislation on its establishment is currently 
under consideration. 
IV.3  Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanita ry Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to 
Trade (TBT) 
155. Concerning sanitary and phytosanitary measur es, Gabon received support from the FAO for 
the establishment and equipment of two laboratories (plant protection and food control) which require 
additional support to make them operational. 
156. On 30 November 2004, Gabon established a National Committee for the Registration of 
Pesticides, pursuant to Order No. 2149/PM/MAE DRDHM.  Draft legislation on plant protection, 
taking into account the new international pr ovisions, is in course of preparation. 
157. The Ministry of Agriculture controls all im ported food products, including fish products.  The 
Ministry also regulates exports of fish products (mainly locally processed products) to the subregion.  The sanitary status of fish products still needs to  be improved, especially those which are locally 
produced. 
158. To enable domestic products to be competitiv e and to access the international market, a 
Centre for Standardization and Technology Transfer (CNTT) was established by Order 
No. 003/PR/2005 of 11 August 2005.  It is now operational. 
159. The Government set up a Quality Control Laborat ory in the 1990s to control the quality of 
imported or locally produced food products and comm odities and to prevent epizootic crises, which 
have been of frequent occurrence in recent years, both in Europe and in Asia (mad cow disease, avian 
influenza, …).  Its accreditation and certification to European Standard NF EN 17025 is currently in 
progress. 
160. Upon the appearance of avian influenza in th e subregion, Gabon took a number of measures, 
namely: 
- Establishment of an interministerial co mmission and, attached to it, a National 
Technical Commission, by Order No. 000013/PM of 11 May 2006; 
- suspension of imports of poultry, eggs, da y-old chicks, poultry products and pet birds 
from countries infected with avian influenza (Order No. 000174/MAEDR/SG/DG). 
161. Gabon reiterates its request for FAO and WT O assistance to enhance its capacity to 
implement the WTO Agreements.  
__________