Import
Importing food products
Imports of food, additives and products of animal or plant origin are controlled by the Gabonese Food Safety Agency (AGASA) in addition to the general customs formalities. The importer must be approved, obtain an annual import authorisation and have a veterinary sanitary import certificate issued when the products arrive. Products in chapters 1 to 24 of the Harmonized System are outside the PROGEC conformity certificate.
- Steps
- 4
- Total indicative delay
- At least 1 day
- 2 steps without a published delay
- Indicative
- Total indicative cost
- Proportional or variable fees
- Indicative
- Last validation
- 22 September 2026
- Version 2
- Responsible institution
- Gabonese Food Safety Agency (AGASA)
- Freshness
- Up to date
Steps
-
Register and obtain approval as an importer with AGASA
What to do
Before any import, the business operator opens an importer account with AGASA and obtains an approval. Private individuals importing for their own consumption are only registered. Sanitary approval is divided into three categories depending on the type of establishment (industry, catering, retail, transport). According to the approval procedure published by AGASA, the application is filed at the head office, at the AGASA desk of ANPI (the investment promotion agency), at a provincial office or on the online platform. After an admissibility review, a sanitary audit of the establishment is carried out by at least two inspectors or controllers; missing documents must be provided within 15 working days of notification. Approval depends on the establishment's class: valid for one year for classes A and B, conditional for three months for class C, after which a new audit leads to a one-year approval or a refusal.
- Institution
- Gabonese Food Safety Agency (AGASA)
- Channel
- Online or at the counter
- Delay
- Issuing time not published; missing documents due within 15 working days; approval valid for one year (classes A and B) or three months on a conditional basis (class C)
- Fees
-
- Amount given to the operator by AGASA after review of the file; not published
- Documents
-
Obtain the food import authorisation
What to do
The approved operator obtains a food import authorisation valid for one year. For poultry and pork products a prior import declaration is also required; these products are inspected free of charge within 48 hours of arrival.
- Institution
- Gabonese Food Safety Agency (AGASA)
- Channel
- At the counter
- Delay
- Valid for one year; issuing time not published
- Fees
-
- Not published
- Documents
-
Have the veterinary sanitary import certificate issued
What to do
When the products arrive, AGASA issues the veterinary sanitary import certificate (CSVI) to importers who followed the procedure. The file contains the import application form signed by the AGASA director general, the CSVI form in three copies, the packing list, a copy of the certificate of origin, the original sanitary documents from the country of origin and the payment receipt.
- Institution
- Gabonese Food Safety Agency (AGASA)
- Channel
- Online or at the counter
- Delay
- Inspection of poultry and pork products within 48 hours of arrival; other products not published Official
- Fees
-
- Import fee, fresh and frozen products (order no. 006/MAEPA of 31 March 2020), 1 FCFA per kg 1 FCFA Official
- Import fee, manufactured and dry food (order no. 006/MAEPA of 31 March 2020), 0.5 FCFA per kg 0.50 FCFA Official
- Documents
-
Clear the goods through customs
What to do
The licensed customs broker files the detailed declaration in ASYCUDA World with the general documents (transport document, BIETC, invoice, certificate of origin) and the certificates issued by AGASA. A radioactivity-free certificate is required for food products. Some basic necessities benefit from a reduced 5% rate under the cost of living programme.
- Channel
- Online or at the counter
- Location
- Customs headquarters, 823 avenue Nelson Mandela, Oloumi industrial zone, Libreville, and customs offices at the port, airport and land borders
- Delay
- Average of 24 hours after a complete declaration is filed according to the authorities (WTO 2023) Official
- Fees
-
- Duties and taxes under the common external tariff and VAT
- Documents
Process diagram (BPMN)
The diagram cannot be displayed: the BPMN file is invalid.
Documents to prepare
Tick each document as you go. Official templates can be downloaded when they exist.
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Approval granted to food sector establishments in three categories, required before opening an importer account.
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Procedure for issuing the health approval (agrément sanitaire)
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Extract proving the company is entered in the trade register; required from every importer or exporter.
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Authorisation issued by AGASA to approved importers, valid for one year.
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Procedure for issuing import authorisations for food and plant protection products
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Certificate issued by AGASA when food products arrive, confirming they may be placed on the market; form completed in three copies.
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Phytosanitary import certificate (CPI) and veterinary health import certificate (CSVI), leaflet
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Detailed list of packages, their contents and weight.
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Document stating the country of origin of the goods; requested on imports into Gabon and on exports when the importing country requires it. In CEMAC trade it allows approved products to benefit from the generalised preferential tariff.
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Original sanitary or phytosanitary certificate issued by the authority of the shipping country, attached to the CSVI application.
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Receipt for payment of AGASA services (certificates, inspections).
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Written declaration lodged in ASYCUDA World by a licensed customs broker, assigning a customs procedure to imported or exported goods (articles 145 onwards of the CEMAC customs code).
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Certificate required on imports of food products, according to the WTO.
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Electronic tracking document for international and domestic freight issued by the Gabonese Shippers' Council, required by customs for sea and air imports and also charged on exports.
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Supplier invoice showing the transaction value, the basis for customs value.
Official documents
Copies hosted by Gabon Eco, as published by their publisher.
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Procedure for issuing the health approval (agrément sanitaire)
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Procedure for issuing import authorisations for food and plant protection products
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Phytosanitary import certificate (CPI) and veterinary health import certificate (CSVI), leaflet
-
Import certification procedure for containerised goods carried by sea, leaflet
Fees
| Step | Fee | Amount | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amount given to the operator by AGASA after review of the file; not published | Not published | Variable | |
| 2 | Not published | Not published | Variable | |
| 3 | Import fee, fresh and frozen products (order no. 006/MAEPA of 31 March 2020), 1 FCFA per kg | 1 FCFA | Variable | Official |
| 3 | Import fee, manufactured and dry food (order no. 006/MAEPA of 31 March 2020), 0.5 FCFA per kg | 0.50 FCFA | Variable | Official |
| 4 | Duties and taxes under the common external tariff and VAT | Not published | Percentage |
Amounts marked "official" are taken from official publications or international institutions, cited in the sources of this sheet. See the sources
Legal basis
Related procedures
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The assistant answers from the procedures and texts published on the portal, with sources.
Sources
5 sources cited
- Importation et exportation (copie archivée de agasa.site) (opens in a new tab)
- Procédures de certification des aliments (copie archivée de agasa.site) (opens in a new tab)
- Examen des politiques commerciales des pays de la CEMAC, rapport du Secrétariat, annexe 3 Gabon (WT/TPR/S/445, 16 août 2023) (opens in a new tab)
- Foire aux questions sur le programme VoC du Gabon (PROGEC), 8 avril 2021 (opens in a new tab)
- Procédure de délivrance de l'agrément sanitaire (opens in a new tab)
