A Certificate of Conformity or CoC is a mandatory document which is necessary for Customs clearance of exports to many countries around the globe.

The Certificate of Conformity shows that the goods being exported comply with the relevant technical regulations and national, regional or international standards of the country of import.

These certificates of conformity must be issued by an approved regulatory body once the goods have been tested based on requirements set by the country of import. To name some examples, testing may be required to prove that:

• Dangerous and flammable products are correctly manufactured and packed.
• The goods are of an industry related safety and quality standard.
• The goods are of a quality fit for human consumption.
• The goods are not counterfeit.

A certificate of conformity may be issued based on product testing done by the supplier if adequate and reliable test results are available. If this is not possible the regulator must oversee testing. In either case, a shipment inspection is done to ensure the goods are in line with what the importer expects.

Regardless of regulations, an importer may request that their supplier provides testing and inspection as part of their sales agreement. This is called a pre-shipment inspection (PSI) and would be proven by a pre-shipment inspection certificate which is very similar to a certificate of conformity.

Whether required or not, the benefits of trading with certificates of conformity are:

• Protection of consumers against dangerous, sub-standard or counterfeit products.
• A means of discouraging unethical or environmentally detrimental trade.
• Protection of the domestic industry from unfair competition of poor-quality imports
• A guarantee to the buyer that the goods ordered are those shipped.
• Quicker and easier trade operations. It is unlikely that port authorities in the country of import would require inspection and testing of a shipment already accompanied with a certificate of conformity.
• Automatic compliance to recommendations of the World Trade Organisation “Technical Barriers to Trade” agreement.
• A general means of enhancing the quality of exports.

Here is a list of countries who currently require certificates of conformity:

• Algeria
• Botswana
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Egypt
• Ecuador
• Ethiopia
• Gabon
• The Gulf Cooperation Council
• Ghana
• Indonesia
• Iraq
• Kenya
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Liberia
• Libya
• Mali
• Morocco
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia
• Tanzania – including Zanzibar
• Togo
• Zimbabwe

Do you need a certificate of conformity to export to any of these countries?

Contact our consultants to be informed about the conditions and the details of obtaining CoC.

UPDATED IN 12.26.2023