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Wildlife & wildlife products
- Permits per consignment
  - Wildlife & wildlife products export permit
    - Export permit for wildlife & wildlife products (Non-CITES)
    - Export permit for wildlife & wildlife products (CITES)

Inorganic fertilizers
- Preliminary registrations , licences and certificates
  - Register on the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP)
- Permits per consignment
  - Import Declaration Form (IDF)

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AfCFTA Market Requirements

AfCFTA framework for Kenyan exporters

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) brings together fifty-five countries of the African Union and the Regional Economic Communities to create a single continental market. The Agreement entered into force on 30 May 2019 and trading commenced on 1 January 2021. Kenya signed on 21 March 2018 and was among the first Member States to deposit its instruments of ratification, on 10 May 2018, and it participates in the pilot phase of the Guided Trade Initiative.

For an exporter, the AfCFTA is a set of instruments to be worked through for each product and each destination.

Tariffs. Each State Party applies its own schedule of concessions, so the rate is not uniform across the continent. The AfCFTA e-Tariff Book gives the applicable rate, phase-down category and corresponding rules of origin once the exporting country, importing country and HS code are entered.

Rules of origin. Preference applies only to goods that qualify as originating. Consignments of USD 5,000 and above require a Certificate of Origin, issued in Kenya by the Rules of Origin Section of the Kenya Revenue Authority; alternatively an Approved Exporter may make an Origin Declaration on the invoice or another commercial document. A proof of origin is valid for twelve months from issue. Small packages between private persons (up to USD 500) and goods in a traveller's personal luggage (up to USD 1,200) need no proof of origin.

Other requirements. Prohibited and restricted goods lists are set nationally and must be checked for the destination market. An advance ruling from the importing country's customs administration settles tariff classification and origin before shipment, and is worth obtaining before a first consignment. Where a trade obstacle arises, the non-tariff barrier mechanism under Annex 5 allows the private sector to file a complaint for resolution within set timelines, and a Dispute Settlement Mechanism operates between State Parties.

Conformity determines whether the goods can enter the market at all; the destination's tariff offer and the origin status of the goods determine only the rate they pay on entry. A consignment that does not qualify as originating still moves, but at the full MFN rate.

The five priority products and their target markets. To analyse the market requirements under this framework, five priority Kenyan export products were identified: palm oil (HS 1511), corrugated cartons (HS 4819), luminaires and lighting fittings (HS 9405), air conditioners (HS 8415) and fertilizer (HS Chapter 31). Kenya's exports of all five already move almost entirely within its established preferential neighbourhood, East African Community Customs Union and COMESA markets, where the goods already enter duty-free under an older instrument. Each product was therefore analysed against an illustrative destination lying outside both blocs, reached only under the AfCFTA regime and selected for the size or structure of its demand for that product. This tests genuine AfCFTA access rather than trade already covered by existing preferences, and responds to the concentration revealed in the trade data, where a single neighbouring market often takes a third or more of a product's exports.

Export of palm oil (HS 1511) from Kenya to Congo

Regulatory requirements in Kenya. A palm oil export consignment passes through several regulatory and certification agencies. The exporter must first register with the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), register on KenTrade’s Trade Facilitation Platform, and complete KEPHIS export registration, including issuance of the phytosanitary certificate. The exporter must also obtain an export health certificate and a certificate of analysis from an accredited laboratory. Where the destination country grants AfCFTA preferential treatment, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) issues a certificate of origin upon proof of Kenyan origin. Exports to EAC markets additionally require KEBS standardization, a requirement that does not generally apply to other African markets. The consignment is subsequently declared to KRA Customs through the Single Window System. Applicable product standards include KS EAS 301:2013 and Codex CXS 210, with testing supported by evidence from an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory. In addition, edible oils placed on the Kenyan market are subject to mandatory vitamin A fortification requirements.

Certification for the destination market. Congo operates a mandatory pre-shipment conformity programme, the Programme de Certification de la Conformité des Produits (PCEC), administered by the Congolese standards agency ACONOQ through two appointed certification bodies, Cotecna and Bureau Veritas. Verification takes place in Kenya before the goods ship: the Congolese importer initiates the request, the appointed body inspects the cargo locally, and the Certificate of Conformity is issued to the shipper. Congolese customs rejects a consignment that arrives without it, so the process must be agreed with the importer at contracting stage rather than at dispatch. The exporter's laboratory results against the CXS 210 composition parameters fatty acid profile, acid value, peroxide value, moisture and impurities form the core of the certificate file. Labels must be in French and English, which is a production change for an exporter whose EAC labels are in English and Kiswahili, and fortification and composition requirements under ACONOQ standards should be confirmed with the certification body during the first certification cycle.

Customs requirements at destination. Congo applies the CEMAC common external tariff of 10% on crude palm oil (1511.10.00) and 30% on refined oil and other fractions (1511.90.00). Both lines sit on the CEMAC AfCFTA exclusion list, so no preferential rate is currently available and consignments are costed at full MFN. VAT of 18% is charged on the customs value plus duty rather than on the CIF value alone, so it compounds on top of the 30%, and community levies add about 1.5% of CIF value. The importer clears the goods with the commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, certificate of origin, the PCEC Certificate of Conformity and the health certificates; destination health clearance may involve further laboratory inspection. Import licensing on the Congolese side is handled by the importer.

For more information click here

Export of luminaires and lighting fittings (HS 9405)

Regulatory requirements in Kenya. A luminaire export consignment requires registration on KenTrade’s Trade Facilitation Platform and compliance with applicable product and energy-performance requirements. For exports to EAC markets other than Rwanda, KEBS product certification and the applicable Standardization Mark are required, based on KS IEC 60598 and the relevant lamp and LED standards. Luminaires must also meet EPRA energy-performance and labelling requirements and applicable NEMA e-waste and environmental compliance requirements. Where AfCFTA preference is claimed, KRA issues the Certificate of Origin upon proof of Kenyan origin. The consignment is then declared to KRA Customs through the Single Window System, supported by the relevant commercial, product-compliance, origin and transport documents.

Regulatory requirements in Nigeria. A luminaire that is KEBS-marked in Kenya is not automatically accepted in Nigeria. Lighting fittings are on Nigeria's regulated products list and must be certified under the SONCAP scheme, run by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria through appointed inspection bodies including Bureau Veritas, Cotecna, SGS and Intertek, before customs clearance. The scheme has two linked outputs: a Product Certificate confirming the model conforms to the Nigerian Industrial Standard or equivalent IEC standard, such as IEC 60598, on the basis of accredited test reports obtained either per shipment (Route A), through product registration valid for about a year (Route B), or as a licensed manufacturer with an audited quality system (Route C) and a SONCAP Certificate issued per shipment against a valid Product Certificate, without which the consignment is not released. Nigeria also applies minimum energy performance and quality requirements to lighting products through SON standards and the national energy efficiency programme, so current efficacy thresholds should be confirmed per model, and NESREA administers e-waste and extended producer responsibility controls, with Minamata rules applying to mercury-containing lamps.

Import process and clearance at destination. Every regulated import is initiated by the Nigerian importer opening a Form M through an authorised dealer bank on the national single window, before the goods move, with the SONCAP Certificate and product documents attached. Nigeria Customs then issues a Pre-Arrival Assessment Report, which sets classification, valuation and duty and is the basis for clearance on arrival. The clearance file comprises the Form M, the SONCAP and Product Certificates, commercial invoice and packing list, transport document, certificate of origin and the accredited IEC 60598 safety and efficacy test reports. Documentation is in English, which lowers the practical barrier relative to a francophone or lusophone market. The binding constraints are the one-off SONCAP product registration, which takes weeks to months, and the pre-shipment Form M and certificate chain not the tariff. A registered model shipped with a valid SONCAP Certificate and accredited test reports clears smoothly; an uncertified product is refused entry, so coordination with the Nigerian importer must begin well before shipment.

For more information, Click here

Export of corrugated cartons (HS 4819)

Regulatory requirements in Kenya. A corrugated and packaging exporter registers on KenTrade’s Trade Facilitation Platform and, for EAC destinations, obtains KEBS product certification and the applicable Standardization Mark based on the relevant Kenyan standards for paper, paperboard and corrugated packaging. For AfCFTA destinations outside the EAC, such as Mozambique, the exporter instead complies with the importing country’s applicable conformity requirements. Where preferential treatment is claimed, KRA issues the AfCFTA Certificate of Origin upon proof of Kenyan origin. The consignment is then declared to KRA Customs through the Single Window System, supported by the relevant commercial, origin and transport documentation.

Regulatory requirements in Mozambique. Three national actors govern imports: the National Institute of Standardization and Quality (INNOQ-IP), which operates the conformity assessment programme established under Decree No. 8/2022 and sets the technical standards; the tax authority, which clears goods through the electronic single window operated by MCNet; and the National Directorate of Trade, which licenses importers. Portuguese is the language of documentation and labelling. The product is judged on the physical parameters that define carton quality, verified against the declared grade: bursting strength and edge crush or box compression appropriate to the grade and the load carried; declared grammage of liner and fluting, with ply and flute construction matching the specification and the certificate of analysis; dimensional accuracy, squareness and print registration within tolerance so the box performs on the packing line and in stacking; and controlled moisture content, which is the most common physical failure in humid coastal handling. Cartons intended for food or horticultural use may additionally require food-grade board and migration compliance, to be confirmed with the importer and INNOQ by end use.

Conformity assessment and clearance at destination. Pre-shipment inspection is mandatory for imports into Mozambique, and for products on the Mandatory Control List a Certificate of Conformity must be obtained before customs clearance. INNOQ oversees the programme and has appointed Intertek to conduct the assessment and issue the certificate, which confirms that the goods were tested in ISO/IEC 17025-accredited or INNOQ-recognised laboratories against the applicable standard. The programme operates per shipment; where no certificate is available at customs submission, the declarant may request verification at destination, the "Route D" option, which is slower and carries the risk of delay and demurrage. The clearance file comprises the importer's licence, the Certificate of Conformity where applicable, commercial invoice and packing list, transport document, certificate of origin, the single-window declaration and the pre-shipment inspection report. The binding constraint is destination conformity and pre-shipment inspection neither the tariff nor origin, since converting paper into boxes confers Kenyan origin outright. The exporter should confirm whether corrugated packaging currently falls within the Mandatory Control List and, in any event, ship with a credible manufacturer's certificate of analysis and accredited strength and grammage test reports, so that any inspection merely confirms what the paperwork already states.

For more information, click here

Export of air conditioners (HS 8415) from Kenya to Ghana

Regulatory requirements in Kenya. An air conditioner exporter registers on KenTrade’s Trade Facilitation Platform and, for EAC destinations, obtains KEBS product certification and the applicable Standardization Mark based on KS IEC 60335 for electrical safety and KS 2463 for room air conditioner performance. Each model must also meet EPRA energy-performance and labelling requirements. Units pre-charged with HFC refrigerant additionally require a NEMA refrigerant licence or permit under the EMCA (Controlled Substances) Regulations 2024 and the Montreal Protocol, though that regime is not yet operational. Where AfCFTA preference is claimed, KRA issues the Certificate of Origin upon proof of Kenyan origin. The consignment is then declared to KRA Customs through the Single Window System, supported by the relevant commercial, product-compliance, origin and transport documentation.

Regulatory requirements in Ghana. The same three concerns reappear at destination, under three different agencies. The Ghana Standards Authority is the competent authority for high-risk goods, including electrical appliances: the importer must register with the GSA, and the consignment must be supported by a certificate of analysis or conformance referencing the applicable standard, preferably issued by a competent laboratory in the exporting country. The Energy Commission sets the minimum energy performance standards, and these are the binding technical hurdle. Rules tightened on 1 December 2025: for units below 4kW cooling capacity, the minimum Annual Energy Efficiency Ratio is 3.22 for inverter units and 3.66 for fixed-speed units; imports under the old 2005 regulation are prohibited, non-compliant units arriving after that date are liable to be re-exported, and the updated energy label system becomes fully mandatory from July 2026. Registration, testing and labelling must be complete before the goods clear the port, and because the thresholds and label are set nationally, a unit built only to the Kenyan minimum may fall short and be refused. The Environmental Protection Authority administers Montreal Protocol controls on the refrigerant charge: the gas must be an accepted, non-ozone-depleting type such as R-410A or a lower-GWP alternative, permit or quota rules may apply, and the refrigerant type must be declared consistently on the unit, the invoice and the conformity file.

Conformity assessment and customs at destination. The Ghanaian importer lodges the declaration through the Integrated Customs Management System single window, with the commercial invoice and packing list, transport document, certificate of origin, the GSA conformity evidence, the Energy Commission model registration and label, and any EPA refrigerant permit. On arrival the goods undergo visual inspection of the product label and assessment of quality attributes at the point of entry, with random samples drawn for laboratory verification; where assessment cannot be completed within 24 hours, conditional release to an approved warehouse may be requested pending the final determination. The two structural bottlenecks are the front-loaded model registration and energy efficiency approval, which run from weeks to months before the goods move, and the destination conformity check, which runs from one day to two weeks. The tariff is not the constraint: a model that is pre-registered, correctly labelled and shipped with accredited safety and energy performance test reports clears with minimal friction, while an unregistered or under-efficient model can be held, re-tested or re-exported.

For more information, click here

Export of fertilizer (HS Chapter 31) from Kenya to Benin

Regulatory requirements in Kenya. Fertilizer export requirements vary by product type. Every exporter registers on KenTrade’s Trade Facilitation Platform and clears the consignment through KRA Customs. Where preferential treatment is claimed, KRA issues the AfCFTA Certificate of Origin upon proof of Kenyan origin. For inorganic and mineral fertilizers, KEBS product certification and the applicable Standardization Mark are required for exports to EAC Partner States, based on the relevant KS 158 and KS 2290 series standards, supported by product testing and composition analysis. A certificate of analysis from an accredited laboratory and the applicable radioanalysis certification are also required. For organic and bio-fertilizers, KEPHIS exporter registration, risk assessment and phytosanitary controls apply, including the relevant product inspection and certification.

Regulatory requirements in Benin. The product standard is regional: ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 harmonises fertilizer quality control across all fifteen member states, overseen since 2023 by the West African Committee for Fertilizer Control, so a formulation compliant for one ECOWAS market is substantially compliant for Benin, but the national authorisations are not transferable. Three separate approvals must be in place before any product moves: product registration or homologation, which requires the full technical data sheet, guaranteed composition, source materials, directions and precautions, supported by bio-efficacy and safety test reports from an approved research centre, and which takes weeks to months; approval of the importer as a licensed fertilizer dealer, including an environmental authorisation for the storage facility; and a prior import authorisation for each consignment, tied to the pro-forma invoice and time-boxed to the shipment window. The fertilizer itself is judged on declared nutrient content against the regulation's permitted tolerances over-formulation fails as surely as under-formulation together with heavy-metal limits and physical quality, where moisture is the most common failure in humid coastal handling. Ammonium nitrate and similar high-nitrogen materials are treated as dangerous goods and attract additional security controls. Labelling is part of the legal standard: the guaranteed analysis, product name and grade, net weight, manufacturer or responsible importer, batch identification, country of origin and directions for use must match the certificate of analysis and the registration exactly, and Benin is francophone, so labels and accompanying documents should be in French.

Conformity assessment and customs at destination. Benin verifies imports through its pre-shipment verification programme, operated by Benin Control SA, which produces the documentary verification attestation used to establish customs value and, for a regulated product such as fertilizer, triggers sampling and laboratory analysis against the ECOWAS tolerance table, with public capacity at the soil, water and environment laboratory in Cotonou. The clearance file comprises the importer card, the cargo tracking note (BESC/ECTN), which is mandatory for all cargo discharged at Cotonou and must be raised before shipment with its number appearing on the bill of lading, the prior import authorisation, commercial invoice and packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and the certificate of analysis or conformity. A phytosanitary certificate is required for organic fertilizers and soil amendments of plant or animal origin, but generally not for mineral or synthetic grades. The two structural bottlenecks are the front-loaded registration and authorisation before the goods move, and the destination laboratory analysis on arrival, which runs from several days to two weeks and is the single most common cause of demurrage. The tariff is not the constraint: shipping with a credible manufacturer's certificate of analysis, ideally supported by an independent pre-shipment conformity test, so that the destination analysis merely confirms the paperwork, removes the largest variable in the chain.

For more information on export of inorganic fertilizers, click here and for Export of organic fertilizers, click here

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