VI. TRADE REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS In February, 1994 Cameroon became the first state of the six-member Central African Customs Union (UDEAC) to implement a proposed new UDEAC customs code that is expected to go into effect throughout the sub-region on January 1, 1995. The new code reduces the number of taxes applied to imports from over seven to four; reduces the overall rate from a maximum 200 percent to a maximum 70 percent on the most heavily-taxed imports; simplifies custom's assessments and enables importers to project, with some measure of accuracy, the total amount payable on expected deliveries. Programmed reduction of various taxes over specified periods is an outstanding feature of the new code. Import licensing has recently been simplified. Whereas in the past a prospective importer was obliged to obtain both an "agr ment" and a "license" in order to import, only the "agr ment" is currently required. The "agr ment" is a general import licence delivered to registered businesses for a duration of two years, renewable, to cover any item that the importer may choose. Special permits are granted to individuals who desire to import such items as cars for personal use. Contractors importing equipment and supplies related to public contracts can obtain a special tax free derogation from the Ministry of Finance. The government of the Republic of Cameroon has indicated its intent to abolish export licensing during the 1994/1995 fiscal year (beginning July 1, 1994) by deregulating the export of cocoa, coffee and cotton. However, licensing will be maintained on such "strategic" products as gold, diamonds, petroleum and other hydrocarbons as well as on such ecologically-sensitive items as live animals, birds and medicinal plants (governed by the CITES Convention and Cameroon's domestic law). Cameroonian customs officials require a commercial invoice and a bill of lading (or air waybill) for all goods entering the country. Shipping marks and numbers on bills of lading should correspond exactly with those on the invoices and on the goods. Three copies of invoices are requested for surface shipments and four copies for air shipments. In addition, the Cameroonian importer has to present an import licence ("agr ment"), a permit or a derogation to customs officials. Documentation on bank transactions concerning the specific delivery is required only if the value of the imported goods is below two million CFA francs. A pre-shipment inspection certificate, the Bill of Clean Findings, delivered by Geneva-based Soci t G n rale de Surveillance (SGS), is required for shipments valued over two million CFA francs (FOB). The SGS, which verifies the quantity, quality and pricing of Cameroonian imports, is headquartered at SGS Control Services Inc, 42 Broadway, New York, New York 10004 (212/482-8700; Fax: 212/224-9122). A list of SGS field offices in the United States can be obtained from this office. Sanitary certificates, delivered by the appropriate authority in the country of origin, are also required for certain imports such as used clothing. Temporary entry has been scaled down to include only a few large importers wishing to sell on the Cameroonian market. A maximum of one year is allowed for storage, and a security bond is usually required. Storage fees are assessed from the date of landing. The importer pays customs duties on each batch of goods removed from storage until the entire stock is cleared. Government provides warehouses for temporary entry. Some large importers and freightforwarding companies also operate government-supervised warehouses for temporary admission. Goods on transit to landlocked Chad and the Central African Republic are stored in the freightforwarder's warehouse. An amount equal to the value of assessed import tax is held by customs as a guarantee. The guarantee is released when the goods are removed from the warehouse for onward delivery to destination. Labelling and packaging requirements have been removed from Cameroon's trade regulations. Prohibited imports include specific phytosanitary products, chemicals, toxic waste, cosmetics, and food items. The list of prohibited imports can be modified whenever a new item is identified for exclusion. A complete list of prohibited imports shall be available during the current fiscal year when the government releases the new General Trade Schedule (GTS) for public distribution. American companies may obtain a copy of the GTS from the Cameroonian Embassy in Washington, D. C. The Department of Price Control, Weights and Measures is responsible for standards administration in Cameroon, but its impact has so far been felt more in the area of price control. The metric system is the official standard of weights and measures. The standard electric current used in Cameroon is A.C., 50 cycles, 220-240 volts, but there are regional variations to that norm. Television operates on the PAL standard. Cameroon is transforming its telecommunications system from analog to digital technology. The telecommunications development plan has run aground as a result of lack of financing. A cellular phone service was launched in July 1993 to cover a limited geographical area. It operates on the GSM standard. While both English and French are official languages in Cameroon, French is essential to successful business transactions. The English-speaking part of the country represents only 20 percent of the population. Cameroon's Industrial Free Zone (IFZ) regime is production and export oriented. Only 20 percent of goods produced in the zone can be sold on the Cameroonian market. Cameroon belongs to all multilateral free trade arrangements except for the ATA Carnets Convention.