Benin - 1 Country Profile

image-20240213113331-1

Generic Information

The Republic of Benin is from north to south a long stretched country in West Africa, situated east of Togo and west of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north by Burkina Faso and Niger, in south by the Bight of Benin, in the Gulf of Guinea, that part of the tropical North Atlantic Ocean which is roughly south of West Africa. Benin's coastline is just 121 km (75 mi) long. With an area of 112,622 km² , officially the Republic of Benin, should not be confused with the Kingdom of Benin or Benin City, which is part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The population numbered 13.35 million inhabitants in 2022 with a fertility index of 5.7 children per woman and a life expectancy of 61.2 years.

The country gained its independence from France on August 1st, 1960, as the Republic of Dahomey. In 1975, its name was changed from Dahomey to Benin, as the political boundaries of the country not only encompass the territory of the ancient Kingdom of Dahomey but cover over fifty distinct linguistic groups and nearly as many individual ethnic groups.

Benin’s official capital is Porto Novo, though the government, the presidency of the republic and diplomatic representations are in Cotonou.

For a generic country overview, please consult the following sources:

Wikipedia Country Information

IMF Country Information

Economist Intelligence Unit*

Humanitarian Info

World Food Programme

UNDP Benin

Facts and Figures

Wolfram Alpha

World Bank

Population Information

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

Benin, a narrow, north-south strip of land in West Africa, lies between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer. The country's latitude ranges from 6o30N to 12o30N and its longitude from 10E to 3o40E. It extends from the Niger River in the north to the Atlantic Ocean in the south, which represents distance of 700 kilometres (about 500 miles). The coastline is estimated at 121 kilometres (about 80 miles), whereas the country measures about 325 kilometres (about 215 miles) at its widest point. It is one of the smaller countries in West Africa: eight times smaller than Nigeria, its neighbour east. It is, however, twice as large as Togo, its neighbour to the west. A relief map of Benin shows that it has little variation in elevation.

TOPOGRAPHY

Benin can be divided into five natural regions: A coastal area, low, sandy and bounded by lagoons; A plateau zone called "La terre de barre" made of iron clay cut with marshy dips; A silica clayey plateau with wooded savannah extending North of Abomey to the foothills of the Atakora hills; - A hilly region in the Northwest, the Atakora, with elevation ranging from 500 to 800 metres and constituting the water reservoir for Benin and Niger Republics; Niger plains which are vast fertile silica-clayey areas.

VEGETATION

The forest thins out considerably in the centre and gives way to grassland. Elsewhere, cultivated crops predominate, including the immense palm groves of lower Benin and the coconut plantations on the 124 kilometres long coastline and along the lagoon.

Benin - 1.1 Humanitarian Background

Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

Natural Disasters
Type	Yes / No	Comments / Details
Drought	Yes	Benin is characterized by unusually dry conditions. This is due primarily to two important factors. Firstly, the situation of the coast which is rather well protected from western winds; secondly, the Atakora Barrier in the West and Northwest, which decreases the amount of rainfall
Earthquakes	No	From the past 50 years ago. There was not any significant Earthquake in Benin.
Epidemics	Yes	The following diseases are of concern in Benin: meningitis, Cholera, Lassa fever, diarrhoea, tuberculosis, AIDS, yellow fever and malaria. Further info here. The first case of dengue fever was observed in May 2019 in the Atlantic department of Benin. Between April 26 and July 29, 2019, the epidemic spread to the Littoral and Ouémé departments. Link. The COVID-19 pandemic has spread around the world. Benin recorded the first case of Covid-19 in March 2020 and the number of confirmed positive cases increased to 2683 confirmed cases and the country deplores 41 deaths related to COVID-19 as of October 29, 2020.
Extreme Temperatures	Yes	In Benin, winter, from November to January, is hot: in the north it's often torrid, and highs can exceed 35 °C (95 °F), while along the coast it's less hot, with highs around 31/32 °C (88/90 °F), but more humid, and with a bit of cloudiness in the morning. In the Centre and north, a wind from the desert blows in winter, called Harmattan, which can fill the sky with dust and make it white, creating a peculiar mist in the early hours of the day. Moreover, nights are cool in the north, and sometimes even cold, so that the lowest records are about 5 °C (41 °F). Climate to travel in Benin
Flooding	Yes	Cotonou, as in all large coastal cities, is exposed to rising water levels. Experts and institutions responsible for the issue of global warming monitor and alert on the issue. The economic capital of Benin is indeed threatened, because water is eating away at the land. Furthermore, the water level of the Niger and Ouémé rivers has risen. This poses a risk of flooding in several municipalities in Benin in the period from August 17 to 20, 2023. According to the flood alert bulletin from the Interinstitutional Forecast and Alert Unit (CIPA), the Ouémé River reached a level of 924 cm in Zagnanado and 675 cm in Bonou. The populations of the municipalities under threat are Zagnanado, Bonou, Adjohoun, Malanville and Karimama. Link
Insect Infestation	Yes	Link
Mudslides	Yes	Due to heavy rains during the rainfall seasons, some lands and soils are abusively deteriorated in the north and plateau zones.
Volcanic Eruptions	No	There are no known active volcanoes in Benin.
High Waves / Surges		Benin has about 120 coastlands opening to Atlantic Sea (located in Guinea Golf). The country is very exposed to any eventual tsunami or floods which can be caused by high waves in case of major earthquake happened in the ocean
Wildfires	Yes	Despite of some strong measurements adopted by the Benin government to sensitize the local population; the country remained exposed to wildfires during the dry seasons. Wildfires are usually caused by traditional hunters who continue to hunt wild animals in the large forest reserves.
High Winds	Yes	The harmattan, a hot and dry wind coming from the Sahara, blows across the entire territory during the dry season. Regular updates here
Other Comments	No
Man-Made Issues
Civil Strife	Yes	Despite its profile as a stable country in the sub region, Benin knows enough strikes due to the presence of the many layers of civil societies who claim to oppose to some political and economic reforms initiated by the various passed governments and actual government that been known the country. That's situation is exposing Benin to an unpredictable civil strike.
International Conflict	Yes	Considered a country spared from the jihadist threat since the start of the armed conflict in the Sahel zone, Benin suddenly became, in February 2022, the victim of three terrorist attacks in the W national park. This park is shared between Benin, Niger and Burkina Faso. Nowadays there are terrorist threats, banditry, and the risk of kidnapping in the area located less than 50 km from the borders with Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria in the departments of Atacora, Alibori and Borgou.
Internally Displaced Persons	No	N/A
Refugees Present	No	N/A
Landmines / UXO Present	No	N/A
Other Comments	Food insecurity during the lean season. the water contamination due to the households remained without potable water, malnutrition in the regions.

For more detailed database on disasters by country, please see this link

Calamities and Seasonal Effects

Seasonal Effects on Transport
Type	From (month) to (month)	Comments
Primary Road Transport	The primary roads are in majority in good conditions as they are asphalted and paved by locations. Rare construction projects exist by this around in the country. Some recent constructions are noted ended around 2015 to deserve borders to Nigeria (asphalted road-Segbana wara, Mallanville-Iloua and Ndali-Nikki-Chicandou). However, there was a parfait rehabilitation road project done between Perere and Biro. But, in some parts of the north of the country can be affected during the rainy season especially between Ndali - Djugu and Natintingou.	May - October
Secondary Road Transport	The secondary roads are generally poor roads which can be deteriorated very quickly in the rainy season making them impracticable for heavy and some categories of the lighter vehicles.	May - mi-November
Rail Transport	The rail transport is very poor exclusively the old train is still functioning between Parakou and Cotonou. Transporting some goods.	In all seasons
Air Transport	The heavy rain and storms in the rainy season might cause some delays of flights in Cotonou international airport. The small aerodromes in Parakou, Kandi are in very poor condition. Not national or international flight are being noted.	May - November
Waterway Transport	The port of Cotonou suffers from congestion sometimes due to heavy flows of maritime traffics and especially during the rainy season.	May - November

The season of cotton harvest in the north of the country, has a big impact on the trucks availability. In Benin, transporters have become accustomed to cash payments (Cash and Carry). Most of the transporters doesn’t have legal documents or cannot declare the exact number of his trucks. As a result, truck owners prefer to divide themselves into small groups of truck owners with the only objective to simply continue their business without attracting the attention of tax departments to pay huge amounts of road transport taxes. The farmers and merchants are using the cheapest trucks owned by individuals or some small companies. They use the type of trucks suitable for their transport are mainly from 25 to 35 mt or even less due to the bad roads from different locations (especially in the north-west and centre). Most of the secondary and tertiary roads are in bad condition as well as it is difficult for heavy trucks (more than 20 mt) to use them during the rainy season.

Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling (economic, social, climate…)
Activity	Comments	From <month> to <month>
Storage	It is very difficult to find big storage capacity in Benin. There is no high limited storage structure in all over the country. Only the cotton factories have big storages.	January to December
Handling	Due to the high rate of unemployment, daily workers are available around the year.
Other	Due to the limited capacity in storage and the difficult transportation during the rainy season, it is highly recommended to pre-position humanitarian assistance (Food, NFI and other) closer to the beneficiaries before the rainy season.

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

The Government asked the Coordination of the UN agencies to work together with the ministries and the UN system through a programme which brings all agencies and institutions of the United Nations System together to work towards the realization of Benin's development strategy. It is based on one of the integrated policies and services, and the real-time monitoring of the joint action plan. A leader and leadership of the Country Teams is based on mutual accountabilities of each agency, with a strengthened coordination function led by the Resident Coordinator, with the involvement of all members of the Country Team to reach the expected results of the UN in Benin. The single budget framework provides a holistic and transparent view of the entire UN contribution in the country as it relates the planning and costs of all Single Program activities. A Common Operation allows for the implementation of common operations and more efficient common services. A Common Communication facilitates coherence in messaging and advocacy on standards and operationalization. It allows a harmonized strategic dialogue of the Country Team vis-à-vis national and international partners.

More information are available via thus link.

Humanitarian/Development Community.

Agency	Address	Contact numbers	Type of operations
UNICEF	01 BP 2289 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 30 02 66/ (229) 21 30 09 42	Child protection
UNFPA	01BP.506 Zone Résidentielle - Lot 115 - Cotonou	Tel: (+229) 21 31 53 66/ 21 31 44 13	Gender equality, improvement of health
UNDP	01BP.506 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 31 30 45 / 46 / 79	Reduction of poverty, fight against HIV/AIDS, Development
OIT	01 BP 4853 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel/Fax: (+ 229) 21 31 01 76	Workers’ Rights, Workers’ Health
UNDSS	01BP.506 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 31 30 45 / 46 / 79	Safety and security of UN operations in the country
FAO	01BP 1369 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 31 42 45 - 21 31 44 29	Food Security
OMS	01 B.P. 918 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21-30-19-07/21-30-17-53	Health
IOM	08 BP 1066 Cotonou – BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 30 28 98/99	Refugees, Immigration protection
WORLD BANK	03B.P.2112 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 30 58 57 - 21 30 58 97 - 21 30 58 49 - 21 30 17 77	Financial and technical support to the poor countries
IMF	08 BP 989 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 30 14 31	Fight against poverty, Loan to the country in financial difficulties
Banque africaine de développement (BAD)	Immeuble DIBOUSSE 3ème Etage, Aile Gauche Boulevard de la Marina. Cotonou – BENIN	Tel : (+229) 90 30 40 42	Financial and technical support to the poor countries
Banque ouest-africaine de développement (BOAD)	01 BP 268 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 31 59 35	Financial and technical support to the poor countries
UNESCO	01 BP 506 Cotonou - BENIN	(+229) 95 05 39 69 - 97 27 74 41 (+229)20 21 30 12- 21 31 30 45 (+229)21 31 30 46 - 21.31.30.79	Culture, communication, Information, education and sciences
ONUSIDA	01BP.506 COTONOU -BENIN	Tel/Fax: (+229). 21.30.43.74	fight against HIV/AIDS
ONUHABITAT	01BP.506 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 31 30 45 / 46 / 79	Environment healthy, City Development
WFP	BP. 506, Cotonou, BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 30 09 73 & 21 31 55 03	Food security
UPU	06 BP 2114 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 33 43 08	Universal Access to communication
Catholic Relief Service USCC	01 BP 518 Cotonou -BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 30 85 38	Relief and development
SNV (Organisation Néerlandaise de Développement)	01 BP 1048 Cotonou -BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 31 35 59	Community development
OXFAM Québec	04 BP 171 Cotonou -BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 30 04 50	Advocacy and development
UNOPS	01 BP 506 Cotonou -BENIN	Tel: (+229) 91473838	Projects and services
USAID	01 BP 2012 Cotonou -BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 30 05 13/ 21 30 17 92	US Gov Aid and development agency
USADF	08 B.P. 546 Cotonou -BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 31 60 67	Aid and development agency
Plan International	08 BP 699 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 30 39 51/ 21 30 64 97	Community development
PSI (Population Services International)	08 BP 0876 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) +229 96 95 13 83	Sexual and reproductive health
Enabel (Belgian Development Agency)	02 BP 8118 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 30 59 37	Belgian Development Agency
GIZ	08 BP 1132 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 31 03 95	German Development Agency
CARITAS Benin	04 BP 1213 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 14 14 52/	Relief and development
AFD (Agence Française de Développement)	01 BP 38 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 31 35 80 /21 31 35 81	French Development Agency
UNCDF	01 BP 506 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : +(229) 21 31 30 45	Development and industries
UNHCR	08 BP 1066 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 30 28 98/ 21 30 28 99	Refugee
Care International	60 BP 1153 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 30 44 00	Relief and development
Handicap International	C/130, rue 6.060 Aïdjèdo, Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 32 06 67	Relief and development
Médecin sans frontières (MSF)	01 BP 3943 Cotonou - BENIN. Lot B5 c/316, Rue 374, Cotonou	N/A	Medical and humanitarian aid
Médecins du Monde Suisse (MdM)	04 BP 1087 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 30 50 78	Medical and humanitarian aid
AFRICARE	04 BP 806 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 30 20 12	Community Development
Aide et Action	08 BP 0591 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 30 65 11	Community Development
American Peace Corps	01 BP 971 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 31 47 81	International solidarity and Community Development
Croix Rouge Allemande	01 BP 504 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 32 08 95	Relief
NEPAD	08 BP 803 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel : (+229) 21 31 70 79	Development
SOS Village d'enfant	01 BP 82 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 03 92 67	Child protection
Terre des Hommes	04 BP 924 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 30 72 92	Community Development
World Peace	01 BP 1852 Cotonou - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 21 61 32 63	Nutrition and child protection
Croix Rouge Beninoise	BP 01 Porto-Novo - BENIN	Tel: (+229) 95 74 78 82	Relief

Benin - 1.2 Regulatory Departments and Quality Control

Benin Regulatory Narrative

Benin is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and is also a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

The UEMOA’s main objective is the construction, in West Africa, of a harmonized and integrated economic area, within which is ensured a total freedom of movement of persons, capital, goods, services and factors. production, as well as the effective enjoyment of the right of exercise and establishment for the liberal professions, residence for citizens throughout the Community.

The Republic of Benin has considerably implemented its capacity of Legislation, Regulations and International Relations. Each ministry oversees and prepare its different legislative text projects and regulations for the departments to submit to the parliament for adoption.

The Secretary General of the Government is the permanent organ responsible for coordinating the administrative activity of the Council of Ministers. In this capacity, he/she is responsible to: coordinate the administrative activity and ensure the secretariat of the meetings of the Council of Ministers; submit to the Council of Ministers the necessary documents for decision-making; ensure the preparation of draft texts resulting from the deliberations of the Council of Ministers; monitor the implementation of decisions taken by the Council of Ministers; prepare all draft circulars and instructions from the Head of Government; plan and organize government seminars to build the capacity of government members; ensure the proper preparation of the files that each member of the government is entitled to present before the National Assembly; ensure the preparation and regular maintenance of the upstream Inter-ministerial Committee of the Council of Ministers; participate in the preparation of speeches by the Head of State of the Nation; ensure the regular adoption, publication and dissemination of international laws, ordinances and commitments.

The ministry of Finance and Economy oversees the Customs law regulations. The Ministry of Economy and Finance has the mandate of designing, re-elaboration, implementation, monitoring and reassessment of government policy matters in Economic, Finance and Budget.

In Benin, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) is strongly represented. It has an international public institution headquartered in Dakar, Senegal. It is the issuing institute common to the member states of the West African Monetary Union (WAMU). When it was founded on May 12, 1962, it united the Republics of Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Senegal and the Togolese Republic.

Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP), has in charge the supervision, control and regulation of its sectors. It defines and implements the agriculture, Livestock and Fishery policies and the structure of the functioning.

The Direction Nationale d’Alimentation Scolaire (School feeding National Direction), directly attached to the Ministry of the Primary National Education, design and regulate guides and guidelines for school feeding in the country. That Direction works directly with WFP in the large programme of PNASI (Programme National d’ Alimentation Scolaire intregrée).

The Minister Delegate for the Budget shall, as delegated by the Minister of Economy and Finance, manage the functions relating to the preparation and execution, taxation and customs. 

The National Direction of Customs and the National Office of Control of Quality are together in charge of controlling the quality of all the food entering the country by issuing the Economical Police and the Phytosanitary certificate applied.

For more information on regulatory departments and quality control laboratories’ contact details, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.3 Laboratory and Quality Testing Company Contact List.

https://www.gouv.bj/ministeres/

Benin - 1.3 Customs Information

Customs Information

Duties and Tax Exemption

For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link below: 

Benin government Customs contact list click here.

Further information about Customs clearing process click here.

Emergency Response:

Agreements / Conventions Description	Ratified by Country? (Yes / No)
WCO (World Customs Organization) member	Yes, 09 Nov 1998
Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention	Yes
OCHA Model Agreement	No
Tampere Convention (on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations)	Yes, 18 Jun 1998
Regional Agreements (on emergency/disaster response, but also customs unions, regional integration)	N/A

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

[Note: This section should contain information on the usual duties & taxes exemption regime during non-emergency times, when there is no declared state of emergency and no streamlines process (e.g. regular importations/development/etc.).]

Benin is signatory to the UN Convention on privileges and immunity. This means that UN agencies cannot be prosecuted in Beninese courts. In fact, due to a strong view of Benin’s govt understanding of humanitarian operations, cargos imported by UN agencies remained under tax free process. Only roads generate a total of taxes based on 1% of the CIF value of humanitarian cargos transported (i.e., 0.15% with for inland and 0.85% for hinterland transportations). However, Benin continues to play a important role of the humanitarian cargos corridor for some of its neighbouring countries (mainly Niger Republic).

The Customs Administration is one of the financial authorities placed under the supervision of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance. In accordance with Order No. 2022-457 of July 27, 2022, relating to the Duties, Organization and Operation (AOF) of the General Director of Customs, the organization chart of the DGD is as follows:

Organizational Requirements to obtain Duty Free Status
United Nations Agencies
In Benin, the latest info on customs procedures can be found at the Ministry of Finance and the General Director of Customs and the customs web site detailed in French. Latest info on immigration can be found at the Ministry of Homeland, Security and Territorial Administration (Ministère de l’Intérieur de la Sécurité et de l’Administration Territoriale - MISA). The United Nations Agencies have been requested for their customs duty-free to proceed through the Clearing agencies. The request must consist of a letter: “Demande d’Exonération Diplomatique” or FDI (Foreign direct investment), and the following documents: UN Project identification Original Bill of loading Airways bill or consignent note Type of items Numbers of items Certificate of value Cetificate of origin Gift Certificate The mentioned documents adding to the original request letter (+ 3 copies) are then submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Benin. One copy is given to the clearing Agent. Usually, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs responds within 2 weeks, with a signature of acceptance of the UN agency request.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the only authority allowed to sign the document. The signed letter from the Ministry is given to the clearing agent, who issues the exemption request form and submits it together with the Exemption to customs for the customs waiver for the National Direction of the customs.
Non-Governmental Organizations
NGOs are requested to present following documents for their imports: Original B/L Airway bill or consignment note Type of items Numbers of items Invoice NGOs must also have a gift certificate (donation certificate) which proves to local authorities that goods are not for resale and are a donation to be used for humanitarian purposes.

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

Duties and Taxes Exemption Application Procedure
Generalities (include a list of necessary documentation)
UN Agencies: The UN Agency concerned must write a letter requesting a duty and taxes waiver to the national customs office in Cotonou. The Agency must also include all the above-mentioned documents and the signed letter of “Demande d’Exonération Diplomatique” (DED). Imported cargos cannot be released without the national customs office’s reply. For the NGOs, at the onset of activity in the country, the best way for the organisation is to get a sort of “Memorandum of Understanding”, called “Convention d’Etablissement” which is signed by the Ministry of Interior & Security. This Ministry sends a signed protocol to the Ministry under which the NGO “depends”, (for example NGOs working with WASH projects will discuss with different Ministries of health, Agricultures, Waters and Forests). This procedure facilitates a lot the imports into the country. Indeed, all Non-Government Organisations have to write a letter requesting a duty and taxes waiver to the national customs office national Direction in Cotonou, but this needs to go through the Ministry of the concerned activity (usually health, agriculture or education) with the set of documents attached. When the NGO obtains a duty waiver, the organisation will have to pay for: Redevance de Traitement des Liquidations = RTL: 1% on CIF value of the concerned goods. CIF Value (CFA) + RTL (in CFA) = calculation basis of VAT if goods concerned are subjected to VAT application (See above).
customs code in the Republic of Benin

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Duties and Taxes Exemption Certificate Document Requirements (by commodity)

	Food	NFI (Shelter, WASH, Education)	Medicines	Vehicle & Spare Parts	Staff & Office Supplies	Telecoms Equipment
Invoice	Yes, Original, 3 copy, UN and NGOs	Same	Same	Same	Same	Same
AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents	Yes, 3 copy, UN and NGOs	Same	Same	Same	Same	Same
Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates	Yes, 3 copy, UN and NGOs	Same	Same	Same	Same	Same
Packing Lists	Yes, 3 copy, UN and NGOs	Same	Same	Same	Same	Same
Other Documents	Import licence from Food & Drugs Authority		Import Licence from Food & Drugs Authority			Permit from The National Telecommunication Authority
Additional Notes
Confirms to the customs that WFP is exempted from import/export related duties, as per the agreement with the government. All medicines should be registered at the Food & Drugs Authority otherwise a deposit of 10% of the CIF value will be required until the registration of the medicine at the customs Direction is finalized.

Customs Clearance

General Information 

Customs Information
Document Requirements	Invoice from Supplier, Packing List, Customs Declaration Form which is printed by the importer after the validation of the entries of details and relevant documents related to the consignment into Benin Customs Management System operated by SYDONIA and related systems++ for Final Classification and Valuation Report. Supported by the Bank Payment Receipt and Relevant Permits. Requests for certificate (DED) can be obtained from the Customs Liaison office called “Bureau d’identification” in the national Direction of Customs in Cotonou. Then assessment is carried out by the Bureau of the clearing agent with the importer who is expected to provide evidence of compliance. The office of the clearing agent will carry out the conformity assessment of the goods of the consignment prior its export to Benin. The assessment is based on documentary review (including review of existing conformity evidence), testing, verification of markings and/or inspection. At the end of the process, a final Report of Findings is issued when the conclusion of the assessment is satisfactory. The final report is provided to the Importer in Benin for Customs clearance. In case of non-compliance, a Non-Conformity Report is issued in place for the Clean Report.
Embargoes	Some medicines imposed by WHO such as Valium
Prohibited Items	Narcotics, pornographic materials
General Restrictions	Arms and ammunitions need authorisation from the Ministry of Interior and security. Benin wants to ban the entry into its territory of frozen chickens and eggs from December 2024 to stimulate the supply of poultry products. Transceivers need authorisation from Ministry of Interior. Medicines (other than personal use) need authorization from the Ministry of Health. Protected species, plants and seeds and jewellery.

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

Customs Clearance Document Requirements (by commodity)

	Food	NFI (Shelter, WASH, Education)	Medicines	Vehicles & Spare Parts	Staff & Office Supplies	Telecoms Equipment
D&T Exemption Certificate	Yes, Original, 3 copy, UN and NGO	Same	Same	Same	Same	Same
Invoice	Yes, Original, 3 copy, UN and NGO	Same	Same	Same	Same	Same
AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents	Yes, Original, 3 copy, UN and NGO	Same	Same	Same	Same	Same
Same	Same	Same	Same	Same	Same	Same
Packing Lists	Yes, Original, 3 copy, UN and NGO	Same	Same	Same	Same	Same
Phytosanitary Certificate	Yes, Original, 3 copy, UN and NGO	No	No	No	No	No
Other Documents	Appropriate import permit	N/A	Appropriate import permit	N/A	N/A	Appropriate import permit
Additional Notes
The Benin government requires inspection and certification from National Laboratory of Quality and Standards on the High Risk Goods as Food Products, Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics & Medical devices, Electrical appliances, Electrical products (bulbs, switches & sockets), Electrical cables, Electronic products, LPG Cylinders & accessories, Toys, Chemicals and allied products, Building materials, Used goods (second – hand clothing), Petroleum products, Pyrotechnic products, Motor vehicle batteries, Alcoholic and non-alcoholic products, African textile prints, Arms and ammunition, Machetes/Cutlass, Vehicle spare parts and industrial machinery

Transit Regime

Transit goods is a Customs regime by which goods destined to other countries enter the country through one entry point and leave the country by road or rail through another entry/exit point. The goods are normally covered by a security /bond. The goods in transit may be tracked by satellite, electronically monitored, or by human escort; for these services a fee may be charged. The main transit routes are:

Cotonou- Parakou- Malanville Border (Juxtapose Zone)
Cotonou--Parakou- Ndali- Nikki-Chicandou Border
Cotonou-Parakou- Garou- Iloua Border
Cotonou-Bohicon-Djougou-Ouake Border
Cotonou-Bohicon-Djougou-Natitingou-Porga
Cotonou-Parkou-Ndali-Kandi-Segbana (Wara Border)
Cotonou- Seme Krake (Juxtapose Zone)
Cotonou-Ouida- Kome-Lokossa-Dogbo-Aplahoue Border
Cotonou-Ouida-Kome-Grand Popo-Hilaconji Border
Cotonou-Porto Novo-Sakete-Pogbe_Ketou-Ilara
Cotonou-Ouida-Kome-Athuème Border

Transit operators are advised to follow the assigned routes as well as to keep the customs seals or tracking devices intact to avoid tax evasion. 

Some platforms and warehouses are installed in certain borders for Customs regime by which imported goods are stored in a bonded place without the payment of import duty and other taxes on the goods at the entry point. This Customs indulgence affords the importer the opportunity to defer the payment of duty and other taxes until the goods are delivered for home consumption or are re-exported. The under-mentioned goods may be bonded place within the period indicated against them:

Type of Good	Allowable Period
General Goods	12 months
Perishables	3 months
Raw Materials	Up to 2 years

It's important to note that in Benin, there will be no option for the re-storing of general goods. Perishable goods may, however, be re-stored for a limited period of only one month upon application and approval by the Commissioner of Customs. 

List of the approved customs commissioners click here.

Benin - 1 Country Profile

Generic Information

For a generic country overview, please consult the following sources:

Humanitarian Info

Facts and Figures

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION

TOPOGRAPHY

VEGETATION

Benin - 1.1 Humanitarian Background

Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

Calamities and Seasonal Effects

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

Government

Humanitarian/Development Community.

Benin - 1.2 Regulatory Departments and Quality Control

Benin Regulatory Narrative

Benin - 1.3 Customs Information

Customs Information

Duties and Tax Exemption

Emergency Response:

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response):

United Nations Agencies

Non-Governmental Organizations

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure:

Exemption Certificate Document Requirements

Duties and Taxes Exemption Certificate Document Requirements (by commodity)

Customs Clearance

General Information

Customs Clearance Document Requirements

Customs Clearance Document Requirements (by commodity)

Transit Regime

Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response): 

Exemption Certificate Application Procedure: 

General Information 