Exporting to DRC? You now require an Eco-Certificate for products regulated under the DRC Eco-Levy Programme
Consumer Products/Appliances on reaching its End-of-Life (EoL) cycle, whether due to its condition, its obsolescence or because of the damage suffered, it must be taken care of according to the local recycling and waste management regulations. Electronic waste (e-waste) and used products, are a serious public health and environmental issue that Democratic Republic of Congo is actively addressing.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Eco-Levy programme is a self-funded end-to-end risk-based assessment programme, which includes a mechanism for performing an inspection (if required) and the collection of Eco-Levy from Exporters to support and finance the waste management for end-of-life of certain regulated products both new and used pneumatic tyres, Electrical & Electronic Equipment (EEE), etc.
Key benefit of the programme is to ensure that no waste products are exported to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) without the consent of the authorities. Intertek solely has been subcontracted by Ecologie et Développement Durable (Ecology and Sustainable Development- EDD) to collect the Eco-Levy fees for all regulated products (new and used Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE), Pneumatic Tyres etc.) on behalf of the DRC Fonds d'Intervention Pour l'Environnement (Environmental Intervention Fund - FIPE) Government Entity.
Importer and Exporter Responsibilities
Importers: Ensure their suppliers are familiar with import requirements and that their consignments are accompanied with an Eco-Certificate from Intertek.
Exporters: Ensure their products or goods meet the requirements and the Eco-Levy has been collected in the country of export/origin by obtaining the Eco-Certificate from Intertek for all regulated products subject to the programme.
Certification Process
The process starts with the receipt of the completed Request for Certification (RFC) Form and pro-forma invoice from the Exporter. Intertek will review the application and process it if the products are regulated under the DRC Eco-Levy programme and collect the applicable Eco-Levy.
- Request for inspection and Eco-Levy payments
- Collection of the Eco-Levy
- Shipment inspection (if required)
- Certification decision and issuance of Eco-Certificate
- Release of the shipment by DGDA