Rwanda Trade Portal

Initial procedures

Export

COMMODITIES

Green coffee

A Coffee export license is an official permission to conduct a particular export transaction. For exporting coffee from Rwanda, you will need to obtain a coffee export license from the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). It is valid for one year and renewable on request.

Certificates of origin and quality (initial)

A certificate of origin refers to a document that attests in which country export goods have been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed. It is issued by the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB); and is necessary to profit from trade agreements that grant to certain export products from Rwanda preferable market access.

A certificate of quality, also issued by NAEB, specifies the type and grade of the coffee to be exported.

Tea

Tea export license (initial)

A tea export license is an official permission to conduct a particular export transaction. For exporting tea from Rwanda, you will need to obtain a coffee export license from the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB). It is valid for one year and renewable on request.

Certificate of origin (initial)

Certificate of origin refers to a document that attests in which country export goods have been obtained, produced, manufactured or processed. It is necessary to profit from trade agreements, such as existing arrangements with EAC, COMESA or EU countries; that grant to certain export products from Rwanda preferable market access.

Animal products

International veterinary certificate (initial)

International veterinary certificate is issued by Rwanda Agriculture and Livestock Inspection and Certification Services (RALIS) and attests that the exporter observed international laws and regulations, national laws, and those as applied in the exporting country.

Plant products

Phytosanitary certificate (initial)

A phytosanitary certificate is issued by Rwanda Agriculture and Livestock Inspection and Certification Services (RALIS), attests that the plants or plant products have been inspected and are considered to be free from quarantine pests and conform with the current phytosanitary regulations of the importing country.

Horticulture export license (initial)

An export license by the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) is required for all horticulture products from Rwanda. It is valid for one year and renewable on request.

Poultry

Veterinary health certificate (initial)

The veterinary health certificate confirms, after inspection by Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB), that the products are compliant with standards defined in applicable laws concerning production hygiene, microbiological standards for foodstuffs and the health condition of animals.

Dogs and cats

Veterinary health certificate for export (initial)

The veterinary health certificate for export of dogs and cats is an official document issued by Rwanda Agriculture Board, after the pet has been examined and found free of diseases or parasites.

Processed food products

Premises destined to the manufacture, storing, sale, packaging, distribution and supply of food products must be registered with Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority

Export license for processed food products (initial)

An export license for food products may be requested by the exporter or the importing country. It is issued by the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority .

Processed non food products

RSB certification

S-Mark Product certification (initial)

Certified products are given a Standardisation Mark (S-Mark), a quality mark issued by the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and displayed on the product.

HACCP system certification (initial)

HACCP certification is an international standard defining the requirements for effective control of food safety. The Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) HACCP certification scheme is accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA).

FSMS certification (initial)

ISO 22000:2005 Food Safety Management System specifies requirements for a food safety management system where an organization in the food chain needs to demonstrate its ability to control food safety hazards in order to ensure that food is safe at the time of human consumption. The Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) FSMS certification scheme is accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA).

QMS certification (initial)

ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems is a series of standards, developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization that define, establish and maintain a quality assurance system for manufacturing and service industries.

EMS certification (initial)

ISO 14001: 2004 Environmental Management System specifies requirements for an environmental management system to enable an organization to develop and implement a policy and objectives which take into account legal requirements and other requirements to which the organization subscribes, and information about significant environmental aspects.

Pharmaceutical products

Export license for pharmaceutical products (initial)

An export license for pharmaceutical products may be requested by the exporter or the importing country. It is issued by the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority per consignment.

Medical equipment

Registration of a medical device (initial)

A company intending to manufacture, import or export a medical device must apply for a registration certificate issued by Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority. A separate application must be submitted for each medical device.

Customs clearance

Clearance of consignment destined to outside EAC (initial)

Customs declaration is registered and assessed by a clearing agent appointed by the exporter of goods. The clearing agency and/or trader are liable for all information declared on customs declaration.

Clearance of consignment at Gatuna border (initial)

PERMITS

EAC certificate of origin (initial)

The East African Community (EAC) certificate of origin is only required for goods to be exported to a country inside the EAC region.

Made in Rwanda logo

A trade mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organisation or any other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trade mark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products and services from those of other entities.

Sign Made in Rwanda licensing contract (initial)

Companies wishing to have the Made in Rwanda logo on their products submit application to Rwanda Standards Board (RSB). This logo is symbol of quality assurance and is reserved to products with at least 30% of raw materials from Rwanda.

Obtain Made in Rwanda stickers (initial)

Businesses with a valid Made in Rwanda licensing contract can order, through the Rwanda Standards Board Track and Trace System, Made in Rwanda stickers to be used on the product.

IMPORT

COMMODITIES

Cattle

Obtain import permit (initial)

An import permit for cattle is issued by the Rwanda Agriculture Board, per consignment. The consignment must be accompanied by an international health certificate from the country of export.

Fish

Obtain import permit (initial)

An import permit for fish is issued by the Rwanda Agriculture Board, per consignment. The consignment must be accompanied by an international health certificate from the country of export.

Poultry

Obtain import permit (initial)

An import permit for poutry is issued by the Rwanda Agriculture Board, per consignment. The consignment must be accompanied by an international health certificate from the country of export.

Dogs and cats

Obtain import permit (initial)

An import permit for dogs and cats is issued by the Rwanda Agriculture Board, per consignment. The consignment must be accompanied by a vaccination certificate from the country of export.

Processed food products

Import visa for processed food products (initial)

A visa in terms of import control is a stamp marked on the applicant's proforma invoice by national authorities of the country to indicate that the import documents have been verified and products detailed on the proforma invoice have been granted permission to enter the country.

Import license for processed food products (initial)

Prior to importation of processed food products into Rwanda, and for each consignment, the importer must obtain an import license from Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority.

Pharmaceutical products

Registration of a medical product (initial)

A company intending to manufacture, import or export a medical product must apply for a certificate of medical product registration, issued by Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority. A separate application must be submitted for each medicinal product with different active ingredients, strengths, and dosage forms, site of manufacture or proprietary names.

Import visa (initial)

A visa in terms of import control is a stamp marked on the applicant's proforma invoice by national authorities of the country to indicate that the applicant's import documents have been verified and medicines detailed on the proforma invoice have been granted permission to enter the country.

Obtain import license (initial)

An import license is a certificateſ import permit addressed to the importer after complying with the import requirements. It confirms the list of imported products and helps to clear them from customs.

Pharmaceutical wholesale license (initial)

A pharmaceutical wholesale license is issued by Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority to establishments during with human medicine or medical equipment.

Medical equipment

Import visa (initial)

Obtain import license (initial)

An import license is a certificated import permit addressed to the importer after complying with the import requirements. It confirms the list of imported products and helps to clear them from customs.