Over 800 food and related products, construction materials, cosmetics and gas cylinders that are imported to Cameroon will as from Wednesday 31st August 2016 be subjected to pre-shipment conformity assessment.

The Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Jean Ernest Ngale Bibehe told stakeholders while presiding over a meeting to explain the new dispensation in Yaounde.

During the session, stakeholders who had assembled at the Yaounde Hilton hotel discussed what each of them is expected to contribute in the initiative. The Minister indicated that the initiative is intended to protect local consumers.

The director of promotion and capacity development at the Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Emmanuel, Thesami Mbah outlined what actually is expected from importers and exporters.

He said, each imported or exported will ensure that their products are tested and a conformity certificate issued at the port of origin before the goods begin their journey to Cameroon.

Cameroonian authorities at the port of entry will verify the authenticity of the documents before the goods are allowed to enter the country.

The new dispensation which every stakeholder has been advised to adhere to seek to prevent low quality and expired goods from entering the Cameroonian market.

It also seeks to enhance the productivity of local enterprises who are now expected to respect conformity standards before exporting.