Describes the country's standards landscape, identifies the national standards and accreditation bodies, and lists the main national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies.
Last Published: 3/1/2019

Overview

Benin’s national standards body develops and implements its own national standardization and certification policy, including for building construction, electricity, and agribusiness.  It coordinates national standards development work and ensures the promotion, adoption, and voluntary use of standards.  It implements the national certification scheme for products and services and operates the national conformity marking system.  It promotes the quality and reliability of products, goods, and services, including for environmental protection.  However, Benin has also adopted regional standards such as the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other internal standards.
The European Union has recently provided Benin with assistance to establish a laboratory to test foodstuffs and medication.

Standards

The Benin Agency for Standardization and Metrological Service and Quality Control Management (ANM) grants approval for and disseminates government standards on all products and services.  Many standards in Benin are adopted from international standards organizations such ARSO (African Organization for Standardization), ISO (International Standardization Organization), or AFNOR (French Agency for Normalization).  Benin is also member of SMIIC (the Standards and Metrology Institute of Islamic Countries).

Contact:
Email: Contact@anmbenin.com
Tel: +229 21310449
Fax: +22921310459
Website: www.anmbenin.com

NIST Notify U.S. Service

Member countries of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to report to the WTO all proposed technical regulations that could affect trade with other Member countries. Notify U.S. is a free, web-based e-mail subscription service that offers an opportunity to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that can affect your access to international markets.
Register online

Conformity Assessment

Conformity assessment for products other than food is conducted by ANM. The Food Safety Control Agency (ABSSA) deals locally with food product conformity assessment, the Ministry of Health’s Pharmacies Directorate for locally made and imported pharmaceutical products, and the Applied Nutrition and Food Agency (DANA) for import food products.
Product Certification
ANM, ABSSA, DANA and the Ministry of Health’s Pharmacies Directorate are the only product certification agencies, depending on the type of products.

Accreditation

ANM, ABSSA, DANA and the Ministry of Health’s Pharmacies Directorate are the only agencies authorized to issue certifications for imports and exports.  Pharmaceutical products are tested by Benin’s Pharmaceutical Products Control Office. Test certificates from seasoned foreign laboratories are accepted.
Publication of technical regulations
State owned newspaper “La Nation” is the national gazette posting technical publications.

Contact Information

ABSSA
            01 BP 362
            Cotonou, Benin
            Email: abssabenin@yahoo.fr
           
Animal Husbandry Department/Direction de l’Elevage
            Contact: Dr. Byll Orou Kerou Gado
            Tel: +229 21331815
 
            Pharmaceutical Products Control Office/Direction de Pharmacies
Ministry of Public Health
            Contact: Mr. Fernand Gbaguidi        
            Tel. /Fax: +229-21332178

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.


More Information

Benin Market Access Trade Development and Promotion