CAMEROON
N/A
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Signatory of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Cameroon is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). However, the country has been an observer of the WTO GPA since 2001.
Coverage Horizontal
CAMEROON
ITA signatory?
I
II
Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on ICT goods |
Sub-pillar Effective tariff rate on ICT goods (applied weighted average)
Effective tariff rate to ICT goods (applied weighted average)
12.95%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
1.86%
Coverage: Digital goods
CAMEROON
N/A
Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on ICT goods |
Sub-pillar Participation in the WTO Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and 2015 expansion (ITA II)
Lack of participation in Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and in ITA Expansion Agreement (ITA II)
Cameroon is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II).
Coverage ICT goods
BURUNDI
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Ratification of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Lack of signature of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Burundi has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.
Coverage Horizontal
BURUNDI
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Burundi has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.
Coverage Horizontal
BURUNDI
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Lack of adoption of UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Burundi has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.
Coverage Horizontal
BURUNDI
Since January 2015
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Local presence requirement for digital services providers
Law No. 1/01 of January 16, 2015 revising the Commercial Code (Loi No. 1/01 du 16 janvier 2015 portant révision du Code de commerce)
According to Art. 18 of Burundi's Commercial Code, foreign merchants residing outside Burundi must have an elected domicile in Burundi and appoint a legal representative who has permanent residence in Burundi.
Coverage Horizontal
BURUNDI
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Lack of comprehensive consumer protection law applicable to online commerce
Burundi does not have a legal framework that applies consumer protection to online transactions. However, the Electronic Transaction Law which will cover online consumer protection is in draft state.
Coverage Horizontal
BURUNDI
Since April 2014
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Licensing scheme for e-commerce providers
Decree No. 100/97 of April 18, 2014, establishing the operating conditions for the electronic communications sector
According to Arts. 20-21 of Decree No. 100/97, any natural or legal person wishing to operate a value-added service must obtain prior authorization from the Agence de Régulation et de Contrôle des Télécommunications (ARCT, Regulatory Agency for Telecommunications). According to the Decree, value-added services include the exploitation of electronic commerce platforms and the operation of money transfer and mobile payment platforms. In order to apply the following documents must be submitted: a reasoned application, the identification of the applicant, the technical and financial means that it intends to use, and the concessionaire with whom it intends to establish a partnership, if applicable.
Coverage E-commerce sector
BURUNDI
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Lack of de minimis threshold
Burundi does not implement any de minimis threshold, which is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties. However, there is an informal reported threshold of USD 100.
Coverage Horizontal
BURUNDI
N/A
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Self-certification for product safety
It is reported that the homologation process in Burundi does not require local laboratory testing or contact with local representatives. However, a product sample can be requested from the authority for viewing.
BURUNDI
Since April 2014
Pillar Quantitative trade restrictions for ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Other import restrictions, including non-transparent/discriminatory import procedures
Decree No. 100/97 of April 18, 2014, establishing the operating conditions for the electronic communications sector
According to Art. 17 of the Decree No. 100/97, importers of electronic communications equipment must register and obtain validation and authorizations of intent to import from Telecommunications Regulatory and Control Agency (ARCT).
Coverage Importers of electronic communications equipment
BURUNDI
Since September 2018
Pillar Content access |
Sub-pillar Licensing schemes for digital services and applications
Law No. 1/19 of September 14, 2018 amending Law No. 1/15 of May 9, 2015 governing the press in Burundi (Loi No. 1/19 du 14 septembre 2018 portant modification de la loi No. 1/15 du 9 mai 2015 régissant la presse au Burundi)
According to Section 3 of the 2018 Press Law, the "Conseil National de la Communication" (CNC) is entitled to unilaterally distribute and withdraw a press card to journalists with high discretion, including electronic media. It is reported that this results in some journalists not getting the press card, and reportedly media organizations have tried to be involved in the issuing of the press cards but failed.
Coverage Media
BURUNDI
Reported in April 2015 and May 2020
Pillar Content access |
Sub-pillar Blocking or filtering of commercial web content
Presence of social media platform blocking cases
It is reported that in May 2020, on presidential election day, the government blocked access to social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and YouTube. It is also reported that in April 2015, the Agence de Régulation et de Contrôle des Télécommunications (ARCT) instructed all telecom operators providing mobile internet to block access to social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and Telegram for 10 days.
Coverage YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Telegram
BURUNDI
Since May 2015, last amended in September 2018
Pillar Intermediary liability |
Sub-pillar Monitoring requirement
Law No. 1/19 of September 14, 2018 amending Law No. 1/15 of May 9, 2015 governing the press in Burundi (Loi No. 1/19 du 14 septembre 2018 portant modification de la Loi N. 1/15 du 9 mai 2015 régissant la presse au Burundi)
Art. 76 of the Law No. 1/19 regulating the media, provides that media organisations are responsible for any articles published on their portals, even where the person published anonymously. This provision has been in forced since the establishment of Law No. 1/11 of June 4, 2013 amending Law No. 1/025 of November 27, 2003 governing the press in Burundi. Furthermore, Art. 62 establishes that the press organs authorized to operate are obliged to refrain from broadcasting or publishing content that is contrary to morality and public order.
Coverage Media organizations