Database

Browse Database

BENIN

N/A

Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Self-certification for product safety
Lack of self-declaration of conformity (SDoC)
It is reported that type approval procedures in Benin are regulated by the Autorité Régulation des Communications Electroniques et de la Poste (ARCEP). The homologation process in Benin does not require local laboratory testing or contact with local representatives. However, a product sample can be requested from the authority for viewing.
Coverage Horizontal

BENIN

Since December 2018

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Decree No. 2018-552 of 12 December 2018 approving the Bylaws of the Société Béninoise d'Infrastructures Numériques "SBIN S.A." (Décret No. 2018-552 du 12 Décembre 2018 portant approbation des statuts de la Société Béninoise d'infrastructures Numériques « SBIN S.A. »)
According to Art. 1 of Decree No. 2018-552 of 12 December 2018, the State is the sole shareholder of the telecommunications company SBIN S.A, which is therefore fully state-owned.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

BENIN

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Functional/accounting separation for operators with significant market power
Requirement of accounting and functional separation for dominant network operators
It is reported that Benin mandates functional and accounting separation for operators with significant market power (SMP) in the telecom market.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

BENIN

N/A

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Signature of the WTO Telecom Reference Paper
Lack of appendment of WTO Telecom Reference Paper to schedule of commitments
Benin has not appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

BENIN

Since April 2018, last amended in December 2020

Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition  |  Indicator Presence of an independent telecom authority
Law No. 2017-20 of 20 April 2018 on the Digital Code in the Republic of Benin (Loi No. 2017-20 du 20 avril 2018 portant code du numérique en République du Bénin)
The Post and Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) is the Authority in charge of regulating electronic communications and postal services. The Regulatory Authority is an independent administrative structure with legal personality and financial and management autonomy. It carries out its missions in an independent, impartial, fair and transparent manner (Art. 113 of Law No. 2017-20).
Coverage Telecommunications sector

BENIN

Since May 2009

Pillar Cross-border data policies  |  Indicator Ban to transfer and local processing requirement
Law No. 2009-09 of 22 May 2009 Dealing with the Protection of Personally Identifiable Information (Loi No. 2009-09 du 22 mai 2009 portant protection des données à caractère personnel en République du Bénin)
Section 43 of Law No. 2009-09 provides that the transfer of personal data to another country or an international organisation requires prior authorisation from the Regulator.
Coverage Horizontal

BENIN

Since September 2020

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Law No. 2020-26 of 29 September 2020 on the Public Procurement Code in the Republic of Benin (Loi No. 2020-26 du 29 septembre 2020 portant code des marchés publics en République du Bénin)
Art. 77 of Law No. 2020 - 26 provides for a specific preference for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Any candidate for a public contract who plans to subcontract at least 30% of the total value of the said contract to one or more MSMEs benefits from a margin of preference that may not exceed 5%. In addition, notwithstanding the provisions relating to Community preference, when a public contract is awarded, a preference of 5% must be given to the tender submitted by an MSME. This preference rate may be combined with the Community preference rate of 15%.
Coverage Horizontal

BENIN

N/A

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Signatory of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC 752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Benin is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) nor does it have observer status.
Coverage Horizontal

BENIN

Since March 2020

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Benin Investment Code 2020 (Loi No. 2020- 02 du 20 Mars 2020 portent Code des investissements en République du Benin)
According to the Benin Investment Code of 2020, which establishes the general conditions, advantages and rules applicable to domestic and foreign direct investments in Benin, legal persons of foreign nationality shall not receive less favourable treatment than that granted to legal persons of Beninese nationality (Art. 11).
Coverage Horizontal

BENIN

Since July 2019

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Screening of investment and acquisitions
Decree No. 2019-216 of 31 July 2019 setting the Terms and Conditions for the Granting of Licenses, Authorisations, and the Conditions for Making the Declaration relating to the Exercise of Electronic Communications Activities in the Republic of Benin (Décret No. 2019-216 du 31 Juillet 2019 fixant les Modalités d'Octroi des Licences, des Autorisations et des Conditions de Réalisation de la Déclaration relatives à l'Exercice des Activités de Communications Électroniques en République du Bénin).
Art. 13 of Decree No. 2019-216 states that any change of control, direct or indirect, of a licensed telecom operator and any acquisition of interest by an operator, directly or indirectly, in the capital of a licensed operator, is subject to authorisation by the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers may oppose the modification of the license, the transfer of the license, or the change of control of a licensed operator to safeguard public order or security or for the demonstrated inadequacy of the technical or financial capacity of the proposed new reference shareholder to meet the obligations resulting from the license, among others.
Coverage Telecommunications sector

BENIN

Since February 1999, entry into force in February 2002, last amended in December 2015
Since December 2019, entry into force in March 2020

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Practical or legal restrictions related to the application process for patents
Bangui Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African Intellectual Property Organization, Constituting a Revision of the Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African and Malagasy Office of Industrial Property (Bangui (Central African Republic), 2 March 1977) (Accord de Bangui relatif à la création d'une organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle, constituant révision de l'Accord relatif à la création d'un Office Africain et Malgache de la Propriété Industrielle (Bangui (République centrafricaine), le 2 mars 1977)

Regulations on the profession of Authorised Agent before the African Intellectual Property Organization (Règlement sur la profession de Mandataire agréé auprès de l'organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle)
According to the Bangui Agreement, ratified by 17 French-speaking States, including Benin, applicants resident outside the territory of the Member States must file through an agent selected in one of those Member States (Section III, Art. 8). The professional status of agent accredited to the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) is governed by the Regulations on the profession of Authorised Agent before the OAPI.
Coverage Horizontal

BENIN

Since February 1987

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Benin is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal

BENIN

Since March 1977, as amended in December 2015, entry into force in November 2020
Since April 2006

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Copyright law with clear exceptions
Bangui Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African Intellectual Property organisation, Constituting a Revision of the Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African and Malagasy Office of Industrial Property (Bangui (Central African Republic), 2 March 1977) (Accord de Bangui relatif à la création d'une organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle, constituant révision de l'Accord relatif à la création d'un Office Africain et Malgache de la Propriété Industrielle (Bangui (République centrafricaine), le 2 mars 1977)

Law No. 2005-30 of 5 April 2006, on Copyright and Related Rights of the Republic of Benin (Loi No. 2005-30 du 5 avril 2006 relative à la protection du droit d'auteur et des droits voisins en République du Bénin)
The Revised Bangui Agreement is a regional intellectual property law that is not only a regional convention applicable in all member states but also serves as a national intellectual property law in Benin and each of the other member states. The Revised Bangui Agreement contains provisions on copyright in Annex VII: Chapter IV (Limitations to Economic Rights) and establishes a regime of copyright exceptions. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. In addition, Title IV of Law No. 2005-30 also provides a list of exceptions.
Coverage Horizontal

BENIN

Since April 2006

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Copyright Treaty
WIPO Copyright Treaty
Benin has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

BENIN

Since April 2006

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Benin has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal

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