Algeria: New import restrictions

On 21 October 2017 the new regulation on the importation of goods intended for resale in the state on Algerian territory came into force, based on two principles:

• « the domicile of all transactions relating to resale in the stateprior to any shipment of goods to Algerian territory ».

  The proforma invoice or the home contract must show, in addition to the usual mention:

  • The customs tariff for goods to be domiciled with presentation of the tax authority's certificate concerning the tax paid.
  • The minimum date and the maximum date of dispatch or boarding. The minimum date shall not be less than 30 days from the date of domicile
• « the constitution of a preliminary financial provision covering 120% of the import amount, at the time of residence, at least 30 days before shipment of the goods. This provision is to be made at the level of the home bank, in the form of deposits and/or by allocation to the credit lines duly opened by the banks for the benefit of certain customers. ».

However, in the face of a shielding of producers-importers, the bank of Algeria clarified the following points:

With these exclusions from the scope of the regulation, the Algerian authorities want to avoid difficulties for domestic producers in supplying abroad.

Imports subject to bank domicile and/or dispatch before the date of 22/10/2017

and/or

import operations finished products serving as inputs in domestic production,

will not be affected by the measures of the instruction of the Bank of Algeria N°05/17 of 22 October 2017.