Certificate of conformity (COC / VOC)
Document attesting that a product meets the norms and standards of the country of destination, mandatory in many African and Middle Eastern countries.
Certificate of conformity (COC / VOC)
A certificate of conformity (Certificate of Conformity — CoC, or Verification of Conformity — VoC) is a document attesting that a product meets the standards and technical regulations of the country of destination.
Verification programs
Many countries have implemented mandatory compliance verification programs: Algeria (CNIS program), Saudi Arabia (SASO), Ivory Coast (VOC program), Kenya (PVoC), Nigeria (SONCAP), Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Iraq, Kuwait.
Products affected
Programs generally cover consumer products, electrical equipment, construction materials, toys, pressure vessels, food products and vehicles.
Procedure
The exporter submits the technical documents and samples to an approved certification body (SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas, TÜV). After tests and verification, the certificate is issued and transmitted to the customs of the country of destination.
Consequences in the event of absence
Without a valid certificate of conformity, goods are blocked at the port of destination, subject to penalties, or even turned back or destroyed. Costs (demurrage, storage, reshipment) can be considerable.
Tip
Check the compliance requirements of the destination country from the commercial negotiation phase and integrate the cost and certification times into the shipping schedule.