• Democratic Republic of the Congo

Key documents required for timber legality and trade of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Legal Existence in the DRC

  Key document Explanation Legal authority
  Signed and stamped notarial articles of association Duly approved Articles of Association. Document required for legal existence in the DRC. Notary
  Deed of deposit of the deeds or documents of the company's incorporation Document required for legal existence in the DRC. Registry of the Trade Register
  Notice of creation or amendment of the deed of partnership Publication in the official journal. Document required for legal existence in the DRC. Notary of the one-stop counter for company creation
  Excerpt from the RCCM: proof of registration at the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register Proof of registration with the Chambre of Commerce and credits. Document required for legal existence in the DRC. Trade and Companies Registry

Legal rights to access the resource

  Key document Explanation Legal authority
  Forest concession contract Proof of the rights to legally access forest resources. Ministry in charge of forestry

Labour and Local / Indigenous Community Rights

  Key document Explanation Legal authority
  Pre-approved employment contract Proof of individual workers' rights. Ministry of Employment / ONEM
  Certificate of social security affiliation Proof of social security affiliation. Ministry of Labour / CNSS
  Training and professional development affiliation certificate Proof of registration for the training and professional development of its workers. Ministry of Labour / INPP
  Relevant corporate regulation Proof of the labour protection measure. Ministry of Labour / Labour Inspectorate
  Health and safety committee annual report Proof of the health and safety protection measure. Corporate Health and Safety Committee
  Medical convention Proof of the health and safety protection measure. Medical training
  Approved internal rules Proof of the existence of employee representation. Union delegation
  Collective agreement or protocol Proof of the labour protection measure. Ministry of Labour / Labour Inspectorate
  Agreement on the specifications' social clause A Forestry Specifications Guide includes a "Specification Schedule" (appendix), which details the concessionaire's specific obligations (e.g. to the local communities). Forest concessionaire & Local community

Environment, Planning, Operations and Transformation

  Key document Explanation Legal authority
  Environmental and Social impact study / certificate Proof of the implementation of environmental measures for new forest concessionaires. Forest concessionaire
  Environmental and social management plan Proof of the implementation of environmental measures for former forest concessionaires. Forest concessionaire
  Certificate of conformity of the development plan project Proof of validation of the management plan by the forest administration. Ministry in charge of forestry
  Development plan approval order Proof of the province's approval of the management plan for the relevant forest. Provincial governor
  Validated five-year management plan Proof on the implementation of the forest management plan. Ministry in charge of forestry
  Validated annual forest operations plan Proof on the implementation of the forest management plan. Ministry in charge of forestry
  Industrial lumber cutting permit Proof of the required authorisation to cut lumber in the forest concession. Ministry in charge of forestry
  Site register Proof incorporating the regulatory provisions relating to felling, marking and the traceability of timber. Forest concessionaire
  Quarterly production declarations of timber produced Proof of the declaration of the timber produced to the forest administration and also for statistical purposes. Forest concessionaire

Transport and transformation

  Key document Explanation Legal authority
  Transit slip Proof on the transport of timber from the place of harvest to the place of transformation or sale. Local forestry administration
  Processing plant operating licence Proof on the ownership of a classified facility. Ministry in charge of forestry

Sale

  Key document Explanation Legal authority
  Letter assigning the import/export number Proof of registration with the timber import and export register. Ministry in charge of Foreign Trade
  Validated sales contract Proof of the existence of the contract for the sale of lumber between the forest concessionaire and the client. Ministry in charge of forestry (DGF)
  CITES certificate   ICCN
  Phytosanitary certificate and certificate of origin Proof of the phytosanitary inspection of the timber to be exported. Certificate of origin for the export of a specific batch of timber, indicating the country of origin. Ministry in charge of forestry (DGF)
  Report on the batch ready for export Proof of the verification of the specifications of the timber to be exported by species, quality and quantity. Congolese Inspection Office (OCC)
  Model EB license Proof of the declaration of the goods to be exported. Directorate - General for Customs and Excises (DGDA)
  Declaration of goods to customs Proof of the declaration for the handling of timber by customs authorities. Directorate - General for Customs and Excises (DGDA)
  Export and shipment verification certificate (CVEE) Proof of verification demonstrating the compliance of all operations, including tax and customs obligations, prior to shipment. Congolese Inspection Office (OCC)
  Economic and fiscal obligations    
  Letter of assignment of the national identification number Proof of registration with the administration regarding economic matters. Ministry of the Economy
  Letter of assignment of a tax number Proof of registration with the tax authorities. Directorate General of Taxes (DGI)
  Declaration of company income Proof of payment of the sales tax. Portion of the documents demonstrating compliance with tax obligations. Directorate General of Taxes (DGI)
  Receipt certifying payment of the profit tax (IBP) Proof of receipt of tax payments on the company's balance sheet, with an audit demonstrating compliance with tax obligations. Directorate General of Taxes (DGI)
  Receipt certifying payment of the professional income tax (IPR) Proof of receipt of the workers' compensation tax payments, demonstrating compliance with tax obligations. Directorate General of Taxes (DGI)
  Receipt certifying the payment of the Property Tax   Directorate General of Taxes (DGI)
  Receipt certifying the payment of taxes on remuneration paid to the expatriate (IERE) Proof of receipt of the payment of taxes on expatriate workers' remuneration, demonstrating compliance with tax obligations. Directorate General of Taxes (DGI)
  Bank certificate of payment of the forest surface area fees Proof of receipt of the surface area fee payment to the province where the timber originated. Provincial Fiscal Authority
  Bank certificate of payment of the lumber cutting permit Proof of receipt of payment for the authorisation to cut lumber in the province. Provincial Fiscal Authority
  Bank certificate of payment of the reforestation tax Proof of registration with the tax authorities. National Forest Fund (FFN)
  Bank certificate of payment of the annual remunerative tax on classified installations Proof of receipt of payment for classified facilities. Ministry in charge of forestry / Directorate of classified establishments
  Bank certificate of payment of the phytosanitary tax Proof of registration with the tax authorities. Ministry in charge of forestry / DGF
  Bank certificate of payment for CITES permits, if applicable Proof of receipt of payment for the export of CITES-protected species. The certificate is issued by the CITES / DRC management authority. Congolese Institute for the Preservation of Nature (ICCN)
  Receipt certifying payment for the batch ready for export Proof of receipt of payment for the timber inspection prior to the subscription of a declaration of goods (timber). Congolese Inspection Office (OCC)
  Bank certificate of payment for the EB model licence Proof of receipt of payment for the subscription of a licence for the declaration of goods (timber). Commercial bank
  Liquidation slip certifying the payment of customs duties Proof of a customs receipt listing and certifying payment of timber exit duties. Directorate - General for Customs and Excises (DGDA / one-stop counter)