Togo/Imports: The government wants to reinforce product controls
A systematic and rigorous control of imported consumer products aimed at protecting public health, combating illicit trade, and counterfeit products is the vision of the government in its policy of establishing a technical committee.
This technical committee is for the commission responsible for implementing the Automated Marking Solution (SAM), which has been in effect in Togo since September 2020. According to official statements, the committee is composed of experts from the Togolese Revenue Office (OTR) and the Ministry responsible for trade.
Its main mission will be to support the commission in combating false declarations and unfair competition. It is also tasked with providing information to the commission to enable it to carry out its mission of mandatory control and secure marking of products entering or circulating in Togolese territory.
The main idea behind this government and Togolese tax administration initiative is to promote legitimate economy and also to safeguard public health by preventing the consumption of counterfeit or substandard products.
In practice, the control involves inspecting or verifying the labels affixed to the packaging of imported items, according to the committee’s spokesperson. This is also a way to improve the security and authenticity of products, facilitate their traceability, and identify their origin upon entry into the territory.
