From Fertilizers to Industrial Chemicals: Navigating Côte d'Ivoire's Expanded VOC Programme

As of 1 July 2026, chemical products are now included within the expanded scope of Côte d'Ivoire's Verification of Conformity (VOC) Programme.

For manufacturers, exporters, and importers of chemicals, this means that products which may previously have entered the market without VOC certification may now require a Certificate of Conformity (COC) prior to shipment.

Understanding whether your products are affected and preparing the correct technical documentation early can help avoid shipment delays and compliance issues.

Which Chemical Products May Be Affected?

The expanded scope covers a broad range of chemical and industrial products, including but not limited to:

• Industrial chemicals

• Fertilizers

• Agricultural chemicals

• Water treatment chemicals

• Cleaning products and detergents

• Chemical additives

• Paints and coatings

• Solvents and thinners

• Adhesives and sealants

• Laboratory chemicals

• Petrochemicals

• Oil and gas production chemicals

• Specialty chemicals

Why Are Chemicals Regulated?

Chemical products can present health, safety, environmental, and industrial risks when quality, composition, or performance requirements are not met. The inclusion of chemicals within the VOC Programme supports Côte d'Ivoire's broader objectives of:

• Protecting consumers and workers

• Supporting environmental protection

• Promoting product quality and safety

• Preventing the importation of non-compliant products

• Strengthening market surveillance

As with other regulated products, conformity assessment helps verify compliance before importation into Côte d’Ivoire.

To check whether your products are covered, download the latest Côte d’Ivoire Regulated Product List (RPL).

What Documentation Is Commonly Required?

While documentation requirements vary by product, exporters are typically required to submit a combination of commercial, technical, and compliance-related documents to support the conformity assessment process.

For a complete breakdown of commonly required documentation for chemical products, refer to our complete CIV Chemicals Guide.

Testing Requirements

Testing may be required during the conformity assessment process depending on the product, available documentation, and risk profile. To help avoid delays, exporters should ensure their test reports and technical documentation are complete, up to date, and consistent.

Refer to our CIV Exporter Guide for detailed requirements and guidance.

How Cotecna Can Help

As a trusted conformity assessment partner under the Côte d’Ivoire VOC Programme, Cotecna helps importers, exporters, and manufacturers navigate certification requirements, from document review and conformity assessment to inspections, testing, and Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issuance. With complete and compliant documentation, certification can often be processed quickly, helping avoid delays before shipment.

Need Assistance?

Need support exporting chemical products to Côte d’Ivoire? Contact Cotecna's team for guidance on applicable VOC requirements, documentation, and certification procedures.

About Cotecna

For over 50 years, we have been supporting agriculture, food and pharma, minerals and metals, and consumer products supply chains all over the world. We provide testing, inspection, and certification services to help our clients navigate evolving regulations, ensure product compliance, and support their sustainability journey.