Regulatory summary - market access requirements

1. Legal framework

Decreto-Lei n.º 6/2016 of 16 January 2016 - framework law on inspection and quality control of the production and marketing of fertilisers and soil improvers ("matérias fertilizantes"), in force since July 2016. It transposes ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.13/12/12, separately ratified by Decreto-Lei n.º 13/2020. Portaria n.º 34/2022 of 14 July 2022 approves the import authorisation and quality control certificate templates. Related: Lei 29/VIII/2013 (phytosanitary), DL 26/97 (PPPs), DL 5/2016 (seeds), DL 13/2013 (inspection fees).

The implementing portarias foreseen under Arts. 8(3), 11(2) and 23 - product classification, guarantee limits, specifications, inspection and analysis manuals - have never been published. There is consequently no positive list, no published data requirement and no defined evaluation procedure.

2. Classification of biostimulants

There is no definition of "biostimulant" and no dedicated category; biostimulants fall within "matérias fertilizantes" by default. Art. 3 of DL 6/2016 defines fertilizante as any substance used to maintain or improve plant nutrition directly or indirectly (capturing non-nutritive action), produto as including inoculants and biofertilisers (capturing microbials), and corretivo agrícola as material improving the physical, chemical and/or biological properties of soil. Seaweed and botanical extracts, humic substances, amino acids and microbials are all handled under this single regime, and no efficacy trials are required by law. Excluded (Art. 2): non-industrial materials sold in bulk, and home garden packs ≤ 1 kg or ≤ 1 L.

3. Competent authority

DGASP - Direção Geral da Agricultura, Silvicultura e Pecuária (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), including its Serviços de Proteção Vegetal, which sign import authorisations; island MAA delegations carry out inspection. Supporting: DNICE (foreign trade title), Alfândegas (customs), IGAE (market inspection).

4. Steps to place a product on the market

In Cabo Verde, the importer is the regulatory anchor, not the manufacturer. Also, market entry is realistically achievable through the import authorisation channel with an origin-country free sale/registration certificate, full technical data sheet, SDS, CoA and - for anything organic-derived - an origin-country phytosanitary certificate. It makes Cabo Verde a low-cost,low-barrier market, with the main risk being the administrative uncertainty rather dossier evaluation and data requirements.

In more detail, it means you have to do the following steps to place your product on the market in Cabo Verde:

1. Appoint or establish a licensed local importer. Registration applies to operators established in Cabo Verde; there is no authorised-representative mechanism comparable to Art. 7 FPR. The importer holds the authorisation and is named on the label.

2. Obtain the commercial import licence (company registration, articles of association, tax situation, premises documents, manager's ID, qualifications and criminal record).

3. Obtain the prior authorisation (autorização prévia) from DGASP by application to the Director-General. Valid 1 year, renewable; renewal requested at least 60 days before expiry; displayed at the establishment.

4. Register the product (Art. 8(2), mandatory for every fertilising material). Absent an implementing portaria, expect administrative handling on the basis of a technical data sheet, SDS, certificate of analysis and origin-country registration or free sale certificate.

5. Apply for a per-consignment import authorisation on the Portaria 34/2022 form, in advance of arrival: applicant and NIF, transport, port/airport of entry, validity period, quantity and category, origin, supplier address, intended use, storage location. Issued in person or by email.

6. Supply origin-country quality control certificates at customs clearance. For products of organic origin or capable of harbouring pests and diseases - most biostimulants - an origin-country phytosanitary certificate and phytosanitary import authorisation are also mandatory.

7. Comply with labelling (Art. 15), in Portuguese: producer/importer name, address and NIF; denomination; trade mark; weight or volume; "Produto Importado"; licence number; product registration number; guarantees, composition and lot; manufacturing date and shelf life; storage, use and transport instructions; environmental and public health impact.

5. Costs and timelines

Authorisations | Import / Phytosanitary authorisation 300 CVE each (approx. EUR 2.70), paid by DUC.

Inspectation fees | Per DL 13/2013 schedule, per kg by category; no dedicated fertiliser line - confirm with DGSAP.

Import license | 20,000 CVE (approx. EUR 180) + 10,000 CVE health-station survey + Chamber of Commerce fee by premises.

Customs | Duty 0-30%; ECOWAS levy 0.5%; statistical fee 5,000 CVE/registration; VAT 15%; ecological tax 2-200 CVE/kg if appicable.

Timelines | Import authorisation: request 15 days ahead, clearance approx. 3 working days. Product registration: no statutory deadline - budget 2-4 months for a first file (estimate).

CVE = Cabo Verde Escudos

6. Practical assessment

A small market (population approx. 525,000) with an ambitious framework law and limited implementing apparatus. Entry is realistically achieved through the operator licence plus per-consignment import authorisation route rather than a product dossier evaluation; the principal barrier is securing a licensed local importer, not generating data. Recommended first step: a written scoping enquiry to DGASP on the dossier expected under Art. 8(2), whether INIDA testing under local conditions is expected in practice, and the applicable fee schedule. Non-compliance exposure (Arts. 25-27) reaches 2,500,000-4,000,000 CVE for legal persons, with seizure, activity bans and closure as accessory sanctions.

sciBASICS sprl - regulatory affairs for agrochemicals, fertilisers and biostimulants. Current as of August 2026, based on published legislation; confirmation with DGASP recommended before commercial commitment.