Gov’t tightens cocoa sector anti-smuggling measures

The Cameroonian government is working on new regulations to combat the illegal exportation of cocoa beans out of the country. Many observers believe the phenomenon has reached alarming levels because of the 10% exit tax recently imposed on exports. According to them, while the government only intended to promote local processing, the introduction of this additional levy may have encouraged dishonest exporters to find ways to bypass the law. As part of its new sector control strategy, the government adopted last week a draft decree outlining the precise packaging and marketing regulations for beans. This was during a meeting with…