Mozambique has a growing product compliance framework centered around mandatory import control, public health, and national standards enforcement. The system is guided by international norms (ISO, Codex, IEC) and supported through pre-shipment verification, product registration, and technical regulation enforcement across multiple sectors.

Key Authorities:

• Instituto Nacional de Normalização e Qualidade (INNOQ) – National standards body responsible for developing and managing Mozambican Standards (NM), conformity assessment, and technical regulations.

• Autoridade Reguladora das Comunicações (INCM) – Regulates telecom and radio equipment, including type approval and spectrum licensing.

• Ministry of Health – Oversees pharmaceuticals, food supplements, cosmetics, and medical devices, including registration and import control.

• Mozambique Customs (Autoridade Tributária) – Verifies documentation and enforces import conformity rules and pre-shipment inspection requirements.

Key Compliance Elements:

• Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (VOC):

  • Mandatory for a wide range of goods, including:

    • Electrical appliances

    • Toys

    • Machinery

    • Chemicals

    • Food and hygiene products

  • Carried out by designated third-party inspection bodies (e.g., Intertek, Bureau Veritas).

  • Requires a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) to be presented at customs.

• Product Registration:

  • Required for:

    • Pharmaceuticals and medical devices

    • Food supplements and cosmetics

  • Registration is managed by the Ministry of Health and includes:

    • Product dossier with safety data

    • Manufacturing certificates (GMP, ISO)

    • Labels in Portuguese

    • Sample testing (for some categories)

• Telecom Type Approval (INCM):

  • All telecom and RF devices must be type approved prior to import or sale.

  • Requires technical documentation and compliance with regional or international standards.

  • CE or FCC reports may support approval but do not replace local authorization.

• Labeling Requirements:

  • Labels must be in Portuguese, and include:

    • Product name

    • Country of origin

    • Manufacturer/importer contact

    • Instructions for use and safety warnings

    • Expiry date or batch number (for health/food items)

    • Registration or certification reference (if applicable)

• Import Oversight:

  • Importers must provide:

    • Certificate of Conformity (CoC)

    • Product registration certificate (for regulated products)

    • Invoice and packing list

    • Certificate of origin

    • Type approval certificate (for telecom equipment)

• Market Surveillance:

  • INNOQ, INCM, and the Ministry of Health conduct post-market inspections and random testing. Non-compliant goods may be confiscated, fined, or barred from sale.