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Pursuant to the Customs Code, Togo may impose import prohibitions and restrictions for the following reasons in particular: (...) environmental conservation; (...)

The import, export or transit of plastic bags and wrapping requires approval by the Ministry responsible for trade. [13] A biodegradability certificate is required for bags or wrapping to be sold on the domestic market.

[13] Order No. 017/MCPSP/DCIC determining the criteria for granting approval for the import, sale, export or transit of plastic bags and wrapping in Togo, whether or not biodegradable.

Togo imposes prohibitions and restrictions on exports for a number of reasons. It bans the export of wood logs, firewood and charcoal to protect the environment. The export authorization and licence regime mostly applies to food products (Table 3.2).

Table 3.2 List of goods subject to export authorization or licensing
Product Document required Competent authority
(...)
Wild animals, hunting trophies and protected species of animals Export certificate Wildlife and Hunting Directorate
(...)

Standardization is governed by Framework Law No. 2009 016 [20], which transposed the relevant community provisions. The legislation provides for the creation of the Togolese Standardization Agency ; the Togolese Approval Committee; the Togolese Metrology Agency; the Togolese Quality Promotion Agency; and the High Authority for Quality and the Environment. [22] These institutions have not yet been set up. Standardization is the responsibility of the Directorate of Standardization, Industrial Metrology and Quality Promotion.

[20] Framework Law No. 2009 016 on organization of the national scheme for the harmonization of standardization, approval, certification, accreditation, metrology, the environment and quality promotion.
[22] Decree No. 2015 125/PR on the role, organization and functioning of the High Authority for Quality and the Environment.

Togo has not signed any mutual recognition agreements and does not have any environmental standards in force.

The import of products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is banned. It is also prohibited to handle GMOs. A committee to be responsible for GMO related matters was set up in 2016, but is not yet operating. The legislation on biosafety is currently being revised.

Togo is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and has acceded to numerous WIPO administered treaties. During the review period, it ratified a certain number of multilateral intellectual property treaties. [40] (...)

[40] These were (year of entry into force in brackets): Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2016); (...)

Fishing licences are granted for a period of one year. With a view to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the authorities have suspended the registration of fishing vessels and the issuing of fishing licences to foreign vessels and struck off fishing vessels suspected of illegal activities.

Fisheries sector operators are exempt from duties and taxes on the purchase of materials and equipment necessary for them to engage in their activity. The Government also supplies small-scale fishermen with fishing nets.