Describes the country's standards landscape, identifies the national standards and accreditation bodies, and lists the main national testing organization(s) and conformity assessment bodies.
Last Published: 7/16/2019

Overview

Mauritania takes a top-down, government-driven approach. The President has ultimate authority over all matters relating to production and distribution, and he sets the key guidlines of market policies in the country. The president closely follows major investment in the extractive sectors, although he may relay on key advisors or ministers for investment decisions related to highly-technical matters. 
The Prime Minister’s role is more administrative and institutional, with a focus on making sure that the government functions effectively and in accordance with the president’s wishes. While the Prime Minister may be useful as a conduit to the president and an administrative facilitator, he is not generally the ultimate decision maker.

Standards

The Mauritanian regulatory environment is characterized by poor norms and regulations. The recently-created Department for Standardization and Quality Promotion (DNPQ) is a Directorate of the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines whose mission concerns standardization, certification, accreditation and metrology. The DNPQ is a correspondent member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Classification of national standards are derived from international ones, and Mauritania accepts standards developed by U.S.-domiciled standards developing organizations.

Testing, Inspection and Certification

In general, U.S. products meeting U.S. standards can enter the Mauritanian market. Imported products are rarely tested, and, except under specific situations (such as pork products, alcohol, or chemicals destined for the mining sector), products and enter the country without testing or inspection.

Publication of Technical Regulations

Please see “Customs Regulations” under the “Customs, Regulations & Standards” section.
Contact Information

            Guichet Unique

            www.singlewindow.mr

            Mauritanian Chamber of Commerce
            www.cciammr.com
            info@chambredecommerce.mr

            Domicilia (for assistance in registering a business)
            Mr. Djibi Sow
            Tel: +222 4522-3822

Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are required under the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to notify to the WTO proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that could affect trade. Notify U.S. (www.nist.gov/notifyus) is a free, web-based e-mail registration service that captures and makes available for review and comment key information on draft regulations and conformity assessment procedures. Users receive customized e-mail alerts when new notifications are added by selected country or countries and industry sector(s) of interest and can also request full texts of regulations. This service and its associated web site are managed and operated by the USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point housed within the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
 

Prepared by the International Trade Administration. With its network of more than 100 offices across the United States and in more than 75 markets, the International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.