Morocco offers online approval for telecommunications products

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

On 29 July 2019, the national regulatory authority for telecommunications, the Agency for Digital Development and the company PORTNET S. A. established an electronic platform for the approval of telecommunications equipment under the name “Sole National Contact Point for Foreign Trade Approval Procedures”. This platform enables importers of telecommunications equipment to submit their license applications in paperless form around the clock. Since its introduction, the use of this platform has steadily increased, with an enormous rise in the number of applications and users, and the share of license applications received on the PortNet platform has exceeded 95% of the applications submitted to the regulatory authority ANRT. For example, in October 2019 only about 57% of the applications were submitted digitally, but by January 2020 the figure had risen to the aforementioned 95%.

In a survey, the majority of applicants preferred the online procedure as their sole option, even though other forms of application were available. The new online approval platform, accessible at www.portnet.ma, offers a number of functions in addition to the application process. Importers can check whether their applications have already been approved and follow the progress (new approval, import permit and granting of approval). The benefit of the new procedure is to speed up the approval process for the import of telecommunications equipment and to be able to better plan the import process. Once the application has been processed, the regulatory authority ANRT examines samples of the equipment and enters the results of the sample examination in a database accessible to applicants.

A so-called Radio Type Approval (RTA) is mandatory for Morocco for the import of radio and telecommunication products. The purpose of the Radio Type Approval is to ensure that all local regulations are met and that only products without safety hazards are placed on the market. In Morocco, the regulatory authority ANRT is responsible for approval. The RTA is valid for ten years and a local representative or agency is recommended, although the online approval procedure has recently been introduced. Due to its market presence since 2005, MPR International GmbH – Africa Certification has optimally diversified, long-standing connections to all necessary authorities in Africa. The highly qualified international team at MPR International will be happy to answer all your questions about Africa Certification. Call us directly (Europe: +49-69-2713769257, USA: +1 (773) 654-2673) or send us an E-Mail.