Mauritania Market Access with Type Approval

Mauritania Type Approval Summary

Islamic Republic of Mauritania is an emerging telecommunications market with ambitious digital development goals. Despite significant progress, the country continues to face challenges related to service quality and telecommunications infrastructure.

According to the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), internet penetration in Mauritania has exceeded 80%, while 4G network coverage reaches approximately 86% of the population.

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), internet subscriptions have surged by about 20%, with the total number of telephone subscribers exceeding 4.77 million connections in a country with a population of less than 5 million.

These figures make Mauritania a market worth considering for manufacturers and suppliers. To market telecommunications devices in this country, it is essential to understand the compliance procedures.

Compliance requirements in Mauritania are known as the "ARE Certificat d'Homologation." ARE stands for Autorité de Régulation (Regulatory Authority), an independent public regulatory entity established under Law 2001-18.

The Regulatory Authority is fully accountable to the Prime Minister for regulating activities in the water, electricity, telecommunications, postal, and other sectors under its legal jurisdiction.

Understanding the process and requirements for the ARE Certificat d’Homologation is the first step manufacturers or suppliers must take to market their products in Mauritania. Obtaining this certificate demonstrates legal compliance with regulatory requirements and facilitates market access within Mauritania and the broader African region.

Certification Authority

Authority: Autorité de Régulation (ARE)
Certificate: ARE Certificat d'Homologation
Certification: Mandatory
Official website: https://www.are.mr/Last accessed 27 October 2026

Who Can Be an Applicant?

Local representative: Required

Applications for the ARE Certificat d'Homologation must be submitted by companies based in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Foreign manufacturers cannot submit applications directly.

Foreign manufacturers must appoint an authorized representative or agent that is a legal entity officially registered in Mauritania.

Application Method

In-country testing: Yes
Paperwork only: Yes

Mauritania requires local testing as part of the homologation process. Applicants must have their devices tested at laboratories, both domestic and international, designated by the ARE.

Designated laboratories must possess the necessary qualifications and technical competence and must be independent of equipment manufacturers and applicants for type approval. Applicants may select a laboratory from a list compiled by the Regulatory Authority to conduct the required testing.

The Regulatory Authority may also decide to accept test results conducted by laboratories in other countries, provided that the equipment has been approved for marketing in that country by the competent authority and that the essential requirements are similar to those applicable in Mauritania.

Test reports and all required documents must be sent to the ARE office by mail.

Local Testing

If an accredited testing laboratory in Mauritania is used, the applicant automatically goes through the local testing process. However, the ARE generally requires applicants to submit samples for inspection as a condition of the homologation application.

Paperwork Only

The paperwork route can be followed if the applicant uses a test report from an overseas testing laboratory recognized by ARE. It can also be done if you have already obtained a homologation certificate from an authority in another country recognized by ARE.

Sample Requirements

If the applicant chooses to undergo local testing as part of the homologation process, samples must be submitted. Generally, ARE requires two representative samples of the equipment to be submitted together with the type approval application for technical inspection.

Each sample must be clearly identified and include the brand name, model number, and part numbers of the various modules and circuit boards contained within the equipment.

Document Requirements

The application must be submitted in duplicate and include at least the following documents:

Application form
Local representative agreement (for foreign manufacturers)
Copy of certificate of conformity (if applicable)
Proof of payment
Technical documentation
Design and manufacturing drawings, list of components
Test reports (RF, EMC, and Safety)
User manual
Declaration of Conformity

Submission process

Submission: Offline

Currently, there is no online submission process for homologation in Mauritania. ARE only accepts hard-copy applications. All required documents must be submitted to the following address: Autorité de Régulation, 428 Rue 23023 Ksar, P.O. Box 4908, Nouakchott, Mauritania. Phone: +222 4529 12 70. Fax: +222 4529 12 79.

Lead Time of Certification

Lead time: 2 months

The homologation application process in Mauritania is quite lengthy. ARE conducts an evaluation that takes up to two months from the time all documents are received. Then, a decision is made, and the results are announced to the applicant. If the application is approved, the certificate will be issued immediately.

If the application is rejected, the documents must be supplemented and resubmitted. This will naturally take longer. Ensuring that the documents are correct and complete from the start will help the process be completed on time.

Validity Period

Validity: 5 years

Type approval is granted for a maximum period of 5 years and may be extended. Extensions are granted upon application by the manufacturer or an authorized representative, accompanied by a statement that production of the equipment has not ceased and that the equipment has not undergone any changes compared to the previous version. Applications for extension must be submitted at least four months before the expiration of the type approval.

Label Requirements for Mauritania Type Approval

Product label: Required
Approval mark: Required
E-labeling: Not allowed

Before being placed on the market or used on Mauritania’s public networks, any equipment that has obtained type approval must be labeled by the applicant. The labeling must use a non-removable label containing the following information:

Type approval number.
Date of type approval.
Equipment model identification.
Lot number or serial number.
Manufacturer’s or supplier’s identification.

Certificate Example

Issued under: Autorité de Régulation (ARE)
Certificate: ARE Certificat d'Homologation
Validity: 5 years
Lead time: 2 months

Alternative Country Names

Islamic Republic of Mauritania, al-Jumhūriyyah al-ʾIslāmiyyah al-Mūrītāniyyah, Mauretanien, Mauritanie, Mauritanija, Мавритания, モーリタニア, 모리타니, MR

Talk to our project handler

Send your product details and we reply with the ARE requirements, lead time and cost.

Request a quote

Mauritania