The Democratic Republic of Congo requires all imported goods to have a FERI (Fiche Électronique de Renseignement à L’importation) certificate, also known as a Freight Certificate. In addition, an Arrival Document (also known as an A.D.) is required for shipments arriving in the Democratic Republic of Congo by road. Cities in the eastern part of the country usually import via the ports of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Mombasa (Kenya). No separate ECTN certificate is required for these shipments. Only a Democratic Republic of Congo FERI certificate will suffice.

The required documents are:

Bill of Lading

Goods Invoice

Freight Invoice

Packing List

The ECTN, also known as the BSC, is a document that must be obtained and presented for any shipment to Equatorial Guinea. This requirement was implemented by Equatorial Guinea Customs Officers in 2000. Failure to present an ECTN can result in serious consequences and large fines. The ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is a system used by the Equatorial Guinea government to track the movement of shipments in and out of the country. The ECTN system was introduced to streamline the customs clearance process and increase the efficiency of the country’s ports and airports. All shipments to or from Equatorial Guinea must be accompanied by an ECTN, an electronic document that provides information about the cargo, such as its weight, value, and destination.

The required documents are:

Bill of Lading

Goods Invoice

Freight Invoice

Customs Declaration

If you are exporting goods to Ivory Coast, it is mandatory by law that you obtain a BSC (Cargo Tracking Note) certificate. It takes about a week to obtain approval for a BSC certificate, but if all approvals are handled at the main office in Abidjan, the process may take longer. The responsibility for obtaining the BSC certificate lies with the carrier and failure to do so may result in penalties. All shipments must be accompanied by a BSC certificate, otherwise the shipment will not pass customs control and will be sent back. The BSC must be verified no later than 5 days before the ship arrives.

The required documents are:

Bill of Lading

Commercial Invoice

Freight Invoice

Customs Declaration

Packing List

Certificate of Origin

Local Insurance Policy

IDF Certificate

Are you looking to import goods into Gabon? If so, a BIETC certificate is mandatory. The government of Gabon and the Conseil Gabonais des Chargeurs (CGC) require all imports to have a BIETC certificate. Failure to obtain this certificate will result in heavy fines and delays in customs clearance. The BIETC certification process usually takes a few days, but it is essential to allow a week for planning. You may experience problems as customs clearance cannot be completed without the document.

The required documents are:

Bill of Lading

Packing List

Goods Invoice

Freight Invoice

Customs Declaration

ECTN Certificate (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) is a pre-loading certificate required for imports to some African countries. This certificate includes details of the cargo being transported, country of origin, destination, shipping information and other important details. ECTN is requested by the customs administration of the relevant country to ensure tracking and control of the cargo.

Each Bill of Lading must be covered by an ECTN/SPN.

The ECTN/SPN number must be included on the Bill of Lading and the Cargo Manifest.

Required documents are:

Bill of Lading

Goods Invoice

Packing List

Freight Invoice (not required if freight value is on the goods invoice)

Customs Declaration

The Gambian government has decided that all shipments to Gambia (including transit) must obtain a CTN Certificate as of May 15, 2023. The new regulation is mandatory for all cargo exported and imported to Gambia.

The CTN reference number must be entered in the goods description field and the shipment reference field of the bill of lading.

Shipments arriving without a certificate are subject to a penalty fee at the relevant country port.

The required documents are as follows:

Bill of lading (A draft image can be applied for. Original image is required for approval.)

Goods Invoice

Freight Invoice (Not required if the freight fee is stated on the goods invoice.)

Customs Declaration

According to the circular dated 08/08/2011, the Guinea Bissau Transporters Council (Conselho Nacional De Carregadores – Guinea Bissau / CNC-GB) has made it mandatory for authorized agents to issue ECTN (CEE) certificates. If the goods are transported by sea, the country of export must also issue ECTN (CEE) to avoid delays and penalties at the destination.

The required documents are:

Bill of Lading

Goods Invoice

Freight Invoice

Customs Declaration

Guinea Conakry ECTN (ICTN) is a mandatory requirement for all imports into the country. Also known as BSC, Guinea Conakry ECTN (ICTN – International Cargo Tracking Code) is a mandatory loading certificate for all imports into the country. Those who do not obtain the ECTN certificate will have their cargo penalized at the port of destination. Failure to verify the ECTN certificate can result in serious consequences and a large fee, and must be done no later than five days before the ship arrives.

The required documents are:

Bill of Lading

Commercial Invoice

Freight Invoice

Customs Declaration

Telephone Number

Email Address

It is also a mandatory certificate for all your shipments to South Sudan. The document is issued within 1 week. If you want to change the destination after the ship has departed, you must obtain approval from the authorities. The carrier is responsible for obtaining the ECTN/BSC certificate and failure to obtain it may result in penalties. If the goods are transported by sea, the ECTN regulations for the host country of the port should also be reviewed to avoid delays and penalties at the destination. Goods arriving in Mombasa, Massawa, Port Sudan, Dar es Salaam or Djibouti will only need to obtain an ECTN certificate for South Sudan as the said ports do not have an application for BESC certificate for transit cargo.

The required documents are:

Bill of Lading

Goods Invoice

Freight Invoice

Customs Declaration

Cameroon, BESC certificate is mandatory. You must provide the necessary documents to obtain a BESC certificate. It usually takes a few days to obtain a BESC certificate, but it is recommended to allow a week for processing. If your shipment is in transit through Cameroon, you do not need a BESC certificate. It is the responsibility of the carrier to obtain a BESC certificate and shipments without it may be penalized. Based on the ministerial decree, all cargoes destined for the ports of Cameroon; Douala, Kribi, Limbe or any other port must be covered by BESC certificates, which certify the authenticity of the cargo and its compliance with Cameroon regulations. The BESC certificate must be obtained by the carrier or the carrier’s authorized representative. This is a legal requirement and shipments will not be allowed to enter Cameroon without it.

The required documents are:

Bill of Lading

Commercial Invoice

Freight Invoice

Importer’s Permit