What is a waiver certificate?
A waiver certificate is a loading document that helps clear cargo easily and overcome time-consuming customs enforcement procedures smoothly. Despite its intimidating name, it's a standard shipping requirement rather than a legal waiver.
The waiver for the shipping industry includes:
- Information on all involved parties
- Values and descriptions of goods
- Volume of goods
- Shipping information
- Other relevant cargo details
It enables Customs Authorities to observe, control, and manage import traffic effortlessly.
What else is the waiver certificate called?
The waiver certificate goes by several names depending on the region:
Which name applies depends on the destination: for example the Cameroon BESC, the Senegal BSC, the Sierra Leone CTN, the Angola ARCCLA (formerly CNCA), the Gabon BIETC and the Guinea Bissau CEE. Which countries require an ECTN lists every destination.
Which shipments need a waiver certificate?
This requirement is mandatory mainly for West African countries and some Central African nations. It applies regardless of shipment type—sea, air, or road shipments—covering bulk, breakbulk, Ro/Ro, container, groupage, general cargo, and even diplomatic cargoes.
How do you obtain a waiver certificate?
The process is straightforward. You need to provide required documents via email:
- Bill of Lading
- Commercial Invoice
- Freight Invoice
Note: Required documents may vary by destination country.
Official sources
Official Cameroon BESC sources
The Cameroon BESC is issued under the Cameroon National Shippers’ Council (CNCC).
- Cameroon Tribune (18 Jun 2026): CNCC suspends the BESC for transit goods (communiqué of 15 June 2026)
- Journal du Cameroun (22 Sep 2026): export BESC late-submission window extended to 15 days
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Top 3 causes of Cameroon BESC rejection
- Missing or blurred SGS certification stamp on the Commercial Invoice.
- Missing freight breakdown (sea freight value must be clearly declared separately).
- Incorrect HS Code (must be 4 to 8 digits matching Cameroon customs tariffs).
Case study: Cameroon BESC: The 48-Hour Rule and What a One-Day Delay Really Costs
Official BESC Document Sample
Verify the layout, stamps, and BESC customs format of a validated Cameroon loading certificate:
Official Senegal BSC sources
The Senegal BSC was created by Interministerial Order No. 04350 of 26 May 2008 and is validated by the Senegalese Shippers’ Council (COSEC).
- Journal Officiel de la République du Sénégal: order on the cargo tracking note (BSC)
- Conseil Sénégalais des Chargeurs (COSEC)
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Top 3 causes of Senegal BSC rejection
- Commercial Invoice value does not match the insurance certificates.
- Bill of Lading lacks the mandatory BSC number annotation.
- Shipper and consignee addresses do not match corporate registry records.
Case study: Senegal BSC after vessel arrival at Dakar: a real case
Sierra Leone CTN sources
The Sierra Leone CTN rests on a Ministry of Finance memorandum (Ref. MF-Rev 62/100/05/11-22) and is enforced through an accredited agency.
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Top 3 causes of Sierra Leone CTN rejection
- CTN number not declared on the Master Bill of Lading.
- Customs value under-declaration detected by validation team.
- Vessel departure date is missing on the Bill of Lading.