What is a Waiver Certificate?
As an exporter or freight forwarder, you must provide a waiver certificate – also known as a loading certificate or loading document – when shipping goods to certain African countries. This document compiles data from the bill of lading, invoice, and export declaration, then submits it to relevant government databases.
The waiver certificate contains information about involved parties, cargo value and description, shipping details, and other relevant information. It enables Customs Authorities to efficiently observe, control, and manage import traffic.
What is an ECTN?
ECTN stands for Electronic Cargo Tracking Note, known in French as BESC (Bordereau électronique de Suivi de Cargaison).
The waiver certificate is mandatory for shipping to many African countries, particularly in West Africa, and some North and Central African countries. It is known by several names, including:
Which Countries Require ECTN?
Thirty African destinations require a cargo tracking certificate. In alphabetical order:
- Angola (ARCCLA), Benin (BESC), Burkina Faso (ECTN), Burundi (BESC), Cameroon (BESC)
- Central African Republic (BESC), Chad (BESC), Djibouti (ECTN), DR Congo (FERI), Egypt (ACID)
- Equatorial Guinea (ECTN), Gabon (BIETC), Gambia (ECTN), Ghana (SPN), Guinea Bissau (CEE)
- Guinea Conakry (BESC), Ivory Coast (BSC), Kenya (ACD), Liberia (CTN), Madagascar (BSC)
- Mali (BESC), Niger (BESC), Republic of Congo (ECTN), Senegal (BSC), Sierra Leone (CTN)
- Somalia (ECTN), South Sudan (ECTN), Sudan (ACD), Togo (BESC), Yemen (ACD)
How do you obtain a waiver certificate?
At GetCTN, obtaining a waiver certificate is designed as a hassle-free experience. Send necessary documents in PDF format via email, and their team handles the rest.
Typically required documents include:
- Bill of Lading
- Commercial Invoice
- Freight Invoice
Specific documents may vary depending on the destination country. Contact GetCTN for questions about the process, required documents, or fees.
Important Note
Whether shipping by sea, air, or road – and regardless of shipment type (bulk, breakbulk, Ro/Ro, container, groupage, general cargo, or diplomatic cargo) – you must obtain a waiver certificate. Failing to present the loading document results in severe consequences and hefty fines.
Official sources
Official Angola ARCCLA sources
ARCCLA, the Agência Reguladora de Certificação de Carga e Logística de Angola, regulates cargo certification for Angola. Its new portal was under construction when we checked.
- ARCCLA official portal: arccla.gov.ao
- GAC Hot Port News: mandatory ARCCLA registration (ARCCLA circular 003/2022, 1 March 2022)
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Top 3 causes of Angola ARCCLA rejection
- DU Document expired or number mismatch on Bill of Lading.
- Master Bill of Lading (MBL) date is after the vessel departure date.
- Commercial invoice value and freight cost do not match customs declaration entries.
Case study: Angola ARCCLA: what one application actually took
Official ARCCLA Document Sample
Verify the layout, stamps, and ARCCLA customs format of a validated Angola loading certificate:
Official Benin BESC sources
The Benin BESC is required by Order No. 077/MIT/DC/SGM/PAC/CTJ/SA of 10 August 2016.
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Top 3 causes of Benin BESC rejection
- BESC number not indicated on the Bill of Lading.
- Commercial invoice does not state the Freight amount separately.
- Container seal number does not match across the BL and Certificate.
Burkina Faso ECTN sources
The Burkina Faso ECTN rules on this page come from the official notices of the Conseil Burkinabè des Chargeurs (CBC).
- CBC: joint order N°2009-0012/MT/MEF and notices N°2013/071 and N°2023-0026 (URN on the Bill of Lading)
- CBC: Burkina Faso ECTN agents and the CBC ECTN application
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Top 3 causes of Burkina Faso ECTN rejection
- ECTN number not mentioned on the BL.
- Commercial invoice is not translated into French (mandatory for validation).
- Discrepancy in net vs. gross weight on the packing list.