Regulation updates
Changes to cargo tracking rules, destination by destination: what changed, from when, and who issued it.
2026
ACDKenya: ACD required for containerised cargo from 3 August 2026The Kenya Revenue Authority is introducing an Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) for containerised cargo bound for Kenyan ports. It becomes mandatory on Monday 3 August 2026.
BESCCameroon: transit BESC suspended for cargo to Chad and the Central African RepublicCameroon has temporarily stopped requiring its own BESC for transit cargo moving through Douala to Chad or the Central African Republic.
BESCLiberia: charges for BESC amendments and penalties for late BESCsFrom 16 May 2026, any change made to a Liberia BESC application after it has been submitted is charged, and may also be penalised.- BESCChad: 100% penalty for a BESC issued after shipmentCargo to or from Chad must be covered by a BESC issued before shipment. Since 1 January 2026, a BESC issued afterwards to regularise the cargo at the port of discharge carries a penalty equal to 100% of the BESC amount.
2025
- BESCCameroon: BESC also required for transit cargo from 1 January 2026From 1 January 2026, Cameroon requires a BESC not only for imports but also for all transit shipments to or through Cameroon.
ACIDEgypt: advance cargo information (ACI) mandatory for air shipments from 1 January 2026The Egyptian Customs Authority, with the Ministry of Finance, made the Advance Cargo Information system mandatory for air shipments to Egypt from 1 January 2026. Sea freight was already covered.
ACDSudan: ACD mandatory for all shipments from 1 January 2026Following a Sudan Customs Authority letter dated 9 November 2025, Sudan adopted the Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD). It is mandatory for all shipments to Sudan from 1 January 2026.- BESCLiberia: RoRo rates for machinery and large trucks on flat racksLiberian authorities now charge earth-moving machinery and large trucks loaded on flat racks at RoRo rates, not container rates.
BESCMali: customs notice on obtaining the BESC before shipmentMalian Customs issued an official notice on the BESC: it must be obtained at the port of loading, before shipment.
ECTNSomalia: ECTN required for every container at every port from 14 October 2025By a Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport directive (ref. XW/WDGB/89/09/2025, 30 September 2025), every container arriving at any port of the Federal Republic of Somalia must have a valid ECTN from 14 October 2025.
ECTNDjibouti: penalty for cargo arriving without an ECTNDjibouti has introduced a penalty for shipments that arrive without a valid ECTN, on top of the clearance delays they already faced.
ARCCLAAngola: prior ANTT authorisation extended to vehicle componentsUnder Presidential Decree No. 155/20, the prior authorisation from the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), already required for vehicles, now also applies to listed vehicle components.- BESCCameroon: FIMEX registration or special import authorisation for RoRo vehiclesFrom 1 May 2025, the Cameroon National Shippers’ Council requires, for RoRo vehicles, either proof of FIMEX registration (importers/exporters file) or a valid special import authorisation before the final certificate is issued.
BESCGuinea: compulsory local insurance for imported goodsSince 1 March 2025, importers into Guinea must insure goods with a company established in Guinea and upload the certificate when creating the virtual transaction file (DVT) on the GUCEG single window.
ACDYemen: ACD mandatory for containerised shipments from 1 February 2025Yemen’s Counter-Terrorism Service announced that the Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) is mandatory for all containerised shipments to Yemen from 1 February 2025. The Ministry of Transport had first announced the ACD in September 2024.
2024
ECTNRepublic of the Congo: ECTN corrections only before the vessel’s ETASince 1 September 2024, a validated ECTN for the Republic of the Congo can only be corrected while the shipment’s ETA has not been reached.
BIETCGabon: BIETC must be validated before the vessel departsSince 1 August 2024, the Gabon BIETC must be submitted for validation before the vessel leaves. Validation after departure by prior agreement is no longer possible.
2023
- ECTNDjibouti: ECTN mandatory for all shipments from 15 June 2023The Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority made the ECTN mandatory for shipments to Djibouti ports from 15 June 2023.
- ECTNSomalia: ECTN number required on the bill of lading from 29 April 2023Since 29 April 2023, the ECTN reference number must be written on the bill of lading of every shipment to Somalia.