Ethiopia
B/L Print Requirements
Mandatory text on Ocean B/L
- • Importer's Commercial Bank Letter of Credit / Purchase Order number, Consignee TIN, 6-digit HS Code, and precise goods description mandatory on Ocean B/L and manifest.
- • For unimodal shipments via Djibouti, mandatory transit clause: "Cargo in transit to Ethiopia via Djibouti Port at consignee's risk and expense".
- • Ocean freight must be prepaid.
Consignee Ethiopian TIN and Bank L/C or Purchase Order number must appear on the final B/L. For multimodal through-bills, the designated inland dry port (Modjo, Kality, Gelan, Kombolcha, Dire Dawa, Semera) must be specified in the place of delivery field.
Inspection & Certificates
Pre-loading inspection & filing
- • Mandatory pre-shipment Certificate of Conformity issued by ESA/MoTRI-accredited inspection bodies prior to loading for regulated commodities.
- • Importer must obtain an approved electronic Import Permit via commercial bank on eSW before shipment.
- • Transit cargo through Port of Djibouti requires a validated DPFZA ECTN.
Cargo & Standards
Labeling, vehicles & packaging
- • Passenger vehicles: maximum 8 years from manufacture
- • Right-hand-drive vehicles are strictly prohibited.
- • English or Amharic labeling mandatory on retail packages.
- • Official Veterinary Health Certificate mandatory for all imported meat products.
- • Commercial import of petrol/diesel passenger cars restricted in favor of Electric Vehicles; authorized utility vehicles cannot exceed 8 years.
- • Second-hand clothing strictly prohibited.
- • Telecom equipment requires prior ECA approval.
- • ISPM 15 wood packaging enforced at dry ports.
- • ISPM 15 heat-treated stamp required on all wooden packaging.
Shipper & Consignee
Where this destination differs from standard practice
- • Foreign consignees are not accepted — a locally-registered entity must be named.
- • Generic "to order" is not accepted — only "to order of [named bank]" is permitted.
Consignee must be a registered Ethiopian commercial entity with an active TIN on eSW. Generic "TO ORDER" B/Ls are strictly prohibited — only "TO ORDER OF [NAMED ETHIOPIAN COMMERCIAL BANK]" (e.g. Commercial Bank of Ethiopia) is permitted, with full local importer contact details and TIN in Notify. PO Box only is rejected.
Non-Compliance Risk at Destination
Regulated goods arriving without an origin ESA CoC face customs rejection, bank foreign exchange non-clearance, and destination testing holds. Unimodal transit cargo through Djibouti lacking a DPFZA ECTN is blocked from rail and road dispatch to Modjo Dry Port.
Compliance Timeline for Ethiopia
Follow this 3-step sequence from container stuffing through to port clearance.
Before Container Loading
- ✓ Complete pre-shipment inspection (PVoC / CoC) via ESA / MoTRI Accredited Bodies (Bureau Veritas, SGS, Intertek, Cotecna, CCIC, TÜV Rheinland) before cargo is stuffed.
- ✓ Verify vehicle age against the applicable statutory limit (8 yrs passenger).
- ✓ Confirm vehicle is NOT right-hand drive before booking.
- ✓ Confirm consignee is a locally-registered entity — foreign consignees are not accepted at this destination.
- ✓ Verify ISPM 15 heat-treated stamp on all wooden crates, dunnage, and pallets.
Prior to Sailing
- ✓ Generic "to order" is not accepted — only "to order of [named bank]" is permitted.
- ✓ Ensure exact consignee Tax ID / Registration Code and 6-digit HS Code are printed on B/L.
- ✓ Submit SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM) to loading terminal before yard cutoff.
Port Clearance at Destination
- ✓ Present original Certificate of Conformity (CoC) to destination standards inspectors.
- ✓ Collect Delivery Order (DO) upon completing Release verification.
Download Compliance Guide for Ethiopia (PDF)
Generate a practical, print-ready compliance document complete with statutory B/L clauses, ECTN certificate agencies, vehicle age ceilings, and station phone contacts.