Tanzania
B/L Print Requirements
Mandatory text on Ocean B/L
- • Consignee 9-digit TIN mandatory in the Consignee Information field on B/L and manifest.
- • 6-digit HS Code and precise goods description required.
- • Ocean freight must be prepaid.
Consignee 9-digit TIN must appear explicitly in the Consignee box of the B/L (for "To Order" B/Ls, the Notify Party's TIN is mandatory). Freight collect is not accepted by carriers (prepaid only). For Central Corridor transit cargo, the transit clause ("In transit to [Country] via Port of Dar es Salaam") must appear in the goods description.
Inspection & Certificates
Pre-loading inspection & filing
- • Mandatory pre-shipment Certificate of Conformity issued by TBS-accredited inspection bodies prior to loading for regulated commodities (FOB > USD 5,000).
- • Customs declaration and document filing processed via TANCIS single window.
Cargo & Standards
Labeling, vehicles & packaging
- • Passenger vehicles: maximum 8 years from manufacture
- • Left-hand-drive vehicles are strictly prohibited.
- • English and/or Swahili product labeling mandatory on all retail packaging.
- • Left-hand-drive vehicles strictly prohibited (RHD required).
- • Motor vehicles older than 8 years face a steep 25% excise duty surcharge.
- • Official Veterinary Health Certificate and prior import permit mandatory for all imported meat products.
- • ISPM 15 wood packaging compliance strictly enforced at Port of Dar es Salaam.
- • 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.
Consignee must be a registered Tanzanian commercial entity with an active 9-digit TIN issued by TRA. NVOCCs and licensed consolidators can be named as consignees on Master B/Ls. "To Order" B/Ls are permitted provided the Notify Party is the registered local buyer with full physical address in Tanzania, local phone number, and 9-digit TIN stated on the B/L. PO Box only is rejected.
Non-Compliance Risk at Destination
Regulated goods arriving without an origin TBS CoC incur a mandatory 15% CIF penalty plus compulsory destination testing holds at Dar es Salaam. Manifests lacking the consignee 9-digit TIN face automated rejection in TANCIS.
Compliance Timeline for Tanzania
Follow this 3-step sequence from container stuffing through to port clearance.
Before Container Loading
- ✓ Complete pre-shipment inspection (PVoC / CoC) via TBS PVoC 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 left-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
- ✓ 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 Tanzania (PDF)
Generate a practical, print-ready compliance document complete with statutory B/L clauses, ECTN certificate agencies, vehicle age ceilings, and station phone contacts.