The DRC government has made it compulsory for all cargo entering the country to be accompanied by a FERI certificate (Fiche Electronique à l’Importation). This certificate must be issued per Bill of Lading (BoL) before cargo can be loaded or enter Congolese ports.
This certificate must be issued for each Bill of Lading (BoL) prior to shipment. Italian-based firm Frabemar, through its global network of agents, has been appointed to issue the FERI certificates internationally, while Mitchell Cotts Maritime will handle issuance in Southern African countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Shippers are fully responsible for securing the FERI certificate, and cargo without it will not be allowed into the country. This requirement mirrors similar systems in place in other West African nations, such as Angola’s CNCA and the ECTN used elsewhere.
Pre-shipment inspection
In addition to the FERI requirement, the DRC has implemented a mandatory pre-shipment inspection regime for all imported goods. This follows a directive issued on May 27 and formalized in a June 24 meeting involving the Congolese Control Office (OCC), Bureau Veritas, importers, and the Single Window for Foreign Trade (GUICE). Under the new system, suppliers must present goods for inspection at their premises before they are exported. Bureau Veritas, accredited by the OCC, conducts the inspections and issues either a Preliminary Notification (PN) for compliant goods or an ARA (Refusal of Certification) for non-compliant items. Inspection covers quality, quantity, pricing, and compliance with contractual and national standards.
All inspection requests must be submitted online through the Verigates platform. Once approved, the Verification Certificate (AV) is issued via GUICE and has become a mandatory document for customs clearance. Certain goods are exempt from these inspections, including personal baggage, humanitarian aid, perishables such as fresh fruits and fish, and items valued under $2,500. These reforms, part of the DRC’s ongoing partnership with Bureau Veritas since 2017, are designed to streamline border procedures, reduce clearance times, and enforce higher standards for imported goods.