The Cameroon National Shippers' Council (CNSC), the State's secular arm charged with overseeing and protecting shippers' interests, organised a consultation meeting in Douala today 18 March 2025, to discuss the administrative hassles encountered by shippers during air freight procedures.

The meeting attended by officials from SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance), the Directorate General of Customs (DGD), DHL and about a dozen shippers, was chaired by CNSC Director for Trade Facilitation and Transports Observatory Mr. Fernand Douglas Nolga.

Discussions focused on three main issues: delays in the issuance of the Import Value and Tariff Classification Reports (IVTR), delays in the processing of requests submitted without an IVTR, and recurring valuation discrepancies between the Customs Department and SGS on goods requiring customs clearance.

Several recommendations were put forward at the end of the meeting. These included setting up a fast-track channel for airfreight clearance, encouraging shippers to complete import declarations before the arrival of their goods, and raising shippers' awareness of the optional nature of the IVTR for postal and courier packages.

It was also agreed that the implementation of these recommendations would be assessed within three months. This will be followed by the creation of a permanent consultation platform involving the various stakeholders, with clarifications on the requirements outlined in Ministerial Order No. 000625/MINFI/CAB of 30/11/2016, laying down the terms and conditions of the Import Verification Program (IVP).