The new Egyptian Customs Law #207/2020, effective since November 2020, mandates the use of Advance Cargo Information (ACI) for all Egypt-bound import shipments from October 1st, 2021. Importers are required to submit advance reports, 48 hours before the intended loading vessel's arrival, awaiting approval from Customs. Upon approval, importers must furnish the ACID reference to exporters for updating across all associated documents.

To adhere to ACI implementation, the following details are necessary:

1) Shipper Identification Number (3 compartments with unique format, example US-02-1208614364)

a.Two letter code (ISO-3166-1) representing the country where the exporter (shipper) is registered

b.Two digits identifying the type of identification number (01-Company Registry; 02-VAT)

c.The exporter identification number issued by the relevant authority (Max - 17digits)

2) Egyptian Importer Tax Registration Number (a 9-digit number issued by the Egyptian Tax Authority)

3) ACID Number (a 19-digit number uniquely identifying the ACI shipment).

The above information would be submitted in Shipping Instruction. The shipment could be loaded only the above requirements are fully supplied and compliant to the customs law in Egypt. Shipper would be accountable to any extra charges incurred resulting from the non-compliant to the customs law in Egypt.