Benin BESC / ECTN Certificate Requirement

Mandatory BESC / ECTN Certificate for Benin Shipments

Every shipment discharged at the Port of Cotonou must be covered by a valid BESC (Border Electronic Cargo Tracking Note), also known as ECTN.

Without a valid ECTN, cargo cannot be cleared by Benin customs authorities.

How long does it take to get approval?

Once all required documents are provided, a draft ECTN certificate is shared for confirmation. After confirmation and payment, the certificate is submitted for approval by Benin authorities.

This process usually takes a few days, though up to one week should be expected when planning shipments.

Required Documents to Obtain a Benin ECTN Certificate

To issue a Benin ECTN certificate, the following documents are required:

• Bill of Lading (applications can be made using a draft copy)

• Commercial Invoice

• Freight Invoice (if the freight amount is not shown on the commercial invoice)

• Export Declaration

• Packing List

PDF copies of the documents should be shared by email. There is no requirement to submit hard copies for ECTN issuance.

Amendments made after validation may result in penalty charges.

BENIN ECTN CORRECTION UPDATED CHARGES

Maximum Correction Cost

The correction cost for an ECTN certificate is set to a maximum of 100 Euros.

• For ECTN certificates with an original cost of 500 Euros or more, correction fees are capped at 100 points, regardless of the original price.

• For ECTN certificates under 500 points, the correction cost remains 20% of the original ECTN price.

International ECTN Validation and Payment

Payment and validation of the ECTN at the vessel’s departure port remain mandatory.

If cargo arrives in Benin without a valid ECTN, the clearance process will be severely delayed until the required obligations are fulfilled. Forwarders must create the ECTN before departure and should not wait to attempt issuance upon arrival.

Penalties Related to RoRo Shipments

According to regulations, vehicles not covered by an ECTN constitute a violation.

In such cases, the importer is required to:

• Create an international ECTN online, and

• Pay a penalty of 50,000 CFA per vehicle

Which name should be indicated on the Bill of Lading as discharge port?

Cotonou is the main and only port of Benin.

If the port of discharge is indicated as Cotonou on the Bill of Lading, a Benin ECTN certificate is mandatory.

Vehicles (Chassis) Loaded in Containers

If vehicles (chassis) are loaded in containers, the shipment type must be indicated as containerized cargo.

In this case, container references must be clearly stated on the Bill of Lading.
Otherwise, ECTN certificates should be issued as RoRo shipments.

What is BESC?

BESC stands for Bordereau Électronique de Suivi de Cargaisons.
It is also referred to as ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) and is a mandatory tracking document required at specific African ports, including Benin.

Responsibility

Responsibility for obtaining the ECTN / BESC certificate lies with the shipper.

Shipments transported without a valid certificate are subject to penalties, and the shipper is responsible for any resulting losses.

Transit Shipments Through Benin

Do we need an ECTN if the shipment is in transit to a landlocked country?

Yes. If cargo is discharged at Cotonou and transits to a landlocked country, two certificates are required:

• BESC / ECTN for Benin

• BSC / ECTN for the final destination country

Do I need a BSC certification for Burkina Faso if the shipment is in transit through Benin?

Yes. Shipments routed via Benin to Burkina Faso require two separate certificates:

• BESC certification for Benin

• BSC certification for Burkina Faso

Do I need a BSC certification for Niger if the shipment is in transit through Benin?

Yes. Shipments routed via Benin to Niger require two separate certificates:

• BESC certification for Benin

• BSC certification for Niger

Can I use the same BESC number for various shipments?

No. Each BESC / ECTN number is unique and applies to one shipment only.
Every cargo movement requires its own verified certificate.