Togo ECTN Certificate

Togo is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east, and Burkina Faso to the north. It also has a coastline along the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The capital and largest city is Lomé. The official language is French, and the population is around 8 million. Togo has a diverse culture with influences from the indigenous tribes, European colonizers, and the African diaspora.

For shipments passing through Lome port (Togo), obtaining a certificate is compulsory, even for cargo in transit to another destination. This requirement ensures that all goods, irrespective of their final destination, comply with local regulations while in transit. Consequently, it’s essential to secure certificates for both Togo and your cargo’s ultimate destination. To navigate this process smoothly, we advise reviewing the specific certification procedures for your shipment’s final destination as well.

• Burkina Faso
• Mali
• Niger

BESC is a French shortening of ‘Bordereau électronique de Suivi de Cargaison’, translated as ‘Electronic Cargo Tracking Note’ (ECTN) in English.

How can you get the TOGO ECTN Certificate?

The following documents are required for the Central African Republic ECTN certificate:

• Bill of lading
• Commercial Invoice
• Customs Declaration
• Freight Invoice (it is not necessary if the commercial invoice includes the freight value)

To start the certification process, you should share PDF copies of the documents through sck@scktr.com. There is no need to send hard copies for the issuance of BESC certificates. Please be sure to share the final documents, which will not have any more amendments later in the process. A penalty fee will occur for the modifications after validating the certificates.

How long does receiving a validated copy of the ECTN certificate take?

The process normally takes around a week as the regulation applied by Togolese authorities is so strict. Moreover, the documents that are supplied must be coherent to validate the final certificate.

ECTN number will be created after “Pre-validation”. Any change in information and documentation after “Pre-validation” will result in a penalty fee.

What happens if the certificate cannot be validated within five days of receiving the ECTN reference?

You have 5 days after receiving the ECTN reference to forward the original B.L. with place and date of issue, shipped on board date mentioned, signed and stamped.

Otherwise, the system will automatically cancel the certificate, and there will be a penalty fee to recover the certificate.

Can an export declaration be used for multiple shipments?

You can present the same declaration only if all the applications and submissions are completed simultaneously. Otherwise, there is no probability of receiving the validated copy.

Can the process be completed if there is a mismatch in shipment documents?

All the documents’ details must be the same to get a validated copy of the certificate. Otherwise, the certificate will be rejected after pre-validation, and you will be asked to revise documents to receive the certificate. There will be no refund until you supply coherent documents.

Can I have the validation if the final destination mentioned on the export declaration is changed from another goal to Togo?

Authorities’ confirmation is required if the shipment’s destination is changed after the vessel’s departure. Their approach to the issue is generally positive as this is a special case. The document’s other details, including package amount, weight, etc., should remain the same as the previous one.

Do I need to get an ECTN document if my shipment only goes through Togo?

Yes. The Togo ports get a lot of transit traffic. Although they occasionally have their own ports, they are mostly utilized for transit exports to Burkina Faso, Niger, Ghana, and Benin. Each cargo must be accompanied by a valid Togo ECTN certificate, regardless of whether the items are discharged at Togo’s ports for transit or as a final destination.

Should I mention the Togo ECTN number on the Bill of Lading (B.L.)?

Yes. Two steps make up the Togo ECTN validation procedure. The certificate is pre-validated, during which the shipper is given the ECTN number. Then, to validate the certificate, we need a copy of the original Bill of Lading with the ECTN number.

What is “After Carriage Value”?

The costs of getting from the discharge port to the delivery destination are called the “after-carriage value.” For you to get the Togo ECTN, this fee must be listed on the commercial invoice.

Why is it required to show the After Carriage Value on the Commercial Invoice to get the Togo ECTN certificate?

In some circumstances, mainly where the Incoterm is DAP (Delivery At Place), the Togo Custom Authorities demand that the After Carriage value be shown on the Commercial Invoice in addition to FOB and Freight value.

When exporting cars and trucks to Togo, do you need to obtain an ECTN number for that shipment?

To send Roll on Roll (RORO) to Togo, you must receive ECTN numbers. Each vehicle will have its ECTN number.

Is Togo ECTN required for Air freight? 

No, but you must get a Togo ECTN for bulk, RoRo, container, and LCL shipments if they are being sent to Togo.

Can I use the same ECTN number for various shipments?

No, ECTN is unique and limited to a single shipment. Every cargo needs its own ECTN number that has been verified.

Responsibility

The responsibility to get the ECTN/BESC certificate is on the shipper’s side. Transports without a certificate are penalized, and the shipper will be responsible for the loss.