Togo ECTN Certificate

Togo ECTN — What It Is and Why It’s Required

All ocean freight shipments destined for Lomé, Togo, require an ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) — also known in French as BESC (Bordereau Électronique de Suivi de Cargaison). This applies to direct imports and to transit cargo passing through Lomé to landlocked destinations including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.

Lomé Container Terminal is one of West Africa’s premier deep-water ports, regularly ranked among the region’s most efficient. It is a key transshipment hub for the Gulf of Guinea and serves as the main maritime access point for the Sahel region. The ECTN requirement gives Togolese customs advance notice of incoming cargo and supports the port’s cargo management and fraud prevention systems.

Required Documents

To obtain a Togo ECTN, submit clear PDF copies of:

• Bill of Lading — draft copy accepted for the initial application; original required for final validation (within 5 days of receiving the ECTN reference number)
• Commercial Invoice — must show accurate cargo value; for CFR terms, the after-carriage value must also appear
• Freight Invoice — required if not included on the commercial invoice
• Customs Declaration

All documents must be fully consistent with each other — mismatches are a common cause of delays and penalties.

The 5-Day Rule — Critical Deadline

Once you receive your ECTN reference number, you have 5 days to submit the original Bill of Lading (stamped, dated, with the shipped-on-board notation) to complete the final validation. If the 5-day window passes without the original B/L being submitted, the application is automatically cancelled and you will face penalty fees to reinstate it.

This timeline is strict. Plan ahead and ensure your shipping line issues the original B/L promptly.

Transit Cargo: Double Certificate Requirement

If your cargo is transiting through Lomé to a landlocked country, you need:

• A Togo ECTN for the Lomé port call
• The destination country certificate (e.g., Burkina Faso ECTN/URN, Mali BESC, or Niger BSC)

These are separate applications. The Togo ECTN alone does not cover the inland destination.

Processing Time

Allow approximately one week from document submission to final validated certificate. Draft certificates are typically issued within a few days, with final validation following after original document submission and confirmation.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• Financial fines at the port of discharge for any cargo arriving without valid ECTN documentation
• Penalty fees for amendments — once a certificate has been pre-validated, any changes to information trigger penalty charges
• Automatic cancellation if the original B/L is not submitted within the 5-day window, with reinstatement fees applying
• Demurrage and storage charges for cargo held pending documentation resolution

The shipper or freight forwarder at the port of loading is responsible for obtaining the ECTN before the vessel departs.

What Products Cannot Be Imported Into Togo?

The following goods are generally prohibited:

• Animals and animal by-products from areas with active epizootic diseases
• Plants from areas affected by epiphytic diseases
• Certain distilled and spirituous beverages
• Pornographic materials and gambling equipment

We do not issue ECTN certificates for prohibited goods.

Togo Trade — Key Figures

Lomé port is one of West Africa’s fastest-growing container hubs and the premier transshipment point for West and Central African landlocked markets. Togo’s import volume runs at approximately 2.5 billion USD annually, with re-exports adding substantial additional volume. Key imported goods include machinery, vehicles, petroleum products, and consumer goods. China, France, and India are major trading partners, and Togo’s strategic port position makes it central to the region’s supply chains.

FAQ

Does the ECTN cover transit cargo to Mali or Burkina Faso? No. You need both a Togo ECTN for Lomé and a separate certificate for the destination country. These are processed as separate applications.

What happens if my documents have errors after pre-validation? Any changes after pre-validation incur penalty charges. Always confirm all document details are final before submitting — use draft Bill of Lading carefully and verify values match exactly between the B/L, commercial invoice, and packing list.

Can I apply after the vessel departs? No. The ECTN must be in place and the number recorded on the Bill of Lading before departure. Post-departure applications face significant complications.

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