Togo
B/L Print Requirements
Mandatory text on Ocean B/L
- • BSC / BESC Number, 6-digit HS Code, and consignee 9-digit NIF mandatory on B/L and manifest.
- • Ocean freight must be prepaid.
BSC number and consignee NIF must appear on the final B/L and manifest. CNCT certificate counting rules: one BSC per B/L, capped at 5 containers per BSC. For transit cargo: explicit notation "In transit to [Destination Country] via Port of Lomé" is mandatory.
Inspection & Certificates
Pre-loading inspection & filing
- • BSC must be validated via the CNCT portal prior to vessel departure.
- • Commercial import declarations and transit titles processed electronically through the SEGUCE single window at Port Autonome de Lomé.
Cargo & Standards
Labeling, vehicles & packaging
- • Commercial vehicles (trucks, buses): maximum 10 years from manufacture
- • Right-hand-drive vehicles are strictly prohibited.
- • French product labeling mandatory on all consumer commodities.
- • Official Veterinary Health Certificate mandatory for all imported meat and poultry products.
- • Commercial passenger transport vehicles restricted to 10 years max age.
- • ISPM 15 wood packaging compliance strictly enforced at Port of Lomé.
- • ISPM 15 heat-treated stamp required on all wooden packaging.
Shipper & Consignee
Where this destination differs from standard practice
- • Foreign consignees are not accepted — a locally-registered entity must be named.
Consignee for domestic imports must be a registered Togolese entity with a valid 9-digit NIF. For transit cargo, a foreign consignee is allowed provided an accredited local transit agent is named in Notify. "To Order" B/Ls are permitted with full physical address and contact details in Notify. PO Box only is rejected.
Non-Compliance Risk at Destination
Cargo arriving at Port of Lomé without a validated BSC is subject to administrative penalty surcharges and customs delivery order holds. Transit cargo to Burkina Faso, Niger, or Mali requires an explicit B/L transit clause and dual tracking note validation.
Compliance Timeline for Togo
Follow this 3-step sequence from container stuffing through to port clearance.
Before Container Loading
- ✓ Confirm commercial invoice and packing list accuracy with consignee.
- ✓ Verify vehicle age against the applicable statutory limit (10 yrs commercial).
- ✓ Confirm vehicle is NOT right-hand drive before booking.
- ✓ Confirm consignee is a locally-registered entity — foreign consignees are not accepted at this destination.
- ✓ Verify ISPM 15 heat-treated stamp on all wooden crates, dunnage, and pallets.
Prior to Sailing
- ✓ Inscribe validated BSC certificate number onto the Ocean B/L text and carrier manifest. (CNCT (Conseil National des Chargeurs du Togo))
- ✓ Ensure exact consignee Tax ID / Registration Code and 6-digit HS Code are printed on B/L.
- ✓ Submit SOLAS Verified Gross Mass (VGM) to loading terminal before yard cutoff.
Port Clearance at Destination
- ✓ Submit validated BSC electronic tracking note to destination customs authority.
- ✓ Collect Delivery Order (DO) upon completing Release verification.
Download Compliance Guide for Togo (PDF)
Generate a practical, print-ready compliance document complete with statutory B/L clauses, ECTN certificate agencies, vehicle age ceilings, and station phone contacts.