BESC Documentation Guide
Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons
What does BESC stand for?
BESC stands for Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons.
What is BESC?
An electronic cargo tracking note required by several West and Central African nations (Cameroon, Benin, Chad, Mali, Niger, Togo, Burundi, Guinea, the Central African Republic and Liberia). It allows customs teams to audit import manifests ahead of a filing deadline that depends on the destination — some countries require it before the vessel departs, others before it arrives.
Who regulates BESC?
The BESC certificate is issued and validated by Regional Maritime Customs Councils.
Which countries require BESC?
These destinations require the BESC certificate: Cameroon, Benin, Liberia, Central African Republic, Guinea Conakry, Togo, Mali, Burundi, Chad, and Niger.
Official Document Draft Blueprint
A standard verified BESC contains key cargo parameters that customs systems scan: