BESC Meaning: What a Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison Is

What is BESC Certificate?

BESC, short for Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons (French for Electronic Cargo Tracking Note), is a compulsory document for cargo shipments in specific African countries. This document serves as a means of cargo tracking, offering essential details about the shipment such as its origin, destination, and transit specifics.

The primary function of BESC is to streamline customs clearance and oversee the movement of goods, thereby ensuring adherence to import regulations. The necessity for BESC arises from the need to streamline cargo handling and enhance security measures. By tracking shipments effectively, it helps in reducing cargo theft, loss, and discrepancies.

How do you get a BESC certificate?

You send your shipping documents to an agency authorized for the destination, which verifies them and issues the certificate. Six steps:

1. Gather Necessary Documents: Collect all pertinent documents for the shipment, including the bill of lading, commercial invoice, and packing list.
2. Find a Certified Agency: Look for an agency authorized to issue certificates to ensure legitimacy of the documentation.
3. Submit Documents: Provide the chosen agency with the gathered documents, ensuring accuracy to avoid delays.
4. Document Verification: The agency will verify the documents to ensure they meet required standards and regulations.
5. Payment of Fees: Upon successful verification, you will be required to pay the processing fee.
6. Receive BESC Certificate: Once payment is processed, the agency will issue the BESC certificate ready for customs clearance.

What Does the BESC Certificate Look Like?

Each country's BESC certificate has a unique appearance, reflecting specific national requirements and regulations. Layout, design elements, language, and information presented vary by country. A BESC issued by Benin, for example, differs noticeably from those of other countries.

What happens without a BESC certificate?

Failing to obtain a BESC certificate can lead to significant consequences:

• Shipment Delays: Without this document, your shipment may face delays at the port of entry. Customs authorities strictly require a BESC for the clearance process.
• Additional Charges: Delays can incur additional storage and demurrage charges.
• Hefty Fines: Not having a BESC can result in substantial fines imposed by customs authorities of the destination country.
• Severe Repercussions: Repeated non-compliance can lead to blacklisting of your company, affecting your ability to conduct future business in that country.

Which countries require a BESC?

Thirty African destinations require a cargo tracking certificate, and BESC is the name printed on the certificate in nine of them: Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Togo. Senegal, Ivory Coast and Madagascar use BSC (Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison); The Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone use CTN. Everywhere else the same requirement runs under another name — ECTN, ARCCLA, FERI, BIETC, SPN, CEE, ACID or ACD. Each destination sets its own document list and its own deadline, so check the country page before booking.

Each BESC country designates its own issuing body or legal basis. The third column restates the sources line of that country's page:

What is BESC in shipping?

In shipping, the BESC is the per-shipment cargo tracking note the destination country requires before a sea shipment arrives. Its number goes on the Bill of Lading, and destination customs match it against the vessel manifest.

What does BESC stand for?

BESC stands for Bordereau Électronique de Suivi des Cargaisons, French for Electronic Cargo Tracking Note. BSC, used by Senegal, Ivory Coast and Madagascar, stands for Bordereau de Suivi de Cargaison.

Who issues the BESC?

There is no single regional issuer. Each country designates its own body, most often its shippers' council — CNCC in Cameroon, CNCT in Togo, CMC in Mali, CNUT in Niger, the Conseil Guinéen des Chargeurs in Guinea. The table above lists each one.

How do you choose a BESC agency?

When searching for an agency to obtain your BESC certificate, consider:

• Authorization: Verify the agency's authorization to issue BESC certificates
• Reputation: Look for agencies with a reputation for efficiency and reliability
• Experience: Seek agencies with expertise in international shipping regulations and different countries' customs requirements
• Support: Choose agencies that can provide valuable advice and support throughout the process