Burkina Faso
B/L Print Requirements
Mandatory text on Ocean B/L
- • BESC Number, 6-digit HS Code, and consignee 8-digit IFU mandatory on B/L.
- • Coastal discharge port must be stated with mandatory transit notation: "Cargo in transit to Burkina Faso via [Discharge Port] at consignee's risk and expense".
- • Ocean freight must be prepaid.
BESC number and importer 8-digit IFU must appear on the final B/L and manifest. The transit clause ("In transit to Burkina Faso via [Port of Discharge]") must appear in the goods description.
Inspection & Certificates
Pre-loading inspection & filing
- • BESC registration must be validated via CBC portal prior to vessel departure.
- • Mandatory pre-shipment Certificate of Conformity issued by ABNORM-appointed inspection bodies for regulated goods under Order 2019-0010.
- • Customs transit bond generated at coastal port.
Cargo & Standards
Labeling, vehicles & packaging
- • Passenger vehicles: maximum 10 years from manufacture
- • Commercial vehicles (trucks, buses): maximum 15 years from manufacture
- • Right-hand-drive vehicles are strictly prohibited.
- • French product labeling mandatory on all consumer goods.
- • Official Veterinary Health Certificate and prior import permit mandatory for all meat and poultry products.
- • Light passenger and commercial vehicles cannot exceed 10 years; heavy trucks and buses permitted up to 15 years.
- • ISPM 15 wood packaging compliance enforced.
- • 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 must be a registered Burkinabé entity with a valid 8-digit IFU. "To Order" B/Ls are permitted provided the Notify Party is the registered Burkinabé importer or licensed transit forwarder with full physical address and contact details stated on the B/L.
Non-Compliance Risk at Destination
Missing transit clause or unvalidated BESC blocks the issuance of coastal customs transit bonds at Lomé, Abidjan, Tema, or Cotonou, causing severe border holds. Regulated goods arriving without an ABNORM CoC face destination penalty testing.
Compliance Timeline for Burkina Faso
Follow this 3-step sequence from container stuffing through to port clearance.
Before Container Loading
- ✓ Complete pre-shipment inspection (PVoC / CoC) via ABNORM Accredited Bodies (Bureau Veritas, SGS, Cotecna, Intertek) before cargo is stuffed.
- ✓ Verify vehicle age against the applicable statutory limit (10 yrs passenger / 15 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 BESC certificate number onto the Ocean B/L text and carrier manifest. (CBC (Conseil Burkinabé des Chargeurs))
- ✓ 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 BESC electronic tracking note to destination customs authority.
- ✓ Present original Certificate of Conformity (CoC) to destination standards inspectors.
- ✓ Collect Delivery Order (DO) upon completing Release verification.
Download Compliance Guide for Burkina Faso (PDF)
Generate a practical, print-ready compliance document complete with statutory B/L clauses, ECTN certificate agencies, vehicle age ceilings, and station phone contacts.