Benin - How to Import Rice (By Land Route)

ProcedureEdit

How to Apply
Creation of a company

In the case of a new company, the importer is required to register it via the Single Window for Formalization of Enterprises (GUFE) of APIEX website Link and obtain all the certificate/documentary of the registration of the company and importer card {view the creation of a company full procedure via the wikiprocedure website}

Transit order establishment

You (importer) then contact an approved broker to complete the customs formalities. You can physically present yourself at the agent's office or send him remotely (mail, telephone) the information/documents necessary for the importation procedure i.e (bill of landing, commercial invoice for the goods and electronic cargo tracking slip) {view the contact details of certified broker via this link} Link
The broker will then prepare a quotation base on the costs to be paid to all the structures/agencies that will intervene during the importation processing for the goods to their destination, including the costs of the commission agent) basis on the information obtain from the {importer} and issue the you a quotation slip.
If you {importer} accept the broker’s services, you will be required to pay for the broker fees either in cash, by check or by Bank transfer within one day, upon making payment, you will be issued with a transit order at the broker offices against {bill of landing, commercial invoice, electronic cargo tracking slip, importer card}.

Handling of the goods by the authorized broker

The will then connect to the GUP-SEGUB platform to check whether the goods have arrived at the port, if the goods have arrived the broker visit the a consignees operation company and gives information on the bill of lading number and the expected date for the removal of the goods and receives an invoice for the receipt of delivered to consignee.{view contact list of consignees company via this link} Link
The broker will then be required to make payment against the invoice either at the consignee (cashier), or most often with a bank of consignee choice and obtain a Good to deliver consigned against the {consignee receipt, invoice of the receipt to be delivered consignee, bill of landing, Professional card authorized broker, National identity card, Importer's card}.
The broker then connects to the GUP-SEGUB One-Stop-Shop to confirm that the consignee company has validated the issuance of the voucher to be delivered.

Establishment of the Customs declaration

The authorized broker then heads to Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry {CCIB} offices and purchase the customs declaration forms, which is made up of bundles 5 sheets that are sold in multiples of 100 sheets against the CCIB payment receipt.
The broker then connects to the ASYCUDA system and enters the declaration of each bill of landing of the goods and obtain 5 copies of the import declaration documents for each of the following agencies i.e {accounting/declaration/customs/CCIB/carrier}.
The broker then heads to the customs Port Recipe Office, Inspector Liquidator unit and submit the 5 copies import declaration file and other supporting documents to the customs inspector’s officer to be verified and obtain the import declaration liquidated {declaration copy} and cleared import declaration {carrier copy}.

Regulation of the single expense slip

The authorized broker visit or connects to a certified handling company website if available and provide the necessary information (name of the customer, type of operation and name of the transit company) to obtain the Stevedoring invoice (port handling charges).{view a list of certified handling company via this link}link
The broker will then receive a notification by e-mail, notifying him that the invoices that where being processed by the different structures via the Port Single Window platform i.e. (stevedore, PAC, CNCB, CNERTP, CCIB, SEGUB, GUOCE and Customs) have being verified, validated and obtains the BFU issued. Note: the authorized broker can follow the issuance of each invoice online via the GUP platform.
The broker then heads with the BFU issued invoice print out to either the Bank of Africa or ECOBANK and make payment against the BFU invoice and obtain a BFU Bank receipt.
The authorized broker connects to the GUP platform to check if the bank has validated the BFU fee payment transaction and download the BFU ok slip.

Preparation for goods to entry the port.

The broker then connects to the GUP-SEGUB website Link and enters the {carrier's loading slip (BACT) in the GUP to announce; the carrier who will pick up the goods; the arrival date of the carrier; the containers to be transported} and the GUP generates a BACT number.
The handling company {stevedore's service agent} connects to the GUP platform to check if the `` BAS box (receipt) has been checked in the system before issuing the receipt for collection by the broker (one copy) i.e. the receipt for collection materializes the request for delivery of the goods.
The authorized broker connects to the website of the Autonomous Port of Cotonou {PAC} website Link to announce the arrival of the truck which will collect the goods and gives the information necessary to establish the called truck (BFU number, name of the driver and co-driver, date of arrival of the truck, name of the transit company and name of the authorized broker).He then receives a an email notification and print the called truck slip.

Loading the goods to the truck.

The broker heads to the cotonou port with the truck and submit {called truck slip, BFU ok slip} to port agent at the gatehouse to be certified, who then checks truck against the SYGES platform and then issue’s the called sealed truck document to the truck driver.
The driver goes to parking lot # 250 at the port to obtain the Macaron against the called sealed truck document at the Macaron issuing office.
Within 5 days the driver will be issued with the badge, a pair of armbands, macaron (with the release date) against the macaron by the port agent at the exit parking office.
The driver drives the truck to one of the warehousing operations (COMAN) at the contonou port and submit his (driver’s license, handler removal certificate) to the agent who registers the truck, returns back the file and issues the identification ticket to the driver.
The driver then heads to the loading docks section and park the truck. The machinist (handling agent) loads the container (s) to the truck using the forklift.
The truck driver then heads to the Coman Park exit gate turns off his truck and is authorized to get out of the truck, the customs agent then climbs on a scaffolding to check the condition of the container and then notifies in the system that the truck has left the COMAN fleet. This information is transmitted to the systems of the partner structures (GUP, SIGES-Port, etc.)

Slinging the container

The driver or the collector submit the registration number to the GEP-cashier office at the cotonou port and obtain the GEP receipt, then he heads to the visa controller office and submit the GEP receipt to the agent to be verified and obtain the slinging visa slip. Note; slinging visa is to be presented to the slinging team, to enable physical inspection of the goods and slinging of the container by the team at the port.

Control and exit of the goods form the port

The broker then submits the importation documentation file at the office of the customs quarter secretariat, deputy shift supervisor who then connects to the GUP platform, checks if the stevedore has checked in the system, that the goods have been loaded on the truck and the truck left the port with a port agent and issues the BFU targeted by the brigade chief. On arrival of the truck, the deputy shift supervisor will carry out the physical control of the goods jointly with the port agents.
The goods will also be inspected and the importation documentary file will be verified by the control and weighting agent at the port, and issue the weighing invoice which the broker will be required to pay against the invoice and obtain a weighting receipt.
After the inspection, the truck is authorized to exit and head to the importer store/warehouse. Note; the container must be returned to the Port after having been emptied of the goods.

Required DocumentsEdit

bill of landing
commercial invoice for the goods
electronic cargo tracking slip
Import declaration documents file {accounting/declaration/customs/CCIB/carrier}.
Importer card
Intention to import
Declaration of the value
Consignee receipt
Professional card authorized the broker
National identity card {importer/broker}
BFU issued slip
Called sealed truck
Ticket identification number slip
Slinging slip

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

INVESTMENT AND EXPORT PROMOTION AGENCY
Address: Boulevard Steinmetz, Cotonou 01
BP 363
Tel: +229 21 31 07 04
Fax: +229 21 31 07 51
MYCOMPANY .BJ

Website: Link

WORLD SOCIETY FOR CONSIGNMENT AND TRANSIT
Address: Boulevard Saint Michel, Cotonou 04
BP 1186
Tel: +229 21 32 13 54
Fax: +229 21 32 13 48

List of Authorized Brokers in Benin:link

List of Authorized handling companies :link

List of certified consignees companies in contonou Benin :Link

BENIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Address: Cotonou 01
BP 31Tel: +229 21 31 12 38 / +229 21 31 20 81
Fax: +229 21 31 32 99
Email: [email protected]

ASYCUDA
Address, Cotonou 01
BP 400
Tel: +229 21 31 22 36
Email: [email protected]

GUP-SEGUB
Address: Residential zone, Cotonou 08
BP 0658
Tel: +229 21 31 99 88 / +229 21 31 99 89
Website: link

PAC
Address: Avenue de la marina, Cotonou
Tel: +229 21 31 52 80 / +229 21 31 28 90
Website: link

AUTONOMOUS PORT OF COTONOU
Address: Cotonou 01
BP 837
Tel: +229 21 31 17 24 / +229 21 31 30 81
Website: Link

EligibilityEdit

Authorized brokers hired by an importer who wishes to import rice by land route to Benin

FeesEdit

The accumulatively estimate cost for the importation process is 12,982,974 CFA franc.

Note: That this cost depends on the weight of the consignment being imported and other factors

ValidityEdit

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to UseEdit

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

The estimate processing period between different steps {accumulatively) is within 3-12days.

InstructionsEdit

To Access ASYCUDA system

Make the declaration from his office if he has ASYCUDA access (the broker must be authorized; the application must be installed on his computer). or
Use the computer and the internet connection made available in the unmarked room (computer room) of the customs office.

Required InformationEdit

Details of the importer
Contact details of the importer
Details of the broker
List of merchandise to be importer
Country of the origin
Point of entry
Nation Identity card number
Drivers licence details

Need for the DocumentEdit

The imported Rice must be declared and comply with the customs rules and required standard as set by the Ministry of industry and commerce to be allowed entry into Benin.

Information which might helpEdit

More information about the required documents and different importation process

Importer card {Business Creation}

To carry out any import-export operation, an economic operator must have his importer card. The Importer Card will be issued with the other certificates when setting up a business. The creation of a business is done at the Single Window for Formalization of Enterprises (GUFE) of APIEX.

Transit order

The transit order is the document which mandates the authorized broker to operate on behalf of the economic operator. It is the contract that binds the latter to the authorized broker

Handling of the goods by the authorized broker

The authorized customs broker (CAD) is mandated by the economic operator to operate on its behalf.

Customs declaration

Imported or exported products are subject to customs duties. The customs of Benin have set up an information system called ASYCUDA WORLD to allow approved brokers to establish their declaration from their office before coming to proceed with their liquidation.

Regulation of the Single Cost Slip

After the clearance of the customs declaration, the Port Single Window generates a Single Fee Schedule (BFU) which tracks all the fees due to the structures involved in the import process. This BFU will be settled in one of the two partner banks (Ecobank or BOA).

Preparation for port entry

Any truck, before entering the autonomous port of Cotonou, must announce itself. This announcement is made through a site set up by the port which makes it possible to obtain "the call of the truck".

Loading the goods

Inside the port, the truck heads to the stevedore's yard to load the freight container.