All cargo destined for Libreville or any entry point in Gabon must be covered by a mandatory Bordereau d’Identification Électronique de Traçabilité des Cargaisons (BIETC). This certificate must be issued through the official representatives of the Conseil Gabonais des Chargeurs (CGC) and is essential for legal customs clearance.
Compliance Checklist:
Mandatory Status: Required for all import shipments, including commercial, personal, and diplomatic cargo.
Pre-Loading Requirement: The Preliminary BIETC (Prior Agreement) must be obtained before the vessel departsfrom the port of loading. Post-departure applications are strictly prohibited.
Vehicle Restrictions: Gabon enforces a strict age limit on used vehicles. As of 2026, imported vehicles must be no more than 10 years old from their first date of service.
Risk: Failure to comply with the BIETC procedure results in the cargo being blocked at destination, heavy regularization fines, and a penalty equal to 100% of the freight manifest value.
The Pelship Promise: In a landscape of shifting rules, we serve as your Knowledge Hub. We verify every change at the source, ensuring that your compliance is handled with care and proper guidance.
Protect your supply chain and ensure you benefit from current tax exemptions by submitting your high-resolution PDF documents (under 2MB per file) to the Pelship Team today. As the authorized agent for the Middle East and Gulf, we ensure your BIETC meets all CGC regulatory standards.
Documents required:
- Bill of Lading (OBL for validation)
- Commercial invoice / Freight invoice
- Packing list
- Export Customs Declaration
- Gray card / pink slip for vehicles
- A special import authorization for “dangerous goods” delivered by the Gabonese Authorities - CGC
Regulations
- The shipper / forwarder / trader must issue his preliminary BIETC (prior agreement validation) through the official representatives of the Conseil Gabonais des Chargeurs (CGC) before cargo boarding at port of loading.
- Final BIETC should be validated (accord définitif) and granted to the shipper as a final visa:
- Failing to comply with this procedure, BIETC will have to be regularized at destination and subjected to penalties.
- Relaxation measure related to the age of used vehicles imported into the Gabonese Republic 10 years maximum, from date of first entry into service, as of January, 26th 2024.
- Insertion of BIETC numbers on BL / Seaway Bill is not required as of April, 22nd, 2024. However, shipowners as well as shippers must ensure that each shipment is covered by a valid BIETC issued by the authorized agent.
Reminder of BIETC Validation Procedure :
1- The Validated Preliminary Agreement (BIETC Draft) is obtained before the loading and departure of the vessel.
2- The Approved Visa (Finalization (BIETC Validated)) is obtained after the ship's departure, upon presentation of the final BL, within the deadlines according to zones, as follows:
- Africa zone : 5 + 5(COVID-19) days after vessel departure
- Europe zone : 10 + 5(COVID-19) days after vessel departure
- America zone : 15 + 5(COVID-19) days after vessel departure
- Asia, Oceania, Middle East zone : 15 + 5(COVID-19) days after vessel departure
Please note that failure to comply with validation deadlines constitutes an offence punishable by a fine (Penalty).