BSC Questions & Answers

 

  1. Why must the exporter register in the BSC site?

 

  1. Why must the importer register in the BSC site?

 

  1. When does the forwarding agent have to register himself in the BSC site?

 

  1. Is the production of the BSC mandatory for occasional importers and personal belongings?

 

  1. Which documents the importer must attach when he registers his personnal account?

 

  1. Which document the exporter must attach when he registers his personnal account?

 

  1. What to do with transactions involving three parties (triangular trade)?

 

  1. Can the importer register BSCs on behalf of his supplier?

 

  1. What must the exporter do if he sends his goods by express mail (DHL, UPS or other)?

 

  1. Whom traders/ parties must be registered in the site to create a BSC?

 

  1. When must the BSC be registered?

 

  1. What documents are required for the opening of the BSC?

 

  1. And if the customs declaration does not exist in the country of the exporter?

 

  1. Does the BSC number has to be mentioned in the transport document?

 

  1. What does the importer have to do if there is an error in his BSC?

 

  1. What happen to the documents attached to each BSC?

 

  1. What happens once the BSC is registered?

 

  1. Does the validated BSC be printed before clearing the goods through customs?

 

  1. What happens if the enclosed documents in the site are forged documents?

 

  1. What to do when you cannot have access to your BSC account using your identification and your password?

 

  1. What to do if you receive a message indicating “server error”, and in any step of the BSC process?

 

  1. What to do when the system keeps bringing you back to the same screen, even if you click on a command, in order to add a document for example?   

  1. How to contact the Information Centre   


 

Q.     Why must the exporter register in the BSC site?

A.       The registration of the exporter allows him to have access to the system via his personnal account and therefore to open a BSC for all his exports to Madagascar.

FAQs


 

Q.     Why must the importer register in the BSC site?

A.       The BSC is one of the documents required for the clearance of consignments for importation to Madagascar .

The importer must register in the BSC site:
– in order to allow his exporter to open correctly his BSC,
– in order to allow the BSC Technical Center to give him a registration number that he has to give to his exporters, so that they could select that registration number for any BSC that they will create for him, 
– it will allow him to create his personal account, and thus to consult the status of his BSC.

FAQs


 

Q.     When does the forwarding agent have to register himself in the BSC site?

A.       The forwarding agent for exportation must register if his clients (exporters) want him to open their BSCs.

FAQs


 

Q.     Is the production of the BSC mandatory for occasional importers and personal belongings?

A.       To open a BSC is mandatory when the value of the consignment is higher or equal to the equivalent of 100 euros FOB. This includes personal belongings and removals.
In the case of a removal, the owner of the belongings is at the same time, the exporter and the importer. In consequence, two different accounts must be created (exporter and importer) and validated. A copy of the relevant passport must be attached to each account.
The opened accounts will thus have different addresses :
• the old address (abroad) in the exporter’s account and
• the new address (in Madagascar) in the importer’s account.
He can create his BSC himself from the exporter’s account, or ask his forwarding agent for exportation to do it for him. He has to give to the agent his respective registration numbers (exporter and importer).
NB : In the creation of the account particular individuals will enter their name instead of a name of company Only occasional non commercial nature operations do not require the opening of a BSC :
• Travellers
• Parcel posts
• Express freight for documents and/or samples
• Express freight for a forwarding of a FOB value less than 100 euros
• Forwarding and supplying to diplomatic and consular missions
• Diplomatic bags
On the other hand the following items are systematically submitted to the opening of a BSC :
• Removals
• Magazines
• Importations for NGOs
• Religious organizations
• Associations, whatever their statuses are.

FAQs


 

Q.     Which documents the importer must attach when he registers his personnal account?

A.       A copy of the genuine Certificate of Registration of the company, with the NIF code (fiscal registration number), for companies and traders.
A copy of the national identity card for individual importers of malagasy nationality
A copy of the passport or of the resident's permit for individual importers of any other nationality
A copy of any document which confirms the existence of the importer as a legal entity. It exists for organizations such as ministries, NGOs, associations (receipt of the certificate of setting up of a company, NIF code) and so on. Concerning the shipment of personnal effects and donations, the following documents can replace the final invoice : valued list of contents or valued packing life or valued certificate of donations.

FAQs


 

Q.     Which document the exporter must attach when he registers his personnal account?

A.       An extract of Register of Commerce for companies and traders,
A copy of the national identity card (or passport) for individual exporters
A copy of any document which confirms the existence of the exporter as a legal entity. It exists for organizations such as ministries, NGOs, associations (receipt of the certificate of setting up of a company, NIF code) and so on.

FAQs


 

Q.     What to do with transactions involving three parties (triangular trade)?

A.       Example :
BSC creation is the duty of exporter “A” (France), whom buys goods from a manufacturer “B” (China). “A” sells to the importer “C” (Madagascar). The shipment is carried out by the forwarding agent “D” (China).
In this case :
– If the exporter “A” opens himself his BSC, he must get from the manufacturer “B” the export customs declaration as well as the transport document related to it,
– If the opening of the BSC is done by the forwarding agent “D”, the above-mentioned documents and the final invoice of exporter "A" must be given to him by the exporter “A” or the manufacturer “B”, if he previously registered for this shipment.

These information and documents are confidential. Only the BSC Technical Center, the Malagasy customs service and the exporters which have opened the BSC can have access to these information.

FAQs


 

Q.     Can the importer register BSCs on behalf of his supplier?

A.       No.
Information related to exported goods to Madagascar are registered in the BSC. It is up to the exporter to do it. It is his responsability.
In some exceptional cases and with specific authorization, the BSC Technical Center in Madagascar can create BSCs on behalf of exporters.
If the case occurs, please contact our team at the following address : mg.bsc@sgs.com

FAQs


 

Q.     What must the exporter do if he sends his goods by express mail (DHL, UPS or other)?

A.       For these cases, it is recommended to express mail companies (as forwarding agent for exportation) to create BSCs on behalf of their exporting customers.
For shipment by express mail (by air), the shipment note (UPS, DHL, TNT, FEDEX, CHRONOPOST, …) must be enclosed twice : as a transport document and as a customs declaration. No other export custom declaration will be requested.

FAQs


 

Q.     Whom traders/ parties must be registered in the site to create a BSC?

A.       At least one trader is needed abroad (exporter) and another one in Madagascar (importer) for each BSC.
BSCs for EXW operations (ex work price, not including forwarding) can be created by the forwarding agent for exportation, commissioned by the importer.
A copy of the final invoice must be given to him.

FAQs


 

Q.     When must the BSC be registered?

A.       The BSC must be registered as soon as the goods are shipped.
It is possible that the exporter or his forwarding agent registers the BSC in advance.
But the process will be completed only after the effective shipment of the goods, when the forwarding documents are available.

FAQs


 

Q.     What documents are required for the opening of the BSC?

A.       - Final invoice with a very detailed goods descritption and incoterms. Importer should take as a reference the Public Notice of Customs 270MFB/SG/DGD dated 29 july 2008. Ha can as well transmit this notice to his supplier whenever needed.
- Sales contract, each it exists, and especially when Sugar, rice or flour is exported to Madagascar.
- Transport document for sea shipment (not mandatory for air shipment)
- Export Custom Declaration

FAQs


 

Q.     And if the customs declaration does not exist in the country of the exporter?

A.       The delivery of consignments must be authorized by the local customs authorities before any border crossing.
In some countries a customs declaration for exportation is issued whereas in others procedures are more simplified (invoice verified and stamped at the customs office, electronic declaration, etc.). Some other countries, like USA or Canada, have exceptions.

The exporter has to attach the document submitted by the Customs service (or issued by the Customs service) when exporting the goods.
Then it is up to the BSC Technical Center, after the necessary checks, to revert to the exporter in case the enclosed document is not acceptable. In tha situation,exporter must replace it.

FAQs


 

Q.     Does the BSC number has to be mentioned in the transport document?

A.       No, it is not mandatory.

FAQs


 

Q.     What does the importer have to do if there is an error in his BSC?

A.       In case of error, the importer must inform his supplier.
Supplier will do the relevant correction of the BSC (if the BSC is not validated yet) or will contact the BSC Technical Center (if the BSC is validated). No BSC can be amended once it has been validated (cf avis au public n°619/MFB/SG/DGD)

FAQs


 

Q.     What happen to the documents attached to each BSC?

A.       These information and documents are confidential. Only the BSC Technical Center, the Malagasy customs service and the exporters which have opened the BSC can have access to it.

FAQs


 

Q.     What happens once the BSC is registered?

A.       When the creation of the BSC is completed, and all the documents required are enclosed, the exporter must ask for its validation (step 5 in the creation process of a BSC).
After having verified the information enclosed by the exporter, the BSC Technical Center :
• either will validate it
• or will give it the status of « awaiting document » if some documents or some information are missing.
Once the BSC validated, the importer will be authorized to clear his goods through customs.

NB : An automatic notifying is sent directly to the e-mail address of the user who carried out the registration, to inform him about the status of his file : « Admissible », that is to say validated or « Awaiting document » if some elements or documents are missing. The details of missing information is available at step 5 of the BSC.

In case of « Awaiting document » status, the person who created the BSC (and only him) will enclose the missing documents and ask again for validation in step 5.
The importer can also see if there are other missing elements in the same step, and get on to the exporter again if he wishes to do so, in order to let him regularize his BSC without delay.
This will avoid delay in the delivery of the consignments.
When the status of a BSC is “Awaiting document”, neither can it be validated, nor cleared through customs.

FAQs


 

Q.     Does the validated BSC be printed before clearing the goods through customs?

A.       Customs clearance does not require any copy of the BSC.
The box number 21 has only to be filled with the BSC number, with “BSC” preceding it, while drawing up the customs declaration (example BSC 123).
However, the importer and the exporter can print their BSCs for their personal needs.

FAQs


 

Q.     What happens if the enclosed documents in the site are forged documents?

A.       Any forged document or false information involves the responsibility of the addressee, and exposes him to proceedings from the customs services.
It is up to the importer to make his supplier more aware of the importance of the BSC and the elements that will be attached to it.

FAQs


 

Q.     What to do when you cannot have access to your BSC account using your identification and your password?

A.       Your account is blocked. Please contact by mail the BSC Technical Center (mg.bsc@sgs.com) which will activate it again.
The Technical Center will give you a temporary new password, which will have to be modified next time you connect to the BSC site.
Click on « info profil » on the top left corner of the home page of your account and the modification is done.
To avoid a blocking of your account, choose a password or a user identification easy to remember.
Your account is automatically blocked after three unsuccessful tries.
If the operator account is locked, a written request of re intialization has to be sent by mail to the BSC Technical Center.
In order to protect the confidentiality of transmitted information, only the requests sent from the mail address indicated in the relevant account would be answered.

FAQs


 

Q.     What to do if you receive a message indicating “server error”, and in any step of the BSC process?

A.       • Close the window and then open a new window so that you can be connected again.
• Print the screen containing the page of error, send it to the Technical Center.
• Indicate at what step, and after having clicked on which icon you received the message of error.
• Indicate the internet explorer used (internet explorer, mozilla firefox,...) as well as the corresponding version (6.0, 7.0 etc.).

FAQs


 

Q.     What to do when the system keeps bringing you back to the same screen, even if you click on a command, in order to add a document for example?

A.       The pop-up blocker prevents a new pop-up window from opening.
You have to authorize the display of a new window in a « blocked » site by pressing the Ctrl key and clicking on a link at the same time.

To disable completely the pop-up blocker, proceed as follow :

1. Click on « tool » then on « Parameters » of the tool bar and select « Options ».
2. Select the « More information » tab.
3. Take off the tick in the option « Activate the blocking of pop-up windows ».
4. Click on « OK ».

OR
1- Click on « Options » in the tool bar and disable the box « Block the pop-up windows »

FAQs


 

Q.     How to contact the Information Centre

A.       Concerning any questions related to BSC creation or import procedures to Madagascar, feel free to contact The BSC Technical Centre : mg.bsc@sgs.com. Mails will be answered within 3hours maximum, except on week ends and Malagasy public holydays.

FAQs