Madagascar Import Documents Checklist

The core document set includes: BSC (Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons), commercial invoice, packing list, bill of Lading, certificate of origin, and import declaration via ASYCUDA World. Additional product-specific documents may apply depending on your cargo type.

The BSC (Bordereau de Suivi des Cargaisons) is Madagascar's mandatory Cargo Tracking Note. It must be filed and validated via SGS (bscmg.sgs.com) before the vessel departs from the origin port. Late filing results in penalties and clearance delays at Toamasina.

A certificate of origin is required for customs classification and to benefit from preferential trade treatment under APEi (EU), AGOA (US), SADC, or COMESA. Without a valid certificate of origin, standard MFN tariff rates apply.

A phytosanitary certificate is issued by the exporting country's plant protection authority and is required for agricultural products, plant-based goods, seeds, timber, and certain food items. It certifies the cargo is free from pests and diseases.

Upon filing the customs declaration, ASYCUDA assigns a risk channel: green (release on documents alone), yellow (documentary inspection), or red (physical inspection). Documentation quality is the primary factor you can control to achieve green-channel clearance.

Amendments after departure are possible but costly and time-consuming. The BSC can be amended with a fee, but mismatches between the commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading will still trigger inspection at Toamasina. It is far cheaper to correct all documents before shipment.

Mismatches between documents trigger yellow-channel or red-channel assessment, meaning physical or detailed documentary inspection, additional days of dwell time, and potential storage charges. Green-channel clearance requires all documents to agree perfectly.

Yes. Air freight to Madagascar requires the same core documents: commercial invoice, packing list, air waybill (instead of B/L), BSC, certificate of origin, and product-specific certificates. The shorter air transit means documentation must be ready before the goods leave the origin.

Green-channel clearance can be completed in 1-2 days. Yellow-channel inspection typically adds 2-3 additional days. Red-channel physical inspection can take 5-7 days or more, depending on cargo complexity and port congestion.

Missing or incorrect BSC information results in fines imposed by DGD. Penalties vary based on the severity of the error but can include fixed fines plus a percentage of the cargo value. The cargo will not clear customs until the BSC is corrected.

Pharmaceutical imports require Ministry of Public Health authorization, GMP certificates for manufacturing facilities, batch analysis certificates, product registration with the Malagasy drug authority, and cold chain documentation for temperature-sensitive products.