Togo launches ePermis digital platform for agricultural imports

Togo has launched the development of ‘ePermis’, a digital platform designed to modernize and simplify the process of obtaining import permits for seeds, pesticides, and certain agricultural equipment. The project, officially kicked off in Lomé on October 9, 2026, aims to replace decades-old paper-based systems with a transparent, traceable digital ecosystem. This transition is intended to reduce administrative delays, minimize the need for physical travel by economic operators, and improve the monitoring of authorization requests.

The initiative is supported by the World Trade Facilitation Alliance, implemented by the German cooperation agency GIZ, with financial backing from the European Union and German cooperation exceeding 450,000 euros (approximately 295 million FCFA). The project aligns with Togo’s commitment to the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement and complements the existing ‘ePhyto’ digital certification system used for exports. Following a development phase, the platform will undergo testing with economic operators and stakeholder training before its full deployment, which is expected within approximately one year.