Every country applies different requirements and policies in the import and export of goods. We’ll save ourselves the chance encountering any troubles at the critical moment if we know each country's import and export policies well. So, which requirements and policies should we pay more attention to? Let’s take a look. We provide you the customs requirements of the most important countries around the world as below.
Ⅰ.Countries requiring ENS
It is required by all EU countries at the cost of USD 25-35/copy.
Ⅱ.Countries requiring fumigation for wooden package
Australia, USA, Canada, Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Israel, Brazil, Chile, Panama
Ⅲ.Countries requiring Certificate of Origin
Cambodia, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Ⅳ.Customs requirements of different countries
1. Indonesia
The last consignee must be qualified to receive import and export goods, otherwise, it shall not clear customs.
2. Saudi Arabia
All goods imported to Saudi Arabia must be transported on pallets and have “country of origin and shipping mark” printed on the package. As of February 25, 2009, any goods arrived at the port of entry without using pallets and in violation of this requirement will be subject to a penalty, and such penalty will be borne by the client.
3. Brazil
a. Only the full set of B/L is accepted, and all three originals must not be modified. The freight amount (in USD or Euro only) must be indicated on the B/L. Order B/L will be rejected. The contact information (telephone number and address) of the consignee must be indicated on the B/L.
b. The consignee's CNPJ number must be indicated on the B/L (the consignee must be organizations incorporated under the law). The consignee must be organizations registered with the customs authority at the destination.
c. Freight collect and additional cost at the destination port will not be acceptable. Wooden package must be fumigated. LCL quotation requires more attention.
4. Mexico
a. Declaration of AMS B/L requires the commodity code and AMS related materials, packing list and invoices.
b. The third notify party shall be indicated on the Notification, usually the forwarder or the agent of the consignee.
c. Provide the actual consigner and consignee.
d. Commodity name must be provided in detail rather than in general.
e. The number must be indicated in detail, e.g. 1 pallet contains 50 boxes of cargo.
f. The country of origin must be indicated on the B/L.
5. Chile
Telex release B/L will not be accepted in Chile. Wooden package must be fumigated.
6. Panama
a. Telex release B/L will not be accepted in Panama. Wooden package must be fumigated. Packing list and invoices are required.
b. Cargo delivered to Panama through the Colon Free Zone shall be able to be stacked and forklifted. Every single item must not exceed 2000KGS.
7. Columbia
The freight amount must be indicated on the B/L (in USD or Euro).
8. India
Indian clients can technically own the cargo without payment despite the cargo is under FOB/CIF term, or the B/L is TO ORDER OF SHIPPER, or the B/L is held by you. You’ve lost the ownership of cargo as long as the name of your Indian client is indicated on the BILL OF ENTRY and IGM. As such, you’ll want to make sure the cargo is 100% prepaid whether the B/L is kept by you or not.
9. Russia
a. If the cooperation between you and your client is not long-term, the payment must be made timely, or at least 75% must be prepaid.
b. Tell your client to pay and pick up the goods after their arrival at the port, otherwise, the goods may be misappropriated by the Customs, or you have to pay a high price and your client has to pull some strings to recover the goods. This market can be unreasonable sometimes even you are in the right.
c. Always remember to remind your client to make a prepayment, to pick up the goods or clear off the final payment because the Russians can be very dilatory.
10. Kenya
KEBS started the PVOC for goods before delivery from September 29, 2015. As of 2005, all products included in the PVOC catalog must be granted with the CoC, which is mandatory customs clearance document in Kenya, before their delivery, otherwise, the goods arrived at the Kenya port will be rejected.
11. Egypt
a. The Market Regulation Administration conducts pre-shipment inspection and supervision.
b. The Note of Commodity Inspection Certificate, formal Power of Attorney on Customs Inspection, packing list, invoice and contract will be required, whether the commodity inspection is demanded by the law or not.
c. File the Note of Commodity Inspection Certificate with the Market Regulation Administration to obtain the Certificate of Goods Inspection (Certificate of Goods Inspection can be obtained ahead of time if the inspection is required by the law). Then both you and the Market Regulation Administration agree to a specific time when they should come and supervise the shipment (call local Market Regulation Administration for more information on how long you should make such appointment in advance).
d. Staff from the Market Regulation Administration photographs the empty boxes after their arrival at the warehouse. Then they verify the number of boxes under each invoice and take pictures. Goods cannot be packed into each box until they are verified and photographed. After all these are done, you go to the Market Regulation Administration to obtain the Certificate of Goods Inspection. Then the goods are qualified for customs clearance.
e. About 5 working days after the issuance of the Certificate of Goods Inspection, you’ll receive a Pre-shipment Inspection Certificate that can be used at the destination port. The foreign client cannot clear customs unless they have this certificate.
f. All documents (Certificate of Origin and invoices) for the goods exported to Egypt must be verified by the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in China. Only the stamped documents and pre-shipment inspection certificates can be used for customs clearance and goods pick-up at the destination port in Egypt. Embassy verification will be conducted as long as the customs clearance is finished or the export data is confirmed.
g. The verification by the Egypt Embassy costs 3-7 working days. The pre-shipment inspection certificate costs about 5 working days. Please refer to the local authority for more information on other matters related to customs clearance and commodity inspection. Make sure to add the necessary extra time when negotiating with your clients about these matters.
12. Pakistan
According to the requirements of Karachi port authority: All imported carbon powder, graphite powder, magnesium dioxide and other dyes packed in paper bags must be transported on pallets or properly packed, otherwise, they will not be unloaded. Moreover, vessels with flags of India, South Africa, Israel, South Korea and Taiwan cannot come near the port of Pakistan.
13. United Arab Emirates
As required by the Dubai and Abu Dhabi public health department, all imported foods must be indicated with expiry date and come with the health manual, otherwise, they shall not be unloaded.
14. Maldives
a. No toxic products or sulfuric acid, nitrates, dangerous animals, among others, shall be imported unless permitted by the competent domestic authority.
b. No alcoholic beverages, dogs, pigs or pork, statues, among others, shall be imported unless permitted by the competent foreign authority.
15. Canada
As suggested by the Canadian government, any goods that are transported to its east coast in winter should be delivered to Halifax or St. Johns because these two ports will not be affected by freezing.
16. Argentina
As required by the Argentine law, the consignee who has lost the B/L must submit this matter with the Customs, and it’ll receive another set of B/L from the carrier or its agent upon consent by the Customs. At the meanwhile, the consignee shall submit a statement with the competent authority confirming the invalidity of the original B/L.
17. Tanzania
As required by the Tanzania port authority, for the purpose of categorizing, all goods destined for the Dar es Salaam harbor in Tanzania or transported to Zambia, Zaire, Rwanda and Burundi through Tanzania must be indicated with cross marks in different colors on their packages, otherwise, the carrier will charge for categorizing.
18. Djibouti
As required by the Djibouti port authority, goods transshipped in the port must be indicated with the final port expressly on all documents and shipping marks (e.g. WITH TRANSHIP-MENT TOHOOEIDAH). Please be noted that such information must be indicated on top or any space of the B/L rather than on the destination port column on the B/L, otherwise, such goods will be deemed departed from the Djibouti port and will not be released by the Customs until the consignee pays the taxes.
19. Australia
As required by the Port Authority of Australia, when goods are imported in wooden boxes, such wooden boxes must be fumigated and the fumigation certificate should be sent to the consignee, otherwise, the wooden boxes will be removed and burned off, and any repacking costs arising therefrom shall be borne by the consigner.
20. New Zealand
As required by the Port Authority of New Zealand, any wooden structures or packaging and padding materials used for the container must undergo quarantine procedures before their entering.
Countries requiring AMS
United States, Canada, Mexico, Philippines
(ISF is not required in the USA; required documents shall be submitted to the American Customs 48 hours prior to the departure, otherwise, the goods shall be subject to a penalty equal to USD5000; AMS expenses are USD25/copy, and any change to the documents will require USD40/copy). As of July 1, 2016, in addition to EBS and CIC, all goods imported into the Philippines shall be subject to AMS, which requires AMS charges. All goods imported into the Philippines shall submit AMS materials in advance.
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