No. Shipping through a courier looks like an easy option but you should know that in most countries, these Parcel service companies are regulated on what they can and cannot clear from customs. Couriers’ mode of clearance is highly restrictive, meaning that it is limited to certain items/commodities and value/weight limits. Depending on the customs value of the commodities or if the volume or quantity of the product is considered as an item to be marketed or distributed to the general public. The greater the value and quantity of goods, the greater the possibility that you require an import license for the destination country.
If the value of the shipment exceeds the limits, which may go from $300 usd up to $1,000 depending on the country, then the consignee will automatically be considered a regular importer and will be required to have an Import License or Import ID Number.
Make the most approximate and detailed inventory of what you are planning to ship and ask your Customs Broker (Exhibitions Cargo) about any import restriction at your destination. Maybe your shipment includes fragile or high value products that require special handling. Consider that even products that are considered harmless in your country (like pencils, food, lipsticks or toys) can be subject to import restrictions in other countries. Knowing the requirements of each item of your shipment can avoid costly delays or even seizure of your shipment.
Yes. Depending on the country where your event is taking place, there are different restrictions. The most Common Restricted products:
- All packing materials made of wood and used for international shipping, must have the “Approved by IPPC” stamp prior to the international shipping process.
- Natural Raw Materials on products. Regulated by the Wildlife Department of each country, their job is to keep out the pests that travel in raw finish materials like straw hats, beach bags, wood frames and plants and flowers.
- Medicines, Medical material and Medical Equipment. Including first aid kits, they are regulated by every country to avoid piracy and protect the industry.
- Food and Beverages. Regulated by the Health department of each country, you will find different restrictions in each country, specially for the ones produced in the region.
- Toys: As they are in contact with infants toys imports are regulated by the Health department of each country. Inflatable goods are considered toys.
- Textiles like clothing, towels, tablecloth
- Footwear like sandals
- Parallel Imports, also called “grey market” are an unauthorized import into a country, in which patented or branded products are sold without the consent of the owner of the trademark. The parallel part of the import involves a patented, copyrighted or trademarked product brought into a country at a lower price by a distributor, broker or vendor where the product is already marketed. Therefore parallel imports are often mixed up in international trade and intellectual property issues.
Having goods stuck in Customs is time-consuming and expensive. You may have to pay storage fees and large fines for undeclared or miss-declared goods. Some reasons are:
- Your shipment don´t match the paperwork
- Your goods are incorrectly valued
- Unauthorized or prohibited goods
- Lack of information in the packing list or shipping invoice form
- There is no authorized company at destination with a valid import license.
A customs broker is the only entity that can help you prepare and submit documentation to notify or obtain clearance from government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. They also arrange the transhipment (i.e., local delivery) of merchandise via trucking companies.
A customs broker will help you comply with Import Pre-requisites: Consider that even products that are considered harmless in your country (like pencils, food, lipsticks or toys, batteries, etc) can be subject to import restrictions in other countries. Knowing the requirements of each item of your shipment can avoid costly delays or even seizure of your shipment.
Give us a call, we will provide free consultation. Exhibitions Cargo is clearing customs in more than 50 countries in the world. Each country is unique about the treatment of importing commodities for meetings and events; frequently, Courier´s mode of clearance is highly restrictive, meaning that it is limited to certain items/commodities and value/weight limits.
Yes. It is highly recommended. You must know that the transportation of your shipment from origin to destinations will have continuous changes and manipulations, it means that each box in your shipment will pass through different hands, from warehouses, airlines, transport, even domestic and international government entities.
Customs authorities may open your boxes to establish, among other things, the dutiable value, the classification, the country of origin, the genuineness of the merchandise, the Customer’s right to import and/or distribute the merchandise and its admissibility, according to local laws. This is another reason for having your goods described precisely and correctly on the shipping invoice in order to have full control of the permits, licenses, product counting etc.
Exhibitions Cargo is covering all the Top Meeting destinations in the world. We are shipping to more than 50 countries worldwide:
- All the Caribbean and Mexico.
- Europe
- And the most exotic destinations like Seychelle, Phu Quoc, Bora Bora, Bali, Maldives, Phukett, etc…
Give us a call!