Paperwork and customs
At the border control post.
Products of animal and plant origin entering a regulated market pass through a designated control post. The check has three stages and a consignment can be stopped at any of them, most commonly the first.
The three checks.
They happen in this order, and a failure at one usually means the later ones do not happen at all.
- Documentary
- The certificates and the notification are examined against the requirements. Most rejections happen here, on paperwork rather than on product.
- Identity
- The goods are matched to the documents: marks, seals, labels and container numbers. A mismatch is a serious problem.
- Physical
- Examination and sometimes sampling and laboratory testing. Frequency depends on the product, the origin and the risk plan.
What you have to do before arrival.
Pre-notify the consignment on the destination's system, within the timeframe it requires. Late notification delays everything.
Have the original certificates available in the required form, which for some markets still means paper.
Make sure the establishment, where one is required, is approved and listed for that market.
Book the arrival at a post designated for your product category, because not every post handles every category.
What causes delay.
Documentary errors, by a wide margin. A wrong number or a missing attestation stops a container that is otherwise perfect.
Being selected for physical checks and testing, which is not predictable and can take days while the goods wait.
Arriving at a post that is not designated for your category, which means moving the container.
Notification submitted late or with details that do not match the documents.
What it costs.
Inspection fees, which are charged to the importer and vary by product and post.
Storage and demurrage while the check happens, which on a selected consignment can exceed the inspection cost.
Testing costs where samples are taken, and the goods generally wait for results.
For refrigerated goods, plug-in charges and a real risk to the cold chain if handling is prolonged.
Questions buyers ask.
Can I avoid a physical check?
No, selection is risk based and it is not negotiable. What you can control is the documentary stage, which is where most consignments actually fail.
How long does it take?
A clean documentary check can be quick. A physical check with sampling and testing takes days while the goods wait, so build the possibility into your planning rather than into your promises.
Who pays for it?
The importer, including the inspection fee, the storage and any testing. This is a routine cost of importing regulated products rather than a penalty.
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