Destination Country Requirements

Some reasons for Control at Destination

1) Internal security (control of weapons, munitions, defense articles)

2) Public health and safety - consumer and environmental protection. In this country, USDA, EPA, CPSC, FDA, etc.

3) Wealth retention - Foreign exchange controls, import license, import permit, consular documents, independent inspections, etc. Concern of money laundering operations.

4) Culture and lifestyle maintenance - Prohibition of drugs, alcohol, pornography, certain luxuries, etc.

Foreign Government Objectives

1) Collection of revenue -- Duties and taxes. Duty rates can be determined from "World Tariff", Dept. of Commerce has many overseas tariff schedules, may find on internet (ex."www.wto.org" for Hong Kong, U.S., Singapore).

2) Protection of domestic industry -- done via embargoes, quotas, sanctions on dumping.

3) Manage foreign exchange -- Through import license and permits, or through high duty rates to discourage flight of currency out of country.

4) Intellectual Property Rights protection -- Trade names, trademarks, copyrights of domestically registered goods. Normally if piratical copy comes in will be seized.

Sources of destination country information

1) Publications / internet (standard / official) -- examples are BNA, Official Export Guide, Shipping Digest. Note example of hard copy and internet version from Shipping Digest.

2) Consular representatives -- these people are the experts, particularly when legalization or visa processing is required.

3) Foreign chambers of commerce - Ex. U.S./Arab Chamber of Commerce.

4) Foreign customs brokers / freight agents. Drawback of using them is specialization of activity by some.

5) The importer -- importance of the exporter paying close attention to the needs of his import client.

Common Document requirements at destination

1) Pre-import controls / requirements -- Import license / permit, consular legalization, independent inspections, etc.

2) Customs entry / release -- Customs declaration / entry, other government agency requirements (such as agricultural goods, pharmaceuticals, military items, etc.)

3) Key commercial documents ...

a. Commercial invoice (duty rate and assessment based, HTS description, "certified true and correct" / other statements, U.S. destination control statement, breakout of costs and charges).

b. Packing list (best to be separate from commercial invoice).

c. Transport documents (B/L, AWB, truck bill)

4) Product-based documents -- Certificate for dangerous goods, phytosanitary certificate, health certificate, fumigation certificate.

5) Country specific --

a. Customs invoice (admissibility to properly assess duties and taxes)

b. Consular invoice (Customs document that requires legalization)

c. Certificate of origin (proof of origin of goods, requires chamberization - certification).

d. Legalization help (RHDC - example).

e. Language requirements -- usually English is OK, except many Latin American countries.

Other requirements

1) Consumer product marking / packaging - if not marked / labelled properly may be subject to delays, or inadmissibility.

2) Language - product packaging may have to be in the local language. For instance, Egypt requires all to be in Arabic.

3) Insurance - many countries require insurance to be taken out by a carrier in the destination country. Example: Dominican Republic.

Some consequences when documents are incomplete, inaccurate, or missing

1) Demurrage

2) Detention / seizure possibility by authorities / General order

3) May effect payment of goods

4) Fines imposed by government authorities
5) Duty and tax miscalculations

6) Extra banking fees may be imposed

7) May result in unhappy customer