What Are The Different Types of Customs Documents?

There are several types of customs documentation associated with the international trade that might be for the United Kingdom or banking purposes, other departments of the government or destination customs. However, some documents are more frequently encountered than others. They have been described below in detail:

Commodity Codes

These are essentially internationally accepted 6-digit codes used for classifying shipped commodities in order to levy the right duties and taxes on them. The codes decipher if any export licenses are required. It also determines the need for import licenses when goods hit destination customs as well as the specific tax and duty rates that are to be applied.

Export Licensing

The movement of certain strategic goods, particularly those having military purpose, is regulated with the help of export licenses. UK exporters usually obtain this license from the Export Control Organisation. Companies providing customs clearance services are able to produce Customs declarations needed for exports that are licensable.

Certificates Of Origin

Customers often ask for a Certificate of Origin either for banking purposes or customs clearance. Freight forwarding firms that have comprehensive global coverage can provide simplified documents for several destinations, such as higher value allowances and legalisation at destination prior to requirement of certificates.

Movement Certificates

Forms EUR1 and ATR1 provide proof for supporting preferential trade with the nation of Turkey and several other countries having reciprocal trade agreements with EU. These documents are obtained from Chambers of Commerce or through commercial consular services provider. Services generally include issuing of certificates and on-line application. It is, however, possible to make use of simple procedures like low value declarations of invoice, EUR2 and ATR2 documents, or even by getting authorised exporter status. These procedures are present in detail within customs notices 827 & 812 available at official website of HMRC (Her Majesty’s Regulations & Customs).

Customs Declaration For Exports

UK customs typically necessitate export declarations for goods departing the UK on single administrative document via the National Export System. As a result, there are several things to consider before exporting goods from UK . For someone exporting commodities covered by a license, using duty relief schemes or from a warehouse that is bonded, there are many companies that can provide customs declaration for controlled goods.

Thus, there are some of the most important documents associated with customs clearance in UK. It is utmost important for importers and exporters to keep themselves knowledgeable about these paperworks.

How To Pack Your Air Freight Shipment?

Most commercial airlines have certain requirements which have to be met at the time of shipping goods via air freight service. If these requisites are not taken care of properly, it can lead to cancellation of the shipment. Given below are a few standard regulations that one needs to be aware of while shipping something through international air freight services:

• While palletising the freight, it is important to band the goods directly with the pallet. Simply using a shrink wrap can be insufficient for airlines. One must ensure that the material is not overhanging the pallet at any of the corners.
• Using a pallet of nearly the same size as that of the goods is generally prudent. A small material places on a big pallet can attract additional dimensional weight surcharges as the shipment would take up more space than needed. Also, the airline would charge whatever is of greater magnitude, actual or dimensional weight.
• While packing the material inside a box, care must be exercised to ensure that its weight does not go beyond that of the box’s weight limit. All edges will have to be taped securely using appropriate packing tape.
• If someone is shipping a pipe, the material should be capped as well as secured with a base to prevent the package from rolling around while on the move. This measure is essential for protecting other freight as well as the aircraft.
• Every airline has a weight limit per piece. For most major commercial flights, it is 300 pounds. However, not all cargo carrying crafts have a weight limit per piece.
• Things such as batteries, aerosols, certain kinds of silicone, oils and caulking are considered hazardous and not allowed on cargo aircraft. Therefore, one must make sure that their freight does not contain any of these materials.

Following the above mentioned procedures can not only help to prevent delay of the shipment, but also ensure that it gets delivered in a good condition and can be handled easily by import and export agents. In addition to these, one must also document the customs clearance procedures properly. The best way to take care of that is working with a reputed freight forwarding company. However, one should be careful while choosing such a firm and perform meticulous research to find a trustworthy and reliable professional. This would guarantee safe and timely arrival of the goods that are being shipped via air freight forwarding services.

Picture credit : c2.staticflickr.com/4/3601/3695197802_d8cde9b13b_b.jpg