It’s time to take the ‘vagueness’ out of descriptions on U.S. shipments. Discover what is and isn’t acceptable.
U.S. Customs (CBP) has started enforcing new regulations on all packages entering the USA. Starting this month, any package arriving in the country with a ‘vague’ cargo description or an incomplete HS code, is likely to be rejected. If you’re shipping to the States (or thinking about it), read on to find out why this is happening and what you’ll need to do about it.
#More changes to shipping to the USA? What’s happening now?
If you’re a regular shipper to the States, you may be aware that there’s been a lot of recent talk about changes to U.S. shipping regulations. Essentially, the government is taking a stance against overseas companies exploiting tax exemptions to deliver low-cost goods into the country at scale. As a result, Customs is tightening up procedures on all goods entering the country.
#What are the new changes to import regulations that I need to know about?
On 4 September 2024, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) announced that vague descriptions of goods in Air Cargo Advanced Screening (ACAS) will be rejected. A precise and specific description of the merchandise is now mandatory for shipments to the U.S. or transiting via the U.S.
#OK. So what do they mean by ‘vague’ descriptions?
This relates to how you communicate what’s in your shipment and whether or not you have supplied enough detail. There are two ways in which we currently do this: HS codes
HS Codes (otherwise known as a Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System) provide Customs with a sequence of numbers that categorise what’s in your parcel. The different codes are internationally standardised (so every country is on the same page), and they are used along with the value of goods to define duty and tax rates.
The codes are made up of chapters and categories which narrow the classification down to the exact description of your product.
For example:
If you are selling Air Fryers, the HS codes are worked out as follows:
Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof Chapter 85
Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters; electric space heating apparatus and soil heating apparatus; electrothermic hairdressing apparatus and hand dryers; electric smoothing irons, other electrothermic appliances of a kind used for domestic purposes: 8516 Other electrothermic appliances: 851671 Other: 851679 Deep fat fryers: 8516792000
In recent years, a 6–8-digit code may have sufficed. Under the new regulations, anything less than 10 digits will be treated as vague or incomplete by U.S Customs.
Product descriptions
Product descriptions help Customs identify what’s in your package. This is a literal explanation of what is inside. However, this needs to be more than one or two words. It should be a detailed description of what your product looks like and does.
For example:
Rather than saying that you are selling a box, you could say you’re selling a red plastic box. You can go even further and say that it is a red plastic box that is used for the purpose of storing children’s toys. Or, if you are selling a t-shirt, you will need to say the colour and material used, as well as the size and gender that it is designed for.
❌ Box
✔️ Red plastic box for the purpose of storing children’s toys.
#What do I need to do next to ensure I comply?
If you’re delivering to the USA, then you need to act as soon as possible to update both the HS codes and descriptions of your items. We know that changing procedures can feel like a huge and thankless task – especially if you are shipping many items to the States each month. But don’t worry, like all routines, it will get easier once you get the hang of it.
Here are some pointers to help you get started.
10-digit HS codes
You can find your product HS code by clicking on the government website page: www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. On this page, you’ll find a search tool enabling you to type in the details of your goods, and this will often generate an HS code for you.
Precise product descriptions
To ensure all product descriptions are accurate and precise, consider these points:
What is it?
What is it used for?
What is it made from?
Are there any additional details about the product that you can add? For example, size or colour of the item, gender if relevant to the item description.
For further guidance you can refer to the guide of acceptable and unacceptable descriptions on the USA Customs & Border Patrol Department website.
#It makes sense, but I’m worried that I may do something wrong. Where can I go for help?
If you’re unsure about any of these changes, SAMOS is happy to help. We ship all over the world and we have a lot of experience allocating HS codes and providing specific product descriptions. Plus we enjoy helping to solve shipping challenges – it’s what we do best.
If you’d like to know more about changes in U.S. shipping regulations and how to provide precise and accurate descriptions, or any other delivery conundrum, get in touch with SAMOS.
