With the US and Canada clamping down on vague descriptions, and many other countries likely to follow suit, there has been a lot of talk recently about parcel hold ups in customs. If you’ve ever had a parcel delayed in this way, you’ll know how frustrating it can be. We'll show you some top tips to ensure your parcel is not stopped.
The main thing to understand – and a point we always convey to our customers – is that customs is there to act as a barrier to unsolicited items arriving in the country. If getting parcels through customs was easy, the officials wouldn’t be doing their job properly. That’s why we need to make it as compliant as possible.
#‘When will my parcel be released?’
If you do have a parcel held, this is a question we get asked all the time. It could be just a random check, but unfortunately, it’s one question we can’t answer (unless you’re happy with the very annoying response, ‘How long is a piece of string?!’). The truth is, there are no hard and fast rules as to how long it will take, and the situation can change from country to country due to differing rules and regulations.
The only thing that you can do to improve the situation is to ensure that you provide all the correct information on your customs declaration form to begin with. The good news is that there are some easy wins to ensure you supply exactly what customs want and improve your chances of getting parcels cleared without issue.
#Avoid vague product descriptions
Product descriptions help customs identify what’s in your package. This needs to be more than one or two words. It should provide an accurate description of what your product looks like and does. Recently, the US made it mandatory for all parcels entering the country to have detailed descriptions. As a result, any package arriving in US customs with a ‘vague’ description of goods is likely to be rejected. Other countries are now applying or thinking of applying this rule. 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.
#Provide full and accurate HS codes
A Harmonised System or HS code is a sequence of numbers used to classify a product. Put simply, it knows customers know what’s in your package. You’ll need to supply a HS code of 8 digits for EU parcels and 10 for everywhere else (including the US). The main point to remember here is that if you don’t supply the full number or get the sequence wrong, you run the risk of having your parcel held up in customs. To find out more about how to allocate a HS code you can visit our HS code resource page or www.gov.uk/trade-tariff.
#Supply an accurate country of origin
It’s important for the customs department to know where a parcel is coming from as different countries will have differing rules and tariffs. With all the current talk about changes to US tariffs on imports, and many countries responding with counter tariffs of their own, it’s more important than ever to get this part right.
Getting your parcels through customs is as easy as 1,2,3. Getting all the above right will help to minimise the risk of having your goods held up in customs. Of course, you may have been lucky enough to get by without it so far – the customs department can’t stop and check every parcel. However, there is always the possibility that it could happen one day, and when it does, it’s a real pain for you and your customer.
#Our advice?
If you do experience a parcel hold up, don’t worry, in most cases the parcel will eventually be released and sent on to its intended destination. Customs will normally tell you why it was delayed in the first place, therefore you’ll be able to learn what went wrong and take steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again in future.
#We’re here to help
At SAMOS, we do everything we can, where possible, to help our customers prepare their parcels for a straightforward and hassle-free delivery.
If you have any questions regarding customs processes for e-commerce shipments, or:
- you have an item you’re unsure about shipping
- your shipments are repeatedly stuck in customs or returned (especially in Europe)
- need help with the details to ensure a smooth delivery
.....then get in touch with SAMOS today.
