|
|
|
 |
|
Tips
for Shipping to Canada
6
Ways to Help Avoid Clearance Delays
|
|
|
|
|
| Clearance delays are frustrating for everyone involved in the shipping
process. But they are not inevitable. Because many of these delays
are commonly caused by inadequate or insufficient documentation, the incidence
of frustrating release problems can be substantially avoided by simply
improving the quality of your export paperwork. |
| Adhering to the following six tips will improve the quality of your
documentation: |
|
 Include all information required
on your customs invoices (this also applies in the case of EDI transfer
of invoice data). When key data elements such as country of origin, unit
values, proper descriptions, pieces, weights, etc. are not included, the
customs broker will need to contact you to obtain the missing information
or even request corrected paperwork. Lack of sufficient information is
probably the most frequent reason for delays at Customs. |
|
| Show a detailed description
of each item contained in the shipment. Avoid vague or generic descriptions
– be as specific as possible (e.g., “wooden office desk” instead of just
“furniture”). Otherwise, the customs broker will not be able to properly
classify the goods. |
|
| Mark and number each package
so that it can be identified with the corresponding marks and numbers appearing
on your customs paperwork. |
|
| Ensure your goods are marked
legibly and conspicuously with the name of the country of origin. Be sure
to indicate the country of origin (i.e., where the goods were originally
fabricated or “substantially transformed”) on your documentation. Where
multiple countries of origin are involved, indicate the appropriate origin
next to each item. |
|
| Be aware of any special regulations
which may apply to your goods, such as the provisions relating to food,
drugs, cosmetics, alcoholic beverages and radioactive materials and ensure
that you are in compliance with the applicable regulatory requirements. |
|
| Observe closely the instructions
your customers have sent you, with respect to such items invoicing, packaging,
marking, labeling and their designated customs broker. |
|
| In addition minimizing the need for follow-up calls and faxes to your
shipping department to obtain missing information, following these six
precautions will pay off with your Canadian customers in terms of faster,
more “hassle-free” delivery of your product. |
