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Clearance Delays: Why’s My Package at Customs?

When importing or exporting goods, little details not well defined may lead to the cargo being held at either the exporting or the importing port. No one desires this as we all look forward to receiving our goods on time. It is important to ensure all your documents and payments are in order if you are doing this individually. If you settle for a shipping company, ensure they are well established and familiar with legal networks such as iorafrica.com/services/exporter-of-record-eor/.

This article will explain how the goods are cleared at the customs and why there are delays.

How to avoid clearance delays

Proper documentation

Ensure all the documents are correct and ensure they are well filled. This entails the names, destination, commercial invoice, currency, and product description.

The custom clearance checks the purchase order from the buyer, certificate of origin, commercial invoice, airway bill, and packaging list.

All the logins in these documents need to be well checked to ensure the details are correct and in line with the identification documents of the owner.

Product description

The customs and border protection is very specific on the details of the goods being imported. Ensure the description of the career is in line with the real product weight and other details.

Incorrect information will lead to clearance delays at the ports. Be more specific with your product description.

Give complete information

Both the consignee and the shipper need to give complete details before the goods reach the clearance offices.

Incomplete or inaccurate information about the destination of the shipment or the name of the consignee will lead to holding back the goods at the port.

This is costly, as more will be charged when the goods are stored for a longer period than the desired time.

Complete all the payments

Ensure the taxes and customs duties are paid in full and at the right time to avoid delays. If the fees are to be paid immediately the goods land, ensure this is done correctly.

Officers at the customs check this and are very strict to ensure all the payments are made and taxes cleared.

Correct packaging regulations

With the current global pandemic COVID-19, the shipping regulations have changed drastically and to ensure your goods are not delayed, follow the packaging requirements.

This includes the correct weight and approval that the goods have been well fumigated. This will ensure the officers at the clearance office do not hold back your goods due to failure to fulfill the packaging requirements.

Q: What are some products likely to cause delays at the customs?

1)      Highly reactive chemicals such as uranium

2)      Weapons such as guns

3)      Drugs such as tobacco

4)      Highly valuable materials such as gold

5)      Pharmaceutical products such as creams and medicines.

Customs and approval process

  • Declaration of a bill of entry
  • Electronic Data Interchange assessment – EDI
  • Examination of goods
  • Payment of duty
  • Amendment of a bill of entry
  • Warehousing

In conclusion, to avoid delays at the customs, ensure you settle for a well-networked company for efficient export and import services.

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