Customs Services

Import clearance is the process through which we can import goods by providing the requirements indicated in the above points. It is important to note that, before customs, the importer is responsible for the goods to be imported. Therefore, it is recommended to consult with a freight forwarder or a customs agent in the country where the goods will be imported regarding the requirements for importation before making the purchase. This way, you will have all the details related to the importation, as well as any possible preferential agreements between the EU and the country of origin that may result in the exemption from duty payment.

Before import clearance, there are filters that the goods must pass. Each filter depends on its corresponding Ministry (SOIVRE: Ministry of Industry; Health: Ministry of Health, etc.). The customs agent will submit the required documents to the office of each of these Ministries. If the submitted documents meet the requirements, the Ministry will provide the necessary document to proceed with import clearance. Otherwise, the Ministry will issue a request indicating the missing documentation and/or changes to be made.

Once the filters are cleared, the evidential documents will be presented to the customs officer assigned to the import clearance, and they will proceed with authorization (green channel), physical inspection of the goods (red channel), or document review (orange channel). In the case of red or orange channels, after the relevant inspection, if everything is in order, the import clearance will move to the green channel, and the goods will be considered cleared. After clearance, the importer will proceed to pay taxes and duties. Following settlement, the delivery of the goods can be coordinated.

In most cases, there is a question about how to purchase (FOB, CIF, or EXW). It will always depend on many factors, but two blocks could be considered: new importers and experienced importers. For our first importation, we will have to contact all parties for the first time: the supplier in the country of origin and the freight forwarder in the destination country. In that case, we will request an FOB price from the supplier and then a price from the freight forwarder from the port of shipment to our facilities. This way, when we add the FOB price from the supplier and the price from our freight forwarder, we will have the total cost of bringing that merchandise.

Sometimes, to avoid having to find a freight forwarder and decide whether to go with this one or that one, we decide to buy CIF. The disadvantage of buying CIF when we don't know the supplier is that we don't know how they operate. The consequences that may arise include:

1. That some concepts that we believe we have already paid for are set as payable at destination instead.

2. The fees of the receiving agent at destination are not price competitive.

3. The importer did not check with a local forwarding agent at destination whether the requirements to import the merchandise are met.

4. The necessary documentation for import clearance (analysis certificates, phytosanitary certificates, etc.) has not been issued at origin.

If we have experience, we can opt for other INCOTERMS or terms of sale. However, considering that the role of a freight forwarder at the destination is essential, it is always better if it is one that we have chosen.

Export clearance is the process through which we can export goods by providing the requirements indicated in the above points. It is important to note that, before customs, the exporter is responsible for the goods to be exported.

Before export clearance, there are filters that the goods must pass. Each filter depends on its corresponding Ministry (SOIVRE: Ministry of Industry; Health: Ministry of Health, etc.). The customs agent will submit the required documents to the office of each of these Ministries. If the submitted documents meet the requirements, the Ministry will provide the necessary document to proceed with export clearance. Otherwise, the Ministry will issue a request indicating the missing documentation and/or changes to be made.

Once the filters are cleared, the evidential documents will be presented to the customs officer assigned to the export clearance, and they will proceed with authorization (green channel), physical inspection of the goods (red channel), or document review (orange channel). In the case of red or orange channels, after the relevant inspection, if everything is in order, the export clearance will move to the green channel, and the goods will be considered cleared. Once the goods are cleared, they can proceed to the destination country.

The importer may need some documents for import clearance in their country. These documents must be issued in the exporter's country when export clearance is done, such as preferential certificates (EUR-1, ATR, ...), phytosanitary certificates, etc. The certificate of origin, on the other hand, is issued by the chamber of commerce in the province where the exporter is located.