Did you know?
Purolator is keeping accuracy a top priority for your U.S. and international shipments
Beginning November 29, 2009, we are making some changes to the way you process your U.S. and international shipments using Purolator E-Ship™ Online and Purolator E-Ship™ Server. These changes are designed to obtain more accurate shipment information, thereby increasing the speed in which your shipments are processed for delivery to the United States and other international countries.
Prevent delays with complete information
In some cases, you'll now be required to enter more information about your shipment and in other cases, certain information is no longer required or its location on the screen has been moved.
For example, you must now enter a Unit of Measure for the product you are sending (found in the new Product Database section), as well as a Postal/Zip Code for certain destinations where it previously wasn't required, but you no longer need to specify a Harmonized Code for your shipment (this section is now optional). You must also now select your Preferred Customs Broker for Purolator Ground™ U.S. shipments from a convenient drop-down menu. If you do not have a preferred customs broker, simply select "UPS".
Most of these changes are minor and you may not even notice them, but by refining the information we ask you about your shipment, we can process your delivery more quickly and accurately. For further information on processing your U.S. and international shipments click on one of the following links:
New U.S./international E-Ship Online screen
Did you know?
- For all shipments valued at $200.00 up to $2000.00 USD (Informal clearance) a commercial invoice/customs invoice is required. Read More
- Vague or incomplete descriptions could impact customs clearance. Read More
- North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is not required for clearance purposes but rather to qualify for duty free entry into the country and/or for the purpose of obtaining preferential tariff treatment. Read More
- Harmonzied Codes are used to assess a commodity's duty rate (duties and taxes to be paid on this specific product). Read More
- If you are processing or distributing food products you will be required to show their FDA registration number and Prior Notification number on the customs documentation for any U.S. and International shipments containing food. Food is considered anything that can be consumed by a human or animal, including chewing gum. Read More
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is mandated to safeguard Canada's food supply and the plants and animals upon which safe and high-quality food depends. Read More
- Cost and Freight (named port of destination) means that the seller delivers when the goods pass the ship's rail in the port of shipment. Read More
- Some countries do not allow Free Domicile, which means that the Receiver will automatically pay the Duty and Brokerage. Free Domicile indicates that the shipper will pay the destination charges i.e. duties, brokerage, administration etc. Quickly learn if the country you are shipping to qualifies for Free Domicile of not. Read More
- A Textile Declaration is no longer required for textile and apparel shipments entering the United States. Read More
- Many countries and economies allow gifts to enter the country duty-free if the value of the gift is less than a certain amount. Any amount above the stated value may be subject to import duties and taxes. Read More
- Need help converting millimeters to centimeters or feet to meteres or cubic metres to cubic yards get the information you need by visiting the Measurement Conversion Guide located in Purolator International TradeAssist Zone™. Read More
- What is a Surety Bond? Read More
- What is a Power of Attorney and why is it required? Read More
Did you know?
For all shipments valued at $200.00 up to $2000.00 USD (Informal clearance) a commercial invoice/customs invoice is required.
Commercial / Customs Invoice
Definition:
Commercial invoice: An invoice issued by the seller to the buyer reflecting the transaction between the two parties (i.e. sale price, product description, terms of sale). This type of invoice is raised when a commercial transaction has taken place, i.e. a sale.
Customs invoice or invoice: A form which includes all the usual data of a commercial invoice, with additional information specific for the purpose of Customs clearance.
Pro forma invoice: An invoice used by a supplier or shipper to identify value and origin, as well as all other requisite Customs clearance data, for Customs purposes; used in lieu of a commercial invoice. All three (3) can be used for Customs clearance purpose, providing that all required elements are present.
Purpose:
To provide all necessary information and detail on a shipment to be presented to US Customs for clearance purpose. Please note that some commodities are regulated by other government agencies such as the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), FWS (Fish and Wildlife) and may require additional paperwork specific to the agency.
When is it required?
1. For all shipments valued at $200.00 up to $2000.00 USD (Informal clearance)
2. For all shipments valued at $2000.00 or greater (Formal clearance)
3. For all shipments that require a formal entry regardless of value (i.e. most textile shipments, FDA regulated commodities, items not eligible for section 321 release)
For additional information please refer to Purolator International TradeAssist Zone™
Did you know?
Vague or incomplete descriptions could impact customs clearance.
There are Good Descriptions and there are Bad Descriptions! Accurate descriptions on the contents of a package are essential for timely customs clearance. Goods should be described by what they are, what they are made of and what they are used for. Below you will find some examples of good and bad descriptions.
Bad Description (too vague) |
Good Description (specific and detailed) |
Electronics parts |
Printed circuit board for printing press |
Medical goods |
Catheters, needles, orthopedic implants |
Computer equipment/parts |
Computer server; laser printer; laptop computer (must indicate whether or not it contains a CD ROM drive); monitors or displays (must indicate whether or not it is LED or LCD) |
Spare parts |
Steel spring for woodworking machine; rubber seal for glass cutting machine (must list specific parts and what they are used for) |
Aircraft parts |
Gear for turbine engine (must list specific parts) |
Technical or trade names of products |
Describe what the item is known as (i.e., IBM XERB should be "computer server", Nortel 123mm should be a "cordless telephone") |
Samples |
200cm x 400cm nylon carpet samples; mutilated garment samples; architectural drawings |
Tradeshow booth |
Wooden tradeshow display booth |
Gift |
Unsolicited gift- 1 men's knitted shirt (100% cotton) |
Personal effects |
Used personal clothing being returned to owner. |
NAFTA |
Steel springs for printing press-NAFTA certificate attached |
Surgical instrument |
Rigid laryngoscope |
For additional information please refer to Purolator International TradeAssist Zone™
Did you know?
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is not required for clearance purposes but rather to qualify for duty free entry into the country and/or for the purpose of obtaining preferential tariff treatment.
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement):
An agreement which allows for duty free entry between Canada, USA and Mexico. Good must have a valid NAFTA certificate to qualify.
NAFTA CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN:
A signed statement as to the country of manufacture of the goods.
A NAFTA Certificate of origin can cover a single importation of goods or multiple importations of identical goods. Certificates that cover multiple shipments are called "blanket certificates" and may apply to goods imported within any 12-month period specified on the certificate.
Purpose of NAFTA Certificate of origin:
The information is needed to carry out the terms of NAFTA. NAFTA requires that, upon request, an importer must provide Customs with proof of the exporter's written certification of the origin of the goods.
When is it required?
For goods that qualify for NAFTA origin. The certificate is not required for clearance purposes, but rather to qualify for duty free entry into the country and/or for the purpose of obtaining preferential tariff treatment. A certificate is not required for non-commercial importation.
For additional information please refer to Purolator International TradeAssist Zone™
Did you know?
Harmonzied Codes are used to assess a commodity's duty rate (duties and taxes to be paid on this specific product).
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States is (also known as HS code, Harmonized tariff code, Harmonized Tariff classification, HS number, HTS code)
Definition:
A number that defines the commodity/product. Most countries identify imported commodities by way of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Items are classified numerically. The first six (6) digits of a Harmonized Tariff number will identify the same type of product, regardless of the country of importation.
The United States uses a ten (10) digits number, configured as such: 3701.20.0030
3701: Chapter and heading
20.00: Sub heading
30: Statistical Suffix
Purpose:
- Clearly identify the commodity.
- Identify the commodity's duty rate (duties and taxes to be paid on this specific product).
When is it required (for every item/product contained in the shipment)?
- For shipments traveling by air. It is required for all shipments valued at $2000.00 USD or greater.
- For shipments traveling by ground. It is required for all shipments valued at $200.00 USD or greater.
- For all shipments that require a formal entry regardless of value (i.e. most textile shipments, FDA regulated commodities, items not eligible for section 321 release)
Example : 3701.20.0030
3701: Chapter 37- Photographic or Cinematographic goods
Heading 3701- Photographic plates and film in the flat, sensitized, unexposed, of any material other than paper, paperboard or textiles; instant print film in the flat, sensitized, unexposed, whether or not in packs.
20.00: Subheading- Instant print film.
30: Statistical Suffix- For color photography (polychrome)
Did you know?
If you are processing or distributing food products you will be required to show their FDA registration number and Prior Notification number on the customs documentation for any U.S. and International shipments containing food. Food is considered anything that can be consumed by a human or animal, including chewing gum.
Here's how they can file their own PN:
- Access the FDA Industry Access page at www.access.fda.gov
- On the FDA Industry Access Page, select the Login button.
- On the Login page, enter your FDA Systems Industry Account ID and Password. a. If you do not have a user account, create a user account by selecting " Create New Account" under the new users section.
- Complete all the required fields (required data elements).
- Print the PN confirmation.
- Write the PN confirmation number on your waybill and attach the PN confirmation receipt to your package along with the necessary customs documentation.
The following are excluded from the requirement:
- Food that was made by an individual in his/her personal residence and sent by that individual as a personal gift (i.e. for non-business reasons) to an individual in the U.S. These shipments must be clearly identified as a gift/home-baked food item, listing the specific item (i.e. cookies, etc), on the customs documentation or on the Purolator US/International bill of lading.
- Food that is purchased by an individual and sent as a personal gift does not require a Prior Notice number. This does not include shipments sent from a retailer or distributor to an individual. Such shipments still require a Prior Notice number.
- Samples of food for non-consumption do not require a Prior Notice number. This includes shipments identified as samples destined for food manufacturers or testing labs, but does not include shipments to retailer or individuals.
Did you know?
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is mandated to safeguard Canada's food supply and the plants and animals upon which safe and high-quality food depends.
Did you know?
Cost and Freight (named port of destination) means that the seller delivers when the goods pass the ship's rail in the port of shipment.
Did you know?
Some countries do not allow Free Domicile, which means that the Receiver will automatically pay the Duty and Brokerage. Free Domicile indicates that the shipper will pay the destination charges i.e. duties, brokerage, administration etc. Quickly learn if the country you are shipping to qualifies for Free Domicile of not.
Purolator International TradeAssist Zone™ Free Domicile Section.
Did you know?
A Textile Declaration is no longer required for textile and apparel shipments entering the United States.
Textile Declaration
A Textile Declaration is no longer required for textile and apparel shipments entering the United States. In lieu of the Textile Declaration, CBP requires the shipper to report the complete name and address information of the manufacturer for each article within the shipment. Other information formerly on the Textile Declaration is still required on the Commercial Invoice or other supporting documentation, including the fabric content, whether the article is knit or woven, the weight and dimensions of fabric, and indicate gender for apparel items.
Did you know?
Many countries and economies allow gifts to enter the country duty-free if the value of the gift is less than a certain amount. Any amount above the stated value may be subject to import duties and taxes.
Gift Exemption for Duties and Taxes
Here are some examples;
- The United Kingdom: no duties and taxes are assessed if the value of the gift is less than £36 GBP (US$68)*. Convert to Canadian dollars if the Canadian Payer @0.995* = CAD$67.66.
- Canada: No duties and taxes are assessed if the value of the gift is less than CAD$60 (US$60.30)*
- India: No duties are assessed if the value of the gift is less than $10,000 INR (US$230)*. Convert to Canadian dollars if Canadian Payer $0.995* = CAD$228.85.
- Conversion rates may fluctuate
To qualify as a gift*, your shipment should meet the following requirements:
- The shipping documentation must be clearly marked "GIFT" and include a detailed description of the commodity.
- The total value of the shipment must not exceed the maximum value allowed by the country of import. Please refer to the specific country's website for information
- In some countries, the shipment must be sent person to person - with no company involvement or indication of involvement on the shipping documentation.
*Exceptions apply to the gift exemption for goods regulated by other government agencies i.e. food.
Did you know?
Need help converting millimeters to centimeters or feet to meteres or cubic metres to cubic yards get the information you need by visiting the Measurement Conversion Guide located in Purolator International TradeAssist Zone™.
Purolator International TradeAssist Zone™ Measurement Conversion Guide Section
Did you know?
What is a Surety Bond?
A surety bond is a promise or guarantee of payment to US Customs in the event of a default in any terms of the importation laws.
Did you know?
What is a Power of Attorney and why is it required?
The U.S. Customs Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows your U.S. Customs broker to act as your agent and transact U.S. Customs business (release freight, make entry, etc.) on your behalf as the U.S. Importer of Record.