Shipment of parcels abroad: how to limit the risk of block at customs? Part 1

Shipment of parcels abroad: how to limit the risk of block at customs? Part 1

Shipment of parcels abroad:
how to limit the risk of block at customs?

We are starting here our series of posts which will enable you to limit as much as possible (but unfortunately not eliminate) the risk of bloc at customs. Enjoy the reading.

Take time to read carefully the list of goods prohibited by the carriers.

Carriers such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT or Aramex all established a list of goods they refuse to carry. Why? Simply because some of them are dangerous since they could cause damage during the transport or others because the customs limit or prohibit their import in some countries.

Let’s take an easy example: in some countries, customs prohibit import of spirits without a special license but accept the shipment of a sample of one or two bottles. These restrictions can be found on Expedismart and on the websites of UPS, FedEx and TNT. Each country has its own norms or specificities, whatever the shipped products are.

Whenever in doubt, do not hesitate to contact Expedismart and to check the restrictions on the carriers’ websites for greater certainty.

  • Conditions and restrictions (UPS): here
  • Conditions and restrictions (FedEx): here
  • Conditions and restrictions ((TNT): here

Another information to know: the customs clearance of a parcel is not (to our deep regret) an exact science. It can happen that you ship a good without any problem once, but for the same shipment one month later, the customs keep the parcel and ask for further information to make the clearance.

In addition to a good check of the type of shipped goods, and if your parcel is urgent, we recommend that you exercise caution and, if this is possible for you, that you plan one or two days of flexibility to make your reservation.

In the next post, we will go on with a crucial point to limit the risk of block at customs, the invoice in customs.

This invoice must be signed and copied three times. This make four invoices (taking the original one into account)

In the next post, we will go on with a crucial point to limit the risk of block at customs, the invoice in customs.