To ship successfully, it is essential to provide accurate and clear information on all of your shipping documents, especially when describing the type of goods that are being shipped. A clear and accurate description gives customs authorities the information required for smooth clearance and helps avoid any unnecessary delays.
What is a goods description?
It’s a detailed description of the goods you’re shipping - and it’s mandatory to be stated in the commercial invoice. You should also include it in other additional documents required by the authorities if any.
A clear description gives customs authorities the information they need to access taxes and duties. It’s also necessary to check if your goods are allowed to enter the country.
What details do I need to provide?
Ask yourself these questions when describing your goods:
What are the goods?
What are they made of?
What are they used for?
The description should be specific, not vague. If the package contains branded items, include the brand and model number along with the description. And don’t just rely on your company product name/code to describe the goods.
Include the goods classification, type, materials, specifications, and its intended use
Avoid one-word descriptions, jargon, or abbreviations that could lead to misunderstandings.
What is a good and bad example?
Vague / Bad description: Nut
Clear / Good description: Hexagonal Bicycle Nut of Aluminium
Other examples of unacceptable and acceptable goods descriptions:
Vague | Clear |
|---|---|
Clothes | - Women's Knitted Summer Dress of Cotton |
Shoes | - Pair of Men's Handmade Leather Shoes |
Jewelry | - Fashion Ring of Brass |
Artwork | - Oil Painting on Canvas with Wooden Frame - Decoration Ornament of Concrete Sculpture |
Why is it important?
Be noted that the customs at the destination country want to know what exactly every item in your shipment is, along with the quantity and the declared value of the item - to decide whether the item is allowed to be imported into the country or not, or to assess import duty/tax if applicable. Providing proper goods descriptions, especially back with proper HS Codes will help to avoid your shipment getting stuck at customs.
What happens if I write a vague goods description?
Shipments with vague descriptions of their contents can be held, delayed, or rejected by customs authorities. That’s because they want detailed information on the goods entering their country. An accurate, complete, and clear goods description is the best way to ensure your package doesn’t get stuck in customs.
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