FEDEX: A Few Things About Export E-commerce | E-commerce Must-Reads Issue 1

E-commerce Shipping Regulations

E-Commerce

When your international shipment crosses a border, it must go through customs clearance. In addition to general import and export regulations, some countries also have product-specific requirements. Since many e-commerce products are regulated, you’ll need to confirm whether your item falls into this category.

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What are the most common regulated goods?

This list is by no means exhaustive, but these are the most common regulated goods:

• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• Animals and biological materials
• Animal products (hides, skins)
• apparel
• kids toys
• Controlled drugs and medications
• coin
• Dairy
• Diamonds and Gemstones
• Electronic products with lithium batteries (e.g. mobile phones, laptops, electric bicycles)
• fireworks
• food
• Copyright infringing goods
• Pornographic or obscene material
• Plastic materials (kitchenware, toys, etc.)
• soil
• sunglasses
• watch
• Weapons and weapon parts and imitations thereof
• Wood and Wood Packaging

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Q1: What are regulated goods?

The sale and purchase of certain goods is often regulated by the authorities of the country where the goods are exported or imported – regulations often vary from region to region. Some products may be sold without any restrictions in one country, while being strictly regulated or even banned in another.
Regulated products include not only traditional dangerous goods, silk, glazed pottery, books and beauty products are all likely to appear on the list of controlled goods.

Q2: How do I know if my product is regulated?

Whether you are launching new products on your online store or shipping existing products to new regions, here are some recommended practices:

1. Check whether the product or its components are regulated in the destination country
   For example, if you are selling alarm clocks that run on lithium batteries, you must consider them individually.
2. Find the regulatory authority
   Ask your carrier or check with the customs authorities in your destination country.
   For example, all food and drugs imported into the United States are regulated by the FDA, while the regulatory agency for these goods in Canada is Health Canada.
3. Understand the requirements for specific products
   Requirements vary by country and product. Check whether you need to register as an e-retailer or obtain licenses and permits for specific products.
4. Gather documentation to demonstrate compliance
   Keep in mind that if you need to provide original or certified documents, gather them in advance as obtaining them may take some time.
5. Check the export regulations of the country you are shipping from
   Your shipment will clear customs twice on its way to your customer. When preparing your paperwork, keep in mind that the export regulations in your country may differ from the import regulations in the destination country.
   For example, many countries have strict regulations on the export of goods that are considered part of their cultural heritage. If you are shipping Buddha statues from Cambodia, silk from India, or holy icons from Russia, you will need to comply with the export regulations for these goods.
   6. Ask your carrier if it can be shipped
   Some products, such as fresh food or live plants, require special care during transportation. Other products, such as e-cigarettes, are strictly regulated in many countries. Remember to check in advance whether your carrier can transport your shipment.

Q3: Do I need to register as an e-retailer?

If you trade internationally, some countries will require you to register with their authorities.
For example, an e-commerce business operating in the EU should have an EORI number for each European country in which it is located.
In some countries, e-retailer registration is required to sell certain products.
Let's say you want to ship network equipment to South Africa, you need to register it with the National Regulatory Compulsory Regulations (NRCS).

Q4: What is a Certificate of Conformity (COC)?

A Certificate of Conformity, sometimes called a Certificate of Conformity (COC), is issued by the manufacturer or an independent authorized laboratory. It certifies that a product has been tested and meets technical and safety requirements. An example of a COC is the CE mark.
The COC must be visible on the product itself and, in some special cases, on the packaging or an accompanying manual. Keep in mind that COC requirements for export and import may vary from country to country and some products may require more than one certificate.

Q5: How do I submit customs clearance documents?

If you submit customs documents electronically, some uploaded documents (such as EORI registrations) may be used for multiple shipments. Contact your carrier to see if this applies to your shipment.

Original text from:https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/2-B46cy_yg-6u4uXToaWdQ