Electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative way to commute. Importing them requires knowledge of regulations from three different government agencies. 1. DOT (Department of Transportation) The key question is whether or not the electric bicycle is considered an “on-road” or “off-road” vehicle. If a vehicle is not primarily manufactured for on-road use, it…
In addition to staying compliant with US Customs, animal food is also regulated by two other government agencies upon importation: 1. USDA Assuming the animal food product is made out of meat (beef, lamb, pork, poultry), the importer will need to apply with the USDA for VS import permit (VS16-3). The importer can apply online…
What are Anti-dumping and Countervailing Duties? Domestic U.S. industries have the right to petition with the U.S. government for relief from imports of products that they believe to be dumped (imported at less than “fair value”) and/or benefiting from foreign government subsidies. The U.S. government has the ability to impose Anti-dumping and/or Countervailing duties respectively…
Licensing/Documentation/Permits: 1. Basic Permit– Under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act, a Federal Basic Permit must be held by any person or business enterprise importing distilled spirits, wine, or malt beverages into the United States. The Basic Permit is good at any port in the United States and must be obtained prior to the first importation.…
If there is ambiguity with determining the HTS classification of a product, the importer can submit a binding ruling request to Customs. There are three ways submit a binding ruling request. You can file an e-binding ruling request yourself. Customs does not charge any fee for filing and they usually respond in 30 days. Here is…
October 29, 2020 This is an important message for all food importers. The FDA Food Facility renewal for 2021-2022 is now active. All food importers and foreign food manufacturers must renew their registrations by December 31, 2020. Here is the link to the FDA registration of Food Facilities website. There is one, very important, NEW…
Shipping goods in bulk across oceans sounds like a daunting task. However, if you’re able to find the right logistics partner, it should be a seamless and simple process. Importing goods from one country to another require two types of services: 1) Freight Forwarding and 2) Customs Clearance. Here’s a quick overview of what these…
Carnets are used to allow the temporary entry of items without having to pay duty or taxes. This is particularly useful for when shipping tools/equipment, commercial samples, or goods for exhibitions and conventions. Carnets can be used in 86 countries (and counting). A carnet is a physical document that acts like a passport for cargo.…
Importing products containing wood might require a Lacey Act declaration. This helps US Customs and USDA determine if the importer is using illegally sourced wood products. To determine if your product requires a Lacey Act declaration: Determine the HTS classification of your product If the HTS classifications or subheadings are listed in this PDF…
When importing cosmetics, the most important thing is to determine whether the product may also be considered a drug. If the importer makes any medical claims regarding the product, then it will be considered a drug. If it is a drug, importers likely will have much more difficulty importing the product. If it is only…