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PostalPlus for SME

Issue No. 16 - Apr 2008
Posting Intelligence (1) ¡ª Tips for Easy Customs Declaration

As a local SME, we understand that you are fully engaged in your business in every second, especially when you need to deliver products to your customers! As a result, you would be interested to know how to ensure your items could be arrived the destination timely and properly. We are glad to share the import requirements and the tips of proper customs declaration in this issue.

We are well aware that your business partners are located over the world, where requires different customs requirements and logistics. If you wish to determine which type of form sender need to fill in, you may refer to the ¡¶Speedpost Posting Guide¡·:

Step 1 : You may refer to Section 3 of ¡¶Speedpost Posting Guide¡·about "Customs Declarations and Weight/Size Limits"before you post your items, in order to understand the import requirements

Step 1.1 Please locate the country information according to the alphabetical order of destination.

Step 1.2 You may check out the Maximum Weight per Item (kg) from the second column

Step 1.3 You may check out the Size Limits (please refer to P.41 of ¡¶Speedpost Posting Guide¡·about measuring size of item) from the third column.

Step 1.4 You may check out the Customs Declaration Forms Required and Threshold Value below which items are Exempted from Customs Duties according to the type of mail item from the forth to seventh columns.

Step 1.5 You may check out the Remarks, such as prohibited items and reference document from the eighth column.

Step 2 : You may start to complete the Customs Declaration Forms. You may refer to Section 2 of ¡¶Speedpost Posting Guide¡· about "Information on Completing the Forms - Customs Declaration¡± to understand how to complete each kind of form properly.

Step 3 : When you are completing the Customs Declaration Forms, please be reminded of the following notes:

1. The customs declarations should be completed in English or a language which is accepted in the destination.
2. To clear any items, the customs in the destination need to know what the contents are. sender must therefore complete Sender¡¯s declaration fully, accurately and legibly. Otherwise delay and inconvenience may be caused for the addressee. Moreover, a false, misleading or incomplete declaration may lead, for instance, to the seizure of the package.
3. Owing to the "Threshold Value below which items are Exempted from Customs Duties"varies from different countries, sender should state the actual item value on the form. Otherwise, customs declaration might be delayed.
4. It is also Sender¡¯s responsibility to enquire into import and export regulations (prohibitions, make-up etc.) and to find out what documents, if any (certificate of origin, health certif icates, invoices, etc.), are required in the destination and to attach them to this form.
5. The general terms in the contents, such as "foodstuffs¡±, "samples¡±, "spare parts¡±, etc., are not permitted.
6. Regarding the type of contents, an insertion of a cross in this space does not relieve sender of the obligation of completing the declaration in detail; nor does it necessarily imply that the goods will be admitted free of duty in the destination:
   • "Commercial sample"means: articles considered by customs as being of negligible value, which are merely used in pursuit of orders for merchandise of the kind.
   • "Document" means: any medium intended to contain and actually containing information which, by virtue of its quantity or nature, is considered by customs as being of negligible value.
7. Sender¡¯s signature on the front is the pledge that the item does not contain any dangerous article including explosives, flammable, corrosive, oxidizing, toxic, noxious or deleterious, or otherwise harmful substances, etc., prohibited by international postal regulations.

As a friendly reminder, your clear submission of forms is essential in timely and proper customs declaration. We wish the tips we have introduced in this issue may assist you in sending your items to recipients effectively. Should you have any queries, please call our PostalPlus for SME dedicated service hotline at 2921 6060.

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