Transporting imported goods
Do you import goods? You can have your supplier arrange the transport of goods from abroad. Or you can arrange it yourself. For example, through a forwarding agent. You will have to deal with transport documents, delivery conditions, rules concerning safety and packaging requirements etc. Read here about arranging the transport of goods from abroad.
Arrange transport yourself or have it done
There are several differnt ways of arranging transportation:
A forwarding company acts as an intermediary and arranges everything related to transport for you. From transporting your goods to arranging all the documents, customs matters and transport insurance. The forwarding agent arranges the carrier and provides them with the correct transport documents.
You choose a mode of transport and find a carrier (transporter) to transport your products for you. Carriers have the permits needed to transport goods. You provide the transport doument and arrange transport insurance if it is needed.
Are you importing from outside the EU? Ask if the carrier can take care of customs matters for you.
You will have to arrange everything yourself.
- You must be able to prove that the goods you are transporting belong to you.
- You must buy or rent your own means of transportation.
- Are you importing goods from outside the EU? You must declare the goods to customs yourself. Or you can enlist the help of a customs broker.
Check the rules for safety, health, economy and environment
When you are transporting imported goods you have to observe the rules and regulations concerning safety, health, economy, and environment (VGEM). For example, when you are transporting waste or hazardous substances.
There are also specific rules for transporting the following products:
When you are transporting foodstuffs for human or animal consumption, you must work according to the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP). The HACCP charts the safety risks when dealing with food or drink.
Do you import plants or plant-based products from outside the EU? The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) will inspect the shipment. You must have a phytosanitary transport document to transport the goods from the outer border of the EU to the inspection location. You must have a plant passport to transport certain plants and plant-based products within the EU.
Do you transport live animals yourself over a distance of more than 65 kilometres? Then you need a transport licence from the NVWA. For the import of live animals or animal products, a veterinary document (in Dutch) is also required.
When transporting protected animal or plants (or parts thereof), you must comply with the rules specified in CITES. If the animal or plant is covered by CITES, you will need a CITES permit or certificate.
In many cases, you cannot import cultural objects, such as antiques or art. You must comply with the exporting country’s rules.
Check the packaging requirements
The transporting or expedition company may have special packaging requirements, depending on the mode of transport. Discuss this beforehand.
Check the requirements for packaging in the Netherlands. Also check the rules applying to wood products such as wooden pallets. As an importer you may also have to deal with rules about packaging waste and the waste management fee.
ICC Incoterms® - international delivery conditions
For international transport, make use of the ICC Incoterms®. These enable the buyer and seller to make clear agreements about the delivery of a product. For example:
- Who arranges the transport from where to where
- At what point the transport liability transfers from seller to buyer.