· 2 min read
Why check before the container is sealed
Once a container is sealed and on a ship, a labeling error or a document mismatch becomes a port problem: delays, storage, and sometimes penalties. At the factory, the same error is a sticker and a corrected document.
The checklist
- Confirm with your customs agent which standards and documents apply to your product.
- Quantities: compare what is packed with the packing list and the invoice, SKU by SKU.
- Documents: invoice, packing list and any certificates must tell the same story.
- Labeling: check the labels against the NOM requirements that apply, for example NOM-050 for general product labeling, NOM-024 for information and warranties of electronic and electrical products, and NOM-004 for textiles.
- Evidence: photograph the cargo, the labels and the seal.
- Seal: record the container and seal numbers, and attach them to the file.
Hand over a clear file
The point of the exercise is the file: a clear, documented package your customs agent can work with. It does not replace the agent or the clearance; it makes both faster and more predictable.
Where GIS fits
Where GIS has an office or a partner, we work with the local customs agents, brokers and agencies and accompany your order through every step of the clearance. This article is general guidance, not legal advice: requirements depend on the product, so confirm them with your customs agent.