The principal difference between selling product domestically and selling it abroad is the amount of paperwork involved. You must conform to the laws of two countries, not just one. It may appear daunting to learn about all the rules and requirements and to keep up with all the documentation at first, but it is actually a fairly straightforward process. The first step is to identify the requirements imposed by the U.S. on exports (both general and particular to your product), the next step is to identify the import requirements imposed by your target country, and the final step is to obtain the appropriate certificates.

The average international shipment involves 46 separate documents. The specific documents required for any given shipment depend on U.S. government regulation, destination country’s import regulations, importer’s requirements, terms of sale, methods of payment and mode of transportation.

The U.S. Government requires export documentation for a number of different reasons including national security, control of products in short supply, compiling export statistics, administration of export laws, protection of endangered species, and to protest U.S. export markets by ensuring product quality of specific exports. The main document required by the U.S. government is the Shipper’s Export Declaration (SED).

General U.S. Export Requirements and Documentation - Information on U.S. export requirements including the Shipper’s Export Declaration, Office of Foreign Assets Control, common documentation, Bioterrorism Act of 2002 and more.

Food and Agriculture U.S Exports Requirements and Documentation - Information on U.S. export and foreign import requirements from various USDA and other government agencies.

Each country has different requirements regarding the documentation that accompanies any given import shipment. Importing countries require these documents for the administration of their import laws, assessment of taxes, and protection from hazardous pests and diseases. Some of the more frequently required documents are: commercial invoice, bill of lading, phytosanitary certificate (for plants or plant products), veterinary health certificate (for animals or animal products), packing list, and certificate of origin. Other import regulations that may affect a shipment are packaging and labeling requirements and recycling laws.

Foreign Import Requirements - Information to help identify the particular import requirements imposed by the target country for your product.

Information on shipping is available from the Transportation Services Branch, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA and includes market reports (Ocean Freight Bulletin), Directory of Freight Forwarders Serving Agricultural Shippers, technical assistance and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

The USDA-AMS Agricultural Export Transportation Handbook covers price quotation, freight forwarding, ocean and air transportation, transport documentation, methods of payment, insurance, maintaining product quality during transportation and more.

Comments? Questions?
Contact the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service | Phone: (202) 690-3576 |