Exporter/Seller’s Process
a) Look for a Plant Approved by USDA.
Look for a processing, handling or storage plant authorized by the USDA and which is near your farm, and reach an agreement for the shipping and receiving the goods that are to be exported.
b) Contract a Freight Forwarder.
The Freight Forwarder will manage the logistics between the client contracting him and the services involved in the transportation of goods to the destination Country.
When looking for a Freight Forwarder, it is important to evaluate the following –since on this depends, to a great extent, the speed and agility with which goods will cross to the destination Country:
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Does he have the capacity to handle my product?
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Does he know how to handle my product?
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How large is his suppliers and collaborators network?
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How is the level of communication?
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What is his experience handling my product?
To find a Freight Forwarder in the US, you may look for one on your own, or click on the following link of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc:
c) Contract a Customs Broker
A Customs Broker is an individual, association or private company with a valid and regulated license by the Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
It helps importers and exporters to meet federal requirements that rule importations and exportations of goods. It provides advice to the client, keeps him informed about all the load details and is constantly in communication.
It is in charge of sending information and necessary payments to the CBP on behalf of its clients in exchange for a fee for this service.
When looking for a Customs Broker or Freight Forwarder, it is important to evaluate the following –since on this depends, to a great extent, the speed and agility with which goods will cross to the destination Country:
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Does he have the capacity to handle my product?
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Does he know how to handle my product?
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How large is his suppliers and collaborators network?
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How is the level of communication?
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What is his experience handling my product?
There are more than 14,000 Customs Broker in the US with an active license. To find one, you may search on your own, or you may click on the following CBP office link:
https://www.cbp.gov/contact/find-broker-by-port
d) Make Sure the Importer/Buyer Meets the Necessary Requirements
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To be current with its tax obligations before the SAT (Tax Administrations Service)
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To be registered on the SAT’s importers registry; or if using a trader, it shall be registered in the importer’s registry.
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To have a Customs Broker in Mexico to carry out the importation of goods.
Importers Registry
Mexican importers shall make the registration in the Importers Registry. This formality is carried out by filling out an electronic application form on the SAT’s web portal.
International Terms of Trade (INCOTERMS)
The main objective of INCOTERMS is to define costs, obligations and responsibilities between buyer and seller in the Agreement of an international trade transaction –they are published every 10 years. The main benefits when establishing an INCOTERM are as follows:
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They allow both parties to know up to what point or how far the transaction generates a risk.
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They are uniform and with legal recognition all over the World.
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In case of a litigation, investigation, controversy, or in the worst-case scenario, lawsuits, the legal entity that will take the case has uses and terms internationally accepted with criteria and sound bases to demand the compliance with obligations and responsibilities by the parties involved.
g) Indications and warnings on the merchandise
The goods that are shipped to be imported into Mexico must comply with the following points:
The boxes or packages must be arranged and strapped in such a way that during transport they will not move, turn, break or crush.
Make sure that what is being sent physically corresponds with the documents sent.
Give the proper palletizing and arrangement of the merchandise mainly for safety, as well as to have an easy and agile deconsolidation and physical inspection by the authority.
The health authority in Mexico of the merchandise to be imported, so it is essential that each of the boxes is properly arranged, clean, closed, orderly, and with the information on the label fully visible and legible.
That the labels are made of a resistant and durable material with enough glue to withstand the movement and handling of the boxes, as well as withstand the temperature and humidity of the container.
Thoroughly review the vehicle, box or container in order to verify that it is completely clean and disinfected prior to the shipment of the merchandise, as well as identify and mark possible damages.
Verify that the temperature is adequate depending on the presentation of the merchandise (dry, refrigerated or frozen).
It is recommended that the signature of the official USDA personnel who signs the sanitary certificate of origin be done with a pen of ink of a color other than black.
All certificates and letterhead letters must be typed / computer, handwritten documents will not be accepted.
Corroborate that the lock or seal that is declared in the health certificate of origin matches the one that is physically placed in the transport, do not open or violate until the review at customs in Mexico.
On the labels declare the packing and expiration dates in the format of day / month / year - DD / MM / YYYY.
The labels should not be attached to the packaging or plastic covering the boxes.
It is important that the photographic support of the cargo and the labels, as well as the health certificate of origin, is sent to the Customs Agent prior to the shipment of the goods to ensure that everything is correct.
Do not scratch and / or mark the boxes with a marker, since it can be assumed that the information is altered.
When a replacement health certificate of origin is requested, all duplicates must be delivered.
Avoid embossing or attaching different stamps and information other than that of the goods.
Mexican customs requires that all country of origin invoices and certificates show full addresses, including city / state and zip code information.
It is recommended to have a thermograph or track the transport temperature to test the authorities in case of discrepancies.
Health certificates must be written or processed in a word processor or on a computer. The health certificate number should also be from a word processor or computer. Handwritten documents will be rejected. Mexico will not accept hand-made corrections, erasures, line outs, amendments or erasures.
Certificates should not contain abbreviations except for the abbreviations in the sender, the recipient and the accredited and endorsing veterinarian ( VMO field ).
Eggs for plate must maintain the cold chain throughout the process, that is, until the final point of sale.
Eggs for plate should be packed in new cardboard boxes, sealed with tape, or packed in cardboard cones; Stowed on sanitized pallets and wrapped for stability with a plastic film. Each box, or each pallet with cardboard cones, and identified with the USDA seal .
