Service alerts
Service Alerts
Below is a quick overview of events around the world that may cause delays to the delivery of your shipments.
Customs Advisory - Sending non-document shipments to Argentina
Based on a new regulatory restriction by Argentinian Customs, all non-document shipments entering Argentina should have a valid Tax Number (CUIT).
The tax number will be used as reference in case a shipment was not delivered to recipient and needs to be returned to its origin. Argentinian Customs will only return shipments to its origin if the exporter's Tax Number (CUIT) of an exporter is indicated.
Customs Advisory for South Africa
South African Customs have released the following requirements in ensuring trouble free clearance of inbound shipments
- Commercial Invoices must be written in English and must be typewritten/printed. Proforma invoices are NOT allowed. Hand-written invoices are NOT allowed.
- Make sure you provide a correct and complete description of the items included in each shipment. Vague descriptions like 'parts', 'samples', 'gift' or "part and model numbers" are NOT allowed. Indicating "Value for Customs Purposes" is also NOT allowed. Commercial price should be declared; sample discounts are allowed and must reflect separately on the commercial invoice.
South African Customs will heavily penalise and will not clear shipments that are undervalued; with under-declared manifest values; misleading invoices ( actual quantity is not the same with the quantity indicated in the invoice), as well as samples that are not properly tagged or marked. The average Customs turn-round time is 14 working days, provided the sender and recipient complies with Customs.
For clarifications or questions regarding these advisories, you may call TNT Customer Service Hotline at (Metro Manila) 551-5632 or (outside Metro Manila) Toll-Free 1-800-10-551-5632.
New regulations for wood packaging bound for Indonesia
Note to TNT clients shipping to Indonesia, shipments with packaging made of wood more than six milimeter thick must meet the International Wood Packaging Standard (ISPM) No. 15. This policy is to prevent the plant quarantine organism Gadfly from entering Indonesia.
Wood packaging entering Indonesia must meet the following conditions:
- Entry should be through international gateways
- Declared and supported by necessary documents at the Plant Quarantine agency at the entry gateway
- Free from any skin bark
- Identify type or code of treatment used in the wood packaging.
Wood packaging not meeting the above-mentioned criteria will be held at Indonesian customs and sent back to its origin. Shipments which remained at customs within 14 days will be destroyed, with all costs charged to the sender.
New Customs Advisory: Importing steel and iron products to Malaysia
Please note that a new customs guideline will soon be in place in the importation of iron and steel products from Malaysia. The Malaysian customs will soon require all import shipments to get importation permit from the local SIRIM QAS office. Upon implementation of the new guideline, shipments without proper documentation and importation permit will be subjected to stringent clearance process at Malaysian customs.
New Customs Advisory for Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian customs authority have announced that starting 10th August 2009, any consignments containing laptops, computer parts or spare motor parts will need a Saudi Arabian Standard Organisation (SASO) certificate for clearance. Consignments without a SASO certificate will not be cleared and will be returned to origin without prior notice.
New clearance restriction from Thailand Customs
Since August 3, 2009, the Royal Thai customs has begun a strict validation process for consignee names indicated in the Import Entry Document.
Please ensure that your shipments has all the correct data and necessary details prior to shipping. Non-compliance will lead to delay in clearance of shipments, and a fine of 1000 Thailand Baht from the customs' legal department.
For clarifications or questions regarding this week's advisories, you may call TNT Customer Service Hotline at (Metro Manila) 551-5632 or (outside Metro Manila) Toll-Free 1-800-10-551-5632.
TAKE NOTE: More and more countries require FOUR ORIGINAL copies of commercial invoice upon shipment.
In sending parcel shipments, please ensure that you've prepared four (4) original copies of the invoice, with specific goods description written in Standard English. This is needed to ensure uninterrupted processing of your shipment--from label-data entry and check-in process to bagging for flight-- up to clearance at destination. Non-compliance will lead to penalties or even non-delivery of your shipment.
What you need to know about shipping to South Korea
Effective 1st April 2009, Korea customs will impose a penalty when companies provide incorrect descriptions, and incorrect number of items to the customs systems. The following descriptions are not accepted by customs. Please note that Korean customs will charge the origin of shipments for fines due to incorrect descriptions or incorrect number of items on a manifest.
Please avoid using the following descriptions as they are also not accepted by Korean customs: samples, spare parts, article, gift, presents, goods, etc. To know more, please call TNT Customer Service Hotline at 551-5632.
Customs Advisory: South Korea Customs penalty
Effective the 1st April 2009, Korean customs will impose a penalty when the item description included in the invoice is different from actual items. The following are subject to penalty by Korean customs:
- Value into system is different from value on Invoice.
- Description in the invoice and system is different from the actual item (in case of shipment having 2 or more items, all items should be included in the system and the invoice)
- The number of items into system and the invoice is different from the number of actual items.
Kindly ensure that the details stated in the Commercial Invoice are written exactly and descriptions should not be entered differently into the system.
Customs Advisory: Shipping to Ukraine
We’d like to remind you that Ukraine has strict customs requirements for correct Commercial Invoice completion. Any deviation from these requirements may cause your shipments not to be cleared. Below are the necessary categories that must be present in the Commercial Invoice:
- Sender's detailed name and address
- Receiver's detailed name, address and phone number
- Invoice should be completed in English
- Invoice must have only one receiver
- Sender and Receiver details in Invoice must be the same as in airway bill
- Weight of goods in Invoice must agree with weight in airway bill
- Terms of Delivery
- Freight charges have to be mentioned as a separate item in Invoice
- Country of preferential origin
- Detailed goods description for every individual item.
- Quantity of each commodity has to be mentioned in the Invoice
- Value per unit in hard currencies such as EUR, USD
- Total value of goods in hard currency such as EUR, USD
- The currency is only EUR, USD
* New guidelines on US Customs Clearance Changes for wood and plant products entering the US
Beginning April 1, 2009, customers importing wood and plant products valued over $2,000 USD to the United States are required to file an import declaration, based on new guidelines released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Traders exporting wood and plant products are advised to supply importers with the relevant information required (view the link before). Non-declaration will lead to non-delivery of your shipment.
Link: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/lacey_act/downloads/declarationform.pdf
* Correct and true description requirement for shipments bound for Taiwan and Indonesia via Hong Kong
Please do not forget to provide a true and correct description for all your Taiwan and Indonesia-bound consignments passing through Hong Kong. Descriptions should be accurate and should be written in English. Failure to do so will lead to non-delivery of your shipment.
* Additional information for RESTRICTED (Quarantine) items to Japan
As part of the current classification and segregation of quarantine and non-quarantine shipments to Japan, please make sure that you provide a correct and true description of your shipment written in Standard English. Non-compliance will lead to non-delivery of shipments.
Sample keywords used in identifying Quarantine and Non-quarantine Shipments
Quarantine = animal blood, animal tissue, raw meat, beef jerky, anti-body, fur, feather, pet food, juice, beverage, spices, canola, food stuff in non-vacuum pouch, cut or dried flower, fruits, noodles, mushrooms, beans
Non-quarantine = roasted coffee or tea, dried fruit or fruit in syrup, fermented vanilla beans, processed wood, wood carvings, fish in brine
Remember:
- Make sure that your Commercial Invoice contains correct wording of product and type of packaging
(Example: "mushroom" = quarantine at Narita; "mushrooms for eating, without soil" = non-quarantine at Narita) - When in doubt, contact TNT Customer Service Hotline number at 551-5632 or toll free 1-800-10-551-5632
Customs Update - IRAN
For senders of DOCUMENT shipments bound for Iran, please make sure that your shipment contains PAPER products only. Insertion of NON-DOCUMENT items such as fabric swatches, pictures, invitations, greeting cards, CDs and diskettes are strictly prohibited. Document shipments found with non-document items inserted in the packaging will be held at Iran Customs and subjected to penalties.
Sending personal effects to Qatar using your TNT account number? READ THIS!
When sending personal effects to Qatar using the TNT account number, please ensure that it is addressed to the INDIVIDUAL receiving the shipment. Shipments addressed to a company must be accompanied by an authorization letter coming from the sender's employer. Failure to comply will expose your shipment to duties and penalties.
Follow these guidelines for fast facilitation of your shipments bound for Honduras
Make sure that your shipments get facilitated fast in Honduras, follow these simple guidelines:
- make sure that the information detailed on your consignment note (airway bill), is exactly the same as the description stated in the commercial invoice
- your consignment note and commercial invoice should contain detailed and specific description of your shipment
- Discrepancies between the information provided and the actual content will lead to delay or non-delivery of your shipments.
For clarifications or questions regarding these advisories, you may call TNT Customer Service Hotline at 551-5632; toll free 1-800-10-551-5632.
UK, Europe and US begins Daylight Saving Time (DST)
Clocks are moved forward one hour to UK, Europe and the US due to Daylight Saving Time (DST). DST will begin in the UK and Europe on Sunday, March 29 at 02:00 local time while DST in the US began last Sunday, March 22, 2009.
Meanwhile, it's back to normal for Australia, when their clocks are moved back one hour to reflect the end of their Daylight Saving Time (DST) on Sunday 5th April 2009.
Due to this, please note that offices in the UK and throughout Europe, as well as the US, will be an hour ahead due to DST. You might want to note that when sending your shipments.
Below is a short summary of time adjustments due to DST:
Americas - EST....... becomes... (BST-5)
S.Asia - Sydney...... becomes... (BST+10) 29/03/09
S.Asia - Sydney...... becomes... (BST+9) 05/04/09
N.Asia - Singapore...becomes... (BST+7)
Europe - Paris.............becomes.. (BST+1)
AMEA - Dubai....... becomes... (BST+3)
Day Light Saving Time in Jordan
Jordan will switch back to summertime on the night of Friday 27th of March 2009.
By midnight ( 00:00 Jordan Standard Time), clocks will be put forward by 60 minutes, making the Kingdom three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
Customs Requirement-Botswana
Please be informed that the following requirements must be met in order to ensure hassle-free clearance of inbound shipments into Botswana :-
1. Invoices : ORIGINAL only and in English.
2. Invoice Descriptions : Detailed goods description for each individual item.Vague descriptions such as 'parts, samples, gift etc' are unacceptable.
New Office Location - Maldives
Please be advised that TNT-Male ( MLE ), Maldives has moved to a new office.The new address and telephone details are as follows:
TNT MALDIVES
H. Lady Bird Aage,Ground Floor,
Kasthoori Magu,
Male'
Rep of Maldives.
Tel: +96 330 7070
Fax: +96 330 3512
RESTRICTED ITEMS INTO JAPAN
The following are restricted items into Japan with immediate effect.
These are items related to Domestic Animal Infectious Disease Control Law, Plant Quarantine Law and Food Sanitation Law.
Major commodities falling under these laws are (but not limited to):
Foodstuff(canned, others), Dried flower, Cut flower, Real flower, Potpourri, Vegetables, Fruits, Frozen Fruits, Coffee beans, Pulse, Malt, Straw, Wheat straw, Seeds, Raw meat, Frozen meat, Beef jerky, Ham, Sausage, Bone, Horn, Antle, Rice, Antibody, Blood serum, Blood of all kinds of animal, Animal fur, Feather, Bacteria, Virus, Tobacco, Beverages, Alcohol, Pet food, Dog Chew, Animal products, Cigarettes, Cigars, Cotton, Fish, Grain samples, etc...
INDONESIA - NEW IMPORT REGULATION FROM THE TRADE MINISTRY
With effect from 1st January 2009 until 31st December 2010 for the following commodities;
- Food & Beverages
- Garments/ Wearing Apparel
- Footwear
- Electronic products
- Children Toys
The importer (consignee) in Indonesia must be;
Registered to the Trade Ministry as a Certain 'Specific' Commodity Importer (IT-Produk Tertentu).
Verified by an appointed surveyor at origin to get the Certificate of Inspection (LS), prior to sending the goods to Indonesia
The only exceptions are;
- Specific goods/parcels with a maximum value of FOB USD 1500 (One thousand five hundred US dollars) per shipment or per person for air-passenger goods.
- Temporary imported goods.
- Specific goods designated to bonded areas.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME - UK, EUROPE & AMERICAS
Please be aware that Daylight Saving Time ends in the UK, Europe & America on Sunday 26th October 2008 at 02:00 (local time). The Mainframe System clocks at Atherstone will reflect this change after the DOWNTIME on that date.
The system clocks at Atherstone will be changed to use Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) with the following impact regionally:-
Americas - EST..............becomes (GMT-6 on 26/10/08)
Americas - EST..............becomes (GMT-5 on 02/11/08)
S.Asia - Sydney.........becomes (GMT+11)
N.Asia - Singapore….becomes (GMT+8)
Europe - Paris............becomes (GMT+1)
AMEA - Dubai...........becomes (GMT+4)
EASTERN REGION CONTACT CENTER, CHINA
Following the set-up of China Southern Region Contact Centre on 25th.Feb.2008, the second Contact Centre located in Shanghai, China, servicing eastern region customers, has been launched on 12th of May.
Eastern Region Contact Centre Hotline remaining unchanged: 800-820-9868 (fixed phone user) and 400-820-9868 (cell phone user). A new hotline number has also been set up for servicing key account customers, which is: 400-620-1122.
Eastern Region Contact Centre centralised all customer services from SHA, SZV, HGH, HFE, NKG, NGB and WUX depots. More standard and professional services for internal and external customers will be provided against booking order, quotation, cargo trace and other related activities.
Contact Address:
Eastern Region Customer Service Contact Centre
TNT Express China Co., Ltd.
6F bldg 6 lane 280 linhong Road
Shanghai, China (200335)
Main Line: +86 21 22118288
CUSTOMS REQUIREMENTS - URUGUAY
Please be advised that all non-document shipments sent to Uruguay must always have the Commercial Invoice
1. The information of the consignment must be exactly as the description in the invoice and the data in the system.
2. The information of the consignment must be specific and detailed.
Shipments not complying with the above requirements will not be cleared till such time the origin send the Commercial Invoice (Original).
Its hereby requested to comply with the above mentioned requirements to avoid delays in the clearance process.
CUSTOMS REQUIREMENTS - CHINA
The forthcoming Olympic Games in China, and recent unrest in Tibet, have led the Chinese authorities to apply increasingly restrictive controls on aviation security and customs clearance. All origins are asked to help minimise the affect of these additional controls by...
Always provide the receiving parties' phone numbers and fax numbers.
Avoid the use of vague product descriptions especially in instances where consignments have a low declared value against consignment weight.
Declare value only in EUR or USD.