Guidelines to importers of Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes

How to import Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes

A basic idea about formalities and procedures to import Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes from overseas countries are explained in this category ‘Import procedures’. These details are given to enlighten importers, a general tips to import goods from overseas countries applicable to almost all countries worldwide. Once after reading these posts about import procedures and import customs clearance procedures, you will have a basic idea about the procedures and formalities on how to import various products from foreign countries. Kindly note, some of the items under this category are prohibited or restricted in some countries. If you are importing any commodity, you need to collect accurate information from necessary government departments of importing country, as the details given in this post provides only a common idea about import of each product.

Documentation and procedures to import Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes

This post provides information on how to import Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes As you know, under any importation of goods, necessary import documentation and customs clearance procedures at importing country have to be completed as per foreign trade policy of respective importing countries. For importing Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes also, import entry documents along with carriers document (Bill of Lading /Airway bill), commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and other required documents are filed and necessary import procedures are completed to take delivery of imported goods. Nowadays, necessary information is filed online and produce required documents at the time of inspection, assessment or delivery of import of goods at destination customs location.

Different countries may have their own requirements to import Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes, although most of the procedures and formalities are same in all countries after globalization of trade by General Agreement on Tariff and Trade, GATT. More trade liberalization is expected in near future for WTO countries through Trade Facilitation Agreement TFA likely to be introduced within a couple of years. The process and formalities to import cereals may differ from one another and in country to country. Also different procedures and formalities to import each items might be different under import of Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes However, some of the common requirements to import Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes. in major countries are explained below:

Who are responsible government agencies?

In most of the counties, other than respective customs department of importing location, Agriculture department, Animal and Plant Health department, Health department and Food and Drug safety department are the major government agencies involved in importation of Prepared Foodstuffs; Beverages, Spirits and Vinegar; Tobacco and Manufactured Tobacco substitutes.

The international partners of countries share quality measures each other and exempt from multiple inspection on same products both for export and import. However, in most of the developed countries, the export goods from third countries need to be certified at exporting country under agencies at load port and at importing country as per the norms of importing country

Bio Security Permit

Since Tobacco and tobacco products are falling under primary agricultural products, import is allowed subjected to bio security. Bio security is the procedures or measures designed to protect the population against harmful biological or biochemical substances. Necessary import sanitary permit or Phyto sanitary certificate or both might by required in most of the countries to import tobacco or tobacco products. Such certificates are issued by department of agriculture of respective importing countries.

Specified warning on each package to import cigarette,tobacco and tobacco products

Every package of cigarettes or any other tobacco products so imported should bear the specified warning. Display of caution on every package can be made with graphic and text warning of health hazard. Some of the importing countries are very particular about the amount of area of packages covering such health caution which could be 90%.

Food safety clearance

Food safety clearance of importing country has to be undergone for any import of Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes. Normally, this procedure is done by drawing sample of imported goods which is sent to respective laboratories for testing purpose. The imported goods are released only after obtaining favorable test report. If such imports are regularly taken place, import shipments are selected randomly for inspection.

Shelf life of import of food products

For the purpose of importing some of the items under Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes, importer should note that shelf life of imported food products should not be less than 60% of original shelf life.

Certificate of Origin

The source of origin of imported Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes is required in almost all countries. So a certificate of origin issued by necessary approved authorities at exporting country is required to import Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes. Certificate of origin helps to determine origin of imported goods to avail exemption on import duties and other procedures based on different agreement between countries under their foreign trade policy.

Prior notice to importing country.

In some countries, prior notice regarding import of Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes has to be filed before arrival of goods in entry port of importing country. In US, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible the government authority to notify such prior notice on import of food products.

Import of Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes for personal consumption and trading.

Import of Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes in small quantities for personal use when travelling can be effected without major inspection and other formalities in importing country. However such import of Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes for personal use (not for trading) must be free from signs of diseases. The procedures and process to import Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes for trading requires more documentation and inspection formalities.

Labeling requirements to import Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes

Necessary labeling requirements are to be followed in some of the importing countries when importing Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes

In this article, the documentation, process and formalities to import Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes are explained. As explained above, these information are generally applicable for all countries Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes, Prepared nuts etc. These details on how to import Prepared Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes are given to provide a basic idea to bring Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes from foreign country. Specific requirements for each importing country need to be followed by importers and exporters of Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes

I hope, the above information helps you in gaining basic knowledge on documentation, procedures and formalities in importation of Tobacco and Tobacco Substitutes