Customs data should be prepared before the warehouse starts packing the order. Asking an operator to classify or value a product while generating the shipping label creates delays and increases the risk of inconsistent declarations.
Product data #
The following information should be maintained for every product that may be shipped internationally:
| Data | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Precise product description | Allows customs to identify the goods |
| HS code | Determines their tariff classification |
| Country of origin | Identifies where the goods were manufactured or substantially transformed |
| Unit weight | Supports the net weight declared for each article |
| Customs value | Provides a defensible value for customs purposes |
| Customs category | Indicates whether the shipment is a sale, sample, gift, return, document or another type |
| SKU or product reference | Connects the declaration to the order and warehouse records |
| Regulatory information | Identifies licences, restrictions or dangerous-goods requirements |
The country of dispatch is not necessarily the country of origin. Goods shipped from a warehouse in France may have been manufactured in another country.
Order and shipment data #
The order must also provide:
- the sender’s legal name and address;
- the recipient’s complete address;
- valid country and postcode information;
- the recipient’s email address and telephone number when required;
- the exporter’s EORI number;
- the invoice number and date;
- the reason for export;
- transport and insurance charges when required;
- the selected delivery service;
- and the allocation of products to each parcel.
For a multi-parcel order, the declaration for each parcel must reflect the goods physically packed in that parcel.
How customs data reaches AtomicSeller #
For normal ecommerce operations, the most efficient approach is to maintain the HS code and other available customs information in the ecommerce platform. AtomicSeller retrieves this information when it downloads the order.
Customs data may also be supplied:
- in an Excel order-import file;
- through the AtomicSeller REST JSON orders API;
- by a connected ERP or WMS;
- or by correcting the order before the shipping label is generated.
For HS codes, the relevant Excel column is HSCODE, while the orders API uses the product property HSCode.
Pre-shipment control #
Before requesting an international label, verify that:
- every physical item has a meaningful description;
- quantities match the parcel contents;
- weights are expressed in the expected unit;
- values are greater than zero and use the correct currency;
- HS codes correspond to the actual goods;
- countries of origin use valid country codes;
- the customs category reflects the real transaction;
- and the invoice total is consistent with the declared items and charges.
This validation is most effective when it takes place before warehouse processing, not after a carrier has rejected the label request.