Commercial Invoice
A commercial invoice is an invoice for goods from the seller to the buyer. These invoices are often used by governments to determine the actual value of goods when assessing customs duties. The governments that use the commercial invoice to control imports usually specify its form, content, number of copies, language to be used and other characteristics.
Airway Bill
An airway bill is a mandatory document for air freight -- a written contract between a shipper and a carrier. Amongst other things, it provides detailed information about the nature of the goods being shipped and a means by which the shipment can be tracked. It can also be referred to as AWB, Air Waybill, Air consignment note, and Dispatch note.
Certificate of Origin
A CO is usually submitted to customs authorities in the importing country to prove the product's eligibility for entry. It is also used to establish whether the goods are eligible for preferential treatment under the terms of any trade agreement existing between the countries of origin and import. In many cases, a statement of origin printed on company letterhead will suffice. The exporter should always verify that a CO is required with the buyer.
Letter of Instructions
The shipper's letter of instruction is issued by the exporter with their instructions and recommendations to the agent regarding their shipment.
Packing List
Packing lists are used in international trade to provide precise information about the contents of a shipment. The document conveys several important pieces of information, including: seller, buyer, sender, invoice number, date of shipment, mode of transport, carrier and also details the quantity, description, type of package, quantity, weight net, gross total, packing marks and dimensions. It is not a substitute for a commercial invoice. Additionally, US and foreign customs authorities may use the packing list to verify cargo.
Bill of Lading
A bill of lading is a contract between the owner of the goods and the carrier. The bill of lading is not negotiable. The customer needs the original as proof of ownership to take possession of the goods.
Dangerous Goods Certificate
Exports of dangerous goods must be accompanied by the Declaration of Dangerous Goods required by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The exporter is responsible for the accuracy of the form and for ensuring that the requirements related to packaging, marking and other information required by IATA have been met
Proforma Invoice
A pro forma invoice is an invoice prepared by the exporter before the shipment of the merchandise, informing the buyer of the merchandise to be shipped, its value and other important specifications. It can also be used as a sales offer or price quote.
Export License
An export license is a government document that authorizes the export of goods in specified quantities to a destination. This document may be required for some countries only under special circumstances.
Import License
An import license is the responsibility of the importer and varies by destination and product. However, including a copy of an import permit with the rest of the documentation can, in some cases, help avoid problems with customs in the destination country.
Material Safety Data Sheet
A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document that contains information about potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity, and environment) and how to work safely with the chemical. It also contains information on use, storage, handling, and emergency procedures, all of which relate to material hazards. Your goal is to inform them of the product's hazards, how to use it safely, what to expect if recommendations are not followed, what to do if accidents occur, how to recognize symptoms of overexposure, and what to do if such incidents do occur.