Whether a shipment clears smoothly depends a great deal on the paperwork. These are the documents that usually travel with agricultural goods from Vietnam.
An export shipment of agricultural goods usually comes with the following documents.
Sales contract. Sets out the product, spec, quantity, price, and the delivery and payment terms.
Commercial invoice and packing list. The invoice states the value of the shipment; the packing list gives the number of packages and the weight of each.
Bill of lading or air waybill. Issued by the carrier, and needed to collect the goods at destination.
Certificate of origin (C/O). Shows that the goods originate in Vietnam. With the right C/O form under a trade agreement, the buyer may qualify for a lower import duty.
Phytosanitary certificate. Usually required for fresh fruit and vegetables and raw plant products; for processed goods it depends on the importing country. Issued by Vietnam’s plant quarantine authority.
Depending on the market and the product, a buyer may also need a fumigation certificate, laboratory test results or a quality certificate. Tell us what your country requires when you ask for a quote, so the paperwork is complete from the start.
