Recipients: importers, freight forwarders, customs brokers and logistics operators.
1. Objectives of the controls
Controls on sensitive products aim to protect public health, ensure consumer safety, preserve the environment, fight fraud and smuggling, ensure compliance with national and international standards, and secure customs revenue.
2. Main categories of sensitive products
A. Medicines and pharmaceutical products
Competent authorities: Ministry of Health and Social Action, Directorate of Pharmacy and Medicines (DPM), Directorate-General of Customs.
Documents generally required: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading (B/L or AWB), certificate of origin (if required), import authorisation depending on the product, compliance or analysis certificates when required.
Controls: document check, traceability control, expiry date check, possible physical inspection, transport and storage conditions check.
B. Food products
Competent authorities: relevant sanitary control services, Directorate-General of Customs, phytosanitary or veterinary services depending on the product.
Documents generally required: commercial invoice, packing list, sanitary or phytosanitary certificate depending on the product, certificate of origin if required.
Controls: sanitary inspection, temperature check for chilled or frozen products, labelling check, consumption date check, sampling for analysis if required.
C. Vehicles
Documents generally required: commercial invoice, foreign registration certificate (if any), bill of lading, vehicle identification documents (VIN).
Controls: chassis number verification, document check, regulatory compliance check, customs value assessment, physical inspection.
D. Petroleum products
Competent authorities: relevant ministries and regulatory bodies, Directorate-General of Customs.
Controls: authorisation check, volume check, quality check, storage facility check, tax and customs check.
E. Chemical products
Controls focus on product classification, safety data sheets (SDS/MSDS), import authorisations when required, and transport and storage conditions.
F. Agricultural products
Controls may include: phytosanitary certificate, phytosanitary inspection, pest control, compliance with applicable sanitary requirements.
G. Products of animal origin
Controls may include: veterinary certificate, veterinary inspection, cold chain check, hygiene conditions check.
3. Customs controls
Sensitive goods may be subject to: document check, physical inspection, scanner check, sampling for analysis, technical expertise, declared value verification, tariff classification verification.
4. Risks in case of non-compliance
Consequences may include: cargo hold, request for additional documents, payment of additional duties and taxes, customs penalties, seizure or confiscation of the goods where the law provides, destruction or re-export when regulations require.
5. Best practices for importers
Before any shipment:
- ✓ Check the necessary authorisations.
- ✓ Confirm applicable regulatory requirements for the product.
- ✓ Verify document compliance.
- ✓ Check the tariff classification (HS code).
- ✓ Declare the value of the goods correctly.
- ✓ Anticipate possible inspections.
- ✓ Use a qualified customs broker.
6. AMA Freight Logistics' role
AMA Freight Logistics supports importers with: document check before shipping, help selecting required documents, customs clearance, coordination with the competent administrations, inspection follow-up, final delivery of the goods.
Careful preparation reduces clearance times, limits additional costs and secures import operations.
