Import/Export

Food means any substance, whether processed, semi-processed or raw, which is intended for human consumption, but does not include cosmetics or substances used only as pharmaceuticals.

Non-Food (not intended for human consumption) includes animal by-products, animal feed, samples for testing or research purposes (food-grade or non-food grade), and in vitro diagnostics (IVD).

Animal products and animal by-products are often subject to a veterinary inspection. These products can only be accepted under a special contract for International Special Commodities (ISC). In addition those products must undergo veterinary checks at an approved Veterinary Border Inspection Post (BIP) when entering the EU & EFTA countries or territories (EU regulations are aligned for EU countries or territories and NO; IS; CH; LI).

For UPS shipments arriving in the EU by air, Cologne is the first point of arrival /BIP. Inspections will be processed at Cologne but final customs clearance process will be issued in the destination country or territory.

Additional charges for Vet-inspection will be applicable  see Brokerage Services and Charges.

Import requirements:

Generally, each type of Product of Animal Origin has specific import requirements that must be met. Food which is subject to veterinary inspections must:

Come from an EU listed Third Country or Territory (no safeguard measures in place)

Come from an EU approved establishment . Registered producers are listed under the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/food/international/trade/third_en.htm

Be accompanied by appropriate Health Certificate(s), signed by a veterinarian of the competent authority of country or territory of export. Photocopies of the Health Certificate will not be accepted.

Be appropriately packaged and labelled, indicating the nature, ingredients, quantity/ weight, the country or territory of origin and manufacturer.

Any foodstuff coming from non-approved establishments, sent as samples for testing purposes, can only be imported with a permit/license from a respective national veterinary authority. The permit/license must be send to the border inspection point responsible for the veterinary inspection. Delays may occur as the license needs to be provided already at the time of inspection.

Any non-compliant shipment must be returned at shippers expense immediately. The following exemptions apply to non-commercial shipments / gift shipments or purchased by private individuals for private consumption):

Meat, meat products, animal fat - max. 10 kg from Faroe Island and Greenland.

Fish and fish products (with intestines and organs removed) - max. 20 kg from all third countries or territories; no limitation from Faroe Islands.

Other animal products (for example, honey, egg, frog, live mussels - max. 10 kg from Faroe Islands and Greenland, and max. 2 kg from all other third countries or territories).

Registration number of the importer at the Ministry of Health

Registration number of the importers warehouse facilities at the Ministry of Health

Certificate of analysis (with lot numbers and other identification mark) provided by the producer

Original letter from importer stating the intended use of the product

Individuals can import food in accordance with the Spanish health protocol. For these reasons, Spanish customs requests the following documents:

Original letter from importer stating the intended use of the product.

B2C below 150 EUR can be cleared with a letter of intended use of the goods declaring that they are an individual and are exempted of sanitary control.

B2C above 150 EUR needs to pass sanitary control, its the same for B2B.

However, Spanish Customs only allows to import as individual if the value of the goods is under 150 EUR and we are talking about e-commerce shipment or gifts between individuals.

Only authorized importers are allowed to import medicine. The importer has to provide an import permit issued by the Ministry of Health. The medicine must be registered in Spain, otherwise the importation will not be allowed. If the importer cannot provide an import license, then the goods will be returned to the shipper.

Private individuals cannot import medicine unless they can provide a medical prescription from a doctor and a special authorization from the Ministry of Health issued for the respective shipment. The documents are required prior to importation . If the private consignee cannot provide a prescription, the goods will be returned to the shipper.

A sanitary inspection may apply causing an import delay. Brokerage accessorial charges may apply.

Before shipping Honey to a European Union country or territory, it is highly recommended to contact your local chamber of commerce or your importer for detailed information.

If the importation is allowed by the European Union, the shipment must be accompanied by an original health certificate provided by the shipper/producer, otherwise, importation will not be possible. Furthermore, a vet inspection at the first point of arrival into the EU is required, even for sample shipments.

Brokerage accessorial charges will apply and an import delay may occur.

If the shipper fails to verify the import regulation of the destination country or territory and sends honey which is prohibited by the European Union, then all charges that may apply for the respective shipment will be billed back to the shipper.

• Registration number of the importer's warehouse facilities at the Ministry of Health-Sanitary Department
• Declaration of Conformity provided by the shipper
• EC Certificate of Conformity provided by the shipper
• Original letter from importer stating the intended use of the product

A Health or Pharmacy Inspection may apply. Accessorial charges may apply.

It is always the decision of customs to allow the entry as a sample shipment, duty and tax free. The invoice must include a description of the sample.

Monoclonal antibodies are generated in vitro. Tissue from animals are taken (e.g. blood) and infected with certain substances or pathogens. The blood cells react with the production of antibodies which are than harvested and used for the production of the test kits. Due to the in vitro production and the controlled way of production those types of test kits are not subject to veterinarian control if it is a commercial production.

Polyclonal antibodies are gained from living animals like rabbits. They are infected with the substances / pathogens and the animals are producing antibodies. The antibodies are harvested from the blood stream of the animals. Test reagents with polyclonal antibodies are subject to vet inspections.

In Vitoria Gateway it is necessary to get the approval of Sanitary Inspection.

Shipment documents (commercial invoice or declaration on letterhead) should include:

 the place of origin of the material

 the quantity of the material, in weight or volume

 a description of the material/ animal source

 catalogue number and price (if available)

 additives (e.g., sodium azide, glycerol), their source (e.g., whole serum, supernatant, ascites), and purification, if any.

 protocols  the recommended protocol or datasheet indicating any unique fixation, detergent, blocking, or incubation conditions.

 the intended use (commercial/ manufacturing; research/ testing)

 the name and address of the shipper

 the name and address of the receiver

Commercially packaged, ready-to-use In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) containing products of animal of origin, do not require a Vet-inspection, if compliant with Directive 98/79/EC on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices. A declaration of conformity (CE-marking) must be provided for each individual commodity (e.g. reagents, test kits, immunosorbent assays such as ELISA kits.

• Certificate of analysis provided by the shipper
• Import License from the Department General of Exterior Commerce in Madrid
• Importer registration at the Ministry of Health in Spain
• Wine shipments require a certificatestates where the wine was produced

Brokerage charges may apply and import delays may occur.

Private persons can import alcoholic beverages in accordance with the Spanish health protocol. For these reasons, Spanish customs requests the following document:

Original letter from importer stating the intended use of the product.

However, Spanish Customs only allow to import as an individual if the value of the goods is under 150.00 EUR and they are e-commerce shipment or gifts between individuals.

Imports of cosmetic products to the Canary Islands are prohibited in any case. No exceptions will be made by the customs authorities. Shipments of cosmetics to individuals are prohibited. These shipments will be refused entry and returned to the country or territory of export. Refused shipments may be subject to a return charge.

All import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing system.

Shipper needs to provide the following documentation:

Invoice with the scientific name and CITES certificate.

Additional charges will be applicable. Products of animals or plants subject to CITES can only be accepted under a special contract for International Special Commodities (ISC).

Accessorial charges of 45.00 Euros apply as follows:

Destination Brokerage has to prepare special import documentation for precious jewelry and has to seal the packages before delivery. Importers must be aware that they have to send the sealed packages to the Laboratorio Contraste for quality certification. It is solely the importer's responsibility to send the goods to the laboratory, otherwise, customs will penalize the importer. Brokerage must contact the importer prior to customs clearance in order to obtain a power of attorney and get information about the responsible laboratory.

Brokerage accessorial charges may apply for document preparation. Please be informed that there is no Laboratorio Contraste in Canary Islands.

When you buy medicines in foreign online pharmacies, you must observe the import restrictions on medicines.

Buying and receiving medicines from outside the European Economic Area is prohibited for private individuals in the European Union. Only business to business shipments are allowed. The importer or buyer of the medicine is solely responsible for any risks involved in illegal medicine trade.

A Phytosanitary Certificate must accompany all shipments of plants. UPS Spain does not offer this kind of service.

Seeds do require phytosanitary certificate as well as plants and their parts, because customs office has not authorized this kind of clearance to be done by UPS. Hence, since UPS don´t have the required authorization from the Custom´s Office to give out phytosanitary certificates, UPS cannot clear goods that need said certificate. Only nuts & hemp seed are allowed in Spain , but must be accompanied with a letter of intended use of the goods. In addition to that, nuts must pass health inspection in Spain. (see also Food).

Based on the regulation, controls must be performed at the point of introduction into the EU by the competent authorities. They include documentary checks on all consignments and identity or physical checks (including laboratory checks) on 10% of the consignments. All consignments of kitchen tableware (HS code 3924 1000) originated or consigned from China or Hong Kong must be accompanied by a declaration confirming that it meets the requirements concerning the release of primary aromatic amines and formaldehyde. The declaration shall be accompanied by a laboratory report that the consignments fulfill the requirements.

The goods and declaration must be examined at the first point of introduction into the EU.

The consignments shall be notified at the first point of introduction at least two working days in advance.

Our main points of entry (Cologne, Germany and East Midlands, United Kingdom) are not competent to perform the checks and forwarding under bond is prohibited without the checks. Products covered by the new regulation and destined to the EU can't be accepted by UPS. Exporters should clearly state on the invoice the material and the country or territory of origin of plastic kitchenware to avoid holds on commodities not subject to the regulation.

The KPCS is a joint government internationally recognized certification system that imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as conflict-free and prevent conflict diamonds from entering legitimate trade.

Private importers are not allowed to import tobacco products, even as a gift.

Cigarette liquid with nicotine is subject to sanitary inspection. Its allowed for a company and forbidden for a private importer.