There are special stipulations on the following commodities when shipping to Norway. If you plan to ship one of the commodities listed below, be sure to adhere to the following stipulations in order to avoid delays and holds at customs.
- Products Of Animal Origin are goods which contain at least partly material derived from the body of an animal. These products can be divided in food or non-food.
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).
- To be classified as antique, the commodities have to be older than 100 years. It can be imported with a reduced duty and VAT amount. Proofs may be requested by customs
- Artwork (e.g. paintings, drawings, sculptures) created by artists by hand can be classified as artwork. It can be imported with a reduced duty and VAT amount. Proofs may be requested by customs.
If the artwork is being purchased directly from the artist or from a representative of the artist, the artwork is free of VAT on import into Norway.
- Express & Saver Service for the following areas: 4000-9999. Lithium batteries and UPS approved Dangerous Goods does not have same day Express Guarantee as volume is forwarded by domestic line flights (passenger air crafts). One additional day should be added to regular time-in-transit
- Any kind of chewing gum requires an Import Permit issued by the Food Control Authority which is obtained by the importer. UPS can apply for the import permit on behalf of the importer and a Brokerage accessorial fee will be charged.
- Feathers & furs, "unprocessed" are restricted for importation into Norway. The importer call the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management per import shipment 24 hours before arrival of the goods. The shipper must provide an export license for the goods. Customs inspection is required. Import delays may occur.
- Foodstuffs are restricted and require approval from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. This applies to companies only.
Due to Norwegian customs legislation all shipments containing foodstuff must be kept on hold until final customs release is given. The importer must alert the Norwegian Food Safety Authority 24 hours before the shipment arrives in Norway. This can be done via the Internet.
All kinds of foodstuff for commercial use must be accompanied by an original health certificate provided by the producer. If UPS obtains the import approval on behalf of the importer, a Brokerage accessorial fee will apply.
- Food supplements are restricted and require approval from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. This applies to both, private importers and companies.
Due to Norwegian Customs legislation, all shipments containing food supplements must be kept on hold until final customs release is given. The importer must alert the Norwegian Food Safety Authority 24 hours before the shipment arrives in Norway.
- Data shipments require an invoice with the value of the data and the value of the CD-ROM or disk.
- The invoice must include a description of the part, the type of machine for which the part will be used, and a list of the part's components.
- Customers must use an authorized UPS / MBE (Mail Boxes Etc) Store, UPS Customer Center or ISC Approved Shipper to ship personal effects.
The UPS Store, Mail Boxes Etc, UPS Customer Center or ISC approved shipper will be required to identify personal effect shipments on the shipping label by placing "Personal Effects" in the Reference Field of a UPS "smart" label or in the Special Instructions Field of a UPS waybill. They must also clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' shipment on the Commercial Invoice.
Personal Effects are classified as used items (owned for a minimum of 6 months) intended for the consignee's personal use. Any items intended for any other use, such as wholesale or retail sales, business purposes, or for distribution are not considered personal effects and cannot be shipped on this basis. "Personal Effects" must be clearly stated on the invoice and goods description.
All of the following documents must be scanned into DIS/SIR and originals on the package:
An inventory list with estimated values with the reason for importation (holidays, move, relocation) A confirmation that the goods are older than 6 months and that they are intended for personal use only A photocopy of passport or ID card Any items intended for any other use, such as wholesale or retail sales, business purposes, or for distribution are not considered personal effects and cannot be shipped on this basis.
Excisable goods (for example, perfume, alcoholic drinks, tobacco), medicine and perishable food can not be cleared as personal effects.
Personal effects shipments are not allowed in combination with Return Services.
- A complete description of the sample, including whether it is marked or mutilated, must be included on the invoice.
- The value of the software should reflect the sales price of the software. The value of the data carriers and the intellectual property has to be included.
- Most of modern test reagents for diagnostic research are built on antibodies which are generated from animal tissue. There are two types of antibodies, the monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies.
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.
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.
- No import licenses or any other original documents stating the origin of the items are needed for importation of textiles.
- Data shipments require an invoice with the character of the USB stick (storing intercompany data) and the value of the USB Stick.