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Simple Guidelines For Trouble-Free Delivery Of Your Seasonal Gifts
You can make sure your seasonal presents get to your customers, friends and family safely and on time this holiday season by taking just a few moments to read these handy shipping tips.
What’s a gift?
In most cases customs authorities treat as gifts all small relatively low-cost consignments sent from an individual to an individual, or from a company to an individual, intended solely for the personal use of the recipient.
However, there are many differences in the ways in which different countries:
- define what constitutes a genuine gift
- grant duty- and tax-free exemptions
- prohibit the importation of some commodities
Special rules apply in different countries.
The USA
· Summary of key requirements:
o The maximum permitted value for gift consignments is set at a retail value of US$100 for each individual recipient per day
o Gift shipments must either be from an individual to an individual, or from a company to an individual, and every such shipment must be clearly identified as such;
o The following information needs to be included on accompanying invoices:
(a) The complete name, address and phone number of both the shipper and the consignee
(b) A full description of the item(s), including whether they are home-made or shop-bought
(c) Consolidated gift shipments must show the name of each individual receiving a gift, the nature of the gift item(s) concerned, and the value of each item
UK: gifts must be sent from an individual to an individual.
Netherlands
- Plants, plant material and products of animal origin are prohibited.
Australia
- All of the following are prohibited whenever included in gift hampers
- Pine cones
- Wooden ornaments that are manufactured from plant material
- Fresh fruit
- Items of meat origin or containing meat
- Items containing egg or dairy products
- Items of plant origin (e.g. decorations made from vine material, wreaths, flowers, potpourri, etc.)
- Un-popped popcorn and nuts.
Philippines
- All gift items which are subject to specific regulations require an import permit from the relevant agency concerned e.g. the gift of a mobile phone requires the issue of a specific permit from the Ministry of Telecommunications.