Before you ship to USA – best practices.

*General information and special regulations about FDA regulated goods: Cosmetics, Food, Medical Devices, Steel, Aluminum and Copper

Top Reasons Shipments are Held:

1. Missing Commercial Invoice – Every shipment to the U.S. requires a commercial invoice to be electronically provided to your broker/customs. For help completing a commercial invoice, see our step-by-step guide for completing your commercial invoice.  Also visit ups.com to get detail on Country Specific Regulations.
2. Invalid descriptions –Clear and precise detail on every item in the shipment must be provided. Click here for a list of acceptable and unacceptable descriptions.
3. Incomplete commercial invoice – Aside from the product description, the following are required within a commercial invoice:
   1. Country-of-origin for every commodity line on the invoice
   1. Country-of-manufacture for the goods (e.g., required for cosmetics)
   1. 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)
   1. Quantity and value of items in the shipment 
   1. For shipments requiring formal entry, an Importer Tax ID with Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) is required.
4. Missing shipper or receiver contact details– Shipper and receiver details including email addresses and telephone numbers are mandatory to facilitate customs communication.
5.  Unpaid Duties and Taxes – If the required import fees have not been paid, the package may be held until payment is made. If your U.S. recipient has questions about required import fees, more information is available here.
6. Restricted or Prohibited Items – Items like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and perishables require special documentation per U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

Additional Guidance for Articles of Steel, Aluminum, and Copper:

There are special requirements for steel, aluminum, and copper. Many products, including their packaging, contain these metals or derivatives of these metals and must comply to the following:

• Steel articles and derivatives subject to Section 232 must include country of melt and pour, content value, and content weight.
• Aluminum articles and derivatives subject to Section 232 must include country of most recent cast, country of largest smelt, country of 2^nd largest smelt, content value, and content weight.
• Copper articles and derivatives subject to Section 232 must include content value, and content weight.

Additional Guidance for U.S. FDA Regulated Shipments:

In addition to the above, please be sure to follow the required process for shipments containing food items to the U.S. that are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). All required documentation must be accurate and complete to avoid delays, penalties, refusal of entry, and potential risk of abandonment.The FDA reviews entries to determine compliance with U.S. regulations and may require a secondary inspection.

In general, shippers must:

1. Determine if FDA Regulation Applies (e.g. food items)
2. Prepare Required Documentation
3. File Prior Notice (PN) with the FDA before the shipment arrives to the border
4. Provide complete and accurate data on your entry submission

For more detail, visit The U.S. Food and Drug Administration web page. 

The following guidance applies specifically to shipments containing food, cosmetics, and medical devices.

Requirements for Food Shipments:

HTS Chapters: 7- 23 and 25

• All items must be labeled in English.
• A commercial invoice that includes complete description, country of manufacture, and value for each item must be written in English.
• Name and address of each manufacturer.
• Prior Notice must be provided for all food for humans and animals that is imported or offered for import into the United States.
  • Customers are encouraged to file and provide the Prior Notice System Interface (PNSI) number as part of their shipments to avoid delays (click here for details and guide).
    • It is recommended to attach the document containing the PNSI number.
    • Alternatively, the number may be entered in the invoice line reference field or the invoice comments sections.
  • UPS can also file a PNSI for you at a fee.

Requirements for Cosmetic Shipments:
Specific requirements apply to shipments containing cosmetics (HTS Chapters: 33, 3401, 9616)

• The product labeling must be labeled in English.
• The commercial invoice must include a complete description, country of manufacture, and value for each item / product. The commercial invoice must also include the Product Identification Number and be written in English.
• The name and address of each manufacturer must be included.
• Branded goods (patented name and / or product) must have an authorization letter from the corporate owner of the brand (if shipped by a third party).

Requirements for Medical Devices:

Specific requirements apply to shipments containing cosmetics (HTS Chapter 90)

• All items should be labeled in English.
• Manufacturer FDA Registration Number. For more information see: Device Registration and Listing | FDA
• Exporter FDA Registration Number.
• Name and address of the manufacturer.
• Product Medical Device Listing Number.
• Product PMN (510k) Number, if applicable.
• FDA product code.
• Intended use by importer.
• Shipments containing sunglasses or lenses require an Impact Resistance or Drop Ball Certificate.

For more information on tariff updates and frequently asked questions, you can check out the UPS Tariff Page.

*This message is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or professional advice. Information herein was obtained from government, industry, and other public sources which are subject to change and have not been independently verified by UPS. Recipient has sole responsibility for determining the usability of any information provided herein. Before recipient acts on the information, recipient should seek professional advice regarding its applicability to the recipient’s specific circumstances.