Carlos

One of the usual controls for introducing goods into Spain from third countries is the SOIVRE for the importation of industrial products. This surveillance system ensures compliance with quality standards and the characteristics of products from international trade. The Official Service for Inspection and Surveillance of Foreign Trade (SOIVRE) emerged in the 1930s for the […]

The logistics of importation in the pharmaceutical industry is an extremely complex process that requires rigorous handling during maritime transportation. From medicines to biological materials such as blood or tissues, they need to be transported at a constant temperature, as a variation of a few degrees can lead to the rejection of the product, resulting […]

The Incoterm (International Commercial Terms) sets out the conditions agreed upon between the exporter and the importer regarding the delivery of goods, transaction costs, and responsibilities of each involved party. The most commonly used Incoterms when importing from China are CIF and FOB, two modalities of managing maritime transportation that have significant differences in terms […]

The import of goods by maritime transport grew steadily in 2017, following the trend of recent years. Despite the strikes last year in Spanish ports, maritime traffic achieved its best result since 2006 with a growth of over 7% and with the ports of Barcelona, Valencia, and Algeciras leading the way. As for goods, chemicals, […]

Planning timing for autumn imports is key to not breaking the supply chain, especially in sectors where seasonality drives a peak in sales. In Spain, flowers peak in the last week of October, driven by the All Saints’ Day holiday. In other sectors, such as textiles and footwear, the new season kicks off with garments […]

The responsibilities of a customs agent consist of facilitating the import and export of goods subject to customs inspection. Among their tasks are the proper classification of merchandise, the calculation of dutiable value, and determining which products are subject to restrictions and controls. To carry out this work, they must have a thorough understanding of […]

The Master Bill of Lading (MBL) and the House Bill of Lading (HBL) are the two variants of the main document used in international maritime transport: the Bill of Lading. This document serves as a transportation contract between the shipping line and the shipper, as proof that the shipper has delivered the goods to the […]

Less Than Container Load (LCL) shipping is used when the cargo is not sufficient to fill a full container. LCL shipping means that the goods must share a container with products from other suppliers. This system is often used by importers of small volumes of goods who opt for consolidation to save costs. Consolidation or […]

The import of frames for prescription glasses is regulated in Spain by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS), as they are considered medical devices and, therefore, must meet specific safety requirements as well as certification of compliance with the standards set out in Directive 93/42/EEC.The Royal Decree 1591/2009, following the community directive, […]

The import letter of credit is a document by which the importer commits to paying the supplier of the goods. It is considered the safest payment method in imports, as it is the customer’s or importer’s bank that undertakes to pay the exporter’s bank the agreed amount of money in the international sales contract.The main […]