When it comes to specialty food and beverage imports and logistics, customs brokers play a central role.
During SFA's Buyers’ Market webinar, “Import and Logistics 101: The Customs Broker,” Sadiah Mohammed of OceanAir Logistics, shared the requirements for importing food into the U.S., explored common challenges faced by importers, and explained how an experienced customs broker can best guide a specialty food business through import processes.
A customs broker is licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“They act as an intermediary between an importer and customs authorities to ensure goods entering the U.S. comply with all federal rules and regulations,” Mohammed said. They are also responsible for the collection of taxes, duties, and fees, so they have a deep knowledge of item classifications and rates of duties and taxes.
Mohammed demystified the food import process when working with a customs broker, beginning with the need to transfer the power of attorney to the customs broker, which allows them to work on a specialty food brand’s behalf, through the product journey from origin to destination. She shared FDA’s label requirements for foods and beverages sold in the U.S.
Involved in the food import supply chain are the following methods of transportation: ocean, air, freight, rail, road, and truck, said Mohammed. In many cases, these methods must be combined, as with ocean and truck, for example, to bring cargo across the sea and into the destination facility.
Each transportation method comes with pros and cons, said Mohammed. For example, air cargo is expensive, but faster than any other option. Items such as seafood, fresh flowers, and other perishables should be transported via air cargo. Although ocean cargo is cheaper, there is a much longer transit time due to frequent stops on the journey. By ocean, dry goods, and other non-perishables are best to ship.
As the pandemic demonstrated, supply chain disruptions can often be difficult to fix, so it is important to be knowledgeable of all laws and regulations and be prepared to address any issues swiftly, noted Mohammed. Avoiding overweight shipments and finding the right trucker to transport the product on land are two easy ways that a specialty food brand can ensure a seamless import process.
Additionally, verifying that the food or beverage product can legally enter the country and that the product is in compliance can minimize issues at the border.
To learn more about the role of the customs broker, and how to manage the import and logistics of a specialty food product, watch the webinar on demand in the SFA Learning Center.
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