===== Customs =====

^ Important^
| Generally the rule of thumb with customs is, the smaller the package the more strict they are with inspections and paperwork and the more time it takes to process. A full container is often easier to ship out then a small fedex box with product samples. The most difficult is sometimes a sample in your luggage |

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  * Full customs clearance including official relic inspection for antique items. (for US customers, see links below)
    * http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/tariff_current.asp
    * {{logistical:destination_customs:icp061.pdf| Everything you need to know about importing antiques (PDF files from the US Customs service)}}
  * Complete [[logistical:docs | Documentation]] and assistance with preparation of paperwork.

  * [[logistical:fumigation | Fumigation (if necessary).]]

===== Timing =====

  * A best case scenario is a day or two, ususally more than a week.
  * Inspections have to be prescheduled


===== A few notes concerning the "Relic Inspection" process. =====

Relic inspection is the process in which individual furniture pieces are inspected and cleared by a customs officer, before being packed into the shipping container. In practice, "Relic Inspection" can be a necessity, a formality, or major headache. Typically the inspection is facilitated in part by the export agent and usually occurs on site before actual packing. Depending many different factors, the inspection can be either a detailed process or almost a simple formality. There is however, no hard and fast rule and customs agents can at any time delay a shipment. If the inspection is only cursory as is sometims the case, Items may be give only brief glance before adding the "official" stamp - often in the form of a red wax seal imprint.

The process has several purposes ranging from the opportunity to levy a fee to preventing cultural treasures from leaving the country in mass (IE items that are dated prior to 1795). Some have said that the whole term of relic inspection could be considered extremely ambiguous in that it is common in the industry to simply list all items as "antique." Considering the cursory glance items are sometimes given during inspection, it would be difficult to accurately determine if an item is antique or not during the relic inspection. Therefore, it is important to understand that relic Inspection in this regard, can accurately be described as "red tape." Regardless of what any factory may tell you, it is impossible to export furniture from any major port in China without the pieces first undergoing some sort of "relic inspection."