Customs Inspection refers to the law enforcement action by customs authorities to physically verify and examine the declared contents of import and export goods—such as description, specifications, quantity, weight, origin, and value—in accordance with laws and regulations. Its purpose is to prevent false declaration, concealment, tax evasion, smuggling, and other illegal activities, thereby safeguarding national tax revenue and trade order. Use cases include: goods selected by customs risk control or random inspection, abnormal declaration data, involvement of licenses or sensitive commodities, etc. Precautions: Inspection may cause customs clearance delays and incur additional costs such as terminal handling charges, devanning fees, and container demurrage; companies should ensure complete documentation, truthful declaration, and cooperate with customs by providing necessary materials. Difference from other terms: Customs Inspection differs from Customs Release, which is the final permission after inspection or document review; it also differs from CIQ Inspection, which focuses on quality, sanitation, etc., and is handled by market regulatory authorities. Foreign trade practitioners should allow time for inspection and specify in contracts which party bears inspection costs.
📝 Examples
1. Our goods were subject to customs inspection at the Port of Shanghai because the declared HS code did not match the actual goods, resulting in an additional 2,000 yuan devanning fee and a 3-day delay in shipping schedule. (Note: Inspection triggered by declaration error, incurring costs and delays)
2. The customer requested that we provide the inspection notice and customs inspection record so they could claim compensation from the insurance company for cargo damage caused by the inspection. (Note: Inspection may cause cargo damage; documents should be retained for claims)
💡 Foreign Trade Tips
Foreign trade terms are the foundation of international business communication
Trade practices may vary slightly by country; pay attention when using them
When using terms in contracts, specify the applicable version (e.g., Incoterms 2020)
For unfamiliar terms, use GlobalSync's multilingual email helper to confirm with your partner