Importing Into The USA via Sea Freight - How Common Are CBP Inspections / Exams?

[qwerty44]

I've been importing from my supplier in Asia for about 2 years. We use a variety of methods (DHL, Post, Sea Freight). Out of 9 Sea Freight shipments, 6 of them have been held up for exams or inspections.

Is this normal? I'd love to hear how often other importers get harassed by customs.

Is there any way to minimize the frequency of inspections?

[rsot]

Welcome to the forums - 6 out 9 sea freight inspections...have you spoken to your seller to see what is being declared? So long as the shipments clear customs, being held up for a bit is annoying but manageable...

[BigCJ]

Sounds like your supplier may be on the customs watch list?

[qwerty44]

Thanks for the reply.

The first 5 times in which an exam was triggered, the shipments were declared as toys. The shipments passed the exams with no issues. (The majority of the cargo was toys, but also some clothes, cosmetics, and a little bit of electronics)

Then I had a cosmetics-only shipment, and it was declared as such. Also filed a PN with the FDA just like your're supposed to. When it arrived, FDA inspected it and refused import because items didn't meet FDA labeling requirements. These are items we had imported many times before with out issue, but never declared them.

So I'm wondering if I should continue having the shipments declared as just toys, and importing the other items (cosmetics, electronics) in along with them, as long as most of the cargo is actually toys.

[qwerty44]

Originally Posted by BigCJ

Sounds like your supplier may be on the customs watch list?

Is there really such a thing?

I import all the time from the same supplier via DHL and we've never had a problem.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by qwerty44

Is there any way to minimize the frequency of inspections?

Re-read the rubbish you posted about how you and your supplier are conducting the imports.

Why are you even thinking that Customs are stupid?

Not declaring items, making phony declarations on manifests.

Please do not tell me you are so naive to think that will work.

Keep doing this and you are going to have major unpleasant consquences.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by rsot

Welcome to the forums - 6 out 9 sea freight inspections...have you spoken to your seller to see what is being declared? So long as the shipments clear customs, being held up for a bit is annoying but manageable...

Geeze, too cute, rsot.

OP has been a user here since 10-16-2014

[sellmorestuff]

Definitely a lot more increases in inspections in recent years. If you are doing FCL shipments and you are getting inspected, then you are probably on some sort of watch list or the contents on the commercial docs is triggering inspection. If you are doing LCL, then some shipment(s) in the container is triggering the inspection and it might be out of control. Either or, when a container is inspected, everyone pays.