Shipments to the USA – new requirements for product descriptions on invoices.

Shipments to the USA – enforcement of vague product descriptions from November 12, 2024.

On September 4, 2024, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) announced that vague product descriptions in Air Cargo Advanced Screening (ACAS) will be rejected. A precise and specific description of the goods is now mandatory for shipments to the USA or transit through the USA.

A stricter enforcement will take effect from November 12, 2024. As a direct consequence, shipments with vague descriptions may be delayed at the point of origin. Product descriptions must be specific and precise in order to be considered acceptable.

The best descriptions use the 3 W’s, supported by additional details:

• What it is?
• What is it made of?
• What is it used for?
• Additional details that are relevant to the product. For example: such as the gender the clothing is intended for, the size of a water bottle, etc.

You can find further guidance in the guidelines for acceptable and unacceptable descriptions on the CBP website.