An ECSI is your instruction to the international carrier you have appointed. It contains information on the goods, the route to their destination, any transport requirements, customs information, who is to receive the documentation, and an allocation of the costs. It is extremely important that the information provided in the ECSI is accurate.
Your invoice should include standard invoice details plus a full description of the goods, including:
Customs authorities use the commercial invoice to verify the details of the consignment. It is good practice to include on your invoice a signed and dated declaration that the stated facts are true and correct.
Some countries have specific requirements regarding the layout, format or content of the invoice. Check with your carrier to establish if there is any special wording or clause that you should include on the invoice.
Harmonised System Codes (also known as Commodity Codes) enhance product descriptions, ensuring accuracy at the time of import and export. HS codes provide products with a unique classification code. Significantly, these codes are also used to determine the duty and local taxes applicable at destination.
Many destinations now insist on HS codes being quoted on commercial invoices. You should treat this classification as part of your product description when completing your shipping documentation. Visit TARIC to help you classify your product or contact Irish Revenue directly at tarclass@revenue.ie
Attached to the outside of the package to be shipped. This specifies the weight, volume and type of cargo.
The B/L provides evidence of the contract between yourself and your carrier. It acts as a receipt that the goods have been received into the custody of the carrier and is a document of title, allowing the ownership of the goods to be temporarily transferred while the goods are in transit. The B/L will be usually completed by your international carrier.
The SWB is similar to the B/L but it does not provide title of goods. It allows the goods to be collected by your customer or agent upon presentation of reasonable proof of identity, so reducing any possible delays at ports.
The AWB is the equivalent of the SWB for shipments being transported by air. It is completed by you for your international carrier and travels with the goods. It details the basic information about your shipment, including where it’s being sent from and to, the weight and a brief description of the goods.
The Waybill is your shipment’s ticket and passport to ensure delivery.
It tells DHL where your shipment is going, what service you require and how you intend to pay. It also tells you the terms and conditions upon which we provide our service, please read these carefully as they limit and in some cases exclude our liability. Each one has a unique number giving you proof of consignment which you can use on our website to track your shipment.
Finally, it tells customs what’s in your shipment so that it gets cleared quickly and speeds through to its final destination without delay.
