All That You Need To Know About Pre Shipment Inspection

A pre-shipment inspection is an important step taken by the buyers, agencies, suppliers to inspect products that are newly manufactured before they get shipped for imports and exports. The pre-shipment inspection agencies in India gives assurance to the suppliers that their products are safe and ready to be sent to their destination market. Like India, most of the governments need a pre-shipment inspection to make sure that imports comply with their set of regulations, they are not prohibited or substandard, and also to protect tax revenue and valuable duty. 

Understanding pre-shipment inspection 

This service was officially introduced back in the year 1994 as an agreement to improve the standards of international trade under the GATT, which was later replaced by WTO. 

The pre-shipment inspection process 

• A physical inspection of all the products is carried out. This takes place in the exporting country before the products get ready for shipping. The objective is to create the exact type of condition, products, as well as the product markings you are shipping.
• Once the inspection report, commercial invoice, and other export documents are found satisfactory, you are going to receive a Conformity Certificate, which will let your importer clear the customs in the importing country. 

The purpose of a pre-shipment inspection

• Check both the quality and quantity of products 
• Check merchandise for any issues
• Ensure all the products fulfil the safety needs of the destination market
• Issue report when it comes to billing and importing 

A pre-shipment inspection is an effective tool for trade operators to safeguard their products against import risks that can turn very expensive. The pre-shipment inspection companies in India typically covers performance, functionality, overall appearance, durability, and dimensions. They have qualified inspectors who can help you ensure your product meet specifications and offer suggestions to you regarding certifications and tests required for your destination market. 

The most important steps in a pre-shipment inspection procedure

Inspection visit - These inspections are performed on-site at the production house or factory. When the inspectors find that the products contain restricted chemicals, they may advise further off-site lab testing of those products. 

Quantity verification - The pre-shipment inspectors make sure the shipping boxes are in the correct quantity. Moreover, this step ensures that the accurate number of products will be sent to the right destination. The packaging is also checked to verify whether the right kind of packing materials are used or not. Correct packaging materials ensure safe transportation and correct labels are applied.

Cosmetic and workmanship check - From the random selection, the first thing an inspector looks at is the overall workmanship of the products to identify visible defects immediately, if any. 

Conformity verification - The quality control professionals or inspectors check product weight, dimensions, material and construction, marking, colour, and labelling. When the inspection is for garments, the inspector makes sure the right sizes have been included in the shipment and that the sizes correspond with the product labels and dimensions. 

Hope, you have gathered enough information about the pre-shipment inspection. If you find the content of this article helpful, don’t forget to share it with your friends, and give thumbs up!