Printable Version Important changes to Korean Customs requirements for low value imports

Effective July, 1st  2009 the Korean Customs authorities will enforce strict screening of shipments with a declared value of less than $100 to ensure that they fully comply with the requirements of the relevant legislation covering the non-dutiable importation of low value items.  

The main articles of the law state that, in order to avoid duty, such items must be imported solely for the recipient’s personal use or as a commercial sample for business promotion purposes.  In order to ensure that such consignments are properly recorded for customs entry, it is therefore essential that full details of the following are included on the air waybill for all low value non-dutiable shipments imported into Korea:

1. Detailed description and specification of the commodity.  Typical examples of compliant specifications are e.g. (a) for a Compact Disc: Media Assy CD Win XP Prof; and (b) for a Phone: Cisco IP Phone 7940.
   
   
2. Commodity value
   
   
3. Consignee’s name and address
   
   
4. Quantity of each item supplied
   
   

FedEx customers should also note the following guidelines when producing shipping and customs documentation for such consignments:

(a)   in those cases where more than four commodities are involved, only the relevant descriptions for the first four commodities should be entered on the AWB.  However, details of all the commodities being shipped must be specified on the accompanying Commercial Invoice (CI);

(b)   the details of each item should be entered in this order in the commodity description field: Description, Specification, Quantity, and Quantity Unit. 

(c)   the total value for each commodity should be entered separately in the total value field and should also agree with the total value summary on the AWB.

(d)   the commodity description should be shortened if there is insufficient space in the description field to enter all the information, but the full item unit and quantity unit must appear at all times.

NB the low value shipment category does not include documents.  All Non-Document shipments should therefore be declared as Non-Documents: based upon their commodity and value, they will therefore either be cleared via the non-dutiable informal process or by the dutiable formal process.

FedEx customers should especially note that non-compliant shipments will be referred to the shipper before clearance is permitted, with the risk of demurrage charges being incurred, and/or will run the risk of being returned at the shipper’s expense. 
For more information, please contact FedEx Customer Service.