Exporting agricultural products already requires many documents; Exporting organic agricultural products has an additional layer of paperwork to prove that the organic status is maintained throughout the chain. Understanding the role of each type helps exporters prepare complete documents and avoid congestion at the border gate.
Group of commercial and transport documents
- Contracts and commercial invoices:Determine goods, volume, price and delivery conditions.
- Packing slip:details on how the goods are packed, inspected and received.
- Bill of lading:Transport documents and ownership of goods en route.
Group of documents of origin and quarantine
- Certificate of Origin:Identify goods originating from the exporting country, related to preferential tariffs.
- Plant quarantine certificate:confirm that the shipment meets the importing country's requirements on harmful organisms.
- Test results:on residues or food safety criteria, depending on market requirements.
Organic voucher group
Organic certification of the producer and of the processors in the chain is the foundation. For each specific shipment, many systems require a transaction document, issued by a certification organization, certifying that the shipment is truly organic and linked to traceability records. Some markets also require separate import documents.
Why consistency is key
The border agency and the buyer will compare the quantity, description of goods, batch code and date between the documents. Any deviation, no matter how small, may result in the shipment being held for clarification. Building a standard documentation process, with cross-checkers before issuance, helps significantly reduce this risk.
