Ensuring successful international shipping requires attention to detail, especially in providing the correct paperwork for customs clearance. Here are essential steps to help guarantee your package reaches its destination:

1. Know What You're Shipping

We do not ship the following items internationally:

Hazardous Items	Lithium Batteries, Power Banks, Alcohol, and Hand Sanitizer due to their flammability.
Food	Cannot ship any perishables due to spoilage and local food safety regulations.
Animal Products	Items such as meat, dairy, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, and honey due to concerns over the introduction of pests and diseases.
Cosmetics	Can give off fumes while in transit.
Seeds & Plants	Prohibited due to invasive species concerns
Wood Products	Concerns with pests/disease.

2. What Information is Required from the Recipient to clear local Customs?

• The recipient must use a local contact phone # and email address on the order page.
• Each country has its own requirements, such as requiring a Local tax ID on large shipments or other documents specific to them: List of country-specific data
• The recipient may need to provide documentation to customs
• Items will be returned if the recipient cannot be reached or does not provide the required documentation. If contacted by a local carrier, respond immediately. Kotis cannot be responsible if the recipient does not correspond with the local carrier.

3. Understanding Duties & Taxes.

All items being imported into a country are subject to duties and taxes (D/V). Duties are calculated based on the type of item (noted by a harmonized code), the items' value, and the shipping cost. Taxes are calculated by taking the total of the shipment times the duty rate of the country.

• Each country has a different duty and tax rate
• Most international shipments are sent Deliver Duties Paid (DDP) so the consignee does not have to pay any fees to have their shipment delivered.
• The costs are billed back to Kotis and shown on your quarterly report invoice.

Client vs. Kotis Responsibilities

In the unfortunate instance that a delivery is delayed, Kotis will work together with you as quickly as possible to resolve it. Kotis will take all measures to work with the carrier to find ways to minimize fees, such as storage, clearance, etc. If a delay in shipment happens, the following outlines financial responsibility

• Client is responsible in the event of:
  • The consignee rejects the order, or if customs or carrier cannot reach the consignee
  • In-country inspection
  • Incorrect shipping address
  • If the product is client-supplied, and Kotis is given incorrect information regarding contents and origin
  • Force Majeure/Acts of God
• Kotis is responsible and will handle in the event of:
  • Timeline delayed due to carrier issue or miscalculation
  • Paperwork incorrectly completed
• Fees: Packages returned will be charged fees from the carrier, including, but not limited to, warehousing/storage, paperwork, clearance, and/or return freight

General Good Practices

• Buffer timelines with international shipments, especially with firm need-by-date orders due to customs delays that can be outside our control. 
• For personal shipments, do not include the company name. This causes confusion for customs on which Tax ID to use.