Customs Brokerage

For your international shipments, Hellmann offers comprehensive Customs Brokerage services. You can submit your shipment details and requirements using our contact form.
Our customs experts will review your supply chain and provide tailored advice on the required customs procedures, documentation, and regulatory requirements.

The customs clearance process consists of several steps and is handled individually depending on the destination country and the shipment:

1. Review of shipping and commercial documentation
2. Preparation and submission of customs declarations
3. Communication with customs authorities
4. Customs release and onward transportation

Hellmann manages the entire process, ensuring efficient and seamless customs clearance.

Yes. You will have access to experienced customs specialists who can assist you with all aspects of import, export, and international trade regulations.

Customs Brokerage covers all services required to move goods across international borders in compliance with applicable customs regulations. This includes preparing customs declarations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and liaising with customs authorities.

International customs regulations are complex and vary significantly from country to country. Errors can result in shipment delays, additional costs, or legal consequences.

A professional customs broker helps you meet all regulatory requirements correctly, ensuring your supply chain operates smoothly.

Typical services include:

• Import and export customs clearance
• Preparation and review of customs documentation
• Calculation of duties and taxes
• Communication with customs authorities
• Advice on trade agreements and regulatory requirements

Tariff classification is the process of assigning goods to the appropriate Harmonized System (HS) code.

It is essential because it determines:

• Applicable customs duties and taxes
• Licensing and permit requirements
• The basis for the entire customs clearance process

Origin determination establishes the country of origin of goods. This is important for:

• Preferential trade agreements (e.g. reduced duty rates)
• Trade restrictions
• Accurate declarations to customs authorities

Each country has its own legal framework, trade agreements, and security requirements. These affect:

• Documentation requirements
• Import restrictions
• Duty and tax structures

For this reason, a locally compliant yet globally coordinated customs strategy is essential.

Compliance is ensured through:

• Digital systems for data validation
• Close collaboration with local customs authorities
• Standardised processes and compliance guidelines

• Incorrect declaration of goods
• Missing or inaccurate documentation
• Delays caused by customs authorities
• Additional costs or penalties

Professional Customs Brokerage significantly reduces these risks.

1. Faster customs clearance
   Reduced border delays by minimising errors and customs queries.
2. Cost optimisation
   Making full use of trade agreements and accurate tariff classification.
3. Transparency
   Clear visibility across all customs processes.
4. Reduced administrative workload
   Allowing your team to focus on its core business.

Customs Brokerage is typically an integral part of long-term logistics partnerships. Processes are continuously adapted to reflect changing legal requirements and evolving market conditions.

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is a European Union instrument designed to measure and price the carbon emissions embedded in certain imported goods. Its objective is to create a level playing field for EU manufacturers and prevent carbon leakage by discouraging the relocation of carbon-intensive production to countries with less stringent climate regulations.

CBAM applies to specific imported goods whose production is typically associated with high CO₂ emissions. Since 1 October 2023, importers have been required to document the direct and, in some cases, indirect CO₂ emissions of these goods and report them via the CBAM Portal to the competent national authority (in Germany: the German Emissions Trading Authority – DEHSt).

From 2026 onwards, importers will be required to purchase CBAM certificates based on the annual emissions report, which must be submitted at the beginning of 2027.

Where actual emissions data cannot be obtained, standard values may be used. However, these are often significantly higher than actual emissions, potentially resulting in considerably higher costs. If actual emissions data is reported, it must be verified by a certified independent body.

Yes. Importers of CBAM goods are already required to have a CBAM account. An exemption applies only if annual imports of CBAM goods remain below 50 tonnes.

Without a CBAM account, imports exceeding this threshold will no longer be permitted from September 2026 onwards.

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) (Regulation (EU) 2023/1115) introduces new supply chain due diligence requirements for companies placing certain commodities and products on the EU market or exporting them from the EU.

The regulation covers commodities such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soy and wood, as well as products derived from them. These may only be placed on, made available in, or exported from the EU market if they are not linked to deforestation or forest degradation.

Although originally planned to apply from 30 December 2024, the implementation has been postponed. The regulation will now apply from 30 December 2026. Small and micro-enterprises benefit from an extended deadline until 30 June 2027.

Companies affected by the regulation should prepare early to ensure compliance with the new requirements.

Relevant commodities and products may only be placed on the EU market, made available or exported if all of the following conditions are fulfilled:

• They are deforestation-free.
• They have been produced in accordance with the applicable legislation of the country of production.
• A due diligence statement has been submitted.

Products are considered deforestation-free if the relevant commodities were produced on land that has not been subject to deforestation after 31 December 2020.

For wood and wood products, this additionally means that the timber must not have been harvested from forests that have undergone forest degradation after 31 December 2020.

The regulation requires compliance with the applicable legal requirements of the producing country, including legislation relating to:

• Land-use rights
• Environmental protection
• Forestry legislation and biodiversity protection
• Third-party rights
• Workers' rights
• Internationally protected human rights
• Free, prior and informed consent (FPIC)
• Tax, anti-corruption, trade and customs regulations

These requirements may overlap with existing supply chain due diligence legislation.

A due diligence statement confirms that the required due diligence has been carried out and that the products present no or only a negligible risk of non-compliance with the EUDR.

Market operators and traders that are not SMEs are required to submit a due diligence statement. SME traders are subject to simplified obligations and are generally not required to submit such a statement.

The declaration must be submitted through the European TRACES system before the relevant products are placed on the market, made available or exported.

The due diligence statement includes, among other things:

• Name and address of the market operator
• HS code and product description (including scientific name where applicable)
• Country of production
• Geolocation data for all plots of land where the relevant commodities were produced
• A declaration confirming that all due diligence obligations have been fulfilled and that no or only a negligible risk of non-compliance exists

The due diligence statement only needs to be submitted once at the point where the products first enter the EU market and must be passed along the supply chain. It must be retained for five years.

The EUDR requires the geolocation data of all plots of land where the relevant commodities were produced.

For example, if bovine gelatine is imported from Brazil, the locations of all farms where the cattle were raised must be provided. If those cattle were fed with soy, the locations where the soy was grown must also be identified.

Companies should therefore engage with their suppliers at an early stage to ensure the required information is available before the products enter the EU market.