Sea Shipping to India: Special Regulations on Bill of Lading Endorsement and Cargo Description​

Sea Shipping to India: Special Regulations on Bill of Lading Endorsement and Cargo Description​

Indian Customs requires that the bill of lading for all imported goods must be properly endorsed by the shipper, and the endorsement content must be consistent with the consignee information on the bill of lading. If the bill of lading is not properly endorsed, the goods may not clear customs smoothly. In terms of cargo description, the product name on the bill of lading must be specific and accurate, and vague or general expressions such as “comprehensive goods” and “general cargo” are not allowed. For special goods such as chemicals and mechanical equipment, it is also necessary to indicate their model, specification, purpose and other detailed information. In addition, some ports in India have strict requirements on the declaration of the value of imported goods. If the declared value is inconsistent with the actual value of the goods, the customs may impose fines or confiscate the goods. Shippers should carefully check all information when handling bills of lading and related documents to ensure compliance with Indian Customs regulations.