Shipping Preserved Flowers from China to the United States: Transportation Guide and Compliance Key Points

Shipping Preserved Flowers from China to the United States: Transportation Guide and Compliance Key Points

Shipping preserved flowers to the United States requires meeting the strict requirements of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure a safe and compliant transportation process.

Transportation Process

1. Document and Certification Handling: Apply for an import permit from the USDA in advance. Provide detailed descriptions of the preserved flowers’ treatment processes and phytosanitary certificates issued by Chinese authorities to prove that the flowers are free from pests and diseases. If special chemical preservatives are used, provide safety certificates recognized by the FDA. Prepare documents such as commercial invoices, packing lists, and certificates of origin, all filled in English.
2. Packaging Requirements: Use pressure – resistant, moisture – proof, and breathable packaging materials. Fix the flowers with soft sponges or cotton as the inner packaging to prevent shaking; use hard cartons for the outer layer and place desiccants inside the cartons. To maintain the color and shape of the flowers, vacuum packaging or nitrogen filling can be used. Mark the goods information, recipient’s address, and “PERISHABLE” labels on the outer packaging.
3. Export Procedures: Entrust freight forwarders or customs brokers in China to handle export customs clearance, truthfully declare information about the preserved flowers, and cooperate with customs inspections to ensure compliance with China’s export requirements.
4. Transportation Selection: According to the urgency and quantity of the goods, air freight (3 – 5 days) is suitable for urgent orders or high – value flowers; sea freight (20 – 40 days) is suitable for large – volume, regular orders, but thermostatic containers are required.
5. U.S. Import Customs Clearance: After the goods arrive in the United States, the customs clearance agent submits documents to the U.S. customs, USDA, and FDA. The customs reviews the declared value, the USDA checks if the flowers meet phytosanitary standards, and the FDA verifies the safety of the preservatives, and may conduct sampling inspections. After passing the review, pay tariffs (the tariff rate is about 5 – 10%) and related taxes to complete customs clearance.
6. Goods Delivery: Local logistics providers deliver the goods to the recipient’s address, and the delivery process needs to maintain appropriate temperature and humidity.

Precautions

1. Complete Certifications: Ensure that all import permits and test certificates are complete and valid. Plan the certification time in advance to avoid goods being detained due to incomplete documents.
2. Packaging Testing: Conduct packaging tests before formal shipment, simulating situations such as bumps and squeezes during transportation to ensure that the flowers are not damaged inside the packaging.
3. Logistics Monitoring: Choose logistics services that can monitor the transportation environment (temperature, humidity) in real – time and promptly handle any abnormal situations during transportation.
4. Policy Updates: Pay attention to policy changes in relevant U.S. departments, such as quarantine standards and import permit requirements, and adjust the transportation plan in a timely manner.