A Complete Guide to Last-Mile Rules in Major Trading Countries: From Product Packaging to Customs Clearance and Transportation

I. Preface: Last-Mile Compliance – The “Final Lifeline” of Cross-Border Trade

In the global trade system, last-mile logistics (the entire process of goods from the destination country’s distribution center to end customers) is a crucial link that determines the success or failure of transactions. According to data from the 2024 Global Cross-Border Logistics White Paper, over 60% of cross-border disputes arise from the last-mile link, among which three issues – “damage caused by non-compliant packaging”, “detention due to missing customs clearance documents”, and “return due to unclear transportation restrictions” – account for more than 80%.

For cross-border enterprises, mastering the last-mile rules of major trading countries can not only reduce logistics loss rates by more than 50% but also improve customer satisfaction and repurchase rates. This article focuses on 10 core trading countries across Asia (China, Japan, South Korea), Europe (Germany, the UK, France), the Americas (the US, Canada, Brazil), and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand). It creates a full-process last-mile compliance guide from three dimensions – “product packaging standards, transportation operation specifications, and core customs clearance requirements” – to help enterprises smooth the “last mile” of cross-border delivery.

II. Core Trading Countries in Asia: Emphasizing Both Refined Packaging and Localized Customs Clearance

Due to geographical proximity and frequent trade, the Asian market has become a “must-compete area” for cross-border enterprises. Its last-mile rules feature “refined packaging and localized customs clearance”, with a focus on cultural taboos and environmental friendliness of materials.

1. China (Mainland): Standardized E-Commerce Parcels, Dual Requirements for Environmental Protection and Efficiency

(1) Product Packaging: Compliant Materials as the Foundation, Clear Labels as the Key

• Material Standards:

In accordance with the Action Plan for the Green Transformation of Express Packaging, e-commerce parcels must use “recyclable or biodegradable materials”. Cartons must comply with the “GB/T 6543-2022 standard”: 3-ply corrugated cartons have a bursting strength ≥ 150kPa (suitable for goods ≤ 3kg), and 5-ply corrugated cartons have a bursting strength ≥ 250kPa (suitable for goods 3-10kg). For cushioning materials, corn starch-based bubble wrap and recycled pulp molding are preferred. Ultra-thin plastic bags with a thickness < 0.025mm are prohibited.

• Operation Specifications:

Waybills must adopt “electronic waybills”, including the recipient’s name, mobile phone number (11-digit valid number), and detailed address (down to the house number, e.g., “Room 1001, Unit 2, Building 3, XX Community, 88 Jianguo Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing”). The font size of the waybill must be ≥ 10pt, and the barcode area must not be covered with tape. Fragile items (such as ceramics and electronic products) must be affixed with “fragile warning labels” and use “suspension packaging” (double protection of airbag bags + EPE foam) to ensure no movement of goods inside the carton.

(2) Transportation and Customs Clearance: Hierarchical Control of Domestic Transportation, Simplified Customs Clearance Materials

• Transportation Restrictions:

The weight of a single ordinary express parcel must be ≤ 50kg, and the size (length + width + height) must be ≤ 180cm. Oversized goods must use large-item logistics channels (such as SF Express Large Items and JD Logistics Large Items) and be reserved 24 hours in advance. For lithium-ion battery transportation, a “UN38.3 test report” must be provided, with the lithium content per package ≤ 100Wh. Flammable and explosive items such as disinfectants with an alcohol concentration > 75% and fireworks are prohibited.

• Customs Clearance Requirements:

There is no additional customs clearance process for domestic last-mile delivery. However, cross-border e-commerce import parcels must comply with the “9710” and “9810” customs declaration models. A “cross-border e-commerce retail import declaration form” must be attached to the goods, including information such as product name, HS code, unit price, and quantity. The declaration form must be consistent with the waybill information.

2. Japan: Lightweight Packaging + Cultural Taboos, Strict Timeliness Control

(1) Product Packaging: Environmental-Friendly Materials, Bilingual Labels

• Material Standards:

In accordance with the Packaging Rationalization Act, cartons must comply with the “JIS Z 1507 standard” with a thickness ≤ 5mm (to avoid excessive packaging). Foam plastics are prohibited for cushioning materials; “paper folding cushioning parts” (such as corrugated paper partitions) are preferred. Black packaging is prohibited as it symbolizes “funerals”. Gift packaging must use light colors such as white and beige and be affixed with the “お土産 (gift)” label.

• Operation Specifications:

Waybills must be “marked in both Japanese and English”. The recipient’s name must include Chinese characters and Kana (e.g., “佐藤 さとう”). The address must include “prefecture, city, district, and house number” (e.g., “2 Chome-2-10 Dogenzaka, Shibuya City, Tokyo”). The postal code is 7 digits (e.g., “150-0002”). The “delivery time slot” (e.g., “14:00-16:00”) must be marked with an error not exceeding 30 minutes; otherwise, a re-reservation is required.

(2) Transportation and Customs Clearance: Certifications Required for Special Goods, High Timeliness Requirements

• Transportation Restrictions:

Ordinary parcels are delivered via “Yamato Transport (Black Cat Courier)” and “Japan Post”. The weight of a single parcel must be ≤ 30kg, and the size (length + width + height) must be ≤ 160cm. For oversized parcels, a “large parcel service” must be applied for, with an additional fee of 2,000-5,000 JPY per piece. For food transportation, a “Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Food Safety Certification” must be provided; for pharmaceuticals, an “import license” is required. Counterfeit anime merchandise is prohibited (in violation of the Copyright Law).

• Customs Clearance Requirements:

Goods with a value ≤ 10,000 JPY are exempt from customs duties. For goods with a value > 10,000 JPY, customs duties (varying by product, approximately 10% for clothing) and consumption tax (10%) must be paid. A “commercial invoice” must be attached to the goods, indicating the product name, quantity, unit price, and origin (e.g., “Made in China”). The invoice must be filled in Japanese or English and consistent with the “declared value” on the waybill.

3. South Korea: Environmental Labels + Language Adaptation, Regional Differences in Delivery

(1) Product Packaging: Recyclable Materials, Labels with Korean

• Material Standards:

In accordance with the Resource Circulation Utilization Act, packaging must be marked with “recyclable symbols” (e.g., “♻️+Paper”, “♻️+Plastic”). Disposable foam plastics are prohibited. Cushioning materials must be paper or compostable bioplastics (complying with the “KSC 3030 standard”). Liquid goods (such as cosmetics and sauces) must use “double-layer sealed packaging” (HDPE plastic bottles + leak-proof films), with a single container capacity ≤ 1L.

• Operation Specifications:

Waybills must include a “Korean address” (with English assistance). The postal code is 6 digits (e.g., “04538”). The “cargo type” (e.g., “전자제품 (electronic products)”, “의류 (clothing)”) must be marked. Fragile items must be affixed with “파손주의 (fragile warning)” labels and packaged separately; they must not be mixed with ordinary goods.

(2) Transportation and Customs Clearance: KC Certification Required for Special Goods, Fast Customs Clearance

• Transportation Restrictions:

“Next-day delivery” is supported in major cities such as Seoul and Busan, while remote areas (such as Jeju Island) require 2-3 days. For lithium-ion battery transportation, “KC certification” is required. Food containing meat is prohibited (to prevent foot-and-mouth disease). Pharmaceuticals require an “approval from the Korea Food and Drug Safety Administration”.

• Customs Clearance Requirements:

Goods with a value ≤ 150 USD are exempt from customs duties. For goods with a value > 150 USD, customs duties (approximately 8% for electronic products) and value-added tax (10%) must be paid. An “import declaration form” must be attached to the goods, including the importer’s tax number (Business Registration Number). The declaration form must be submitted to South Korean customs 24 hours before the goods arrive at the port.

III. Core Trading Countries in Europe: Dual Core of Environmental Protection and Privacy, VAT Compliance as the Focus

The European market focuses on “high environmental standards, strict privacy protection, and VAT control”. Although Germany, the UK, and France all belong to Europe, there are subtle differences in their rules that require precise adaptation.

1. Germany: Strict Carbon Footprint Control, Environmental Tax Linked to Customs Clearance

(1) Product Packaging: Low-Carbon Materials, Labels with German

• Material Standards:

In accordance with the Packaging Act (VerpackG), packaging must be marked with a “carbon footprint symbol” (e.g., “CO₂ ≤ 5kg/piece”) and a “carbon footprint certification report” must be provided; otherwise, an environmental tax of 0.5 EUR per piece will be levied. Cartons must be made of 100% recycled paper. Cushioning materials must be paper (such as corrugated paper partitions). Disposable plastic packaging is prohibited.

• Operation Specifications:

Waybills must be “in both German and English”. The address must include “state, city, street, and house number” (e.g., “Berlin, Kurfürstendamm 25, 10719”). The postal code is 5 digits. Private parcels (such as cosmetics and health products) must be marked with “Vertraulich (confidential)”, and the waybill must not display product details to avoid information leakage.

(2) Transportation and Customs Clearance: Special Channels for Dangerous Goods, Mandatory VAT Declaration

• Transportation Restrictions:

The weight of a single ordinary parcel must be ≤ 31.5kg, and the size (length + width + height) must be ≤ 150cm. Dangerous goods (such as lithium-ion batteries and flammable liquids) must use the “Deutsche Post DHL dangerous goods channel”, be affixed with “UN number labels” (e.g., UN38.3 for lithium-ion batteries), and declared 48 hours in advance.

• Customs Clearance Requirements:

Goods with a value ≤ 22 EUR are exempt from VAT. For goods with a value > 22 EUR, VAT (19%) must be paid; for goods with a value > 150 EUR, additional customs duties (approximately 12% for clothing) must be paid. A “VAT declaration form” (including the VAT number) must be attached to the goods. The declaration form must be consistent with the data in the EU “OSS Tax Declaration System”; otherwise, the goods will be detained by customs and a fine (10%-20% of the goods value) will be imposed.

2. The UK: Independent Rules After Brexit, Strong Link Between Labels and Taxation

(1) Product Packaging: Recyclable Materials, Labels with Manufacturer Information

• Material Standards:

In accordance with the Packaging Waste Regulations 2007, packaging must be marked with “recyclable symbols” and “manufacturer information” (company name and address). Disposable plastic packaging is prohibited. Cushioning materials must be paper. Cartons have a bursting strength ≥ 180kPa, suitable for goods ≤ 5kg; 5-ply corrugated cartons are required for goods > 5kg.

• Operation Specifications:

Waybills must be in English. The address includes “city, street, house number, and postal code” (e.g., “London, Oxford Street 100, W1D 1LL”). The postal code is 7 digits (combining letters and numbers). For goods with a value > 135 GBP, a “VAT declaration number” must be affixed, and the waybill must be marked with the “importer’s tax number (EORI number)”.

(2) Transportation and Customs Clearance: Changed Customs Clearance Process After Brexit, High Certification Requirements

• Transportation Restrictions:

Ordinary parcels are delivered via “Royal Mail” and “DPD UK”. The weight of a single parcel must be ≤ 20kg, and the size (length + width + height) must be ≤ 120cm. For lithium-ion battery transportation, a “UN38.3 test report + UKCA certification” is required. Pet food containing meat is prohibited (to prevent African swine fever).

• Customs Clearance Requirements:

Separate declarations are required after Brexit. For goods with a value > 135 GBP, customs duties (approximately 2.5% for electronic products) and VAT (20%) must be paid. A “CN23 customs declaration form” must be attached to the goods, detailing the product name, HS code, quantity, unit price, and origin. The declaration form must be signed and confirmed by the importer; otherwise, customs clearance will be delayed by 3-7 days.

3. France: Bilingual Labels + Gift Specifications, Strict Privacy Protection

(1) Product Packaging: Compostable Materials, Labels with French

• Material Standards:

In accordance with the Anti-Waste Law, packaging must be “compostable materials” (complying with the EN 13432 standard). Disposable plastics are prohibited. Cushioning materials preferably use “paper cushioning parts”. Liquid goods must use “leak-proof IBC tanks” with a single container capacity ≤ 200L.

• Operation Specifications:

Waybills must be “in both French and English”. The address includes “region, city, street, and house number” (e.g., “Paris, Champs-Élysées 10, 75008”). The postal code is 5 digits. Gift packaging must be affixed with the “Cadeau (gift)” label, and no price tags should be placed inside (in accordance with the Consumer Rights Protection Law). Private parcels must use “opaque packaging” to avoid product exposure.

(2) Transportation and Customs Clearance: Strict VAT Declaration, Strong Intellectual Property Protection

• Transportation Restrictions:

Ordinary parcels are delivered via “La Poste” and “DHL France”. The weight of a single parcel must be ≤ 30kg, and the size (length + width + height) must be ≤ 150cm. Pharmaceuticals require an “approval from the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM)”. Anti-government propaganda materials are prohibited.

• Customs Clearance Requirements:

For goods with a value > 22 EUR, VAT (20%) must be paid; for goods with a value > 150 EUR, customs duties (approximately 30% for luxury goods) must be paid. A “commercial invoice” must be attached to the goods, indicating the “VAT number” and “importer name”. Counterfeit luxury goods (such as counterfeit LV and Chanel) will be confiscated by customs, and a fine (5-10 times the goods value) will be imposed.

IV. Core Trading Countries in the Americas: Dual Complexity of Damage Prevention and Customs Clearance, Significant Regional Differences

The American market covers developed countries (the US, Canada) and emerging markets (Brazil). Its last-mile rules feature “high damage prevention requirements and complex customs clearance processes”, with a focus on packaging strength and document integrity.

1. The US: Priority on Damage Prevention, Strict Control of Labels and Sizes

(1) Product Packaging: High-Strength Materials, Comprehensive Label Information

• Material Standards:

Cartons must comply with the “APPMA standard”: 3-ply corrugated cartons have a bursting strength ≥ 200kPa (suitable for goods ≤ 5kg), and 5-ply corrugated cartons have a bursting strength ≥ 350kPa (suitable for goods 5-30kg). For cushioning materials, “biodegradable bubble wrap” and “recycled pulp” are preferred. The width of sealing tape must be ≥ 50mm. Directly wrapping waybills with transparent tape is prohibited (as it easily blurs barcodes).

• Operation Specifications:

Waybills must include the recipient’s name, mobile phone number (10-digit valid number), and address (including a 9-digit zip code, e.g., “New York, 123 Main St, Apt 4B, 10001-1234”). The font is Arial or Times New Roman with a size ≥ 12pt. Fragile items must be affixed with “Fragile” labels and use “suspension packaging” (airbag bags + foam boards). For oversized goods (length + width + height > 300cm), “Oversized” labels must be affixed