Customs clearance

What is Customs clearance?

The import formalities of declaring goods, paying duty and tax and satisfying any product-specific controls before release. For cosmetics, clearance often depends on regulatory paperwork being complete before the goods land — an EU CPNP notification, a China NMPA filing, or a market-specific product registration. Goods that arrive ahead of their paperwork sit on the quay accruing demurrage.

At a glance

Category

Trade & logistics

Also known as

통관

Korean term

통관

Last reviewed

July 23, 2026

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