Types of regulatory requirements to export

21st March 2024: To establish the oversees export market the company has to follow mandatory requirements of both the exporting country and the country to which the product is exported.

The main regulatory requirements for export are classified:

1. Domestic Requirements

This group of regulatory measures includes regulations applied by the exporting country putting in place minimum quality standards, prohibiting or limiting the export of certain products to protect domestic supply, as well as controlling the prices and distribution channels for certain products.

2. Product Requirements

This group of product-specific regulatory measures includes regulations related to permitted substances in the production process and technical specifications of the product to protect consumer health and safety.

A. Fumigation- A process of exposing insects, fungal spores, or other organisms to the fumes of a chemical at a lethal strength in an enclosed space for a given period of time. A fumigant is a chemical that,  at a required temperature and pressure, can exist in a gaseous state in sufficient concentration to be lethal to a given pest organism.

B. Cold/heat treatment- Requirement of cooling or heating products below or above a certain temperature for a certain period of time to kill targeted pests, either prior to or upon arrival in the destination country. Specific facilities on land or ships could be requested. If the latter, containers should be equipped properly to conduct cold or heat treatment and should include temperature sensors.

C. Product identity requirement- Conditions to be satisfied in order to identify a product with a certain denomination, including biological or organic labels.

D. Restricted use of certain substances- Restriction on the use of certain substances such as components or material to prevent any risks arising from their use.

E. Product quality, safety or performance requirement- Final product requirements concerning safety (for example, fire resistance), performance (effectiveness in achieving the intended or claimed result), quality (for example, content of defined ingredients and durability) or other reasons relating to technical barriers to trade not covered under other measures.

3. Market Conditions

This group of regulatory measures includes mainly market-specific regulations such as safeguard measures, importer registration and authorization requirements, financial restrictions, licensing restrictions and quotas, and import bans for reasons beyond SPS and TBT reasons. These regulation can be due to Prohibition for non-economic reasons or Quantitative Restrictions, etc.

4. Pre-shipment & Inspection

This group of regulatory measures includes labelling requirements, testing , conformity assessment and certification procedures, as well as customs inspection procedures related regulations.

A. Labelling requirements- Measures regulating the kind, colour and size of printing on packages and labels and defining the information that should be provided to the consumer. Labelling is any written, electronic, or graphic communication on the packaging or on a separate but associated label, or on the product itself. It may include requirements concerning the official language to be used, as well as technical information on the product, such as voltage, components, instructions on use, and safety and security advice.

B. Certification requirement- Certification of conformity with a given regulation. Certification is required by the importing country but may be issued in the exporting or the importing country.

C. Traceability requirements- Information disclosure requirements that make it possible to track a product through the stages of production, processing and distribution. This measure includes recordkeeping requirements.

D. Testing requirements- Requirements for products to be tested for compliance with a given specification, such as performance level. This measure includes sampling requirements.

5. Sustainability Standards

There are a number of private standards for environmental protection, worker and labour rights, economic development, quality, and food safety, as well as business ethics, that provide some recognition and can vary from region to region.