Importing a Pet into China via Hong Kong

Importing your dog into China

Moving can be stressful at times especially when you decide to move to a new country. You have placed things in storage and — OOPS! what about the family pet?!? Can’t live without Fido or Fluffy! The process of getting your pet to a new country is very tedious and can be quite costly.

There are many steps in getting a four-legged friend to a new country (your new home). Be prepared to allocate time and money in both the origin and destination countries. It is smart to have a person on both sides (current pets home and new pets home) to work through the process, making it all happen.

Selecting Your Airline Carrier

One of the main obstacles is to locate airlines that service your destination country. Many countries restrict pet cargo to only airlines with headquarters in their country. For this reason, Cathay-Pacific airlines is one of the few passenger carriers that can bring in pets. Within the last 45 days, Delta was unable to service a flight from Atlanta to Hong Kong. Delta’s suggestion was to call their sister airline, Korean Air (who were also unable to service HK). While some countries will allow you to bring the pet with you in the cabin, Hong Kong flights require pets to be booked only as air cargo. It is important to note that not all airlines have a cargo terminal in every city (even though there is a passenger terminal). If there is not a cargo terminal in your city, you will have to fly the pet to a different city and send them out from there.

Here is a short-list of airlines that service pets to Hong Kong (I used China Airlines)

Check with one of the above carriers for pricing and scheduling. As of 45 days ago, Cathay was shipping pet cargo at $19.36 per kilo. Continental is a little pricier. Make sure that they can move your pet when you need. There are restrictions on times of the year because pets cannot fly when the temperature will be too hot (above 85 degrees F) in the cargo hold. Beware that they charge by kilogram (there is some kind of formula: dog+crate weight X volume?), but do not starve your pet before the flight (there are other ways to save money on shipping fluffy).

Here are some good Pet-for-Thoughts:

Ok – so you have selected your airline - this can be an enormous task and you have now completed 10% of the process that will bring your pet to China.

Origin City Side

To complete all the tasks required to export your pet, you will need at least 2 weeks lead time (do not schedule your pet’s flight any earlier). Once you found a reputable cargo company, next you need to get your paperwork in order. You need a valid health certificate from your vet. I would suggest calling your vet before you show up for your appointment and verify that they have this certificate on hand. Also check with the USDA pet department and make sure you have all the necessary shots given before you go.

Our pet had these shots

Vaccine list for dogs

Once the vet has filled out the necessary certificate make sure you do not mess it up in any way shape or form or you will have some problems down the road with customs. Next you are going to have to go to have the USDA veterinarian approve it. You will need to make an appointment and have them review the health certificate and they will provide their embossed stamp of approval.

It is important to note that on each side of the equation (city the pet is in and the pets new home) there are companies that can facilitate all the processes for you. These companies can be worth their weight in gold. Due to the mounting costs associated with bringing the dog to China, we handled the Atlanta side ourselves.

On the US side, here are some companies local to the Atlanta area:
Animal Land, Inc.
Atlanta, Georgia (GA), United States
Office Phone :+1 404-812-1555
Fax :+1 404-812-1588
Toll Free :+1 877-379-8625
http://www.petmovers.com

Lucky Dog! LLC
Atlanta, Georgia (GA), United States
Office Phone :+1 404-551-5028
Fax :+1 866-373-4819
Toll Free :1 888-575-5025
http://www.luckydogtravels.com

Now you have your documents for your animal. Make sure you have filled out all the necessary paper work for the cargo company you have chosen and make sure they understand that it is a live animal you are sending. When you fax your copy of the health certificate make sure you use the carbon copy underneath and rub in on the embossed stamp or it will not show up. You also need to fax a copy of your animal’s current vaccinations and dates and you need to give an original copy to the cargo company as well.

Airline Liability Letter

Shipping dog via China Airlines

Shipper’s Letter of Instructions

Shipping dog letter of instructions

Shipper’s Certificate for Live Animals

Shipping dog live animal certificate

Once the cargo company has received the documents they can then begin to process their paper work as well. In the meantime make sure you have an animal crate that is airplane approved. Usually it will be indicated on the crate if it is or not. Look first and make sure your pet can fit comfortably inside and can turn around inside with the door shut. There are some great pads you can place inside of it that provide comfort as well as absorption in case the pet has an accident (you know what I mean, the dog can’t leave the crate for 20 hours). Beware your pet will need a bath when you finally get it to its new home. About 30 minutes before boarding the plane, my vet suggested giving my dog 2 Benedryl tablets. It is not advisable to sedate your animal unless your vet says otherwise. It can be quite traumatic for your animal to be sedated. Bendryl is best. Even through an 18 hour flight its OK.

Hong Kong Side

This is where it gets a little hazy – there is so much that goes into allowing the dog into the airport, out of the airport and into China. If you make any mistakes at this stage it will cost a lot of money to fix them (export the dog, reimport the dog, etc). I solely recommend using a Pet Import company like:

Pet Movers Hong Kong
Tel: (852) 3404 0061 / (852) 9198 4543
Fax: (852) 3404 0062
www.petmovershk.com

From the HK side, you must obtain a transit permit for the dog to legally be in Hong Kong. The transmit permit must then be sent to the cargo airline carrier back in the US before the dog can leave. Also ensure that ALL THE DOCUMENTATION that you have been working with are available in Hong Kong. If the documents were processed in the US, attach them to the doggy crate. All original documents are required for customs at the border to mainland China.

Import Special Permit

Import dog into China

Entry Into China - Why it’s best to hire an agent!

  1. Go to airline air cargo terminal (get there before noon, everyone goes to lunch and you will have to wait until after 2:00PM to pick up your pet).
  2. See your best friend in the crate and have the Hong Kong customs agent examine the dog for contraband hidden inside the dog. Do not touch the dog or get near the crate – looks suspicious!
  3. Pack the dog into the van that will take you to the Hong Kong border.
  4. Switch vans as the old van does not have double license plates to enter into China.
  5. Meet up with the Agriculture and Fisheries agent that will escort the dog into China.
  6. Take the dog through customs (bring 20 RMB for processing fees) and hope that everything is in order. If there is a problem at this stage, a dog can only legally stay in Hong Kong for 24 hours before it goes into mandatory quarantine or deportation.

And finally if all goes well…

Dog arrives in China

Amanda Blankenship

June 18, 2008 | Filed Under Logistics | Leave a Comment 

CY (Container Yard) vs. CFS (Container Freight Station)

Container Freight Service

When working with a freight forwarder, there are a number of different container service options that you need to be familiar with to ensure you get the service you expect. To do this, there are 2 terms you should familiarize yourself with: CY and CFS. CY means Container Yard and CFS means Container Freight Station.

When a freight forwarder is giving you a quote, they will typically want to know if you want “door to door” service or if you want the goods to arrive at the destination port only, where you would be responsible to move the goods from the port to your final location.

CY/CY (CY to CY) Container Service
This is considered “door to door” service. The container is packed at the shipper’s location (factory) and sometimes at the actual freight forwarder’s location, depending on your agreement. The shipper in is the consignor and you are the consignee. The same container, not having been unpacked or modified in any way during the voyage, will be delivered to your final destination. Naturally this is the most expensive, but least hassle service.

CY/CFS (CY to CFS) Container Service
This is considered “door to port” service. Just like CY to CY, your container is packed at the shipper’s location and sometimes at the actual freight forwarder’s location, depending on your agreement. However, at the destination side, your container is emptied at the carrier’s container freight station. It is your responsibility as the consignee to take this loose cargo and move it from the destination port to your final location, whether that be a warehouse, distribution center, retail location, etc.

CFS/CY (CFS to CY) Container Service
This is considered “port to door” service. You would use this service if your factory will deliver loose cargo, or cargo in a container that is not the final shipping container to the port. Your freight forwarder will then pack the goods into the shipping container. At the destination side, your cargo will be delivered in that container to your final location.

CFS/CFS (CFS to CFS) Container Service
This is considered “port to port” service. In this case, cargo will be delivered loose to the shipping port, packed into the container by the freight forwarder, and unpacked at the destination port. The consignee (you) are responsible for arranging pickup of the cargo at the destination port and moving it to your final location.

Understanding these services will go a long way to ensuring you receive the service you are expecting. Many companies that are new to importing do not always understand their responsibilities at the destination port. In particular, if you’re using a CY/CFS or CFS/CFS container service, you need to understand how long you have at the destination port to pickup your cargo before fees begin to accumulate. You also need to make sure you know what it will take to physically take ownership of your cargo to make sure you have the right equipment prepared.

June 8, 2008 | Filed Under Logistics | Leave a Comment 

To FOB or CIF, That is the Question

FOB vs. CIF Incoterms

Most first time importers, and even those with experience, remain unsure whether to purchase from suppliers on FOB or CIF terms. FOB and CIF are two of the most popular incoterms and understanding them is important. First, FOB stands for ‘Free on Board’ and CIF stands for ‘Cost, Insurance & Freight’.

When calculating your landed cost, the largest gray area especially for new importers, is around the “on the water” portion of the journey. Therefore, you may want to consider placing your orders, or at least your first order, CIF instead of FOB if you want the least amount of surprises. Here is a clear explanation of what is covered with FOB and CIF:

Buyer & Seller Responsibilities for FOB vs. CIF

Services FOB CIF
Warehouse Storage Seller Seller
Warehouse Labor Seller Seller
Export Packing Seller Seller
Loading Charges Seller Seller
Inland Freight Seller Seller
Terminal Charges Seller Seller
Forwarder's Fees Buyer Seller
Loading On Vessel Seller Seller
Ocean/Air Freight & Insurance Buyer Seller
Charges On Arrival At Destination Buyer Buyer
Duty, Taxes, & Customs Clearance Buyer Buyer
Delivery To Destination Buyer Buyer

So… you may be asking why you shouldn’t always purchase product CIF instead of FOB? There are some good reasons. For example:

1. Comparing Apples to Apples Cost Across Factories - When factories quote CIF, you have no way of really knowing the breakdown of costs. They could potentially be padding a specific cost for extra profit or they may be artificially lowering the cost of the goods and transferring cost to the shipping/insurance side of the equation. If you’re looking to find the cheapest producer of the product itself across multiple factories, it’s easier to compare apples to apples using FOB.

2. Your Shipping/Insurance Agent May Be Cheaper - While larger factories typically have good relations with freight forwarders, shipping companies and the like, don’t underestimate your own ability to negotiate for good rates either. If the lowest landed cost is important to you, make some phone calls as well. We personally recommend based on experience Triple Eagle.

3. Opportunities to Build Relationships - Especially as you grow your importing venture, building relationships with the largest number of companies can go a long way. By putting all your eggs in the supplier basket, you’re tying yourself to that supplier. It may be harder to switch factories in the future if necessary if you’re unaware of all the details of your transactions.

As you can see, there are benefits to choosing FOB and CIF. It just depends on your own specific situation. However we hope this article makes this area a bit clearer.

February 1, 2008 | Filed Under Logistics | 5 Comments 

Unloading Containers - Be Prepared When the Goods Land!

Forklift - Sourcejuice

There are a number of variables and obstacles to consider when unloading a container and SourceJuice has you covered with experiential knowledge before your container arrives.

Tools of the Trade
If you have ever worked on a car then you are aware that the right tools make all the difference. Unloading a container is no different in this respect. Here are some of the common items you should have prepared.

Time
Time is of the essence when unloading a container. Make all your preparations ahead of time so that the unloading process can be a breeze. Keep in mind there are a lot of people, places and events to manage - all of which cost money if delays occur. Each domestic freight company will be different, but during a delivery, a general rule is: first 2 hours are free, $60/hr thereafter. Call the company providing logistics for delivery and find out their policies.

No Loading Dock?
Believe it or not, this is a common problem for the “newly imported”. Many times warehouses are still under construction or circumstances never arose that required such a need for daily business. If this is your business now, get a dock - it will save you time and money! In the mean time here are your options:

Packaging
To make your import venture the most profitable, you need to get as much product on the container as possible. As with anything in this world, you get what you pay for. Expect to open your container and find wood crates, cardboard cartons or pallets packed all aligned tightly together. Sometimes the product will be stacked on top of one another. Remember, packing a container is not a science, when the factory makes the order they can not account for all variables and sizes. I have ordered granite and not all of it would fit once the order was complete. “We’ll catch those countertops on the next order”, is another great reason to do inventory first thing upon arrival as you hope the factory informed you of this before the container left China (you never know). There are also weight requirements on containers, so once you hit the mark, that is it. Check out a recent Sourcejuice article on WPM or Wood Packaging Material and how it can affect you at the border.

Inventory/Broken Products/Model Numbers
Your first mission is to unload the entire container and perform an inventory of your shipment. That sounds so easy, but it becomes much more than trivial once the container is standing in front of you. It takes enough time to just unload the crates from the container. Some of your crates will not be sturdy enough to make it the entire trip. Expect to rest the forklift operator for a while and carefully unpack these crates by hand.

You can’t exactly ask for a refund! So why do you care?
What is done, is not done! The factory should give you a credit for the broken items that did not make the trip. Check out one of SourceJuice’s articles, “Does China Have a Return Policy?” for additional strategies and information. Your cargo insurance will not cover damages unless the entire container was a loss. This is where the camera and notepad come into play. The factory will want proof of the damage. You can’t expect them to ask for the items back can you? It is best to unpack the entire container, unpackage the material, sort, organize and inventory it. Quickbooks has a great inventory tool built in if you buy the right version. Start off on the right “business foot”, once your business gets going you may never have another opportunity to get it straight. Work with the factory during the ordering process to ensure you have a unique model numbering system for your products. Plan ahead, keep the same scheme across different factories and ensure there is room to expand. I can not tell you how many importers I have witnessed with the most distressing of inventory systems (or none) in place.

Defective Products
Test, Test, Test - that is all there is to say. Do not assume that because the crate looks fine or the product itself looks fine that all is okay. I will give you an example. I purchased over 100 stainless steel kitchen sinks, unpacked the container, unwrapped the boxes and was satisfied with the product. It wasn’t until the sinks were installed in one of our construction projects that we realized during a home owner walk-through that all of the water would not drain from the sink. There were small pools left around the drain, which were tell-tale signs of defective material. Test your products, one from every crate if possible. It would have been disastrous if we had sold the sinks on the retail market.

Storage Options

Be Prepared for Anything
Even the best planning in the world can’t account for everything. I have seen entire shipments intricately planned and still there are unforseeable circumstances - like the forklifts were unable to clear loading bay doors. Make sure you have allowed for extra help, workers, time and flexibility in delivery methods. Figure out an exit strategy or backup plan. Time to unload containers is costly, don’t lose that “imported from China” landed cost at the final hour.

Don’t Forget Insurance
So your shipment has arrived safely, categorized and inventoried. Don’t forget to insure it - wholesale goods in unmanned warehouses are a thieves best friend. Remember, thefts can occur as inside and outside jobs. Make sure you have proper security measures in place to detour theft. Again, plan ahead if you are going to install cameras or burglar alarm systems. Theft is another major cost that can increase your landed price per item! If you are using onsite storage containers, consider MobilMini they have incredible locking systems for their containers.

Good luck, it is all on you. If you need our help - we are always here. SourceJuice

Dylan Blankenship signature
dylan@sourcejuice.com // Dylan Blankenship

January 27, 2008 | Filed Under Logistics | Leave a Comment 

Top 10 Cool Uses for Shipping Containers

Shipping container home

Do not adjust your computer screens, in this week’s article we will examine the unnatural phenomena of cool uses for shipping containers. It’s not just all work and no play here at SourceJuice!

1. Restaurants/Cafe - I’ll bet you’ve all seen the red UK style buses converted into quaint hamburger joints, but never a shipping container turned into ritzy New York contemporary cafe.

01kalk_slide02.jpg

2. MythBusters- these guys have found countless uses for shipping containers including explosion/blast bunkers, catapults, Evil Knievel style launch ramps - you name it.

Myth Busters


3. Datacenters

Sun Blackbox

Blackbox pic 2

Technology is my first love. Sun Microsystem’s “Project Blackbox” is a prototype of the world’s first datacenter built into a shipping container and optimized to deliver extreme energy, space, and performance efficiencies to locations as diverse as deserts, disaster zones or even Mars. A complete datacenter ready to ship anywhere, just drop it on site and add power and connectivity and you’re up and running!

4. Art & Oragami

Oragami

The newly completed Nestle Chocolate Museum in Mexico City, designed by Rojkind Arquitectos, resembles an origami shipping container of sorts and serves as a public space where visitors can learn about and witness the production of Nestle chocolate. The most incredible fun fact about this structure is that it was completed in 2.5 months from start to finish, including design and construction.

Art

5. Houses & Living [high end/luxury]

Zigloo - Lux Housing

Zigloo Residential Design has some great concepts for the luxury home market, coming to a town near you.

6. Other Housing

12containerhouse.jpg

12 container housing.

7. Museums

Exterior Museum

Inside Museum

The Nomadic Museum is the name given to a temporary structure composed of 156 shipping containers, housing the Ashes and Snow photography exhibit of Gregory Colbert.

Gregory Colbert originally conceived of the idea for a sustainable traveling museum in 1999. He envisioned a structure that could easily be assembled in ports of call around the world, providing a transitory environment for his work on its global journey.

8. Septic Tanks - eeewwww…Check out the patent, nuff said.

Shipping Container Septic 1

Shipping Container Septic Diagram

9. Rocket Launcher

Rocket Launcher

*Just Kidding*

10. Container Cities

Container City

Urban Space Management’s Container City projects in London and elsewhere in the UK. As one of the designers in this video explains, the containers are initially manufactured to such precise specifications, that they only vary from each other a couple millimeters. Thus, they are comparatively much simpler to assemble and deal with than traditional building materials.

Check out more on shipping container architecture on Wikipedia.

Dylan Blankenship signature
dylan@sourcejuice.com // Dylan Blankenship

January 25, 2008 | Filed Under Logistics | 3 Comments