An international consignment note is a document that lists goods being transported from a seller to a buyer in another country. It must comply with shipping laws and regulations and serves as evidence of the agreement between the parties. The waybill includes identifying information and may be used to track the shipment. Supporting documents, such as packing slips and insurance papers, may also be included. Shipping companies and brokers must ensure compliance with regulations.
Sometimes known as an international consignment note, an international consignment note is a type of document that serves as a record or listing of goods that are about to be transported from a seller to a buyer. This type of documentation is a common part of the paperwork required when exporting goods to a buyer who resides in another country. The text of an international waybill must comply with the shipping laws and regulations in force in both the country of origin and the country of destination and serve as evidence of the existing agreement between the buyer and the seller, in terms of the nature, quantity and type of goods transported. The consignment note is not considered a title to the goods transported, and as such it is not considered a negotiable instrument, but only a document supporting the transaction.
Typically, the international waybill is prepared by the seller, known as the sender. The terms in the waybill vary slightly, depending on the shipping and trade laws that apply in the country where the seller resides. Such terms will normally require identification of the number and type of goods being carried as part of the order, a description of the goods, the weights of those goods and the name of the consignee, usually the buyer. Other information may be required, depending on the mode of transport used to move the goods from the seller to the buyer, such as proof of insurance.
In most cases, an international waybill will be assigned a specific identifying number, often alphanumeric in nature. It’s not unusual for sections of that issue to somehow provide specific data about that shipment. For example, three characters could designate the port of origin, another three could relate to the class of goods being shipped, and another three characters could relate to the port of destination. Other characters may be used to identify the shippers involved in the transport, other ports of call along the route, or other factors that may be helpful in tracking the shipment in transit. Today, both seller and buyer can often use the international waybill number to track the progress of the shipment, allowing both to project how close to the expected delivery date the shipment will actually arrive.
It is not uncommon for supporting documents to also accompany the international consignment note. These may include some sort of packing slip which serves to support information on the actual waybill, especially in terms of weight and number of goods included in the shipment. Documents to assert cargo insurance may also form part of the waybill total package, as well as any other legal documents that may be required for cargo to leave or enter the ports involved in the shipment. Because laws governing the import and export of goods vary, shipping companies and brokers who often arrange transportation need to ensure that both the international waybill and supporting documents comply with regulations both at the point of origin than to the shipping destination.
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