Commercial Invoice Requirements

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To help maintain efficient container processing and timely customs clearance, we kindly request that customers ensure that all commercial invoices are complete, accurate, and submitted in accordance with the federal requirements below. Please note that providing an incomplete or incorrect Commercial Invoice can delay customs clearance and puts the container at risk of demurrage.

Requirements

  1. All details on the Commercial Invoice must be provided in English.

  2. Elysia & Co must be listed as the Importer of Record using the following format:
    IMPORTER OF RECORD:
    Elysia & Co
    285 West Broadway Suite 500
    New York, NY 10013

  3. “Bill To” Party:
    Elysia & Co must not be named as the “Bill To” party on the invoice.

  • If Elysia & Co is listed as the “Bill To” party or the Importer of Record language is missing, the invoice will be returned for correction.
    This may delay customs clearance for your order or the entire shipment.

Item Information on the Commercial Invoice

For each item shipped, the commercial invoice must include:

  • Quantity: Listed in cases/cartons
    Invoices with only bottle quantities will not be accepted

  • Pack Size and Bottle Volume:
    Examples: 12/750ml, 24/375ml, 6/1500ml, bag-in-a-box, 20L keg, etc.

  • Commercial Value

  • ABV (Alcohol By Volume)

  • Wine Type: Most common categories include:
    7–14%: Table red, table white
    14.1–16%: High alcohol
    16.1–21%: Dessert/Port
    Sparkling

  • Country of Origin: Especially important if not purchasing directly from the winery.

Example Format:
112cs Elysia Pinot Grigio 12/750ml, 12% ABV, Italian table white, €48.00, Total: €5,376

Organic Requirements: All organic shipments must be identified when submitting a Purchase Order.
Commercial Invoices must correctly identify goods as organic or non-organic exactly as intended to be cleared at CBP; any mismatch from the PO resulting in request for new documents, invoices or COLAs will incur a document change fee.

Food Items: When submitting a PO for food items, please include a full product description covering: the product itself, what it's packed/preserved in, and the container type and size.

Example: Green Table Olives in Brine – Olives, Water, Salt & Vinegar – 12 x 500g Jars
Example: Organic Dark Chocolate Bars, 70% Cacao – Cocoa Mass, Sugar – [container/pack size]

Samples & POS Items

  • All items must be declared with a value, including samples
    CBP will not accept $0 value

  • For additional POS items:
    Each item must declare the material (e.g., plastic, paper, aluminum, etc.).
    Include the full name, address, and FDA number of the manufacturer

  • Descriptions must be in English
    CBP will reject invoices containing non-English descriptions.

FDA Registration Number & Manufacturer’s Address

  • Invoices must include a valid FDA registration number and manufacturer’s address.
    NOTE: FDA registrations must be renewed biennially, from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 of each even-numbered year
    (e.g., 2024, 2026).

  • Ensure the FDA number is validated before shipping to avoid delays or additional charges.

  • If products from multiple manufacturers are listed, include the FDA registration number and address for each one.

  • NA Wine and Food Items
    Non-wine food items (Non-Alc wine, olive oil, tinned fish, etc). require a DUNS number alongside the FDA registration,
    and some may also require an FCE (Food Canning Establishment) and/or SID (Submission Identifier).

Validation Process:

  • Elysia & Co cannot validate FDA numbers until customs entry is filed.

  • Contact the FDA Help Desk at 1-800-216-7331 for validation.

We appreciate your support in reviewing all invoices carefully to ensure they meet the above outlined requirements before submitting to avoid potential delays in receiving.


Please see The Federal Government’s Code of Regulations
(Title 19, Chapter 1, Part 141, Subpart F, § 141.86), outlined here, for further detail.

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