Customs Document Pre-review: How to Reduce Supplement Rate Below 3%

Author: Grace Lin, Customs & Compliance Lead

Why Pre-review Matters

Supplements and inspections extend transit times and can incur detention fees. Pre-review can reduce supplement rates by 35%-50%.

Key Actions

• Generate document checklists by HS Code, specifying required fields and formats.
• For sensitive categories (cosmetics, electronics, textiles, etc.), confirm regulatory requirements in advance.
• Standardize templates for commercial invoices, packing lists, MSDS, authorization letters, etc. to reduce manual errors.
• Data validation: Ensure weight/volume matches declared value to avoid triggering anomalies.

Common Inspection Triggers

1. Value anomalies or under-declaration
2. Category and document mismatch
3. Significant weight/volume discrepancies
4. Missing required fields like origin or material

Appendix provides 6 ready-to-use templates covering common scenarios.