More and more people around the world are taking vitamins to help them lead more active and energetic lives. This type of food supplement usually comes in the form of pills, chewable tablets, or powders to be dissolved in water or liquid.
In order to export and import vitamins for human consumption, the logistics must be designed to comply with current health, storage, transport and distribution regulations. One of the aspects to be taken into account when shipping these products is the customs clearance process for food supplements. To make it smooth, safe and timely, there are a few things to keep in mind. What documentation is required?
- Commercial invoice: details the description of the product, the quantity, and the details of the seller and buyer.
- Packing List: specifies the exact contents of each shipment, including gross and net weight, dimensions or packing code.
- Certificate of origin: this document certifies the country of manufacture of the vitamins, which may influence the applicable tariffs.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA): this is an indispensable requirement for exporting and importing vitamins and other food supplements. This certificate guarantees that the product meets the specified quality and composition standards.
- Sanitary certificate: this is issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin and confirms that the vitamins comply with safety requirements and present no health risks.
- Product registration: in some countries, dietary supplements must be pre-registered with the regulatory body, such as the FDA in the United States or the EFSA in Europe.
With this documentation, customs clearance will not be completely guaranteed, but it is a major step towards avoiding delays. It is also necessary to consider other issues such as tariff classification, labeling of the product, or knowing firsthand if the destination country has banned the supplement we are sending and cataloged it as a prohibited substance, even if it is a vitamin.

Company specialized in importing and exporting food supplements
At Airpharm we work to provide the best service to companies dedicated to exporting and importing vitamins and other food supplements for human consumption. We assist these organizations throughout the entire logistics chain, including customs clearance. We are customs agents, we handle customs clearance, we have bonded warehouses, we are Authorized Economic Operators (AEO), and we accompany our clients during inspections.
If you want to optimize your logistics to ensure that your dietary supplements reach their destination without any problems, contact Airpharm now and our team will take care of all import, export and transit arrangements. We will advise you on any questions you may have regarding customs regimes, tariffs, tax representation, licenses or visas.