Should my brand opt into small consignments?
Consider opting in if suspect parcels are a recurring problem and you accept destruction without prior consultation. First check eligibility and whether you need individual cases for investigation. Supplier records and product identification material can be coordinated by Cambridge China Bridge.
Check which shipments qualify
HMRC describes the procedure as covering post or express courier consignments containing 3 or fewer items, or weighing less than 2 kilograms. The goods must be suspected counterfeit or pirated goods and must not be perishable. The size tests are alternatives.
Compare those conditions with the suspect shipments your brand actually encounters. Assemble parcel photographs, product descriptions and available weight records. Do not decide solely from the seller’s description of a shipment as a small order.
Decide whether prior consultation matters
You instruct Border Force to use this procedure through your Application for Action. It permits destruction without consulting you first. Choose it only after deciding whether that approach fits your brand’s enforcement priorities.
Consider opting in where repeated suspect parcels absorb staff time. Discuss the choice with your UK intellectual property solicitor if individual shipments could help trace a seller, compare disputed products or support an investigation. Record why the brand prefers routine destruction or individual review.
Prepare a clear product identification file
Prepare labelled photographs showing genuine products, packaging and distinguishing features. Explain legitimate variations, including older packaging and approved samples. Ask someone unfamiliar with the product to check whether the comparison is understandable.
Maintain an authorised supplier and shipment file alongside that material. Use counterfeit product checks for authorisation enquiries and protecting your IP and tooling for the wider sourcing arrangements. These checks support your decision without replacing specialist advice.
Assign ownership before opting in
Name the person who approves the choice, maintains identification material and handles disputed cases. Agree an internal budget for enforcement work and a route for urgent legal advice. Keep the submitted application and your decision record together.
If your own authorised shipment is detained, use the customs detention guide to organise the notice and response. Cambridge China Bridge’s own staff in China can request original factory records and coordinate product photographs; agree separately who handles the customs application and legal decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Does the small-consignments procedure cover courier parcels?
Yes, eligible express courier consignments are covered alongside postal shipments. Check the size and goods conditions before opting in.
Will customs ask my brand before destroying eligible goods?
The procedure permits destruction without consulting you first. Decide whether you need individual shipment review before instructing Border Force to use it.
Should I opt in if I want to investigate counterfeit sellers?
Discuss that priority with your UK intellectual property solicitor. Identify the records or physical evidence you want from individual shipments before choosing your approach.
What should my brand prepare before opting in?
Prepare clear product comparisons, authorised supplier records, an internal decision record and a named owner for disputed cases. Agree who maintains the material and obtains legal advice.