A customs broker is a licensed intermediary who prepares and submits customs declarations and manages import or export formalities on behalf of traders, reducing the risk of clearance delays and compliance errors for food shipments.
In trade practice
For EU food imports from Ukraine, a customs broker classifies goods under the correct Combined Nomenclature code, calculates applicable duties, and coordinates submission of supporting documents including the phytosanitary certificate, EUR.1 movement certificate or statement on origin, and any required common health entry document. The broker liaises with customs authorities and, where applicable, with border inspection posts handling official controls on food of animal or plant origin. Errors in commodity classification or missing documents are the most common causes of delays at EU entry points, and an experienced broker familiar with agri-food categories reduces this risk significantly.
In a specification
Import contracts and logistics agreements often name the appointed customs broker and specify which party bears the cost of brokerage fees and any duties or penalties arising from misdeclaration.