A documentary check is the examination of all documents accompanying a consignment at a Border Control Post, including health certificates, commercial invoices and transport records, to confirm they satisfy EU import requirements.
In trade practice
Documentary checks are carried out for every consignment subject to official controls, before any identity or physical check takes place. Border Control Post officers verify that certificates are authentic, correctly completed, within validity and issued by a competent authority recognised by the EU. Common failures include certificates with missing signatures, incorrect commodity descriptions or references to establishments not listed on the EU approved-establishment register. Exporters should cross-check all document fields against the CHED pre-notification before dispatch.
In a specification
Specifications and purchase contracts typically list the exact certificates and commercial documents required, with a clause stating that all documents must be complete and consistent with one another to pass documentary check without amendment.