Q: What is the best way to communicate with customs officials?

A: This varies on a country-by-country basis, and indeed it often depends on the customs official in question. It is best to communicate by phone, e-mail or personal contact at the border posts, preferably in the local language and via local contacts. One key recommendation is to ensure that the customs official understands your business. Consider inviting the customs official to your facility so that he/she can fully appreciate the nature of your business and the importance of clearing customs in an acceptable timeframe. Many clinical trial materials are cold chain so it is imperative that the customs official recognizes the need to keep these materials within the right temperature environment.

–Rognvald Lamb, EMEA Logistics Manager, Fisher Clinical Services