Documents for importing hair foil
A hair foil shipment travels with three documents: a commercial invoice, a packing list and a bill of lading or air waybill. A certificate of origin, a safety data sheet and a material certificate for the aluminium are supplied on request. Which of them your shipment needs depends on your market, and is confirmed with your quote.
Reviewed by Export compliance team
This page is general guidance, not customs advice. Confirm your classification and rates with your customs broker before import.
Documents at a glance
| Document | What it is for | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | States the goods, the price and the terms; the basis of the customs value | Customs, your broker, your bank |
| Packing list | Lists cartons, quantities, weights and dimensions | Customs, your forwarder, your warehouse |
| Bill of lading or air waybill | The carrier’s receipt and the document of title for the goods | Your forwarder, the carrier |
| Certificate of origin | States where the goods were made | Customs, where origin affects duty |
| Safety data sheet | Describes the material and its handling | Forwarders, airlines, marketplaces |
| Material certificate | States the alloy and temper of the foil | Buyers checking the specification |
| Inspection record | Records the checks made on the order | Buyers, on request |
| Test report for printed foil | Records the ink test in bleach | Buyers of printed foil |
Tell us with your quote which of these your market, your forwarder or your marketplace asks for.
The three shipping documents
Every shipment has these, whatever the Incoterm.
Commercial invoice. It names the seller and the buyer, describes the goods, and states the quantity, the unit price, the total and the Incoterm. Customs uses it to establish the value on which duty is charged. The description should match the classification you intend to declare: “aluminium foil for hairdressing, embossed, in sheets”, with the dimensions and thickness, says more to a customs officer than “hair foil”.
Packing list. It gives the number of cartons, what is in each, and the net and gross weight and the dimensions. Your warehouse receives against it, and your forwarder plans the load from it.
Bill of lading or air waybill. It is issued by the carrier when the goods are loaded. For sea freight it is the document that entitles its holder to collect the goods.
Documents on request
Certificate of origin. It states that the goods originate in China. Customs may ask for it, and it matters wherever the duty depends on origin.
Safety data sheet. Hair foil is an article, so the sheet is short. It describes aluminium foil, its handling and its disposal. It is the document most often requested by parties who have no technical interest in the product.
Material certificate. It comes from the mill that rolled the coil, and states the alloy and temper. See hair foil thickness and alloy for what those mean.
Inspection report. It records the checks made on your lot; the content is described on the quality lab page.
What we can’t provide
A supplier’s documents describe the goods and the supplier. They do not replace what the importer has to arrange.
- An import licence or registration in your country, where one is needed.
- A customs classification decision. We state the HS heading on the invoice; the classification declared is the importer’s. See HS code for hair foil.
- A product certification that does not exist. There is no general certification of hair foil, and no “FDA approval” for it. Which certificates we hold, and how third-party tests are arranged, is set out on certifications and test reports.
- An EU responsible person. A seller of consumer products in the EU appoints one; see EU GPSR for hair foil.
FAQ
Does hair foil need an MSDS?
Hair foil is an article, not a chemical preparation, so a safety data sheet is not a legal requirement for it in most markets. Freight forwarders, airlines and online marketplaces often ask for one all the same. Hair Foil Factory supplies a safety data sheet for hair foil on request.
Can you provide a certificate of origin?
Yes. Hair Foil Factory provides a certificate of origin for hair foil on request, stating that the goods were made in China. It is issued by the authorised body in China for each shipment. Ask for it when you place the order, because it is prepared with the shipping documents.
What is a material certificate for aluminium foil?
A material certificate for aluminium foil is a document from the mill that rolled the foil. It states the alloy and temper of the coil and identifies the batch. It is the evidence behind the alloy stated in a hair foil specification, and it can be matched to an order by the lot number.
Can you provide Form A or other preferential origin documents?
Preferential origin documents reduce duty only where the importing country grants a preference to goods from China and the product meets the origin rules. Whether one is available for hair foil shipped to your country is confirmed for each order; ask before you rely on a reduced rate.