Shoe care products represent a big opportunity for global brand managers and procurement specialists, which are sourced from Europe. However, they face immense challenges, particularly when handling liquid forms like sprays and cream, aerosols, etc.

Taking care of the logistics by setting shipping doubles and handling dangerous goods transport, and controlling unpredictable supply chain costs will soon become overwhelming.

This guide is the answer to your fears. We will discuss primary terms MSDS, REACH, and DDP shipping so that you can minimize risks, increase the ease of procurement and create a solid supply chain.

The Mandatory Trio

It is not an option to understand the basic laws. They are essential for your security as well as your ability to enter the market.

Failing to adhere to them would mean having shipments seized, heavy fines, or even forever lost good name.

Importance of MSDS

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), now globally standardized as a Safety Data Sheet (SDS), is the official identity document for any chemical product. It details the product’s makeup, potential dangers, first-aid steps, and safe handling rules.

For importers, an accurate SDS is critical for three main functions:

• Customs Clearance: This is a document that will be considered as an official document to the authorities that the product is known, classified, and declared as it should all save the customs from delays and seizures at the border.
• Freight Forwarding: The SDS is the document that the carriers use to assign the right codes for goods that are being transported. It has more weight for the things that might be dangerous like aerosols by explaining how they should be packed, labeled, and stored.
• End-Market Compliance: It is mandatory to issue Safety Data Sheets (SDS) in B2B sales, as well as in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for workplace safety in the EU, the UK and North America.

Shoes care manufacturers who have a high commitment to quality should be able to produce an extensive and precise SDS for every liquid, polish, or spray formula they create. There are absolutely zero exceptions.

REACH Compliance

REACH is an acronym for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals and is European Union’s (EU) primary chemical safety regulation, the (EC) No 1907/2006. The main objective of REACH is to protect both human beings and the environment from the harmful effects of the chemicals.

For one to continue with the importation of shoe care products, all substances in your pack have to be compliant with the REACH standards.

A significant concentration is on substances that are highly hazardous to humans and the environment (SVHC). These are the types of chemicals that can potentially exert considerable damage, and using them is either illegal or requires particular permission.

The best way to deal with this risk is through a partnership with a REACH compliant shoe care manufacturer. This not only but also transfers the responsibility of the registration of the substances and checking from you, the buyer, to the manufacturing expert who is in charge of making the product.

CLP Labelling

The Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 is implemented together with the UN’s Globally Harmonized System (GHS). The purpose of the regulation is to promote clear and prompt communication of risks to anyone who is dealing with the product.

This is done by the use of standard symbols (e.g., the flame symbol indicating flammable products), signal words (“Danger” or “Warning”), and hazard statements on the product label.

For shoe polishes, waterproofing sprays, and cleaners, proper CLP labelling is not simply a legal obligation; it is also representative of your brand’s attitude towards the safety and transparency of consumers, thus, it builds trust.

The Challenge of Aerosols

Shipping aerosol products, for example, waterproof sprays or deodorizers, is among the hardest shipping challenges for an importer. The first step to solving the obstacle is to understand the reason for their classification as Dangerous Goods (DG).

Why Sprays are DG

Your spray waterproof is identified as Dangerous Goods for mainly two reasons: it has flammable propellants (for example, propane or butane) and its contents are in a pressure container.

The classification is based on the codes universally accepted like UN 1950 for aerosol.

As a result of the DG status, a set of stringent guidelines concerning packaging, labeling, and documentation automatically comes into effect. Packaging, labeling, and documentation must comply with rules and if not it will lead to shipments being refused, carrier fines, and possibly legal action.

The Shipper’s Duty

A truly skilled manufacturer is not just someone who knows the regulations; they also implement them very well for you. Our company sees compliance with the rules on aerosol shipping as a regular feature of our service.

This is what the process entails:

• Accurate Classification: We identify the precise class and subclass for the aerosol according to its characteristics and complete all necessary documentation very well.
• UN-Spec Packaging: We use certified, pressure-tested outer cartons and inner packaging designed to withstand the rigors of transit, thereby preventing any leaks or accidents.
• Right DG Labeling: We place all the required hazardous labels, for example, the flammable gas diamond label, and shipping marks on the outer side of the package, thus making it obvious for the handlers.
• Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods: We diligently fill out the legislative documentation necessary for shipment by air (IATA) or sea (IMDG) accurately stating the contents and affirming that the shipment is safe for transport.

This know-how guarantees that your goods traverse the entire supply chain with such ease, without related compliance interruptions.

The Simplification of Your Supply Chain

Supply product compliance aside, shipping efficiency is of the utmost importance. This is where learning Incoterms, DDP, specifically the power of DDP, benefits all global buyers as a strategy.

What is DDP?

DDP is an abbreviation of Delivered Duty Paid. It is an Incoterm that assigns maximum accountability to the seller(maker).

In a DDP system, the manufacturer has to be liable for all expenses, risks, and duties involved in the whole process of transportation of goods and delivery to the buyer’s destination. This covers the transport cost, clearance of import and export, and the payment of duties and taxes.

Your job is to only receive the goods at your warehouse.

DDP vs. Other Incoterms

For a buyer, the benefits of DDP compared to other common terms such as Ex Works (EXW) or Free on Board (FOB) are paramount. It turns your global supply chain into a straightforward and predictable procedure.

• Price Certainty: The price you receive is the last price, which includes everything that is delivered to your door. No unexplained customs bills or extra port charges.
• Less Risk: The seller carries the risk of the goods until they are delivered in a safe manner. In the event that the shipment is either lost or damaged during the transport period, the obligation to fix the issue belongs to the sender.
• Fewer Logistics: You do not have to deal with freight forwarders, hire customs brokers, or deal with the burden of import paperwork in a foreign country.
• High Efficiency: Your team can focus on their prime task—advertising and selling products—rather than sorting out the difficulties in international logistics management.

It is a strategic move for brands to insist on a shoe care manufacturer Europe DDP service for the reasons of predictability and a low administrative burden.

Biki Shoe Care: Your Partner

This route can only be trodden through a partner who has gained mastery over both product compliance and global logistics. Biki Shoe Care is that partner.

A Certified Partner

We are a fully certified REACH compliant shoe care manufacturer. We actively manage all regulatory requirements, ensuring every product we create is ready for your target market.

We provide a complete shoe polish MSDS and all other required documentation for each formula.

Our broad competency in aerosol shipping compliance secures that even your most problematic products are shipped safely and efficiently to the worldwide.

Anatomy of a Compliant Shipment

Our scheme is directed to give you full security. When you partner with us, we cover everything from generation to the final delivery.

Step 1: Formulation & Compliance Review
Even before the production begins, our regulatory experts control that all the ingredients in your private label formula are in compliance with the regulations of your target market, such as REACH in the EU or California’s Proposition 65 in the US.

Step 2: Documentation Generation
We take the initiative to prepare a detailed and correct MSDS/SDS for your product. In addition to that, we can accompany each production batch with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) that affirms the product meets your quality specifications.

Step 3: CLP-Compliant Label Design
Our team collaborates with you on the packaging artwork for your products. We make sure to properly incorporate all required by law CLP pictograms, hazard statements, and ingredient lists for the full transparency and compliance.

Step 4: Expert Logistics Management (DDP)
The whole DDP shipping process is taken care of by us. This comes with reserving the trusted carriers specialized in dangerous goods, delivering necessary export and import paperwork, and disbursing all required taxes and duties in advance.

In consequence, your shipment is delivered to your warehouse without any extra expense and your goods are ready for distribution, with no shipping headaches.

Proceed to the Next Step

A smooth and compliant supply chain is built with correct questioning and a right choice of a manufacturer.

Download Your Free Checklist

Equip yourself with the insights to evaluate any probable supplier. The checklist is a useful guide that helps brand managers and buyers to confirm all compliance and logistical matters that are important before signing a contract.

Are you prepared to eliminate the risks in your supply chain and join forces with a shoe care manufacturer that takes care of everything for you? Reach out to the experts at Biki Shoe Care now and get a complimentary “Compliance Checklist for E-commerce Sellers” that will help to make your next import the best one ever.