How to prepare humanitarian cargo for customs
By Antony Delgado · Updated Jul 24, 2026
Poorly documented humanitarian cargo gets stuck at customs, not out of anyone's bad faith, but because the customs authority can't quickly verify what each package contains. This guide explains what the shipping regime requires and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
The regime: homogeneous boxes + a detailed manifest
The core requirement is simple to state and hard to improvise under pressure: each box must contain a single type of product, a single batch and a single expiry date, and the whole shipment must come with a manifest that lists every box and its contents. Without that order, shipments get stuck.
What a manifest must include
A complete humanitarian manifest (packing list) includes, for each box: material code or recognized classification (IFRC/ICRC, UNSPSC), product description, quantity, unit and weight. At the shipment level, it must also list the pallets that group those boxes and the total consolidated weight.
How Araguaney generates the manifest automatically
Because each box was already registered and sealed as homogeneous (with its product, batch and expiry), the manifest is generated directly from the shipment's pallets and boxes, with no additional manual entry. The result is an exportable PDF ready for customs, and optionally an Excel file with columns aligned to the IFRC format.
Common mistakes that get a shipment stuck
Mixed boxes
A box with several products, batches or different expiry dates: customs can't verify the contents precisely.
No detailed manifest
A shipment without a box-by-box packing list forces a full physical inspection, delaying clearance by days or weeks.
Inconsistent material codes
Not using a recognized classification (IFRC/ICRC, UNSPSC) makes it harder for customs to understand what is being shipped.
No batch/expiry traceability for medicine
Medicines without this information are often rejected outright by the receiving country's health authority.
Generate exportable manifests from your very first shipment