Export Regulations to the Netherlands

- Customs declaration
If you want to export products to the Netherlands from outside the EU, your representative inside the EU is usually responsible for lodging the customs declaration to officially turn the products from non-EU goods to Union goods. This is usually the importer, but in some cases you can be responsible: for example if you and your importer agree on the Incoterm Delivered Duty Paid. The importer will have to follow Dutch and EU rules and regulations as laid out in the articles Importing products into the Netherlands: regulations and Importing goods from a non-EU country.

- VAT
If you export goods to the Netherlands from a non-EU country, you will not have to charge VAT, unless you are also responsible for the import into the Netherlands. See also the EU pages on taxation and customs. There is also the possibility that you export your goods to a branch of your company in the Netherlands. In that case, whether or not your branch office has to charge and pay VAT depends on whether it sells the goods to other companies or to private individuals. See the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration information on the subject.

- Getting paid -- how to ensure you get your money
Especially if you work with an importer for the first time, you may want to make sure you will get paid for your products. There are several ways to increase that certainty, ranging from a letter of credit to advance payment. Also, it is of course common sense to check whether the party you are going to be doing business with is reliable and creditworthy. In the Netherlands, you can check the Dutch Business Register (Handelsregister) to find details on the company you are dealing with.

- Contracts
When setting up a collaboration with an agent or distributor, it is wise to document your agreement in a written contract. Make use of the ICC Incoterms. These are international standards for goods transport, to cover for instance:
1. Who arranges the transport from where to where
2. Who is responsible for transport insurance, licences, documents and cutoms procedures
3. At what point the transport liability transfers from seller to buyer.

-CE marking, labeling and other EU regulations
When preparing your product for the Dutch market, you have to take into account several product requirements: both Dutch and EU ones. There are regulations to be observed for:
1. Labelling
2. Product safety; these are laid down in the Commodities Act
3. CE marking or other product requirements; you can look these up in the EU Trade Helpdesk
4. When selling perishable goods: dating
5. Warranty
6. Providing documentation/manuals in the language of the country you're exporting to
7. Production methods (child labour etc.)

-Packaging and waste
The party importing your products to the Netherlands will have to contribute to the disposal of the packaging waste. Depending on the materials used, this contribution may be sizeable. Make sure you use an eco-friendly packaging material, if possible, and discuss packaging with your agent or supplier.

- Transport documents
When exporting goods to the Netherlands, you will have to provide several export documents to your national customs: an invoice, a packing list and a transport document. You may need additional documents if you export foodstuffs, plants or animals, or cultural or strategic goods, f.i. a certificate of origin, a licence or a health certificate. Your national chamber of commerce can help you find out which export documents you need to transport your goods to the Netherlands.