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Lesson 8 of 8
Putting it together: a shipment file and the limits of this course
This lesson combines the earlier layers into one working method and ends with the limits of what you have learned.
A worked shipment
Scenario (illustrative, not a real transaction): an EU sawmill sells 60 m³ of kiln-dried, strength-graded spruce, 50 x 150 mm, to a buyer in Great Britain, on FCA terms, packed on pallets.
Build the shipment file in this order:
| Step | Layer | Action | Open question to resolve |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commercial | Contract with Incoterm, place, edition, grade or class, tolerance, volume basis | Nominal or actual volume? |
| 2 | Legality | Prepare species names, country of harvest, supplier data, any certification claim | Are you primary operator, downstream operator or trader? |
| 3 | Product | Class, DoP, CE label, certificate number | Does the buyer accept CE alone in GB? |
| 4 | Plant health | Phytosanitary certificate if required; confirm kiln-dried marking | Is this timber "high-priority"? |
| 5 | Packaging | ISPM 15 marked pallets, check marks at loading | Do spacers count? |
| 6 | Origin | Choose proof (EUR.1, statement on origin) | Consignment value against the EUR 6,000 threshold; REX registration |
| 7 | Transport | Invoice, packing list, bill of lading or CMR | Do names, volumes and descriptions match? |
| 8 | Final check | Cross-read every document | Who signs off? |
Cross-reading exercise
Take the invoice and look for each of these in every other document: seller and consignee name and address; goods description and species; volume and its basis; grade or class; certification claim and certificate number; Incoterm and place; certificate references.
For example, if the invoice says 60 m³ and the packing list totals 58.0 m³ because it uses actual dimensions, decide before shipment which basis the contract uses and make all documents agree.
For a value check: 60 m³ at an illustrative EUR 300/m³ is EUR 18,000, above the EUR 6,000 unregistered-exporter limit, so you would need the registered-exporter route if a REX statement is the chosen proof for your destination agreement. Confirm with a customs adviser.
What to document for each shipment
- Who identified the species, by which method, on which date.
- The grading rule and settings used, and the grader or machine.
- Moisture readings and method.
- Photographs of packs at loading and of pallet marks.
- Copies of all certificates and the declaration of performance.
- Supplier and customer records, kept for as long as the rules in your market require (five years was reported for EUDR downstream operators).
Ask-list for a new market
- Which authority governs plant health at destination, and what does it require for sawn timber?
- Which legality regime applies, and who is the operator?
- Which product marking is accepted for structural use?
- Are there destination-specific registration numbers?
- Which proof of origin gives the tariff benefit?
- What do the buyer's own terms say about claims and payment?
Limits of this course
- This course was drafted with AI from the portal's fact-checked articles. It is general information for timber-trade professionals, not legal, customs or tax advice.
- Rules, dates and fees change. All dates were read on 26 October 2026. Check the Commission's EUDR page, the Official Journal and the relevant national authorities before acting on a shipment.
- Many points were unverified in the sources and are only flagged here: the EUDR treatment of old stock, Annex I codes for sawn wood, FSC claim types, the CE assessment level and Official Journal citation for EN 14081-1, CE versus UKCA acceptance in GB, the UK "high-priority" list, and official Gulf, North African and Chinese authority requirements.
- The lessons on China, Gulf and North African rules rely on foreign government pages or secondary sources; they show the type of requirement only.
- Check your own contract, your certification body and a qualified adviser for any specific shipment.
Key points
- Build the shipment file layer by layer and cross-read every document for matching names, volumes and descriptions.
- Record species identification, grading and moisture evidence for each shipment.
- Use an ask-list for each new market and write down open questions.
- Unverified points must be confirmed with official sources.
- This course is AI-drafted general information, not legal advice; check official sources and your contract.