Happy Halloween! To get into the spooky spirit, we're sharing out information on a creepy import--blood and blood products!

1. SHIPPING BLOOD 101
BLOODISBIGINTHEIMPORTINGWORLD
Human or animal blood is the 14th most traded
product and the 17th most complex product,
according to the product complex index (PCI).
In 2015, total human or animal blood exports
totaled $127 billion.*
THE TOP EXPORTERS OF HUMAN OR
ANIMAL BLOOD (IN BILLIONS):
TOP BLOOD IMPORTERS
$18.12
$13.8
$9
$7.5
GERMANY
BELGIUM-LUXEMBOURG
THE UNITED STATES
THE UK
THE NETHERLANDS
BELGIUM-
LUXEMBOURG
UNITED
STATES
GERMANY
THE TOP IMPORTERS OF
HUMAN OR ANIMAL BLOOD
(IN BILLIONS):
$12.4
FRANCE
IMPORTING BIOLOGICAL
MATERIAL IS HIGHLY
REGULATED
Bilogical materials of a public health require import permits
from either the CDC and/or the USDA and requires CDC
shipping category label.
BLOOD MATERIALS REQUIRING
IMPORT PERMITS
Animal or human body fluids, tissues or body parts
Blood/blood products
Feces
Bacterial, viral and fungal isolates
Environmental samples (air, water, soil surfaces, etc.)
Genomic material (DNA, RNA, genomic vectors,
plasmids)
Human remains
Vaccines/drugs/reagents
Live animals
Select agent isolates
CDC SHIPPING AND PACKING
CATEGORIES
The CDC regulates the shipping and packing of blood
samples into three categories:
• A: Infectious substances
• B: Medical specimen taken from a population where
infections agents are likely
• Exempt: Medical specimen taken from a low-risk
population and not known to contain infectious agents
*ACCORDING TO THE OBSERVATORY
OF ECONOMIC COMPLEXITY.
A Licensed Customs Broker can help you navigate the importing
process and the laws and regulations that apply to your import
transactions. AFC International has experienced Licensed Customs
Brokers that can prepare all the documents needed to import. Call
us at 800-274-2329 today to get started.
Customs Brokers
@afc_customs
1.800.274.2329
afccustomsllc.com
U.S. IMPORTING LAWS AND
REGULATIONS
The import document paperwork includes:
• A commercial invoice
• A packing list detailing your imports
• A bill of lading
• An arrival notice from the U.S. agent
JUSTWHENYOUTHOUGHTIMPORTINGWASONLYFORAVOCADOS
ANDFANCYSHOES...
SWITZERLAND
$18.7
$12.6
$19.3
$20.8
$11.5
The following biological materials require an import permit
and an import application process