What has to be considered when importing used products to Serbia?
Importing used products might be challenging because their expected lifespan is much shorter than that of new products, which is why international trade in them is governed by the Waste Management Law in Serbia. The Ministry of Environmental Protection has specified the second-hand/used items for which an import permit is required.
Used construction and agricultural machinery are the most common items exported to the Balkan market, although there are other categories as well, such as second-hand clothing.
When importing used goods from other countries, the first step is to verify that you own the goods, and the next critical piece of information is their intended use.
Import of used machinery
When importing a used machine to be used as equipment in your business, the invoice is supported by SBRA (Serbian Business Registers Agency) documentation as proof that the machine is being purchased for the performance of the main activity. In the case of agricultural machinery, this meansproof of a registered agricultural holding. The machinery must be in goodworking order. If the import of certain equipment is subject to international trade policy measures (permits, import approvals), a permit from the relevant Ministry or state agency is required.
Transporting machinery requires a lot of technical knowledge. In addition to what we discussed in What information must be included when requesting a transport quote?, you will need to provide further information, such as whether side loading orwrenching isneeded to move the machine, whether the equipment contains oil, and so on…
As it is illegal to import substandard goods, you will also need to provide evidence of the quality of the goods. To be able to supply machinery for export, many suppliers have to pass quality tests conducted by significant organizations such as SGS, Veritas, or Intertek.
Import of second-hand clothing
Second-hand stores in Serbia are not regulated by any particular business legislation; they operate as specialized businesses for the sale of used products. Importers of used clothing are exempt from the requirement to obtain special permits for the import of waste, thanks to a special law issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Only one requirement must be met: the clothing must be categorized, cleaned, and of “as new” quality.
Similar rules apply to lower-quality clothing, which may have some stains. In the case of footwear, there is an exception to this rule. Since the owner cannot disinfect and restore used footwear to a high standard, it is classified as garbage and cannotbe imported into Serbia for resale or humanitarian purposes.
Second-hand clothing is purchased by the kilogram from wholesalers, most of whom are based in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany, while used machinery is imported from all over the world.
Several factors will determine which mode of transport is appropriate for importing your used items. Dimensions, quantity, supplier region, price, and time sensitivity are just a few of the considerations when deciding whether to use a single truck, a groupage line, a ship, or air freight.
If you’re having trouble navigating all these regulations, contact the professionals at cargo-partner, who will advise you in detail on the necessary procedures and the best solutions for your journey – because “we take it personally”!
Best regards,
cargo-partner | transport + iLogistics
