A practical reference guide for U.S. and Canadian buyers importing solid wood, timber, furniture, glass, and metal components from Europe. This page lists the main customs forms required, what they cover, and where to download the official versions.
Note: Customs regulations change. Always verify current requirements with your licensed customs broker or directly with CBP (USA) or CBSA (Canada) before filing.
Important: The forms and links below are provided for reference only. We strongly recommend working with a licensed U.S. Customs Broker (for USA imports) or a Canadian Customs Broker (for Canada imports) to complete and file these documents correctly. Incorrect or incomplete filings can result in delays, fines, or seizure of goods at the port of entry.
United States, CBP Import Documents
U.S. imports are managed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). For commercial shipments of furniture, solid wood, timber, glass, and metal components arriving by sea container, the following documents are typically required.
Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2)
CBP ISF
⚠ Required before vessel departure from Europe
Must be filed at least 24 hours before cargo is loaded onto the vessel at the European port. Covers importer details, supplier, country of origin, cargo description, and container information. Filed electronically through a licensed customs broker.
Filed to obtain release of goods from CBP custody. Used for immediate delivery requests before duties are paid. Requires bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and arrival notice.
The main customs entry form. Used to calculate and pay customs duties, taxes, and fees. Must include HS tariff codes, country of origin, value, and quantity for all items. Must be filed within 10 working days of cargo release.
⚠ Mandatory for all wood, timber, and plant products
Required for all imports of wood, timber, lumber, flooring, furniture, and plant-based products into the USA. Must declare the scientific name (genus and species) of the wood, country of harvest, and quantity. Applies to solid oak, reclaimed beams, parquet, and all wood furniture.
⚠ Required for all solid wood packaging, pallets, and crates
All wood packaging materials (pallets, crates, dunnage) used in international shipments must be treated and certified to ISPM 15 standard. Must display the official IPPC mark. Packaging is handled by our ISPM 15 certified partners.
Canadian imports are managed by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). For commercial shipments of furniture, solid wood, timber, glass, and metal components arriving by sea, the following documents are typically required.
Canada Customs Coding Form
CBSA Form B3-3
Required, main customs entry form for Canada
The primary form used to declare commercial goods imported into Canada. Used to calculate duties, GST/HST, and other taxes. Must include HS tariff classification, value for duty, country of origin, and description of goods.
Pre-Arrival Review System allows importers to submit entry data before the shipment arrives in Canada, enabling faster release at the border. Requires bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, and customs bond.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) regulates the import of wood, timber, and plant products. Solid wood, lumber, reclaimed beams, and wood packaging must comply with phytosanitary requirements including ISPM 15 certification for packaging materials.
Issued by the National Plant Protection Organization (NPPO) of the exporting country, in our case Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, or Spain. Certifies that the wood products meet the phytosanitary requirements of the importing country. Arranged by our export coordination team.
⚠ Required for all solid wood packaging and crates
Same ISPM 15 requirement as USA. All wood pallets, crates, and dunnage must be treated and marked with the IPPC symbol. Non-compliant wood packaging will be refused entry or treated at the importer's cost at the Canadian port.
Standard Shipping Documents, Required for Both USA & Canada
In addition to customs-specific forms, the following commercial documents are required for every international sea freight shipment and are prepared by the exporter and freight forwarder.
Bill of Lading (B/L)
Issued by the shipping line (e.g. TIBA España). Serves as the contract of carriage, receipt of goods, and document of title. Required for customs clearance in both USA and Canada.
Commercial Invoice
Issued by the seller. Must include: buyer and seller details, description of goods, HS codes, country of origin, quantity, unit price, total value, currency, and Incoterms.
Packing List
Detailed list of all items in the shipment, including dimensions, weights, number of packages, and container number. Required for customs and port handling.
Certificate of Origin
Certifies the country where goods were manufactured. Required to determine applicable duty rates. For goods from Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, and Spain, issued by the local Chamber of Commerce.
Cargo Insurance Certificate
Proof of marine cargo insurance for the shipment. Covers loss or damage during transport. Arranged on request through our logistics coordination with TIBA España.
Phytosanitary Certificate
For wood, timber, and plant products. Issued by the NPPO of the exporting country. Required by both USDA/APHIS (USA) and CFIA (Canada). Arranged by our export team.
Requirements by Product Type
The forms above cover most shipments. Some product categories carry additional or different formalities. Wood and furniture involve Lacey Act and phytosanitary controls, metal and glass follow separate rules. The most relevant points for each are summarized below. We confirm the exact requirements for your specific products and HS codes together with your customs broker before any shipment.
Wood Products, Solid Oak & Reclaimed Oak
Wood carries species, phytosanitary, and packaging controls. We source exclusively European oak (Quercus), a common, non-controversial hardwood with no CITES restrictions, so documentation tends to be more straightforward and predictable than for exotic or regulated species.
Lacey Act Declaration (PPQ 505), USA
For U.S. imports, wood is declared by genus and species (European oak, Quercus) and country of harvest or, for recovered material, reclaimed status, on the Lacey Act declaration (PPQ Form 505). Because oak is a common, non-CITES species, this declaration is straightforward.
Phytosanitary Certificate
Issued by the exporting country's plant protection authority before the container is loaded, confirming the wood is free of regulated pests. Required for U.S. entry and, for unprocessed wood, for entry into Canada.
ISPM 15 Heat Treatment
Solid wood and wood packaging require ISPM 15 treatment, core temperature of 56°C for 30 minutes, carrying the IPPC/HT mark. Kiln-drying and treatment records support this for solid beams and lumber.
U.S. CBP Entry, 3461 and 7501
Filed by your U.S. customs broker, CBP Form 3461 for release and CBP Form 7501 for the entry summary, with a customs bond. HTS classification, for example rough oak beams versus milled lumber, is confirmed by the broker.
Canada CFIA Requirements
Processed, debarked wood, such as kiln-dried and milled oak, is generally cleared by CFIA without additional documents but remains subject to inspection. Unprocessed or bark-on wood needs a phytosanitary certificate and may require an import permit (directive D-02-12). CBSA and CFIA review the entry together.
Reclaimed Oak, Origin Documentation
Reclaimed oak is recovered material, documented through supplier declarations of origin, recovery method, and condition. FSC certification may not apply in the same way as newly harvested certified timber, FSC status is noted only where applicable and available from the supplier.
Metal Products, Steel, Aluminum, and Custom Metalwork
Metal does not need phytosanitary or Lacey Act documents, but it carries its own controls, mainly in the United States.
Mill Test Certificate
Issued by the producing mill. States the chemical composition, mechanical properties, and the country of melt and pour for steel, or smelt and cast for aluminum. For European shipments this is submitted to CBP through the Document Image System.
Section 232 Duties
Steel and aluminum, including many derivative metal products, carry additional Section 232 tariffs on entry into the United States. Rates and covered goods change over time, so the current rate is confirmed by your broker at the time of entry.
SIMA and AIM Licenses
Most steel imports require a Steel Import Monitoring (SIMA) license and aluminum imports an Aluminum Import Monitoring (AIM) license, obtained at trade.gov before entry. They are issued automatically and used for import monitoring.
Country of Origin Marking
Metal goods must be marked with their country of origin. Required by CBP in the United States and CBSA in Canada. Shipping through another country does not change the declared origin.
Antidumping and Countervailing Check
Some metal products fall under antidumping or countervailing duty orders depending on type and origin. This is verified by HS code before shipping, so there are no surprises at the border.
Canada Measures
Canada also applies steel and aluminum measures and may require origin documentation or a surtax on certain products. CBSA and your broker confirm the current treatment for your goods.
Glass and Mirrors
Glass has no phytosanitary requirement, but architectural and safety glass must meet impact safety standards, and it needs careful protective packaging.
Safety Glazing Compliance, USA
Architectural safety glazing, such as glass in doors, shower and tub enclosures, panels in hazardous locations, railings, and certain mirrors, must meet the federal standard CPSC 16 CFR 1201, Category I or II. The ANSI Z97.1 standard is referenced by building codes. The importer is treated as the manufacturer under this standard.
Safety Glazing Compliance, Canada
In Canada, safety glazing follows CAN/CGSB 12.1 and the National Building Code. The same idea applies, glass in hazardous locations must be tested safety glass.
Marking or Certificate of Conformance
Safety glass must be permanently labeled, or accompanied by a certificate confirming it conforms to the applicable standard. We obtain these from the producer as part of export preparation.
Commercial Documents
Commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin, the same as for all shipments. HS codes for glass and mirrors are confirmed on the invoice.
Antidumping and Countervailing Check
Certain glass and mirror products can fall under antidumping or countervailing duty orders depending on type and origin. This is checked by HS code before shipping.
Protective Crating and ISPM 15
Glass and mirrors ship in custom protective crates. When wood crates or pallets are used, the wood packaging itself must carry ISPM 15 heat treatment marking, the same rule shown above for wood packaging.
Other categories have their own rules as well. Upholstered furniture and textiles can involve flammability and fiber content requirements, and stone or ceramics have their own classifications. We review the formalities for each product type in your project and prepare the matching export documents for your broker.
Need help with documentation?
Our sourcing desk coordinates export documentation for approved projects, including phytosanitary certificates, certificates of origin, packing lists, and commercial invoices. For U.S. customs filing, we recommend working with a licensed customs broker. We can provide all export-side documents required by your broker.
