Understand your obligations before you order or ship.
TradeScan is an online, transaction-specific assessment service for EU-based SMEs importing or considering importing non-food goods from outside the EU, and for businesses in third countries exporting non-food goods to the EU. It helps both sides understand the Customs and other border-agency requirements that may apply to a specific shipment. It brings the relevant findings together in a practical report and action checklist, helping you identify requirements, gaps and next steps before you order or ship.
TradeScan is a pre-order, pre-shipment guide to help you decide whether a transaction is worth pursuing. It is not a binding Customs decision or a substitute for confirmation from the relevant authority or a qualified customs professional.
Non-food goods · EU SMEs importing from outside the EU · third-country exporters supplying the EU
Three progressively more detailed reports.
Choose the level of assessment appropriate to the transaction. See what is included, view an example report and choose your level.
All three tiers are preliminary pre-order, pre-shipment assessments. They help you weigh up likely requirements, potential costs and open questions before deciding whether to proceed. Results depend on the information you provide and the sources available at the time; confirm unresolved points before proceeding. They do not replace a binding Customs decision.
SCAN
Essential Overview
Essential Overview — Get the essential picture. TradeScan identifies the likely tariff code, applicable duty and VAT, estimated customs charges, and relevant documents, licences or permits that may be required.
- Likely tariff code, including 4+4 digits where supported
- Applicable duty and VAT + customs-charge calculation
- Relevant documents, licences or permits identified
- Simple indication of what is likely to be required
CHECK
Detailed Appraisal and Follow-Up Actions
Detailed Appraisal and Follow-Up Actions. Everything in SCAN, with a more detailed appraisal of relevant requirements, document sources, responsible authorities and practical follow-up actions.
- Everything in SCAN
- Relevant document sources and approval routes
- Responsible authority or organisation
- Timing of requirements and practical next steps
CLEAR
Full Comprehensive Assessment and Follow-Up Recommendations
Full Comprehensive Assessment and Follow-Up Recommendations. Everything in CHECK, with a comprehensive assessment of applicable conditions, supporting evidence and recommended follow-up actions.
- Everything in CHECK
- Why the relevant requirements apply and what they are intended to achieve
- Conditions that must be met and how they apply to the transaction
- Supporting evidence, how to obtain or verify it, and recommended follow-up actions
Because requirements depend on the precise product, origin, destination and transaction details, each TradeScan report is prepared for the individual transaction rather than taken from a generic example. The assessment reflects the information supplied, and any unresolved points or matters requiring confirmation are identified in the report.
Don’t have all the information yet? Save your questionnaire and come back later. Your answers are kept so you can continue where you left off. Saving and returning does not submit your assessment or create an additional charge.
After 10 completed full-price reports, each subsequent eligible report qualifies for 20% off.
More than the tariff. Be clear about what is required and what you need to do.
You do not need to become a Customs expert. TradeScan assesses the relevant issues for your particular transaction and turns them into clear findings and practical next actions.
For first-time and occasional SME importers in the EU, and businesses in third countries exporting to the EU.
TradeScan supports EU-based SMEs importing non-food goods from outside the EU — whether they are importing for the first time, importing occasionally or considering an import — as well as exporters in third countries preparing to supply the EU market. It provides a practical assessment of the specific transaction without requiring businesses to become Customs or product-compliance specialists.
EU-based businesses making their first import of non-food goods from outside the EU and wanting to understand what needs checking before ordering.
Businesses that trade internationally only from time to time and do not have a dedicated compliance team.
EU-based SMEs assessing whether to begin importing non-food goods from a supplier outside the EU.
SMEs buying from a new third-country supplier or dealing with an unfamiliar product or route.
Businesses outside the EU that need to understand the requirements for a particular shipment into the EU before shipping.
Businesses where one person may have to work through Customs, documentation and product requirements alongside their normal role.
Companies that need a repeatable, transaction-specific assessment without buying a large compliance system.
Turning fragmented and complex trade information into a clear assessment report and action plan
It brings the key issues for a specific transaction together, helping businesses see the requirements, evidence and decisions that need attention before they order or ship.
Where TradeScan adds value
- Transaction-specific assessment — considers the actual product, origin, destination and transaction details rather than giving only a generic tariff result.
- One consolidated report — brings classification, duty/VAT, origin, documentation, licences, permits, certificates and relevant product-compliance issues into one assessment.
- Shows the practical action — identifies what needs to be obtained, confirmed, resolved or checked before ordering or shipping.
- Goes beyond saying “a certificate is required” — at the higher levels, explains what evidence may be required, why it is needed, who deals with it and where/how it can be obtained or verified when the evidence supports that detail.
- Progressive depth rather than one-size-fits-all — SCAN gives the essential picture, CHECK adds detailed follow-up and CLEAR provides the deepest assessment and actions required.
- Designed for one-off and occasional transactions — useful where a business does not need a permanent enterprise compliance platform or specialist team for every shipment.
- Clear finding-by-finding status — CONFIRMED, INDICATIVE, NOT REQUIRED or FOLLOW UP, so the customer can see what is established and what still needs attention.
- Sources and checked dates — the assessment identifies the relevant source basis and, where applicable, the date checked rather than presenting an unexplained answer.
- Practical pre-order / pre-shipment output — the end result is intended to be used as an action checklist, not simply read as background information.
What you receive – Evidence-Based Assessment
A wider assessment of your proposed import.
A tariff heading and a duty and VAT calculation are only part of the picture. TradeScan also looks at origin and possible duty reductions, additional trade duties, quotas, import permissions, documents and relevant product requirements. We bring the findings together in one transaction-specific report. TradeScan looks beyond the tariff code to the wider costs, requirements and checks that can determine whether an import transaction makes commercial sense before you order or ship.
From transaction details to a practical report.
Built for third-country → EU imports of non-food goods.
Production Model 1 currently assesses manufactured and other non-food goods, including machinery, electronics, vehicles and parts, furniture, textiles, toys, consumer goods, chemicals, cosmetics, metals and other technical products.
Available in five languages
The website and reports are available in all five languages.
Website photography includes Pexels images and AI-generated illustrative imagery.
Preparing spring goods for the European market?
Spring creates opportunities for businesses supplying seasonal decorations, giftware, toys, packaging and garden products to Europe. Before ordering or shipping, it is worth checking more than Customs duty: product safety, conformity, labelling, documentation and any other requirements that may apply.
Seasonal decorations & giftware
Decorations, baskets, toys and seasonal gifts may involve product safety, conformity, applicable markings, warnings and technical documents. Check which requirements apply before placing the order.
Spring & garden products
Garden accessories, outdoor decorations, lighting, household goods and seasonal packaging can involve product-specific safety, electrical, labelling and other requirements.
This version does not assess EU → third-country exports or EU → EU transactions.
Enter your TradeScan transaction details.
Your selected report level is carried forward from the pricing section. Enter the business and transaction details, then submit them to the secure TradeScan assessment workflow.
Don’t have all the information yet? You can save this questionnaire and return later. Your answers will be kept so you can continue where you left off. Saving and returning does not submit your assessment or create an additional charge.
What happens after you submit?
- Request recorded
The selected report level and transaction details are recorded. - Assessment selected
SCAN, CHECK or CLEAR determines the depth of the assessment. - Assessment starts
The selected SCAN, CHECK or CLEAR workflow is triggered. - Report generated
The appropriate progressively detailed report and checklist are produced. - Report delivered
The completed report and pre-order or pre-shipment checklist are produced.
TradeScan is a B2B information and assessment service. It does not provide a binding Customs decision, act as the customer\'s Customs representative, or replace official authority decisions or professional Customs advice where required.
Our sources and approach
TradeScan uses official information to help businesses understand the customs, tariff and product requirements that may apply to their shipments.
Depending on the transaction, our assessments draw only on official sources whose terms we have checked and confirmed permit the intended commercial use. These may include official EU and national authority information relevant to the goods, origin and destination.
Our reports identify the sources supporting material findings and provide direct links to the relevant official data or legal provisions wherever available, together with the date checked where relevant.
TradeScan organises and explains this information for your transaction. Our assessments are informational and do not constitute an official customs classification, binding tariff determination or guarantee of regulatory compliance. TradeScan is independent and is not endorsed by the European Commission or other public authorities.
Source policy: We do not use a source in a paid report unless we have confirmed that its terms permit the intended commercial reuse.
Get all the information before you order or ship in one single consolidated report.
Start with the transaction. TradeScan helps organize the checks and practical actions relevant to your planned import. It does not replace official authority decisions or professional Customs advice where required.