Packing and marking

Packing goods for export is a highly specialized job. If the goods are improperly packed and marked, the carrier will refuse to accept them, or will make qualifications about the unsatisfactory condition of packing in the bill of lading.

Packing can be external (crate, bag) and internal (box, packet, flask, etc.), in which the goods are sold.

In case of consumer goods packing has a double function. On the one hand, it is for protection. On the other – it serves to advertise a product and attract a customer.

Marking should be in indelible paint with recognized kind of marks.

Extract from a contract:

Contract No_____

Packing.

1. The equipment and spare parts are to be shipped in export seaworthy packing meeting the requirements of each particular type of equipment.

2. The packing is to secure full safety of the goods from any kind of damage and corrosion during transportation by sea, railway and combined transport. The packing shall be suitable for loading by crane, by autocars, by trucks and manually in so far as the weight and volume of individual packages allow. Before packing the equipment is to be protected with anticorrosive coating to protect it from any damage and corrosion in transit and to ensure storage during hot summer and cold winter (to minus 40°C).

3. The Sellers shall be responsible for any damage to or breakage of the goods that may be caused by poor packing or for corrosion which may appear due to improper or insufficient coating.

Marking.

1. The cases in which the equipment is packed are to be marked on three sides: on the top of the case and two non-opposite sides.

2. The marking shall be clearly made with indelible paint in English and Russian as follows:

VVO ВВО

Contract No. Контракт №

Nariad No. Наряд №

Trans No. Транс №

Package No. Место №

Net/Gross weight in kg Вес нетто/брутто в кг

Case dimensions in cm (length, width, height) Размеры места в см (длина, ширина, высота)

3. All cases which need special handling must have an additional marking: "Handle with care" (осторожно), "Top" (верх), "Do not turn over" (не кантовать), as well as other indications if specific handling of a particular case is required.

Words and Word Combinations:

packing упаковка

external packing внешняя упаковка

internal packing внутренняя упаковка

seaworthy packing морская упаковка

marking маркировка

marks маркировочные знаки на упаковке

to make qualifications делать оговорки

indelible несмываемый

safety сохранность

in transit в пути (о грузах)

storage хранение

breakage поломка

Questions:

1. What are the packing requirements in this concrete case?

2. What preventive measures are necessary to protect the goods from damage?

3. Why is it necessary for a packer to know the freight routes?

4. What kinds of export packing do you know?

5. What is the function of packing in the sale of customer goods?

6. What are the requirements for marking the goods in this concrete case?

7. What is usually written if the goods need special handling?

8. What happens in case of wrong marking?

9. Are there any international standards of packing and marking?