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Shipping Marks, Labels, and Product Brands

The purpose of shipping marks, labels, and product brands on packaging is to provide information about the cargo and how it should be handled.  For ease and speed of clearance through customs, packages should be marked and numbered to correspond exactly with the marks and numbers on the commercial invoice or packing slip. The marks and numbers on the invoice or packing slip should appear opposite the list of goods in each package, and the exact quantity of goods should be specified.

In addition, packages should be marked legibly and conspicuously with the name of the country of origin (unless specifically exempted from country of origin marking requirements) and any other markings required by the marking laws of the U.S.  It is unlawful to import articles bearing trademarks owned by a U.S. citizen or corporation without permission of the U.S. trademark owner. Likewise, it is unlawful to import articles bearing U.S. trademarks if the foreign and domestic trademark owners are not parent and subsidiary companies or otherwise under common ownership and control, and if the trademark has been recorded with customs.

Articles bearing counterfeit trademarks or marks that copy or simulate a registered trademark of a U.S. or foreign corporation are prohibited from being imported, provided a copy of the U.S. trademark registration is filed with the Commissioner of Customs. Similar protection is provided against unauthorized shipments bearing trade names that are recorded with U.S. Customs pursuant to regulations.

(Source: Importers Manual USA, by Edward G. Hinkelman)