Who is responsible for filling out the consignor's declaration form?

1, The primary responsibility of the shipper
In international trade terms, the shipper usually refers to the party who enters into a transportation contract with the carrier and delivers the goods to the carrier for transportation. According to this definition, the shipper naturally bears the primary responsibility of filling out the declaration form. This is because the content of the declaration form is directly related to core information such as the nature, value, mode of transportation, and destination of the goods, which directly affects the carrier's transportation arrangements, customs supervision requirements, and the protection of the consignee's rights and interests. Therefore, the shipper needs to ensure the accuracy of the information on the declaration form, avoid any misleading or omission, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all parties.
Accuracy of cargo information: The shipper needs to provide detailed and accurate descriptions of key information such as the name, specifications, quantity, weight, HS code, and value of the cargo. The accuracy of this information directly affects the customs' tax rate determination, the carrier's transportation plan, and the consignee's receipt confirmation.
Integrity of sender and receiver information: The declaration form should also include detailed information such as the name, address, and contact information of the sender and receiver. These pieces of information are crucial for customs supervision, carrier transportation arrangements, and consignee notification of receipt. The shipper needs to ensure the accuracy of this information so that all parties can communicate efficiently.
Clarity of transportation and insurance information: The shipper also needs to specify the transportation mode, route, expected shipment date, unloading port/airport, and insurance information (if applicable) on the declaration form. These pieces of information help carriers develop reasonable transportation plans, ensure that goods arrive at their destination on time and safely, and also provide important references for customs audits.
2, Carrier's auxiliary responsibility
Although the shipper bears the primary responsibility for filling out the declaration form, the carrier also plays an indispensable role in this process. As the executor of cargo transportation, the carrier not only needs to receive and verify the declaration information provided by the shipper, but also needs to ensure that it complies with customs supervision requirements and its own transportation regulations.
Information verification and validation: After receiving the declaration form, the carrier needs to carefully verify the information of the goods to ensure that it matches the actual goods. For any doubts or discrepancies, the carrier has the right to request clarification or correction from the shipper.
Transportation arrangement and supervision: Based on the information on the declaration form, the carrier needs to develop a reasonable transportation plan and ensure the safety and compliance of the goods during transportation. At the same time, the carrier also needs to maintain close contact with customs, provide necessary transportation information and documents in a timely manner, and assist in the smooth clearance of goods.
Insurance and Claims: If the shipper chooses to purchase transportation insurance, the carrier needs to assist in providing relevant insurance information and assist the shipper in making claims with the insurance company in case of loss or damage to the goods.
3, The roles of other stakeholders
In addition to shippers and carriers, there are multiple stakeholders who play important roles in the process of filling out and reviewing declaration forms.
Customs: As the regulatory authority, customs is responsible for verifying the authenticity and compliance of declaration forms. Customs has the right to require shippers or carriers to provide additional documents or information to ensure the legal export and smooth clearance of goods.
Freight forwarder: In international trade, freight forwarders act as third-party service providers and often assist shippers in handling various transportation related matters, including filling out declaration forms. Freight forwarders need to have rich knowledge and experience in international trade to ensure the accuracy of declaration forms.
Consignee: Although the consignee does not directly participate in filling out the declaration form, the information on the declaration form is crucial to the consignee. The consignee needs to prepare in advance based on the information on the declaration form, so that the goods can be received and processed in a timely manner upon arrival.