Draft:CN22
International customs declaration form for postal shipments
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CN22 is an international customs declaration form used by postal operators for small packets and parcels sent across international borders. The form provides customs authorities with information about the contents, value, weight, and sender of a shipment. It is primarily used for low-value items and is affixed to the outside of mail items.
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The CN22 form is standardized and governed by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates international postal policies and regulations.
Purpose
The CN22 declaration serves several purposes:
- Enables customs authorities to assess duties and taxes
- Provides a description of the contents for inspection
- Helps ensure compliance with import and export regulations
- Identifies whether items are gifts, commercial goods, documents, or returned merchandise
Failure to properly complete a CN22 form may result in delays, fines, seizure of goods, or return of the shipment to the sender.
Usage
The CN22 form is generally used for:
- International shipments below a specified weight threshold (commonly 2 kilograms, though limits vary by country)
- Low-value goods (value limits vary by destination country)
- Small packets and lightweight parcels sent via standard postal services
For heavier or higher-value shipments, a more detailed customs declaration form (typically CN23) is required.
Required information
A CN22 form typically includes:
- Sender’s name and address
- Description of contents (with sufficient detail)
- Quantity and weight of each item
- Declared value and currency
- Category of shipment (e.g., gift, sale of goods, commercial sample, documents, returned goods)
- Harmonized System (HS) tariff number (in some cases)
- Country of origin of the goods
- Sender’s signature and date
In many countries, postal operators now generate CN22 forms electronically as part of digital shipping labels, though the printed label must still be attached to the parcel.
Format
The CN22 form is usually:
- Printed on adhesive paper
- Rectangular in shape
- Marked with the identifier “CN22” in the upper corner
- Recognizable by its standardized layout and green color in many postal systems
The format and placement on mail items are regulated under UPU postal conventions to ensure international consistency.
Legal and regulatory framework
The CN22 form operates under international postal agreements established by the Universal Postal Union. Individual countries may impose additional requirements, including mandatory electronic advance data (EAD) submission prior to shipment.
Customs authorities rely on the information provided in CN22 declarations to enforce national import restrictions, collect duties and taxes, and prevent the shipment of prohibited or restricted goods.