In FMCG wholesale the balance is usually paid before the goods are released, which means the buyer pays in full before seeing the stock arrive. A pre-shipment inspection closes that gap: the goods are checked against the order while they are still at the seller’s warehouse, when any problem can still be fixed by swapping a pallet rather than by a claim or a return across borders.
Our own terms are payment by telegraphic transfer in EUR or USD, with a 20–50% deposit to confirm the order and the balance before release of the goods. If you want the order checked before you pay the balance, say so in the enquiry and we will confirm in writing what can be arranged.
Whoever does the checking, the reference document is the proforma invoice or order confirmation. A typical FMCG checklist covers:
| Check | What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Product and variant | Brand, flavour, size and EAN barcode against each order line | Look-alike variants and pack sizes are the most common mix-up. |
| Quantities | Cartons per pallet, units per carton, total pallets | Short counts are easier to fix before loading than after. |
| Best-before dates and lot codes | Dates against the minimum remaining shelf life agreed | Your customers may refuse stock below their own threshold. |
| Labelling and language | Label language, importer sticker space, market-specific markings | Goods labelled for the wrong market may not be sellable on arrival. |
| Packaging condition | Crushed or wet cartons, leaks, dented cans, broken seals | Damage found later is hard to attribute to the seller or the carrier. |
| Pallet build | Height, weight, wrapping, corner boards, pallet type | A poor build causes transit damage and may breach the carrier’s limits. |
Agree the checklist with the seller in advance and attach it to the order, so both sides know what “passed” means.
On larger orders, inspectors rarely open every carton. They draw a random sample using the sampling tables of ISO 2859-1 and judge the lot against an Acceptable Quality Limit (AQL): the maximum share of defective units that is still acceptable. Consumer goods inspections commonly allow zero critical defects, with AQL 2.5 for major and AQL 4.0 for minor defects — but the levels are yours to choose, and they should be written into the order before the inspection, not argued about afterwards.
Many problems appear at the loading dock rather than in the warehouse: pallets stacked that should not be, a damp trailer, or a load that does not match the pallet plan. A loading check records the trailer’s condition, the number of pallets loaded, any seal numbers, and the temperature setting for temperature-controlled loads. Those photos are also your best evidence if you later need to claim against the carrier or your insurer.
Some importing countries run mandatory pre-shipment verification or conformity programmes for certain goods — for example Kenya’s PVoC or Nigeria’s SONCAP. In those cases the inspection body and the certificate are set by the destination country, and goods can be refused at the border without them. Ask your import agent early whether your products fall under such a scheme, as it adds time before shipping. See also the EU export documents checklist.
Related reading: best-before dates and remaining shelf life, paying a new supplier, and buying branded drinks through parallel import.
Ordering a few pallets rather than a full truck: how groupage and part loads are priced, how to cut the cost per case, packing, transit times and paperwork.
Published 26 October 2026Unit, case and pallet barcodes explained, what a 590 prefix really means, who owns a GTIN, and the product data sheet to request with every import order.
Published 26 October 2026How an EU customs warehouse suspends import duty and VAT on non-EU goods, what handling is allowed, guarantees and records, and how re-export ends the procedure.
Published 24 October 2026Send the products and quantities, and tell us how you would like the goods checked before release. We will confirm in writing what we can arrange for that order.
