Pre-shipment inspection (PSI): complete guide, countries and procedure

Introduction: why PSI is a mandatory step for your imports

Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) is a mandatory control program imposed by many countries to verify goods before they leave the country of origin. Ignoring this requirement is one of the costliest mistakes for an importer: goods blocked at port, fines, demurrage charges reaching USD 100-300 per day, or even outright seizure.

Every year, thousands of containers are held in ports across Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East due to missing or invalid PSI certificates. Beyond mandatory PSI, an increasing number of importers voluntarily choose to have their goods inspected to protect against quality defects and supplier disputes.

This guide covers everything you need to know: definition, countries concerned, approved agencies, inspection types, AQL standards, costs, preparation, and digital inspection trends in 2026.

What is PSI? Definition and regulatory framework

Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) is a verification program for imported goods, conducted in the exporting country by an independent inspection agency mandated by the importing country's government.

PSI objectives include:

• Customs fraud prevention: verifying that declared values match actual values (combating under-invoicing and over-invoicing)
• Quality control: ensuring goods match the order and comply with importing country standards
• Quantity verification: confirming shipped quantities match declared quantities
• Tariff classification: verifying the correct HS code to prevent duty miscalculation
• Foreign exchange protection: preventing capital flight through inflated import prices

PSI is governed internationally by the WTO Agreement on Pre-Shipment Inspection, adopted during the Uruguay Round in 1994. This agreement establishes rights and obligations for user countries, inspection agencies, and exporters.

Countries requiring PSI: complete 2026 list

Africa (major programs)

Asia and Middle East

Latin America

• Haiti: import verification program (Bureau Veritas)
• Ecuador: INEN conformity program (Cotecna, Bureau Veritas)
• Bolivia: pre-shipment verification (SGS)

Major inspection agencies: SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, Cotecna

SGS (Societe Generale de Surveillance)

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. Global leader with over 95,000 employees in 2,600 offices and laboratories. SGS holds the most PSI mandates worldwide. 2025 revenue: approximately CHF 7.9 billion. Present in 140+ countries. Particularly strong in West and East Africa.

Bureau Veritas (BIVAC)

Headquarters: Paris, France. Second-largest global player with 82,000 employees. Bureau Veritas operates under the BIVAC brand for government mandates. Very present in French-speaking Africa (DRC, Ivory Coast, Guinea) and the Middle East.

Intertek

Headquarters: London, UK. 44,000 employees in over 1,000 laboratories. Particularly active in VOC programs in East Africa and Nigeria (SONCAP).

Cotecna

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. Government services specialist with mandates in Africa (Senegal, Guinea, Mali) and Latin America. Also manages single window customs programs.

Rate comparison

Inspection types: quality, quantity, loading

Quality inspection

The most common type. The inspector verifies product conformity against technical specifications, destination country standards, and reference samples. AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) standards are used to determine sample size and acceptance/rejection criteria.

Quantity inspection

Verification of unit count, weight, and volume. Physical counting, weighing, and dimension measurement. Comparison with the commercial invoice and packing list.

Loading inspection

Container loading supervision: verification that the correct goods are loaded, in the right quantities, with proper stowage. Photos and container sealing. Particularly important for high-value shipments or fragile goods.

AQL standards: understanding statistical sampling

AQL (Acceptable Quality Level) is the ISO 2859-1 statistical standard used universally for inspections. It defines the sample size to draw and acceptance/rejection criteria based on lot size.

Three defect levels

• Critical defects (AQL 0 to 1.0): risk to user safety. Zero or near-zero tolerance. Examples: faulty electrical component, toy with detachable small parts for children.
• Major defects (AQL 2.5): product does not fulfill its intended function or will likely be returned by customer. Examples: non-functioning zipper, screen with dead pixels.
• Minor defects (AQL 4.0): cosmetic imperfections that do not affect functionality. Examples: slight color variation, irregular stitching, superficial scratch.

Practical sampling example

For a lot of 5,000 units with general inspection level II (standard):

Complete costs of a PSI inspection

The 5 most frequent failure reasons

1. Quality non-conformity (25%): product does not meet mandatory standards of the importing country (electrical standards, banned materials, missing labeling). For Nigeria (SONCAP), electrical appliance testing is the top rejection reason.
2. Incomplete documentation (25%): non-compliant invoice, missing packing list, absent technical specifications. This is the easiest failure to prevent.
3. Over-invoicing / under-invoicing (20%): declared price significantly deviates from market prices. PSI agencies maintain monthly-updated reference price databases.
4. Quantity discrepancy (15%): physical quantity does not match the invoice. Typical cause: counting errors during loading.
5. Wrong customs classification (15%): declared HS code does not match the inspected product. Wrong HS classification can also result in higher customs duties.

How to prepare for PSI: step-by-step method

Step 1: verify PSI obligation

Determine whether your goods and destination country are subject to PSI. Not all products are covered: personal belongings, low-value samples (usually < USD 2,000), and certain specific products are often exempt.

Step 2: inspection request

The importer (or exporter on their behalf) submits an inspection request to the approved agency. Required documents:

• Pro forma or final commercial invoice
• Detailed packing list
• Product technical specifications
• Import license (if applicable)
• Test reports / conformity certificates (if required)

Step 3: scheduling and physical inspection

The agency schedules the visit within 2-3 business days. The inspector verifies on-site: quantity (counting, weighing, volume), quality (conformity to specifications, condition, packaging), price (market price comparison), HS classification, and marking/labeling.

Step 4: certificate issuance

If the inspection is satisfactory, the agency issues a Clean Report of Findings (CRF) or Certificate of Conformity (CoC). This document is transmitted electronically to the importing country's customs.

Step 5: shipment and customs clearance

The exporter ships the goods with the PSI certificate. Upon arrival, customs will verify that a valid PSI certificate is available before proceeding with clearance.

Inspection trends in 2026

• Remote Video Inspection (RVI): agencies offer real-time video inspections for minor re-inspections or documentation verifications. Cost reduced by 30-50% compared to physical inspection.
• Electronic certificates: direct integration with customs systems via blockchain. Elimination of paper certificate fraud.
• Artificial intelligence: automated risk analysis, AI-powered price verification, document anomaly detection.
• Mutual recognition: ECOWAS and EAC countries are working toward mutual recognition of conformity certificates to reduce inspections in intra-regional trade.
• Shift toward VOC programs: many countries are replacing classic PSI (value-focused) with Verification of Conformity programs (technical standards-focused).

Conclusion

PSI is a mandatory step for exporting to many countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Rather than viewing it as a constraint, consider it a quality assurance that also protects your interests: goods are verified before shipment, reducing the risk of disputes upon arrival.

The key to success is anticipation: identify destination country requirements from the start of your sourcing, include PSI costs and timelines in your landed cost calculation, and prepare flawless documentation. For complete support, choose an experienced freight forwarder who knows your destination country's PSI requirements.