Once you have an idea of what regions offer the most immediate opportunities, and which products you’ll be sending, it’s time to check into country-based rules and regulations.

Some countries prohibit items outright; others may limit them. Being informed on the rules and regulations that exist and which may impact your shipments can help ensure a smooth delivery.

There are a few ways you can get this information:

• UPS has a tool that shows country-specific rules and regulations by origin and destination countries.
• Check and see if your products are eligible to be imported into a given destination country. For example, the shipment of artwork from the US to Saudi Arabia is prohibited.
• Check and see if any of your products—or components of your products—are listed as “dangerous goods” while being shipped. In general, a “dangerous good” is defined as a product that may cause harm during transit. The best place for this info would be a country’s government website. Canada and the UK provide great examples.