Prepare a coffee import documentation brief.

State the coffee format, species or formulation, proposed quantity, packing and destination. Share your required traceability information, product tests and supporting documents. Ask which information is available for the proposed product or lot.

The importer or appointed adviser should establish the applicable requirements for the specific product and destination. Do not assume that a general product description confirms certification, label compliance or permission to import.

Clarify who reviews the specification, documents, labelling and delivery arrangements. Confirm the proposed product and commercial basis before committing. This checklist prepares an enquiry; it does not represent a shipment commitment or destination-specific compliance assessment.

Use this matrix to record questions, not to declare a product compliant. The documents and information required depend on the product, destination and supply chain. Your importer or appointed adviser should define those requirements and review the evidence for the actual proposal.

A government market guide explains a market; it does not prove the status of a particular shipment. A supplier range page identifies formats to discuss; it does not prove that every listed coffee has the required tests, origin evidence or certification. Keep each evidence request connected to the proposed lot or product.

If certified supply is required, state the exact requirement rather than using a broad phrase such as sustainable coffee. Ask which product-specific evidence is available and who will review it. If origin or estate identity matters to the purchase, identify the information needed to verify that identity.

For the European market, CBI distinguishes mandatory requirements, additional buyer policies and niche-market requirements. Use this as an organising framework for questions, with applicable requirements confirmed through the responsible importer. CBI European Arabica market-entry overview.

For finished or private-label coffee, share the proposed formulation, pack format, net quantity and artwork status before treating a label design as final. The person reviewing the artwork needs the correct product information and intended destination. A design decision is different from a destination review.

For green coffee, include the proposed lot and physical preparation alongside packing and origin information. Ask how a sample relates to that supply. Keep sample assessment, product specification, documentation review and the commercial agreement as separate decisions that can be traced back to the same proposal.

• Coffee formats
• Coffee sourcing checklist